Automobile magazine recently pitted a pair of unlikely competitors against one another in an oddly compelling contest.

The (radically understated) 450hp Nissan GT-R vs. the beefy, utilitarian, and possibly underpowered, Hummer H3.  A bizarre concept until you consider the motivating thought; is there still a place in this increasingly concrete world where the path less traveled is faster than the road more paved?

The race course in this event was in the only state that made sense…a run from Lake City to Telluride, CO.  50 miles off-road vs. 166 of winding, high-mountain pavement.

According to the article, that equates to a dead heat at an average of 50mph on the highway and 15 mph off-road.  Seems to me that the math favors the GT-R, but let’s read on and see…

Of course the real question is this:  which competitor would you rather pilot.  Easy choice for me, as I can 4 wheel often, but rarely does one get to drive one of the world’s most exotic autos.

Here’s an excerpt I especially like:

“If a BMW is the ultimate driving machine, the GT-R is the ultimate passing machine. No passing zone is too short, no line of dawdlers too long, for the GT-R to dispatch with violent malice.“

[automobilemag.com]