Nissan's geeky brute

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Defying the notion that geeky equates to pale and weak, the Nissan GT-R is probably the geekiest car on the planet, yet it can rip telephone books in half. You could go on for hours talking about the rear-mounted dual-clutch transmission with carbon fiber propeller shafts, the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-6, and the ATTESA all-wheel-drive, ending up surrounded by a crowd of none, or just blast along over the windiest roads you can find, getting the thrill of a life.

The GT-R does have its faults, such as poor mileage and a harsh ride, which are all trade-offs for the exceptional acceleration and handling that make the car hard to love if you have to drive it everyday. But it does have cabin tech, such as the 11 screens of gauges--four of them user customizable--showing everything from gear shift efficiency to torque split. Now that's geeky.

Check out the full review of the 2010 Nissan GT-R.