autoevolution
 

NISSAN GT-R Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 13
First production year: 1969
Engines: Gasoline
Body style: Coupé (two-door)
NISSAN GT-R photo gallery

Nissan introduced another facelift for its supercar-killer GT-R in early 2023 at the Tokyo Auto Show, improving the vehicle's look and refining its ride qualities.

Introduced in 2007 as a 2008 model year, the fifth generation of this Japanese sports car lost the Skyline nameplate and kept only the GT-R. At the time of its launch, it was a huge surprise and proved that Nissan could beat Porsche and Lamborghini at their own games. But, unfortunately, Nissan didn't come up with a new generation for the vehicle in more than 15 years. Instead, it chose to update it and upgrade it little by little.

For the 2024 model year, the GT-R received a new aerodynamic upgrade that improved the car's downforce despite keeping the same drag coefficient of 0.26. That was possible by narrowing the front grille between the bumper and the hood and installing a thinner mesh. Nissan offered the supercar in three trim levels: GT-R Premium, T-Spec, and the GT-R NISMO, which was also the most powerful of them.

At first sight, the vehicle's interior design didn't go through an essential upgrade. Still, the Nappa-wrapped dashboard and the new seats offered a glimpse of the car's new features. Atop the center stack, Nissan installed an 8" infotainment unit that featured Apple CarPlay. In addition, for specific markets, it also featured satellite radio. To further enhance the sound, Nissan worked together with Bose for the 11-speaker system.

Under the hood, the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 produced 565 hp (573 PS), which it sent in all corners via the acclaimed ATTESA ET-S all-wheel-drive system.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN GT-R photo gallery

The iconic Nissan GT-R R35 was launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 as a 2009 model and it received further updates. The 2017 version received a new interior and 20 hp more than before.

The Japanese car-manufacturer Nissan built the GT-R name over the years and, in 2007, it showed the R35, which was offered for the first time with both left and right-hand drive. The car was so advanced, that it stole the crown of Nurburgring King from the Porsche 911 Turbo. But the evolution had to continue.

The 2017 version was based on the same Nissan Midship Premium platform and its shape was almost the same as 10 years before. The Nissan designers couldn't do something better than that, or they didn't have the budget to do it. But they did what they could to enhance both the look and the performances. For the outside, there was a new front bumper installed, with new air-scoops on the sides and, inside the scoops, there was the DRL.

Major improvements were made inside the cabin. The GT-R was meant to be both comfortable and fast. But the luxury was not a key element in the process. In 2016, the designers fixed that. The redesigned cabin featured a premium interior, to fit the high-performance sports car. The dashboard was new, with an instrument panel wrapped in a single, seamless piece of hand-selected Nappa leather. On the center console, the car featured a new 8" touch-screen infotainment system that could connect to Apple CarPlay.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN GT-R (R35) - Facelift photo gallery

When Nissan unveiled the car at the Tokyo Auto Show in 2007, the car enthusiast world was set on fire. The look of the car and the on-paper specs were in the super-cars league, but at half the price.

The history of the GT-R badge goes back in time to the '60s, when it was used by Prince, a former Japanese name that merged with the Datsun-Nissan. Over time, the cars that wore the Skyline GT-R badges became more and more powerful and with the addition of the ATESSA E-TS all-wheel-drive system, it was even faster.

The 2007 GT-R lost the “Skyline” name but it offered the expected performances. It could stay side-by-side with cars like Ferrari F430, Porsche Turbo or Lamborghini Gallardo. In 2011, the facelift brought more power and a better look for the vehicle. The front bumper included the LED daytime running lights and in the rear, a new diffuser was installed to improve the air-flow underneath the car. Bigger wheels with new designs were installed.

On the inside, the car-maker improved the material's quality and the infotainment system. Like before, it was used for measuring various car performances and also for the audio and navigation system. The 2011 model featured an iPod connectivity and USB port in addition to the HDD installed. It featured a Bose sound system.

The twin-turbo V6 engine was upgraded from 500 hp in 2009 to 530 in 2012 and up to 545 in 2016 But since the engine was hand-built, each car had a different real power. The Nissan stated the least power a car would offer.

REVIEW: 2016 Nissan GT-R   full description and technical specifications
NISSAN GT-R (R35) photo gallery

The GT-R badge was used for the first time in 1969 when Nissan released the 2.0-liter Nissan Skyline.

