The original Nissan Skyline GT-R
might have hit the street in 1969, but it wasn't until 1990 that the GT-R legend would be solidified. That was the year the Skyline GT-R was introduced to an utterly stunned Japanese market. It was the first of three twin-turbocharged, all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering Skylines (R32, R33 and R34) and it's the generation upon which the Skyline GT-R legend rests.
The design is something new in car designs, and is considered unconventional. An oddly shaped grill features a smooth black surface that is indented into the body of the Skyline. The headlights show this same indent, and feature the same black surface. It almost looks something reminiscent of a futuristic concept car, except for the fact that the prototype is very well and running.History
The 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R comes from the heart of Japan, and has likewise been kept incredibly under wraps. Japanese auto manufacturers have been very quiet on the 2008 model, but details about the new Skyline GT-R have inevitably begun to leak out to the general public.
Although Nissan never imported the Skyline GT-R to the United States, the supercar still found its way into America's automotive consciousness. In fact, buying one in the U.S. became relatively easy. By the dawn of the 21st century, several hundred had been imported.
Overall, the 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R has so far been incredibly hyped. The lack of details and information on what is under the hood has been driving fans wild. What is known is that the design is very clean and efficient. It will appeal to many age groups, especially those who are looking for something a bit different from the mainstream line of cars.
Like its predecessor, the GT-R will be all-wheel drive -- most likely an updated version of Nissan's Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All - Electronic Torque Split (ATTESA-ETS) system. At its peak, the R34 Nur Spec GT-R's ATTESA-ETS Pro system could send 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels in mere milliseconds, allowing up to a 50:50 front/rear split when required.
The R34 featured Super-High Capacity Actively Controlled Suspension (Super-HICAS), a four-wheel steering system that turned the front and rear wheels in the opposite direction at low speeds for added maneuverability. At high speeds, the rear wheels move in the same direction as the fronts, for instantaneous reaction and agility. No doubt the next gen GT-R will carry an upgraded version of Super-HICAS, but there's no word on just how it will be improved.