2008 Nissan GT-R - Godzilla Awakes On Steroids

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I find it extremely interesting to compare the sizes and designs between the 5th generation (1999–2002) R34 Skyline GT-R and the new R35 GT-R thanks to these photos from Jalopnik. It’s crazy how much larger the 2008 GT-R is when sized up behind (insert joke) the retired R34 Skyline.

When the Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R was released in 1989, it was rated by many motoring magazines, as providing performance and handling similar to that of European icons like the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari Testarossa, but at a considerably lower price.

The Porsche 959 was Nissan’s target when designing the Skyline R32 GT-R. The chief engineer, Naganori Itoh, intended to use the car for Group A racing, so the design specification was drawn up in conjunction with a copy of the Group A rules.

The R32 GT-R was introduced in the Australian Bathurst 1000 touring-car race to compete against GM Holden and Ford V8 saloons, winning in 1991 & 1992. This success led to the Australian motoring press naming the car Godzilla due to it being a “monster from Japan” and as Australia was the first export market for the car the name quickly spread.

To put Australian motoring press tag of “Godzilla - Monster from Japan” in perspective keep in mind that the R32 GT-R won against GM Holden and Ford V8 saloons with its RB26DETT 2.6 litre inline 6 Twin Turbo Engine… THATS PRETTY FUCKING RIDICULOUS and just goes to further exemplify how advanced this car and all its systems were at the time.

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The RB26DETT engine is a 2.6L Inline-6 engine manufactured by Nissan, for use primarily in the 1989-2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R. The RB26DETT engine block is made from Cast Iron, and the cylinder Head is made from aluminum. The cylinder head contains 24 valves (4 valves per cylinder), and uses a dual overhead camshaft setup. The engine also uses a parallel twin turbo system. The turbo system is arranged so that the front turbo is powered by the front 3 cylinders, and the rear turbo is powered by the rear 3 cylinders. The turbo chargers are of equal size, and are set by the waste gates to limit boost pressure to 14 psi, although the Skyline GT-R has a built in boost restrictor to keep boost under 7 psi.


It is often possible to produce 600hp without modification of the engine internals (by use of larger turbocharger, and either keeping the stock twin turbo arrangement, or using a single turbocharger).

With extreme modification, the RB26 motor is capable of power in excess of 1 megawatt (or over 1,340 hp). Again this engine is rediculous!!

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Previous GT-Rs have been based on Skyline sedans, but for the first time ever the GT-R is a standalone model sharing no sheetmetal as the R34. The GT-R was designed by Hiroshi Hasegawa (who penned the Infiniti G35 sedan and coupe) under the direction of Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s head of design, and it cuts a bold silhouette. Although it shares cues from the first GT-R prototype, which debuted in Tokyo in 2001, that version was deemed too smooth and not aggressive enough.


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Although the body is all new, the 2008 GT-R is based on a variation of the Front Midship (FM) platform that underpins the next generation Infiniti G35 Coupe. The logic behind this choice is clear: variations of the FM platform underpin a host of other Nissan/Infiniti products (everything from the 350Z to the FX45), and refining and re-purposing existing technology instead creating from scratch is how CEO Ghosn garnered his nickname, “Le Cost Killer.”

[Source: www.wikipedia.com, www.jalopnik.com, www.sportcompactcarweb.com]

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10 Responses to “2008 Nissan GT-R - Godzilla Awakes On Steroids”

  1. tony williams said on March 11th, 2008 at 2:51 am

    I WANT TO BUY YOUR NISSAN MOTO

  2. jak said on June 11th, 2008 at 5:35 am

    i’d still rather the old skykline. its better then my ea falcon

  3. Nissan Skyline R32 GT- said on July 7th, 2008 at 6:47 am

    i want this car
    can you give me gtr

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  10. Dave said on November 6th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    Decisions, Decisions…. Either way wins!! The good news is the new GT-R is here in the US!! Maybe an XC Cobra would be nice too!!

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