2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nür

Wilu · Sob, 21.10.2006, 13:53

fast-autos.net napisał(a):

Although the car pictured in these photos was never officially imported into the States, any auto enthusiast worth his salt will be able to tell you what it is. Whether from Gran Turismo or Project Gotham Racing, the Skyline GT-R should be instantly recognizable to gamers. Some may even recall the racing victories these cars racked up overseas. But Americans were never able to walk into a showroom and buy one for themselves. The Skylines, perhaps because of this forbidden fruit quality have achieved such a mythic level of admiration that seeing one on these shores can make semi-grown men weep.

For those that might need a refresher course in all things Skyline, a brief recap beginning on the track. The earliest predecessor of the GT-R, the S54 2000 GT-B, finished second in its first race in 1964, behind only the Porsche 904 GTS race car. It went on to garner its fair share of wins. So Skylines have had a long association with racing and the winner’s circle. The subject of our feature, the brutally fast GT-R model, debuted in 1989 to compete in the Japan Touring Car (JTC) Group A racing series. The GT-R won every race it entered for 4 straight years with a record of 29 wins out of 29 races. By 1994 this dominance earned the Skyline its own racing class, the Japan GT car (JGTC) series.

During that time the GT-Rs were also run around Europe. The 1991 24 hours of NĂĽrburgring marked the first time a Skyline GT-R was entered officially and it won the Group N class. Later that year at the Spa Francorchamps 24-hour endurance race, the GT-R did even better, winning overall, in the process beating the more powerful Group A and Group N1 cars. Back at home the Skyline’s dominance was overwhelming. From 1991 -1997 the GT-R was undefeated in N1 endurance racing with 50 wins. And those wins translated into a lot of demand in Nissan showrooms.

When it debuted in 1989, the Nissan Skyline GT-R was dubbed "Godzilla" by Wheels magazine in Australia, and the nickname stuck. It was outlandish and powerful and so very Japanese. It provided performance and handling to rival Porsches and Ferraris, at a considerably lower price. In Japan the Skyline's closest competitors were the NSX, Supra, and RX-7, and later the EVO and WRX STi. None of these had that certain something that set the GT-R apart. From 1989 -1999 there were 3 models of Skyline GT-R produced - the R32, R33, and the R34. Each featured the RB26DETT engine, ATTESA E-TS all-wheel- drive system, and Nissan's Super HICAS four-wheel-steering system.

The engine in all but a few GT-Rs was a 2.6-liter, dohc, 24-valve, inline-6 with twin lightweight steel/ceramic turbos, and an intercooler pushing it to produce 276 hp @ 6800 rpm in stock trim, but capable of handling over 600 hp without internal modifications.

The ATTESA E-TS system is a big part of what makes the GT-R special. It is an ultra-sophisticated, electronically-controlled, all-wheel- drive system. Under normal conditions the car is essentially rear- wheel-drive, but when the computer senses a need, it automatically sends up to half of the torque to the front wheels. The Pro version of this system, available on the R33 and R34, includes a more aggressive computer map and an electronically-controlled, limited- slip differential in the rear end.

The Super HICAS system, activated when the vehicle reached 80 km/h, controlled steering of the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts to improve turn-in on entry into corners. Pretty impressive stuff today, let alone for 17 years ago. Improvements were made over the years and new features added. Special editions were common as well: V-Spec, V-Spec II, and our feature car, the V-Spec II NĂĽr.

The R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II, besides requiring a wider rear decklid to fit all those letters, featured a carbon-fiber hood with a NACA duct and bigger rear brakes. The NĂĽr variant (named after the famed NĂĽrburgring circuit) was basically a GT-R V-spec II with a more powerful N1 race-spec crate motor, larger drilled front brake discs, different rims, a different wing and a unique color scheme.

Even though our feature car is not an actual V-Spec II NĂĽr, it is very close. The only visual thing it is missing is the carbon fiber hood. And one of those is on its way from Japan. The engine is also supposed to be an N1 block, but this particular R34 sports a modified engine that has MORE power than the N1. A custom Nismo exhaust, the most expensive custom coil over shocks made by Quantum, and a full Nismo aero package round out the mods. It all adds up to one exhilarating ride.

Having sampled this beast’s bad behavior first hand, I can tell you that some Italian and German car owners are lucky Godzilla never officially visited America. This car’s movements are something of a Frankenstein hybrid of Gallardo and Noble, with some Lexus thrown in for good measure. Fast and grippy, with wonderful whooshes and pops from the turbocharged 2.6-liter straight-six under the hood. The car grips like PoliGrip® but still manages to soak up bumps with ease. A balance only the Germans have seemed to be able to achieve in most of their cars.

Acceleration is quick and provides all the right emotional appeal once you get used to shifting with the wrong hand. You’ll miss the upshift to second more times than you can imagine before you finally get used to the right-hand-drive peculiarity. Heck, you’ll walk to the passenger side of the car for months before you master that part of the equation. Most embarrassing are the times you actually get in and buckle up before realizing some wise guy has moved the steering wheel to the other side.

The brakes feel strong and well-modulated. Throttle and steering response are like a race car. The Skyline has a certain heft to it that makes it feel a tad bit portly, but its all-wheel-drive claws the pavement and sticks well beyond what you’d imagine possible, not unlike the baby Lambo. The turbo wastegate pops and ensuing whoosh sound just like the M12 GTO 3R, and the shove in the back makes you realize this isn’t any ordinary sports coupe. The cabin is well- appointed and pretty quiet considering the performance potential and wouldn’t look out of place in an IS350. It amounts to a unique driving experience that manages to blend these disparate systems into a smooth performance machine.

Not as raw as a Challenge Stradale or as polished as a 997S, the Skyline GT-R offers similar performance in a totally different flavor. Some would surely prefer the security of having a dealer network to back their performance machine’s needs, but that is part of the Skyline’s appeal. Daring to be different. Not following the crowd. Throwing your weight around, shooting flames and roaring out loud feels good sometimes and Nissan’s own Godzilla fits that bill perfectly.

Gallery:

Wallpaper:

(C) fast-autos

2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nür

Kto jest online