The Nissan GT-R R35 was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 and entered the European market one year later.

The all new GT-R’s engine was hand-built by only 4 mechanics that were specially trained to do this.

The engines were a 6-cylinder twin turbo V6 with 480 hp that rocketed the GT-R to 100 kph in just 3.6 seconds. And guess what, it only took 37 meters for the car to come to a full stop. The car had a top speed of 193 mph.

The supercar had a dual-clutch transmission that was based on the Formula 1 technology. The GT-R was offered with an electronically controlled all-wheel-drive.

With all its characteristics pointing to a track car, Nissan let the buyers know that the GT-R is suitable for different types of roads and could be driven by anyone due to its automatic transmission, and moreover, it had no problem being in the traffic. It had a reduced fuel consumption if the Race mode was not activated.

The exterior design indicated a heavy, muscular car – which was true – but was designed with an extreme attention to every line, and even the side mirrors were built to channel the air to the rear spoiler.

A supercar is expected to perform impeccably while high-speed-cornering, but the GT-R was extremely fast in straight lines as well.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R34) photo gallery

Arguably one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars of all time, the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 has gathered a cult following worldwide. It encompasses 40 years of automotive development, and it's only getting more popular 30 years after production ended.

Ten years before Nissan introduced the R34, its predecessor, the R32 GT-R, had already gotten the nickname of Godzilla, and rightly so. It was the beginning of a golden age for Japanese sports cars, and GT-Rs could take on and even outpace most European and American rivals. Compared to the R32 and R33 GT-Rs, the R34 had a shorter production window. That also means there are fewer of them around. Nissan sold over 64,000 Skylines between 1998 to 2001, but only a small fraction of those were worthy of the Godzilla nickname.

Between 1999 to 2002, 11,578 GT-Rs left the factory in Musashimurayama. Nineteen of those cars would return to Nissan for a special upgrade, but we'll talk about that in a minute. There are over a dozen variations of the R34 GT-R, including Series 1, Series 2, V-Spec, and M-Spec models. Some were more brutal than others featuring several weight reduction upgrades and more, and there's also a difference in production numbers. Finding a V-Spec II isn't exactly a walk in the park, with 1,855 units built in total.

But getting a V-Spec II N1 is about 100 times more difficult. Nissan even made two models to celebrate the car's connection with the Nurburgring race track, where it had undergone extensive testing. Codename V-Spec II Nur and M-Spec Nur, the Japanese manufacturer, built these cars for those who wanted to go either sprint or endurance racing.

A product of a bygone era, all R34 GT-Rs featured six-speed manual transmissions, which became a thing of the past with the launch of the R35 GT-R. Unlike the more entry-level Skylines, the BNR34 benefitted from AWD and a fancy system at that. The ATTESA (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain) ET-S Pro featured torque-splitting capabilities that could make even an average driver feel like a pro. With AWD, the R34 GT-R was nowhere near as light as a Mazda RX-7, for instance, weighing over 3,400 lbs (1,542 kg).

But at its core was something that made that extra weight redundant: the RB26DETT. Nissan had first used this 2.6-liter, twin-turbocharged, inline-six powerplant over a decade before introducing the R34. Of course, plenty of refinements and upgrades came along in time, with each generation even more potent than the previous one.

The last "Godzilla" of the 20th century featured upgraded ball-bearing turbos, providing phenomenal throttle response in an age where most boosted cars struggled with turbo-lag. The GT-R had a maximum theoretical output of 276 horsepower with the Japanese Gentlemen Agreement. But several independent tests have often claimed that the figure was somewhere north of 320 horsepower instead. With forged pistons and a cast iron block, the tuning potential for the RB26DETT is phenomenal.

Reportedly, you can safely upgrade it to 500 or even 600 horsepower without worrying about complete engine failure. Of course, it doesn't have to end there, and some users have quoted upgrades of around $20,000 to reach 1,000 horsepower with the R34 GT-R. But most Godzilla enthusiasts will tell you that the ultimate model came out of the Omori factory almost 20 years ago.

Nineteen cars were brought in for a particular host of upgrades that took performance levels up to 493 horsepower and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque. The Nismo Z-Tune is undoubtedly one of the most amazing GT-Rs of all time, as Nissan imbued it with technology derived from their GT500 and LeMans GT2 cars. The RB26DETT was now an RB28 with upgraded turbos and could launch the Z-Tune from a standstill to 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.8 seconds.

