The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is a legend before it even enters production. The name GT-R (for grand turismo racer) has been legendary in Japan since 1969 when Datsun applied the Skyline GT-R moniker to a four-door sedan. That car went on to win 36 races in four years, then disappeared. The name was reborn in 1989 as an all-wheel-drive production sports coupe with supercar performance. The last Skyline GT-R was offered in 2003.
The 2009 GT-R represents a multi-purpose supercar with unique high-performance technologies that accommodate drivers of all skills. The GT-R has a top speed of 193 mph, going 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. The 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 and all-new dual clutch 6-speed paddle shift transmission produces 480 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 430 lb-ft of torque from 3,200-5,200 rpm. The driver can select the Normal Mode for “daily driving”, the R-Mode for “high-performance” with a quickened shift time, and the Snow Mode that locks the AWD system at standing start for smooth starts in rain or snow, reducing throttle response. I’m just scratching the surface. Before taking off, the driver must also choose among three different settings for suspension calibration and shift speed as well as the level of intervention for the traction control system.
Since then, more prototypes of the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R with sheet metal nearly identical to the GT-R Proto have been often seen at the Nürburgring and in America’s Southwest, usually in the company of at least one Porsche 911 Turbo. It’s that 480-hp, all-wheel-drive Porsche that Nissan is obviously using as its performance benchmark for this car.
What most people don’t realize or don’t choose to focus on with this newsworthy vehicle, is that the GT-R, in addition to being a supercar, was also designed for usability. The GT-R comes with all-wheel drive and an adjustable all-independent suspension. The front suspension is an upper and lower A-arm setup and the rear is a five-link. Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system delivers half the power to the front and half to the rear under 25 mph and in slippery conditions.
It was built to be a supercar you could actually take on trips, with a huge trunk that can accommodate at least two golf bags. The rear bucket seats are also usable. The touch-screen navigation also interfaces with a state-of-the-art entertainment system with a Music Box Hard Drive, CD player, and Bluetooth hands-free phone system.
Nissan designed the GT-R to keep weight down and make it as slippery as possible. The 0.27 drag coefficient allows the power to move the car forward without having to work so hard to fight wind resistance. Getting comfortable in this dragon slayer is deceptively easy. There are only two controls for the positioning of the electric seat and two latches to unlock before adjusting the tilt and telescopic steering wheel. To reduce the final weight, Nissan used aluminum for the inner doors and several suspension components and carbon fiber for the driveshafts, front crash structure, and rear diffuser.
The exterior’s aggressive styling gives a powerful, strong, muscular, and precise look to the GT-R. The HID headlights feature three additional sub-reflectors unlike conventional lights, to spread the light wide and low for cornering. The rear, of course, has the traditional GT-R four-ring LED taillights.
Inside, the GT-R has a Multi-function meter screen with readouts for water temperature, oil pressure, g forces, turbo boost, front/rear torque split, fuel consumption and a host of other measurements. The optional navigation system is paired with a 30-gigabyte hard drive to hold music files and navigation map information.
The 20-inch “high luster smoke gray” forged aluminum wheels (9.5″ front, 10.5″ rear) with special bead knurling are the only wheel/tire option for now, due to the G forces that the GT-R is able to produce under extreme braking and accelerating conditions. Worried about getting door-dinged in the parking lot? The GT-R has durable chip-resistant paint with a double clear coat process.
So the GT becomes a GT-R. The world’s fastest sub-$100,000 car; $75,000 to $80,000 is the likely price range. A car that makes even the hottest Corvette seem tame and crude. A car, to quote Nissan’s promo blurb, for “anyone, anywhere, any time.” Translation: Any sucker can drive this car fast anywhere. But we’re not through with the videogame bit just yet.
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