Nissan GT-R NISMO
Godzilla refined for the ultimate track assault.
via Wikipedia: Nissan Skyline GT-R · see source
The Nissan GT-R NISMO is a specialized variant developed by Nissan's motorsport division, Nismo (Nissan Motorsport). Based on the Skyline GT-R lineage, the car represents the pinnacle of Nissan performance, showing many advanced technologies including the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system and the Super-HICAS four-wheel steering. The GT-R name was revived in 1989 as the BNR32 Skyline GT-R, and the technology and performance prompted the Australian motoring publication Wheels to nickname the GT-R "Godzilla" in its July 1989 edition. The Skyline GT-R became the flagship of Nissan performance, and production ended in August 2002, replaced by the all-new GT-R (R35).
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Nissan
- Division
- NISMO
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Engine type
- Twin-Turbo V6
Lore & Background
The Skyline GT-R has become an iconic sports car as a grey import vehicle in the Western world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. It has become notable through pop culture such as The Fast and the Furious, Initial D, Wangan Midnight, Need for Speed, Forza, and Gran Turismo. The NISMO badge denotes a level of tuning from Nissan's performance division, which introduced various special editions containing additional performance-enhancing modifications throughout the car's lifetime. 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. The car is popular for import drag racing, circuit track, time attack and events hosted by tuning magazines.
Reader's Guide
The Skyline GT-R was never manufactured outside Japan, and the sole export markets were Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, in 1991, and the UK (in 1997, due to the Single Vehicle Approval scheme). They are also popular across the world as used Japanese imports. The GT-R abbreviation stands for Gran Turismo–Racing while the GT-B stands for Gran Turismo–Berlinetta. The Japanese chose to use Italian naming conventions when naming the car – as most cars that were made in Japan at that time used Western abbreviations – to further enhance sales.
The earliest predecessor of the GT-R, the S54 2000 GT-B, came second in its first race in the 1964 Japanese GP to the purpose-built Porsche 904 GTS. The four-door PGC10 2000 GT-R scored 33 victories in the one and a half years it raced, and by the time it attempted its 50th consecutive win, its run was ended by a Mazda Savanna RX-3. The car took 1,000 victories by the time it was discontinued in 1972.
Did You Know?
- The R34 GT-R covered a quarter mile in 12.2 seconds and accelerated from 0–100 km/h in 4.4 seconds in tests.
- The first Skyline GT-R (KPGC10) was produced between 1969 and 1972, with only 1,197 coupé versions built.
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