Nissan Skyline GT-R

For the successor generation and separate model, see Nissan GT-R.

Nissan Skyline GT-R
2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R V·spec II (BNR34)
Overview
ManufacturerNissan
Production
  • 1969–1973
  • 1989–2002
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Related
Powertrain
Transmission
  • 5-speed manual (1969–1998)
  • 6-speed manual (1999–2002)
Chronology
PredecessorPrince Skyline Sport
SuccessorNissan GT-R (R35)

The Nissan Skyline GT-R (Japanese: 日産・スカイラインGT-R, Hepburn: Nissan Sukairain GT-R) is a Japanese sports car based on the Nissan Skyline range. The first cars named "Skyline GT-R" were produced between 1969 and 1972 under the model code KPGC10, and were successful in Japanese touring car racing events. This model was followed by a brief production run of second-generation cars, under model code KPGC110, in 1973.

After a 16-year hiatus, the GT-R name was revived in 1989 as the BNR32 ("R32") Skyline GT-R. Group A specification versions of the R32 GT-R were used to win the Japanese Touring Car Championship for four years in a row. The R32 GT-R also had success in the Australian Touring Car Championship, with Jim Richards using it to win the championship in 1991 and Mark Skaife doing the same in 1992, until a regulation change excluded the GT-R in 1993. The technology and performance of the R32 GT-R prompted the Australian motoring publication Wheels to nickname the GT-R "Godzilla" in its July 1989 edition.[1][2] Wheels then carried the name through all the generations of Skyline GT-Rs, most notably the R34 GT-R, which they nicknamed "Godzilla Returns", and described as "The best handling car we have ever driven". In tests conducted by automotive publications, R34 GT-R have covered a quarter of a mile  (402 metres) in 12.2 seconds from a standing start time and accelerated from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 4.4 seconds.

The Skyline GT-R became the flagship of Nissan performance, showing many advanced technologies including the ATTESA E-TS All-wheel drive system and the Super-HICAS four-wheel steering. Today, the car is popular for import drag racing, circuit track, time attack and events hosted by tuning magazines. Production of the Skyline GT-R ended in August 2002. The car was replaced by the GT-R (R35), an all-new vehicle based on an enhanced version of the Skyline V36 platform. Although visibly different, the two vehicles share similar design features and are manufactured in the same factory.

The Skyline GT-R was never manufactured outside Japan, and the sole export markets were Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, in 1991,[3] and the UK (in 1997, due to the Single Vehicle Approval scheme[4]). They are also popular across the world as used Japanese imports.

Despite this, the Skyline GT-R has become an iconic sports car as a grey import vehicle in the Western world (mainly the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Canada, and the United States).[5][6][7][8] It has become notable through pop culture such as The Fast and the Furious, Initial D, Shakotan Boogie, Wangan Midnight, Need for Speed, Forza, Driving Emotion Type-S, Test Drive, and Gran Turismo. In 2019, Nismo announced that it would resume production of spare parts for all generations of the Skyline GT-R, including body panels and engines.[9][10]

  1. ^ Lavrinc, Damon (7 December 2007). "GT-R may race in Australia". Autoblog. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  2. ^ Perkins, Chris (27 December 2015). "How the Nissan Skyline GT-R Became 'Godzilla'". Road & Track. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. ^ Chambers, Cliff. "What to know and look out for when buying the unstoppable Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32 – R34)". uniquecars. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  4. ^ English, Andrew (1 December 2007). "Nissan GT-R: Street racer". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  5. ^ "About". GTR.co.uk. 15 October 2007. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Portal". SAU. Australia. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  7. ^ GTR Canada.Skyline owners board based in Canada.
  8. ^ Kierstein, Alex (3 August 2015). "American R32 Nissan Skyline Importers Say Prices Have Doubled". Road and Track.
  9. ^ Silvestro, Brian (29 March 2019). "The Nissan Skyline GT-R's RB26 Inline-Six Is Going Back Into Production". US: Road & Track. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  10. ^ Weiner, Eric (28 March 2019). "Nissan is restarting production of the Skyline's RB26 straight-six". US: Hagerty. Retrieved 19 January 2020.