Scorching halos

You might wonder why a company like Nissan would need a car like this? Nissan isn't widely know in this country as a tire-smoking performance brand. In the current market, with buyers shifting rapidly to small four-cylinder-powered cars, that might be just as well.

So, besides selling a handful of ultra-expensive -- by Nissan standards -- sports cars, Nissan is sending a message about its brand.

It's not just "We can go fast, too," although that's obviously part of it. At least that's the part that gets your attention first.

Beyond that, Nissan gets to boast about the technology underlying that feat. This car uses a turbocharged V6 to produce far more power than a much larger V8. It also uses a sophisticated transmission to make the most efficient use of the power.

So expect Nissan to show off the GT-R as "Exhibit A" of brains over brawn. And, as GM does with a Chevrolet Corvette, value comparisons will no doubt be made to more to far more expensive sports cars.

The main thing the GT-R will do for Nissan, though, is what such cars always do. Simply get some attention.

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