Nissan Skyline

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The Nissan Skyline GT-R is an iconic Japanese sports coupe in the Nissan Skyline range. Dubbed "Godzilla" by Wheels magazine in Australia when released there in 1989, it was rated by many motoring magazines, including the well-respected Wheels, as providing performance and handling equal or superior to that of European icons like the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari Testarossa, at a considerably lower price. The Skyline's home-market competitors have included the Acura NSX, Toyota Supra, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, and Mazda RX-7. The Skline R-34 officialy has 276 horsepower, but it was about 300-330 horsepower.

Fifth Generation R35 (2008 - present)

Main article: Nissan GT-R

The Skyline moniker has been dropped for the fifth generation model. Officially, the Skyline name will be gracing the JDM version of the Infiniti G35 and G37. The new car is tapped to be named the GT-R and is slated to officially debut at 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. The new model is significant in many aspects, not least of which being that it will feature a radical new styling that breaks from the Skyline tradition of wearing a very conservative, understated and unassuming sheetmetal. However, the most significant aspect about this new model is that it will be the first "Skyline" to be sold in the very lucrative and Skyline-hungry US domestic market.

Fourth Generation R34 (1998–2002)

Known as the R34 this was the last version of the GT-R. It featured an inline 6 motor driving all four wheels through an advanced Attesa AWD system. The ATTESA-PRO system which had All-Wheel Steering capabilities. The R34 is a popular car for import tuners. Multiple special editions were created including the usual V-spec I & II models. A further special edition known as the Nur (named for the Nurburgring) also existed. The final and most elaborate of the factory R34 was the Z-tune which was limited to 20 cars built from older R34 Chassis. The Z-Tune was NISMO's final creation for the inline 6 powered GT-Rs.

Third Generation R33 (1995–1997)

Second Generation R32 (1989–1994)

This is not the first generation of skyline. It is the second-generation gt-r, or the second to use the "rb" series of engines. It is labled as "R32", and came with rb20et rb20det and 26dett engines. the next two generations were labeled as R33 (which also had the rb25et rb25det and rb26dett)and R34, respectively. The generation before the R32 came with a "rb20det" the first of series engine, and named the "R31".

First Generation R31 (1986–1990)

The R31 Skyline introduced many new technologies and features. The HR31 was the first Skyline to be equipped with the new RB-series of engines. The R31 RB engines are often referred to as "Red Top" engines because of the red cam covers. There were three variants. The earliest series of DOHC RB engines used the NICS (Nissan Induction Control System) injection system with 12 very small intake runners, and a butterfly system to divide the intake ports in half for better low RPM performance. Later versions used ECCS (Electronically Concentrated Control System) engine management, discarded the twelve tiny runners for six much larger ones (though they retained twelve ports on the head, so there was a splitter plate), and received a slightly larger turbocharger. Nissan's RD28, a 2.8 straight-6 engine, introduced Diesel-power to the line-up. Another technological first for the R31 was the introduction of Nissan's proprietary 4-wheel steering system, dubbed HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering). The R31 series were also the only models in the Skyline family to feature a 4-door hardtop variation. These models were generally badged as the Passage GT.

The R31 Skyline was also produced in Australia, with a 3.0 L motor (RB30E) available in sedan or wagon form, as well as a four-cylinder version called the Nissan Pintara. The wagon had the same front style as the coupe and sedan—the only difference being that it lacked the four round brake lights that had been a consistent element of Skyline design. These cars were manufactured in Australia due to the heavy import laws which made it expensive to bring cars into Australia.

Trivia

• It was featured in the Japanese comic and animation series Initial D
• It featured in many Video games including most of the Gran Turismo games, Need for Speed Underground and Underground II.
• It was featured in both "The Fast and the Furious" and "2 fast 2 furious" sequels.

Design quirks and oddities

Refer to any pop-culture tidbits about the vehicle in this section.

It also had an appearance in fast and furious: Tokyo drift. (R33) and the video game juiced 2

According to the Herald Sun, a 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R is regarded as a modern collectable. The car, when new priced at $110,000 when new can be had for $13,400 to $16,500 AUD.

Awards

List out notable awards that the model has recieved while in production. Boldface the company or orgainization that gives out the award, and Italicize the name of the award.

See also

External Links

• First Drive: Nissan GT-R
• History of the GT-R, From Inception to Present
• Z-tune Official Nismo R34 GT-R Z-tune website
• Nissan GT-R Official Nissan GT-R US website
• Nissan tuning parts
• Canadian Nissan GT-R Club Nissan GT-R Canada website