The Nissan Skyline is one of those cars that need no introduction, at least to the Japanese cars enthusiast, if you aren’t then you certainly missed something. Ever since 1989 and the R32 version (followed by R33 and R34) this car has become an Icon for Nissan, a living proof of their knowledge and skills which brought a lot of victories in Motorsport and a huge community of fans behind the GTR badge.
Exclusively sold in Asia and now massively exported all around the globe, the GTR was made popular by video games and specialized magazines and Medias. The stock version (R34 GTR) is an excellent sportscar based on the combination of the Twin Turbocharged inline 6 motor (RB26DETT) and the technologically advanced All Wheel Drive system known as ATTESA E-TS. Over their fifteen years of existence, those 2 elements have proven a diabolical potential, loved by the tuners, it is not surprising to see and hear about modified versions producing over a thousand horsepower.
So the GTR was born with performance in mind from the road to the track, throughout the years the engineers of the sports department (NISMO –Nissan Motorsport) made it better and better. As a way to pay a last “official” homage to it, they decided to go the opposite way, from the track to the road, in an ultimate and exclusive version that we had the honour to drive: the NISMO R34 GT-R Z-Tune.
Just like any company, the Nismo products are classified regarding their names, the S versions (Nismo S) are slightly modified vehicles featuring improved aerodynamics for example, the R ones (Nismo R) are aerodynamically and mechanically modified like the Fairlady 380RS that we tested some weeks ago…and finally there are the Z versions referring to “vehicles that have evolved to attain world top class speed and endurance as a road going car”.
-FIRST LOOK-
This is the kind of car you couldn’t mistake with any other, the large and aggressive look of the R34 GT-R is impressive, so is the body kit made of CFRP (Carbon Fibre), the wings have been widen and the hood is different, designed to suck as much air as possible to cool the engine…The side skirts are part of the few elements not made of CFRP but ABS plastic is also very light.
The typical Nismo colours are all there, from the black 18’ RAYS rims to the unique “Silver grey” body paint and bits of red here and there…the whole things looks very powerful, even sitting still…a brutal beauty.
Inside the seats are made of alcantara and fine black leather and offer a good comfort for a car of this category, the steering wheel could have been a bit more discreet in my humble opinion and a mini on-board computer displays various informations about the car including a hot lap timer for days at the track. Last but not least, the 320km/h speedometer reminds you that this car means business…
Of course I had to go and check the engine bay, there, the horrible plastic cover that most manufacturers use nowadays (including Nissan) is nowhere to be seen and the RB26DETT masterpiece sits in front of me. This modified Z2 engine was brought to 2.8 litres (2771cc) and, with the help of IHI turbochargers and an endless list of race parts (camshaft, crankshaft, pistons, connecting roads, intake, exhaust…) it now produces a blistering 368kw (500PS) with 540Nm of juicy torque!
In case you had any doubts about the reliability of this baby, you should be pleased to know that this very engine has won the 24hrs of the Nurburgring in 2004 (5th overall) and has been living under the hood of the GT500 Skyline GT-R in Super GT ever since 2001.
-IGNITION-
No time for hesitation, this is a race car equipped with the minimum requirements to be “street legal”.
The suspensions are mighty tight, the noise of the inline 6 wants your driver’s license to be revoked ASAP, the braking is worth 1 year of face lifting products or parachute jumping, the turbo response, thanks to the ball bearing system, is instant, no lag…
Even if the heavy weight of the car is clearly felt, the boost is simply stunning, there are noises everywhere, the brakes, the gearbox, the steering…all this lead to an experience that I would call…frightening…
Time to make comparisons…when was the last time that I felt this? The Subaru Impreza RA-R that I loved seemed more agile and entertaining but it had 180HP less…the Honda NSX Type-R, another “track minded” car felt more balanced and drivable but it had 200HP less than the monster GT-R I was seating in…
So what could be “wrong”? Actually the answer was simple and clear: if you don’t have serious (race) driving notions then the Nismo GT-R Z-Tune will scare you more than anything else!
Now when this type of thing happens to Jeremy Clarkson he’s got “the Stig” (basically the dedicated test driver of each manufacturer) to do the dirty job if I can call it this way…here at NihonCar we have better than this, we have Nishihara-san, pro race driver and Gymkhana champion among other things that your probably know by now. He only will be able to go further in terms of driving performance and try to know what the Z-Tune is capable of…
After a “full throttle” session Masaki came out and calmly explained: “It’s actually pretty similar to a Super GT car”.
Unfortunately the small size of our test track wasn’t enough to unleash the full potential of the machine.
Whether you like it or not the Nismo GT-R Z-Tune is a supercars, capable of challenging cars such as Lamborghinis, Porsches, or Corvette on a race track, where it is supposed to be driven. More than just HP figures, this GT-R is also exclusive in terms of price (18 millions yen) and was made at just 20 units. This simple fact makes it even much more exclusive than a lot of super cars.
In a time when the Skyline name seems to vanish into quality but “standard”sedans and with the name GT-R becoming a version of its own this thing is for sure, the Nismo R34 GT-R Z-Tune is the ULTIMATE skyline!
Plus:
Style
Exclusivity
Performance
Minus:
?!!?
Last "real Skyline GT-R"
Conclusion:
If you like cars you love the Nismo GT-R, it was handmade built the exact same way as Nissan race cars and features years of technological improvements all there to create a unique and sensational ride. Unfortunately, without serious racing skills this monster should better stay away from you...another way to make it so attractive!
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