THE coverline on the front of the American magazine screams that the GT-R's 480 hp figure is wrong. Turn to the story on the inside pages and you discover that the magazine tested the Nissan missile on a rolling road dynamometer and found that its engine actually produced 500 hp.

Such is the hype over the Nissan GT-R that across the world, journalists and prospective buyers alike have been hyperventilating as they recite its vital specs - 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 engine, 480 horses, 588 Newton-metres of torque, all-wheel-drive and, in Singapore's case, just $260,000 - or a fraction of the price of the nearest German competitor with similar supercar performance.

One of the most highly anticipated sports cars in history is now in Singapore and on sale as a parallel import. As for authorised Nissan distributor Tan Chong Motor Sales, it says negotiations are ongoing to bring it into Singapore. But in the meantime, is it worth gushing over? In a word, yes.

The latest generation of this Japanese icon is the R35 and it has dropped the previous Skyline prefix to be known simply as the Nissan GT-R. It isn't a spectacularly stunning car to look at. This 2+2 has an unusual kink in the roof line at the back. At best, it gives the GT-R character; at worst, it is awkward. But its looks are the last thing you will be thinking about when you slide into the front seat.

Nothing plasticky

The quality of the cabin is amazingly high. There is stitched leather on the dashboard and subtle metal trim all around. Nothing is plasticky or gauche. The A-pillar, for example, is covered in a material that feels as luxurious as the lining of an overpriced Italian handbag.

The start/stop button in a bright red enamel finish sits just behind the stubby electronic gear lever. Press it and the GT-R roars to life with a purposeful exhaust rumble.

A seven-inch touch screen in the centre console displays information like turbo boost, oil temperature and pressure, and torque split, etc. There are also two individualised presets if you prefer to configure it for only the info that you want to see.

But a little more ominous is the sight of the speedometer - it is calibrated from zero to 340 kmh. At this point, there may be a bit of anxiety when gingerly tapping the gas pedal. But for a car of its reputation, the progress is remarkably smooth and the exhaust rumble doesn't sound as loud as you would have expected.

In fact, the GT-R feels extremely tractable at ordinary speeds. The steering is heavy but very sharp. The ride is also surprisingly comfortable at the lowest setting. Like the electronic damping system and the transmission, there are three modes to choose from - comfortable, normal, and R mode (the manic option).

But flick all three switches to R and you will understand why the GT-R leaves some people breathless. The acceleration is phenomenal. It can be frightening too. On a bumpy curve in Mandai, the stiffest suspension setting will cause the car to bounce around at speed and scare you more than a re-run of The Ring. But on a track, it is likely to make you believe you're a racing god.

The GT-R is also well-balanced. With its 50:50 weight distribution and all-wheel-drive (the torque split has a rearward bias of 40:60 above 40 kmh), the car handles supremely confidently. Even braking hard in mid-corner at high speed is unlikely to upset it, which has stonking five-piston front brake callipers and four-pots behind. The car rides on massive 20-inch alloy wheels as standard.

Another GT-R virtue is the dual clutch automatic gearbox. It is fast and smooth and switches from auto to manual mode easily by toggling the gear stick laterally. Two paddles on the steering wheel help to make manual changes even quicker.

Perhaps the GT-R's biggest attraction is its ability to function both as an everyday car for ordinary commuting and as a high-performance sports car at less sane speeds. The two back seats can be used by average-sized adults. There are a couple of downsides though. The transmission tunnel can heat up and cause some discomfort to the rear seat passengers' thigh areas. Then there's the 'Nissan' badge, which isn't quite everyone's idea of a premium nameplate.

The level of standard equipment is high though, and includes a CF card slot for your MP3 listening or video viewing pleasure.

The GT-R has three trim levels, with the top-of-the-range Premium Edition boasting an 11-speaker Bose sound system and a crime prevention pack for about $20,000 extra. But even these don't take the overall price up to the $300,000 level. Rarely has something so affordable been so desirable.

Nissan R35 GT-R
Engine: 3,799cc V6 turbocharged
Gearbox: 6-speed direct twin-clutch auto transmission
Max power: 480 hp @ 6,400 rpm
Max torque: 588 Nm @ 3,200-5,200 rpm
0-100 kmh: 4.2 secs
Top speed: 285 kmh
Price: from $260,000 (with COE)