A Japanese motoring website just reviewed the much anticipated Nissan GTR specV sports car. The V-spec is the faster, lighter version of what was already one of the fastest sports cars on the planet.

The video however is a great example of the paradox for sports cars in Japan: fast cars, slow roads.

Speed limits in Japan are surprisingly low. In cities the maximum is usually 40 or 50 kilometers an hour. Toll-road expressways have speed limits of 100 kph ( and in Okinawa only 80 kph). In rural areas of Japan the low speed limits continue. Unlike Britain where country roads often have 60 mile per hour  limits,  many deserted rural roads are still restricted to 40 kilometers an hour. Unless you live close to a track the Nissan GTR specV is simply all dressed up with nowhere to go.

The motoring journalist in the video however happily hurtles along  past signs and road markings for 50 kilometers an hour. This disregard for the speed limit isn’t unusual, it’s epidemic. If you simply drive with the flow of traffic you will usually be traveling 10 or 20 kilometers over the limit. The speed limits are not rigidly enforced, although there are a limited number of speed cameras and unmarked police cars on the toll-road expressways.

So what is the solution? Raise speed limits on roads then vigorously enforce the new limits with speed cameras and more police? Or should we follow the advice of another friend of mine and reduce speed limits until it’s just as fast to go everywhere by bicycle or bus.

As for the GTR specV, I’d love one, right after I buy my own racetrack.