Nissan Skyline GT-R

The Godzilla of the mountain passes, where all-wheel drive meets pure horsepower.

The Nissan Skyline GT-R is a Japanese grand tourer based on the Nissan Skyline range. The first cars named "Skyline GT-R" were produced between 1969 and 1972 under the model code KPGC10. After a 16-year hiatus, the GT-R name was revived in 1989 as the BNR32 ("R32") Skyline GT-R. 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. 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.

Quick Facts

Manufacturer

Nissan

Assembly

Japan: Musashimurayama (1969–2000)
Japan: Kaminokawa (2000–2002)
Japan: Omori (Z-Tune)

Class

Sports car

Related

Nissan Skyline, Nissan Stagea

Transmission

5-speed manual (1969–1998), 6-speed manual (1999–2002)

Successor

Nissan GT-R (R35)

Lore & Background

The Skyline GT-R has become an iconic sports car as a grey import vehicle in the Western world. It has become notable through pop culture such as Initial D, The Fast and the Furious, Wangan Midnight, and Gran Turismo. The GT-R abbreviation stands for Gran Turismo–Racing. 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 next development of the GT-R, 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.

Reader's Guide

Mountain racing in this universe follows unwritten codes: respect the road, never race on public highways without a 'set,' and always yield to emergency vehicles. Technical mastery involves understanding weight transfer, apex clipping, and the difference between a drift (sliding) and a power-oversteer turn. While 'Deja Vu' by The Yellow Monkey is iconic for Takumi's moments, tracks like 'Rise & Fall' or heavy rock often accompany the aggressive acceleration of heavier cars like the GT-R. The evolution of the sport sees drivers moving from simple modifications to full-blown engine swaps and suspension overhauls. Understanding the physics of the car is vital; a front-wheel-drive car behaves differently than an all-wheel-drive beast. Drivers must adapt their lines based on traction limits, knowing that while drifting looks stylish, the fastest line often involves keeping the tires planted.