“Mythical” is a term that is used quite liberally, but the Nissan GT-R makes a decent case for deserving the term. The current R35 is a known quantity, having been sold in international markets (not ours, unfortunately) since the start, but barring limited sales in a few countries such as Australia, the preceding Skyline GT-R was only ever offered officially in Japan.
Despite this, the car’s turbocharged engine and advanced all-wheel drive technology ensured almost total motorsports dominance – both in Japan and around the world – ensured that word of its latent performance spread far and wide, earning it the nickname “Godzilla.” Now, Nissan’s new video series explores a tiny bit of the GT-R nameplate’s vast heritage in short snippets.
The first video touches on the R32 Skyline GT-R’s infamous success in Australian motorsports – it dominated the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), winning three years in a row from 1990 to 1992. This situation came to a head at the rain-soaked Bathurst 1000 endurance race in 1992, which was stopped early, shortly after the leading GT-R driven by Jim Richards and Mark Skaife crashed out.
The leader on the preceding lap would be classified the winner, which meant that it was Richards and Skaife who stood at the top step at the podium despite ending the race with a damaged car, amid boos from the local Holden and Ford fans. In the end, the ATCC banned turbocharging and four-wheel drive in 1993, effectively ending the Godzilla’s era Down Under.
But while regulations ended the car’s domination on the track, it only sought to conquer the streets. The GT-R practically became the face of street racing – the focus of Nissan’s second film – leading to it being a star on movies like the Fast and Furious film series.
Another place where the GT-R dominated was at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, where the R35 model clinched the production lap record several times – even after Porsche claimed that Nissan falsified its lap times. Its latest record is 7 minutes 8.679 seconds, achieved in the uprated GT-R Nismo.
The latest 2017 model year GT-R gets several upgrades, including a rejigged exterior design and a completely revised interior with higher-quality materials and new infotainment technologies. Refinement has also been improved thanks to Active Noise Cancellation, an acoustic windscreen and a revised six-speed dual-clutch transmission with smoother shifts and less noise.
Performance hasn’t been neglected, however – the venerable VR38DETT 3.8 litre twin-turbo V6 now makes 15 hp and 3 Nm more at 565 hp at 6,800 rpm and 633 Nm from 3,300 to 5,800 rpm, while the chassis has been upgraded with a stiffer body structure and a retuned suspension.
GALLERY: 2017 Nissan GT-R
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If I have only two choices: I will choose a GT-R over a Lexux Sportscar (cannot remember the name, RC or something like that?).
Dual-clutch transmissions, they are good to drive.
Nissan syok sendiri lagi. The specially-tuned GTR makes 7:08 … but standard Porsche 918 makes 11s faster at 6:57
Yea yea okay 918 is faster. But how much does the R35 cost compared to the 918?
The GT-R is basically categorised as a “Sports car”, while the 918 is a freaking “hypercar”. A sports cars 11s behind a hypercar is freaking lejendary. Don’t play play.
Why the GTR is so expensive here? THanks to Proton and its RM1.5bil pocket money!
GTR is oso expensive in jepunis overlordsland lah! My kakis there says as long as their skylines still can run, they wun change to GTR cuz its too much
The GT-R is not just legendary, it is a religion.
GTR, a true monster car. For me, whenever I heard ppl talked about GTR, in my mind, it is a Nissan monster supercar. There are so many cars named as GTR but this one is so special.
Move on lah Nissan. Forgot to mention it is also the oldest GT-R still in production since 2007. Yes people, 10 bloody years! Even Bugatti moved on after 10 years making Veyron. Next.
Moving on la soysauce. Year 2018 R36. That will be the lejen of the lejen
Why so black (kicap) comments? Everyone loves GTR.
Johnathan…it’s not ‘mythical’ it’s ‘legendary’.
Mythical implies that it may not be true.. Legendary says- an achievement for the ages. The GT-R really did kick major ass. It’s all true. It became a legend not a myth.
Let the debate begin;
GT-R VS Supra, which is better?
R34 win
Haha is that why Paul Walker change to R34 in 2Fast 2 Furious? Not the Supra back in the first movie. Then later on R35 :)
Untested Biza > all. Cuz its untested.
TMJ wins. Already own both maa. Stop dreaming la peasant.
Another Debate:
GT-R VS NSX, Which is better?
My special package Biza. Jangan persoal
The racing world today is slightly boring place when 4WD cars had to compete in non original RWD form (e.g Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, Lambo Gallardo). The governing bodies could have done something to make AWD on par with RWD car in terms of overall performance (e.g air restrictor, weight ballast, etc..)
Cintaku hanya padamu..walaupun kulihat engkau dr jauh aku tetap menunggumu…love u gtr
GT-R is the lejen!
Apa itu lejen lejen? IKEA cabinet LEJEN izzit? Kids these days…haih
(godzilla)..
I remember when the gt-r proto was unveiled at the 2007 NAIAS. EVERYBODY there forgot about other cars on the spot. It was unbelievable. GOJIRA!!!!!!
Apologies all.. the unveiling was at tokyo motor show 2005, not at 2007 NAIAS, old age issues.
Here we have the Almera which is one of the supercars on Msia roads. The other supercars are myvi , picanto and axia…
What to do?
Yes GTR had broken the lap record, race wins. Hell it will beat a Porsche and Ferrari any day. The only thing it fails to beat is the sales numbers. Porsche and Ferrari still sell more cars than the Nissan GTR.