Meanwhile, Wangan worshippers were even more excited to learn that it had a top speed of 203 mph (327 kph). All this happened in 2003 when a 911 Turbo S would top out at 197 mph (317 kph). But few people will ever drive, let alone own a Z-Tune, with prices now in the seven-figure range, similar to most iconic supercars that are 20 years old. That's not to say that a regular R34 GT-R is cheap by any means, as prices have been soaring in recent years, and there's no sign of change for the future.

Although this is an unofficial result, it is said that the R34 GT-R lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 52 seconds, with Kazuo Shimizu behind the wheel. If you can finish a lap around the North Loop in less than eight minutes today, you can consider yourself a fast driver. But achieving that result more than 20 years ago must have been phenomenal.

Just look at it this way: that same year, a Ferrari 360 Modena needed eight minutes and nine seconds for the whole lap. A Porsche 911 Turbo was four seconds slower than the R34 GT-R one year later. And in 2014, one famous journalist lapped the Nordchsleife in a BMW M4 at the same time that Nissan's creation did a decade and a half earlier. The R34 GT-R can boast many more motorsport achievements. And a deep dive into the All Japan Touring Car Championship would reveal some impressive results in the GT500 class, culminating with Masashi Motoyama's title in 2003.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) photo gallery

There are not many cars built in Japan that gathered so much attention such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34. And the 1999 V-Spec was even better.

The Skyline GT-R started its career way back in the '60s. But the real evolution of the model started in 1989 with the introduction of the third-generation R32. That generation saw the introduction of the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system, which will define the future GT-R models in the future, including the R34.

In 1999, Nissan launched the fifth generation of the Skyline GT-R. Right from the beginning, it also introduced the V-Spec version. From the outside, it had some specific details. There were more air-intakes in the front bumper then were the extracting air-scoops on the hood and in the upper back of the front fenders. The widened body with flared fenders was part of the Nissan GT-R design cult. In the rear, on the trunk, there was a carbon-fiber adjustable wing. A carbon-fiber diffuser was installed in the back. For the cars imported in the U.K., full underbody diffusers were installed.

Inside, there were two bucket-seats in the front with high bolstered sides. In the rear, there were two seats installed. The special TFT screen on top of the center console was showing various car statuses such as the boost pressure, G-Force (for acceleration, braking and side). The V-Spec added the temperature for the intake and exhaust gas.

From the performance point of view, the ATESSA E-TS Pro system was different than on the other GT-R versions. The limited-slip differential in the back was electronically controlled to improve traction, unlike the mechanical differential on the GT-R. The V-Spec also had a firmer suspension than the regular version.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R33) photo gallery

The fourth generation of the GT-R appeared in 1995, and even though it wasn't a major upgrade compared to its predecessor, it represented an essential step toward the GT-R R34.

Part of the Skyline family, the GT-R R33 was the wild child. For starters, it was a coupe and got all the good things from its predecessor, the R32 Skyline GT-R. Yet, it was less brutal, and somehow it was tamed. It tried to be both a decent personal coupe and a sports car.

In the bio-design trend, the exterior received organic lines with shaved corners, soft curves, and not a single wedged shape. Moreover, even the front bumper that featured a broad center grille in the apron didn't look too aggressive. Yet, one of the most essential statements made by the carmaker was replacing the Nissan logo from the main grille with a GT-R badge. The profile revealed a simple, clean design of a coupe with a decently sized window behind the doors and a raked-forward C-pillar. Out back, the GT-R got a big wing on the trunk's lid. In the back, the quad, round taillights were already emblematic.

Inside, the automaker kept almost the same interior as in a regular Skyline sedan or wagon, although it made a few modifications. For instance, the sports seats were high-bolstered. On the center stack, Nissan placed three additional gauges for front torque distribution, turbo pressure, and oil temperature. Moreover, besides the regular information, the GT-R got an oil-pressure gauge in the instrument cluster. Still, the standard steering wheel looked like it was carried over from a Maxima. The GT-R also offered a pair of seats in the back, and these were also bolstered on the sides, which was unusual.

Under the hood, it was still the same RB26 engine that sent the power in all corners via a five-speed manual. Likewise, it was the same drivetrain used by the GT-R R32.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R33) photo gallery

Nissan introduced the fourth generation of the Skyline GT-R nameplate in 1995, and it was available in two trim levels: the GT-R and the V-Spec.

