Nissan Skyline GTR: A Racer That Is Affordable

By: Adrian Adams
If you’ve ever eyed a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari Testarossa, but thought the price was too steep, the Nissan Skyline GTR is a sports coupe that is considered reasonably priced. The Nissan Skyline GTR made headlines through the 70s and 90s as a Japanese-made car that quickly gained the respect of numerous car-related publications.

A wide-range of motoring magazines noted the performance and handling capacity of this particular vehicle, which earned a place beside European industry greats. When it comes to competitors in the business, the Nissan Skyline GTR was often compared to the Toyota Supra, Mitsubishi Lancer, Honda NSX, as well as the Mazda RX-7. Owning one of the earlier models delivers a nice piece of history.

Throughout the years, the Skyline brand of cars has a history that is actually connected to a different auto company from Nissan. The Prince automobile company was the first business to establish and create a variety of Skyline sedans. All of this came to an end when a merger involving Nissan-Datsun occurred. The naming of the GTR in the Nissan Skyline GTR brand name stands for Gran Turismo Racer. A hyphen was added to separate and make emphasis on the ’racer’ part of the name.



Soon, the car gained a reputation on the market, breeding additional models. The next GTR brought the public the PGC10 2000 GTR, which offered four doors. A two-door version of the automobile was created next and given the name, the KPGC10. The car also became a fixture on the racing scene. In a timeframe of one and a half years, the car had 33 victories under its belt. By the time the car was discontinued in 1972, the car had earned a total of 1000 wins. In Zama, you may visit the last of the original GTRs, which faired rather poorly in sales due to an energy crisis that stretched across the globe. Less than 200 sales of the KPGC110 2000GT-R were noted.

In 1989, after a spell from production, the KPGC110 Skyline GTR was reintroduced to the public as the Nissan Skyline R32. Advanced technology set it ahead of the competition, including on-demand four-wheel drive capabilities. The car was also reasonably priced at about $31,000. Throughout the 90’s, the Skyline GTR model blossomed, gaining a wealth of popularity, which was mostly in part to real wheel drive. To date, a new GTR has yet to become released. The last time a renovated version hit the scene came in 2002.

The Future of the Nissan Skyline GTR Line

As news traveled, it is said that an international Nissan GTR model will appear on the market by the end of 2007, showcasing a 2008 model. The traditional formula that once graced previous GTR versions will be no more. Many different modifications will be made, including deviations from the body type and sedan-style. The ’Skyline’ will also become absent from the naming of this new car model.

The slight changes that appeared in the R32 through R42 models of the Skyline GTR will also fade. An aggressive approach towards design will also be seen through the newer model. Nissan plans to introduce a car that no longer presents the traditional straight-6 engine, but offers consumers a twin-turbocharged V6. As for the registration of trademarks, the new GTR models will appear in Japan, Australia, Canada, and Europe, offering models to accommodate both left-handed and right-handed drivers. Also, in Japan, for the newer GTR models to thrive, they must also pass newer, tougher emission laws.

When it comes to marketing, the newer GTR models like the Skyline will carry along advertisements that promote the vehicle as being able to provide many advancements in car technology. During the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005, Nissan revealed a prototype for their new GTR line. Only a couple of changes to the unveiled concept is said to take place.

If you’ve ever owned or fell in love with the design and characteristics of the Nissan Skyline GTR, you might want to take a look at some of the enhancements that the new GTR will provide. To view the production version of the latest GTR, you should keep an eye out for the press coverage involving the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, as the car is primed for a final launch within the Japanese market during the fall of 2007. In Spring 2006, the latest GTR will make an appearance in the United States market.