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History of the Nissan Skyline GTR (1957 - 1999)

In 1957, an elite group of designers set themselves a formidable challenge - to design and build a car which would not only win races, but provide the most demanding road driver with the maximum driving enjoyment. Not purely by delievering impressive straight lone performance. That's relatively easy to achieve. But giving the driver the ability to take corners faster and more safely than any other car. Today, after forty years and nine generations of vehicle which have each rewritten the rule book, the designers' original idea has reached fruition.
Introducing the new Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec.
A car with a racing pedigree of over 200 race wins, including 29 consecutive victories and 5 consecutive championship wins in the All Japanese Touring Car Championships, before the formula changed for the series. And a car which in tests at Germany's notorious Nurburgring in October 1994, embarrassed many of the world's top marquees by setting an unofficial production car lap record of under 8 minutes.

Engine

Originally developed with the aim of achieving a road going race-car, the Skyline GT-R's second generation RB26DETT comes with the experience of thousands of hours of racing in Japan's Group A Touring Car Championships. The cast iron engine block and aluminum head make the 2.6 liter DOHC straight-six almost impossible to damage, even under extreme performance conditions. A hybrid T3/T25 twin turbocharger combination was developed in association with Garrett. This features ceramic turbines, alloy impellers and a plastic air cleaner which reduces air friction and turbo-lag, increasing peak boost pressure to 620 mm/hg. As well as multi-point injection, there is also a throttle chamber for every cylinder. Reduced exhaust back-pressure and a 16-bit engine management system allow the RB26DETT a peak torque of 271 lbft (37.5 kgm) at just 4,400 rpm and a peak power output of 280 PS (bhp), which starts at 6,800 rpm and continues right up to the redline at 8,000 rpm.

Road Handling

A 16-bit microprocessor monitors wheel rotation as well as lateral and longitudinal acceleration 100 times a second. On detecting rear wheelspin and taking into account current driving conditions, it instantly instructs a wet multiplate clutch to direct more torque to the front wheels, regaining traction in a fraction of a second and letting the driver maintain control. The system comes into its own during hard cornering or in slippery conditions, when the front/rear torque split is adjusted to anything between 0:100 to 50:50. An active LSD on the rear axle further aids traction by calculating the optimum torque split between the left and right rear wheels, altering it to anything between diff. locked and free state.
Working along with ATTESA-ETS PRO, is the SUPER HICAS rear-wheel steering system. This uses a series of sensors to monitor vehicle motion, rate of turn and the driver's actions on the steering wheel. Complex software then compares this information to computer predictions of the car's ideal turning characteristics, adjusting the angle of the rear wheels to reflect the driver's intentions. The result of all this technology? Neutral steering and unrivalled cornering capabilities.
*At the heart of the Skyline GT-R V-Spec, is the ATTESA-ETS PRO Electronic Torque Split system - making it arguably the most technologically advanced production car in the world today. Conceived for the JTCC to put 600 bhp on the track efficiently, ETS PRO satisfies the purist by giving all the advantages of rear wheel drive until conditions dictate otherwise.

Stability

With the realization that increased body rigidity increases handling potential, several specially designed cross members are integrated into the monocoque body design. In addition, extra torsion bars are added to the multi-link suspension to further enhance stability. Working closely with Bridgestone technicians to perfect the Potenza tires, Nissan put the prototype R33 GT-R through its paces in all weathers at the notorious Nurburgring, earning them a daring reputation amongst other manufacturers.Since tires available on the GT-R in Japan are not DOT approved, we are working with Yokohama Tires to offer the highest quality tire without sacraficing performance. Unique 9" rim alloy wheels forged in aluminum are built to be light and strong with the five spoke design greatly improving brake disc ventilation. Tested in a wind tunnel capable of around 175 mph, the Skyline GT-R's adjustable rear spoiler lets you find your own compromise between wind resistance and grip, with a Cd figure of just 0.35 achievable with the spoiler flat and a maximum downforce of around -0.14 Cl (co-efficient of lift) at an angle of 18 deg. To equalize the car's weight distribution, the hood and front fenders are made of aluminum instead of steel and the battery has been moved to the trunk. This alters the car's center of gravity and improves its cornering characteristics.

Interior

Ergonomic internal layout means that all instrumentation and switchgear falls instantly to the hand and the eye. Speed and engine revolutions can be read in the driver's peripheral vision with pointer 'zero' positions visually located at nine and six o'clock. For the same reason, turbo pressure, oil temperature and front/rear torque split gauges are set into a printed panel in the center console above the air conditioning controls. A high-quality security coded Kenwood audio system features a stereo radio/cassette with auto-reverse, RDS and CD autochanger compatibility. The unit feeds a maximum of 35 watts per channel through 4 speakers and also features an anti-theft 'Stealth' mechanism which neatly conceals the unit as soon as the ignition is switched off. *Please note that the audio system is standard in Japanese Spec vehicles. Due to fact that Japanese frequencies differ from U.S. frequencies, we are currently working with Alpine to replace the Kenwood system. Specifications are unavailable at the moment, but please check back with us as updates will be made once more definite information becomes available.
Inside the Skyline GT-R, form follows function. Monoform bucket seats with integrated headrests are lightweight yet immensely tough, providing the ideal driving position and supporting the body against the G-forces endured under hard acceleration and cornering.
Tricot seat fabric provides a level of comfort and keeps seat weight to a minimum.

Safety and Security

Brakes are made by Italy's famous Brembo Spa, suppliers of many of the world's Formula 1 teams. Four piston calipers on the front and two piston calipers on the rear bite into discs with diamond shaped ventilation bores which increase surface area to aid heat dissipation. The GT-R's braking system utilizes the same wheel rotation sensors used to control the ATTESA-ETS PRO, to activate the high performance ABS, ensuring that the huge Brembo calipers always deliver optimum performance. Both passive and active safety levels are high, with the inherent rigidity offered by the monocoque body, impact safety zones at front and rear and also by features like monoform bucket seats, seat-belt pretensioners and SRS airbags for both driver and passenger.The airbag system furthers offers an advanced dual ignition system with senses G-Forces and applies the proper igniter for either a high or low impact. This feature is a required safety feature for all 1999 or newer vehicles.
ATTESA-ETS PRO itself brings a new level of control to driving, automatically shifting the power wherever it can best be used to provide a sure-footedness unrivalled in other production cars. For security, there's a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobilizer fitted as standard and the security coded Kenwood stereo system uses a Stealth' mechanism to conceal it when not in use.

The Skyline family at a glance
Featured below are the standard specs for the Nissan Skyline in each model since 1957. The charts feature the release date, model, engine type, power rating, transmission type and CC rating. Many factory options are available when purchasing new through Nissan, including spoiler kits, stereo systems, interior/exterior finish & even mags. These ratings are the standards.
(Please note all power ratings are taken from the flywheel not the wheels.

The 1st Skyline Release

The 2nd Skyline Release

The 3rd Skyline Release

The 4th Skyline Release

The 5th Skyline Release

The 6th Skyline Release - The R30 Range

The 7th Skyline Release - The R31 Range

The 8th Skyline release - The r32 Range

The 9th Skyline Release - The R33 Range

These figures are correct to my knowledge, and have been transposed from the original sales brochure that was distributed to the public via Nissan dealerships. If you have more information to supply or would like to see information here amended please email me at webmaster@skylinegtr.8k.com