With the V-Spec version, the carmaker succeeded in an astonishing performance by lowering the Nurburgring lap time to under eight minutes. Dirk Shoysman, a professional racing driver, managed to get 7m59s887” around the famous German track, also known as the “Green Hell.” He did that in a GT-R V-Spec. The V-Spec came from its predecessor, the R32 when that name symbolized the “Victory-Specification,” which was applied to the upgraded cars that won the Group N and Group A racing categories in Japan.

Unlike the rest of the GT-R range, this version also received a few particular visual upgrades, such as the wider lower grille and the side scoops that cooled the brakes. In addition, another set of vents was placed on the specific Nismo bumper, flanking the license plate. Furthermore, the hood was made from aluminum to lighten the front of the car. Last but not least, it was fitted with 17” light-alloy BBS wheels.

Like its predecessor, the R32 V-Spec, the 1995 model came fitted with dual airbags, which became mandatory in Japan. The sport seats with integrated headrests and high-bolstered areas were also fitted as standard.

But the most important part of the car was underneath the shiny bodywork. Its stiffer and lowered suspension was needed for higher-speed cornering. In addition, the car was fitted with the ATTESA E-TS Pro all-wheel drive system that featured an intelligent center differential that sent the power to the axle with the best available grip. Under the hood, the carmaker installed the same RB26DETT inline-six powerplant that was declared as offering 280 PS (276 hp).

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R32) photo gallery

After successfully introduced the R32 series, Nissan built a special version to get a homologation to race the vehicle in various championships.

Nissan introduced the Skyline R32 in 1989 to compete in the Group A racing series in Japan and other countries where it dominated the race-tracks. In fact, it demolished its competitors in Australia until the race-rules were changed and banned all-wheel-drive vehicles from Group A. The same story was applied for Audi in the U.S. The GT-R V-Spec version was the one that brought more joy for the drivers. Nissan built only 2800 units of the V-Spec version.

There was a different skirt at the front and a different wing in the back on the outside. For the V-Spec version, Nissan installed 17” light-alloy-wheels with a specific, twin five-spoke design. Its side skirt was wider than on a regular GT-R, and the rear flared wheel-arches made the car wider. It managed to stay inside the same overall dimensions as the regular version due to the door-mirrors.

Inside, the car featured a pair of race-bucket seats with integrated headrests and passage-through for a four-point harness, even though the carmaker sold the car with regular, three-point seatbelts. In the back, it was the standard bench profiled for two passengers. In the instrument cluster, Nissan installed a gauge showing the amount of torque sent to the front wheels.

Under the hood, the V-Spec featured the same RB26, twin-turbo engine. It was officially rated at 276 hp, but in reality, all of them were making over 300. Otherwise, it was hard to believe that the car could do a 0 to 60 mph (0-100 kph) run in less than five seconds.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R32) photo gallery

The Nissan Skyline R32 was part of a long-range of performance vehicles made in Japan. The GT-R was introduced in 1989 after a long break.

In 1973, Nissan axed the Skyline GT-R performance model from its lineup. The times of oil crisis were on and the car manufacturers had to focus more on economy cars and the GT-R was not even close. But the Japanese car-manufacturer revived the GT-R name in 1989. It was designed to dominate the Group A class racing. But, to put the car on the starting grid, it had to build the series model.

The bodywork was a sleek, two-door coupe. To fully comply with the regulations, the car had to be fitted with wider tires. That was why the fenders were enlarged, giving the car a more aggressive stance. A short trunk lid and a spoiler on it completed the car's silhouette. For the headlights, Nissan chose to go wit square looking elements, that were easier to repair if any damage occurred on the racetrack. The rear taillights were rounded and carried over from the regular, 4-door Skyline.

Inside, the car featured four seats but only for insurance purposes. The rear legroom was not so important, especially for the race version that was fitted with only the driver's seat. A simple dash design with straight-forward lines and a 6-dials instrument cluster was adopted. A particular gauge was on the top right side of the instrument cluster showed the torque sent to the front wheels.

The engine was an inline-six unit with a 2.6-liter displacement and twin-turbo. The all-wheel-drive system was new and it was specially developed for racing.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R (C110) photo gallery

Nissan produced the second generation of the Skyline GT-R in 197 units before it cut it from the assembly lines due to newer emission standards.

