Nissan Skyline GT-R
Encyclopedia : N : NI : NIS : Nissan Skyline GT-R
- See also Nissan Skyline
History of the brand
The Skyline name originated with the Prince automobile company which developed and sold the Skyline line of sedans before merging with Nissan-Datsun. The earliest predecessor of the GT-R, the S54 2000 GT-B, came second in its first race in 1964 to the purpose-built Porsche 904 GTS race car. The next development of the GT-R, the 4-door PGC10 2000 GT-R, later to be superceeded by the 2-door KPGC10 version, 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 54 victories by the time it was discontinued in 1972. The last of the original GT-Rs, the KPGC110 2000GT-R, used an unchanged S20 160 hp (120 kW) inline-6 engine from the earlier 2000 GT-R and only sold 197 units due to the worldwide energy crisis. This model was the only GT-R to never participate in a race despite only having one built which now resides in Nissan's former factory turned storage unit for historical cars in Zuma.The Skyline model continued through into the 90s when it became popular largely because it remained rear wheel drive, while most other manufacturers' models were front wheel drive (which had certain complexities inherent in achieving high performance in power or handling when compared to a rear-wheel drive car).
Skyline GT-R R32-R34
The GT-R version of the Skyline was reintroduced in 1989 after a 16 year hiatus from the KPGC110 Skyline GT-R of 1973. However, the majority of Skylines sold were non-GT-R models, with the GT-R becoming the flagship of Nissan performance. Considering the performance of the car, and the fact that Nissan showcased many advanced technologies in the GT-R not previously seen in mass produced vehicles, the 1989- GT-Rs remained (relatively) cheap. Although unconfirmed, it is even rumoured that they were sold at a loss. Although strange today, this cavalier attitude to marketing was common among Japanese car manufacturers of the late 1980s and early 1990s.#redirect
GT-R Skylines of the 1990s progressed from the R32 (1989), through to the R34 (1998) Production of the GT-R ceased in August 2002 with the release of the G35 (sold as the Nissan Vitesse/Skyline in Japan) which includes only non-GT-R models. Before the final R34 Skyline GT-R was sold, various packages and special editions such as the V-Spec, containing additional performance-enhancing modifications, were released by Nissan and the performance division of Nissan, Nismo.
On 14 January 2005, Nismo resurrected the R34 GT-R for one last tour of duty before the introduction of the anticipated next generation GT-R. Labeled as the [R34 Z-tune], the Nismo engineers spared no expense into making this car the most powerful road-going GT-R ever created. Using rebuilt R34s with much technology borrowed from the GT500 Racing GT-Rs and endurance racing GT-Rs, the Z-tune boasts a 2.8L twin turbo instead of the stock 2.6L engine, racing pistons, connecting rods and camshafts, and an upgraded ECU, giving the Z-tune 500 hp (370 kW) and 540 N·m (400 lb·ft) of torque. The car became affectionately known as the "Mother of all GT-Rs" and is expected to carry a price tag of $170,000 US dollars. Nismo has stated that this car will be a limited edition, and only 20 will ever be made and sold.
Power-train
The GT-R of the 1990s included a 2.6 L straight six-cylinder twin-turbo motor producing 206 kW (276 hp). The turbo-chargers were of a hybrid steel/ceramic design allowing them to spool up faster due to the light nature of the ceramic exhaust wheel.Power was delivered to all four wheels using an electronically-controlled (16bit microprocessor) all wheel drive system referred to by Nissan as the ATTESA-ETS system. The ATTESA-ETS system uses two G-Sensors mounted underneath the centre console, which feed lateral and longtitudinal inputs to the ECU. The ECU would then control the feed of power by allowing a limited amount to be delivered to the front wheels via an electronic torque split converter. V-Spec models were equipped with (amongst other things), a faster reacting ATTESA-ETS Pro 4wd system with adjusted ECU settings, improving oversteer considerably.
The car also had computer-controlled all wheel steering system referred to as the HICAS system. The HICAS system, activated when the vehicle exceeded 80 km/h, controls steering of the rear wheels in the same direction as the front to improve turn in on entry to corners.
While the published figures from Nissan were as quoted above, practical tests showed the car had a factory power output of closer to 220 flywheel kilowatts. The lower published figure was Nissan's response to the need to abide by a gentleman's agreement between the Japanese auto manufacturers not to release a car to the public exceeding 206 kW of power output.
