See Nissan Skyline GT-R for information on the GT-previous R’s iterations. See Nissan GT-R LM Nismo for information on the prototype racing vehicle bearing the Nissan GT-R name.
Nissan’s high-performance sports car and grand tourer, the Nissan GT-R (Japanese: Ri Chan GT-R, Nissan GT-R), was introduced in 2007. It is the replacement for the high-performance Nissan Skyline version known as the Skyline GT-R. Despite being the sixth-generation GT-R model, this car is no longer in the Nissan Skyline model portfolio because the term is now only used for Nissan’s luxury-sport cars. The Nissan PM platform, which was designed particularly for the GT-R and is an improved version of the Nissan FM platform used in the Nissan Skyline luxury vehicle and the Nissan Z sports car, is the foundation on which the GT-R is constructed. Gran Turismo-Racing, the acronym for which was coined from the Skyline GT-R, is what GT-R stands for.
Because the GT-R will be sold all over the world, as opposed to its predecessors, which were solely available in Japan, then-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn decided that the GT-R would become a global emblem for the Nissan brand.
Along with the PM platform and the specially developed VR38DETT engine, the production version of the GT-R debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show also had a number of additional cutting-edge innovations. Steel, aluminum, and premium materials like carbon fiber make up the body as a whole. Due to newer legal changes, the GT-R has been withdrawn in the European and Australian markets after 15 years of manufacturing.
In This Article...
What Does GT-R in the Nissan GT-R Stand For?
Some of the best vehicles to ever come out of Japan are various iterations of the Nissan GT-R. They have a cult-like following and are considered as performance automobile icons.
Gran Turismo Racing is the meaning behind the moniker GT-R. Although Nissan’s vehicles aren’t the only ones with the GT-R/GTR badge, they are frequently associated with the designation. BMW, McLaren, Mercedes, and even Isuzu are just a few of the manufacturers who have given their vehicles the “GTR” treatment.
Amazing Automobiles with GTR Badges
The term GTR, often known as “Gran Turismo Racer,” has only been used for the most revered vehicles in recent years. Whether British, Italian, German, or Japanese, GTR is a badge that must be won; it can never be purchased. On paper, the new Mercedes-AMG GT R appears to be worthy, but what other vehicles bearing the mark are proven successes? Seven of the greatest GTRs ever constructed have been compiled, each with a unique motorsport and road-going history.
These high-performance coupes, which range from the original Skyline GT-R to the modern Nissan GT-R R35 and Mercedes-AMG GT R, are well recognized and adored by aficionados.
To stand out from the crowd and be regarded as a timeless icon in the cutthroat world of high-performance sports vehicles and supercars, it takes a really unique combination of characteristics and skills. Gran Turismo Racing, the abbreviation for Gran Turismo Racing, refers to the Nissan Skyline GT-combination R’s of a potent twin-turbo engine, cutting-edge all-wheel-drive system, and regular success in numerous touring car competitive events. One of the most sought-after high-performance JDM vehicles ever produced is the GT-R.
A rear-wheel-drive sedan without turbochargers, the original 1969 Nissan Skyline GT-R had a small 2.0-liter DOHC inline 6-cylinder engine that produced 160 horsepower. The 1973 model of the second-generation Skyline GT-R switched to a two-door coupe body type with a noticeable rear spoiler, but due to a global oil crisis and high petrol prices, production was halted after only one year since it didn’t sell well.
The third-generation Skyline GT-R was the first to include an inline 6-cylinder engine with twin turbochargers and a sophisticated AWD transaxle, known as ATTESA E-TS, and it was released in 1989. The amount of horsepower was 376 hp. This generation’s Skyline (R32) special edition Nissan GT-R Nismo model won the Japanese Touring Car Championship race series, gaining the moniker “Godzilla” because of its domination on the race track and Japanese heritage.
Although the R34 GT-R, introduced in 1999, switched from a five-speed to a six-speed manual transmission and added a carbon fiber hood to the limited-production V-Spec II version, the next generation Skyline GT-R, known as the R33, debuted in 1994 and continued with the twin-turbo inline 6-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive formula. The following edition of Nissan’s performance vehicle wore a straightforward GT-R badge, making this the last generation of the GT-R to have the word “Skyline” in its model designation.
The most recent Nissan GT-R R35 model was unveiled in 2007 at the Tokyo Motor Show and was for the first time made available for purchase globally. The current R35 GT-R introduced a number of powertrain improvements, including the first V6 engine for the brand, known as the VR38DETT, and a new dual-clutch transmission, the first automatic transmission to be offered in a GT-R.
The R35 Nissan GT-supercar R’s status is attributed to lightweight alloy wheels, four wheel Brembo brakes, and a launch control system, but upscale features like enhanced connection and a Bose audio system provide a Nissan GT-R premium experience. The current GT-R has been available in a number of limited editions over the past 14 years, including the Nismo, Black Edition, and Track Edition models, and is the company’s highest performance production car.
The GT-first R’s 2008 model has 480 horsepower, and the most recent iteration has 565 horsepower. In terms of acceleration, lap times, and highest speeds, these numbers have maintained the Nissan GT-R competitive with European supercars like the Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo, McLaren 12C, and Porsche 911 Turbo. The Nissan GT-R can rival expensive European supercars while routinely costing tens of thousands less, much like the Chevrolet Corvette.