I feel like many people are jumping to conclusions about the speed boost effect when they haven't even experienced it themselves yet. It may be a welcome addition if you hold your mind open to it.

In any event, from what I've seen in the game trailer that was posted to the PSN, it looks like a fairly sharp addition to the series. After recently completing GTA IV, they way the blur effect is used when you hit the top speeds in the faster cars is very well done in that game. You can still see what's coming, but it increases the sense of speed dramatically.