Nissan unveiled the C110 Skyline at the 1972 Tokyo Motor Show, but the sales started next year. It was a big gamble with the Japanese rules and regulations, which the carmaker lost. It was the last GT-R until the 1989 model, the mighty R32.

Unlike its predecessor, the C110 featured a fastback coupe shape. Shinichiro Sakurai designed the car as a sport vehicle. It was no longer a two-door version of a sedan. He took his inspiration from American and European sports cars from those times. The front fascia sported a dual-headlights system, with four headlamps in individual clusters. Nissan didn't put its name on the mesh-grille and left only the black and red GT-R badge. From its side, the car resembled the fastback shape of the Mustang Mach 1, with a similar window line but scaled down. Its back panel sported only the Skyline nameplate but not the company's logo.

Inside, the carmaker installed two bucket seats at the front separated by a center console with a storage compartment. In the back, even though there was a bench, it was suitable only for children or small dogs. The instrument cluster featured an aluminum panel and seven clusters for the dials and gauges.

Under the hood, Nissan installed a masterpiece, inline-six engine. Its two-liter displacement provided 160 hp, and it was fed through three double-barrel horizontal carburetors. It was the exact solution adopted by some European racing cars from that era. A five-speed manual sent the power to the rear wheels. The GT-R featured disc brakes in all corners, which was unusual for a Japanese car.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R (KPGC-10) photo gallery

In 1966, Nissan bought the small Japanese company named Prince, that had a long history in motor racing.

And together they developed a special, four-door sedan: it was the Skyline GT-R.

The Prince company tried to win over the Porsche 904 but they failed in 1964. In 1965 Prince developed a special, mid-engine, race-car named Nissan R380 that won against the Porsche 906 in 1966 at the Japanese Grand Prix. The engine that propelled the R380 was installed in a four-door sedan: the Skyline.

Its look was simple for those times. It was a three-box sedan with four round headlights. Nothing special would tell the bystanders that under the hood was a true racing engine. In 1971, Nissan decided to launch a coupe version for the four-door Skyline. The coupe featured a slightly different styling, with a sloped roof and wider C-pillars.

Inside, the car started to reveal its true racing-inspired DNA. The bucket seats, the 5-speed manual, and the instrument cluster that featured a tachometer were some of the clues. The car was large enough for four adults, even if its wheelbase was shorter by 70 mm (2.75”) than the regular sedan version.

The technical department was the most interesting part of the 1971 Nissan Skyline GT-R (KPGC-10). It featured an inline-six engine with dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. It offered 160 hp, which was a huge number for that era. Soon, the local tuners understood that the power could have been increased above 200 hp with the proper setup, carburetors, and headers. The independent suspension in all four corners and the limited-slip differential to the rear axle were part of the race-inspired components. It was fitted with front disc brakes and rear drums.

full description and technical specifications
NISSAN Skyline GT-R (PGC-10) photo gallery

In 1966, Nissan bought the small Japanese company named Prince, that had a long history in motor racing. And together they developed a special, four-door sedan: it was the Skyline GT-R.

The Prince company tried to win over the Porsche 904 but they failed in 1964. In 1965 Prince developed a special, mid-engine, race-car named Nissan R380 that won against the Porsche 906 in 1966 at the Japanese Grand Prix. The engine that propelled the R380 was installed in a four-door sedan: the Skyline. It was unusual for those days to have a performance car under a regular sedan body. But the recipe worked well and the Skyline GT-R from that first-generation won dozens of races.

Its look was simple for those times. It was a three-box sedan with four round headlights. Nothing special would tell the bystanders that under the hood was a true racing engine. Only in 1971, Nissan decided to launch a coupe version for the four-door Skyline.

Inside, the car started to reveal its true racing-inspired DNA. The bucket seats, the 5-speed manual, and the instrument cluster that featured a tachometer were some of the clues. The car was large inside, and it was the most desirable Japanese car in Japan from those times.

The technical department was the most interesting part of the 1969 Nissan Skyline GT-R (PGC10). It featured an inline-six engine with dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. It offered 160 hp, which was a huge number for that era. Soon, the local tuners understood that the power could have been increased above 200 hp with the proper setup, carburetors, and headers. The front independent suspension and the limited-slip differential to the rear axle were part of the race-inspired components. It was fitted with front disc brakes and rear drums.

full description and technical specifications