Modification
The Skyline GT-R is a popular target for modification due to the strength of the RB26DETT engine. This engine, common to all GT-Rs, is widely considered as one of the most durable motors when heavily modified. Many aftermarket suppliers have produced "bolt on" upgrade kits for the GT-R to boost power output beyond the factory specification.The ceramic turbochargers that are equipped from the factory, are set to make 7psi of boost pressure (0.5bar). Being ceramic, they are not as durable as a Steel turbine would be. Most owners limit their boost to 14psi of boost, as they are prone to shattering at high heat conditions when past 14 psi. A common upgrade for the turbocharger is the N1 turbo. It is equpped on the RB26DETT-N1 version of the Skyline GTR engine, intended for motorsports. It is capable of much higher power than the OEM turbochargers.
Without making upgrades to the mechanical parts of the engine, it is commonly believed that the engine can handle around 500hp. After this level of power, it is most important to upgrade the oil system of the engine. The factory oil-pump is not capable of properly lubricating the engine at higher power levels. After that, most owners upgrade the pistons, and connecting rods. As well as the bolts that secure the cylinder head, and connecting rods.
Some tuning garages in Japan, UK, and Australia, have managed to upgrade the RB26DETT to power levels past 1000hp. Veilside, in Japan, has modified an R34 Skyline GTR to 1600hp. They have also modified an R32 Skyline GTR to accelerate to 300kmh in 13 seconds.
Motorsport History
The GT-R's success in motor racing was formidable, particularly in the annual race at the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia, where the champion three years running was a GT-R (despite receiving additional weight penalties in years two and three due to its unbeatable performance), and in the Japanese GT series where it has remained dominant up to the present day.No other race victories by the GT-R could escape without controversies, at the 1990 Macau Grand Prix Guia touring car race, the factory backed R32 driven by Masahiro Hasemi led the race from the start to the finishing line which caused a wave of protests by the European entrants. The following year, the car was forced to carry a weight penalty of 140 kg very much to his frustration and had to settle for fourth place against the top three DTM specification race winning BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. The GT-R's success at Mount Panorama in 1991 and 1992, both by Jim Richards, led to a change in formula regulations, which came to exclude turbocharged and four-wheel-drive cars in subsequent years. It also led indirectly to a move to the Super Touring Car category in the JTCC and the creation of the JGTC grand touring car series in Japan, where GT-Rs can only compete in rear-wheel drive form - and still win.
In the UK Andy Middlehurst took the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) to two consecutive championship wins in the National Saloon Car Cup. Other championship titles include the 1993 Spanish Touring Car Championship.
Popular Culture
The Skyline is also a popular car for street racing in Japan, and also featured, among others, as the vehicle of choice for Night Kids leader Nakazato Takeshi (by TOKYOPOP, known nickname as Zack) in the anime series Initial D.Future of the GT-R
The Nissan GT-R will be available internationally by the end of 2007 or early 2008, likely launched in 2007 as a 2008 model. The car is a radical departure from the traditional GT-R formula. It will be separated from the "Skyline" nameplate and for the first time the car will not share a common body style with the sedan range. The evolutionary, incremental changes between models R32 through R34 has been done away with, with much more aggressive styling displayed on the concept model (see below). Underneath the body Nissan will also do away with the traditional straight-6 engine, instead using a twin-turbocharged V6 most probably from the Nissan VQ family of engines.
There has been proof of registered trademarks for the next GT-R in Japan, Australia, Europe, and Canada as well as the U.S. (the car will be sold in both right- and left-hand drive versions). It will have to overcome many new, stringent emissions laws in Japan.
Early speculation of Nissan using the Infiniti name in North America for the GT-R turned out not to be true. At the official unveiling, Nissan stated that it will be a "world car", sold in all nations in similar incarnations. During the 2006 New York Auto Show, Nissan Motor's President CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that the GT-R will be sold in North America as a Nissan model, and not under the Infiniti brand as previously rumored.
It was initially speculated that the North American market would receive a V8 instead of the long speculated twin-turbocharged V6. It has long been known that Cosworth has been contracted out to do engine development, which suggests the new motor will be just as durable and strong as the RB series it will be replacing. The drivetrain configuration will most likely remain All Wheel Drive, in keeping with the GTR's longtime theme of technological superiority.
At the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan unveiled a GT-R Proto concept car (pictured right), and they have stated that the production GT-R will be 80-90% based on the concept. At the same time they also revealed the near-final design on [GTRProto.com], but the material was subsequently removed and as of now the page only harbors the "GT-R logo" image.
The production version of the GT-R is set to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007, with its launch in the Japanese market scheduled for Fall 2007. The U.S. launch will follow in Spring 2008.
External links
- [Z-tune] Official Nismo R34GT-R Z-tune website
- [JB car pages - Nissan Skyline]
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