These models pushed the technology envelope even further. The R33 GT-R was larger and more hi-tech than the R32, and it arrived in 1995, while the R34 Skyline GT-R arrived in 1999. Eventually the R32 GT-R was outlawed, essentially for being too competitive. Racing versions dominated Group A touring car racing where the GT-R first earned the nickname Godzilla. This car featured the basic ingredients of the current car, with four-wheel drive, and a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine. The straight-edged Skyline GTS-R of the Eighties filled the void left by the GT-R, especially in motorsport, while the all-new R32 Skyline GT-R arrived in 1989. The fuel crisis of the Seventies saw the GT-R disappear, and only 197 GT-R Mk2s were built, making it a highly collectable classic today. It used a 2.0-litre straight-six and five-speed manual gearbox, and this layout was also used for the second GT-R, the KPGC110, launched in 1973. The first Skyline GT-R is known as the KPGC10, which was sold as a four-door saloon, then a two-door coupe. The current R35 Nissan GT-R can trace its roots to 1969, when the first GT-R arrived as a high performance version of the Nissan Skyline. But if straight-line acceleration is what you're after, then the Tesla Model S with Ludicrous mode is about the only car at a similar price that can carry four (or more) and deliver the same kind of acceleration. Or you might consider the Toyota Supra, another car that trades on its heritage, but with a far more reasonable price. There's a limited-slip differential, adaptive dampers and a host of electronic driver aids on board that help move power between the wheels to deliver incredible traction and grip, although later cars have been tweaked to deliver a more involving driving experience.Įlsewhere, if a hi-tech Japanese sports car floats your boat, then the Honda NSX is available, or even the Lexus LC. Every GT-R comes with four-wheel drive and a 6-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged V6 engine (called VR38DETT) which has been upgraded over time, with output growing from 473bhp at launch in 2007 to 562bhp, or 592bhp in the GT-R Nismo. While that car is a luxury car that's fast in a straight line, the GT-R uses motorsport-developed technology to deliver near-unbreakable grip and involving handling. However, this time puts it on a par with the fastest hypercars, as well as the all-electric Tesla Model S. The GT-R has a 0-60mph time that has been recorded as low as 2.7 seconds for the standard car, although Nissan doesn't currently quote a 0-62mph time in the GT-R brochure. Rave reviews followed, and Nissan’s re-imagining of a little-known Japanese cult car born out of circuit racing in the late 1960s took the world by storm. A carefully propagated PR and marketing effort before and after the GT-R’s 2007 launch cast the bruising coupe as a manga-style superhero, and thanks to a formidable investment in engineering and technology, the new model’s performance exceeded the hype. The Nissan GT-R has done an epic job as the Japanese marque’s performance flagship, with few cars able to catch the imagination of young enthusiasts in quite the same way. If sheer point-to-point speed is your goal, however, the GT-R still takes some beating. The Nissan’s inflated price has put it up against talented rivals including the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage – both of which feel more special and nuanced. Grip levels are stupendous, traction is tenacious and the acceleration on tap is awe-inspiring thanks to its fearsome twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6.ĭespite its incredible performance, the GT-R feels a little dated next to a host of modern, more sophisticated rivals. The Nissan GT-R has been with us for over a decade, but over that time the Japanese sports car has evolved, increased in price and successfully remained in contention with the best cars in the class – at least from a performance standpoint.
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