My FM Log: Racing Shoebill

A wrong Pennzoil Skyline GT-R JGTC machine and an outdated Aston Martin Vantage GTE popped up on Forza Motorsport's Update 11 as prize cars for completing the time-limited featured tours. Having won these cars, let's get to know about these two outdated racing machines.

First up is the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R that I won from Update 11's Open Class Tour until the September 11, 2024 deadline.

The #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R was based on the R33 Skyline GT-R and competed in the 1998 All Japan GT Championship (JGTC). This was the last year of racing for the R33 before it was replaced by its R34-based successor. 

The R33-based JGTC racer was driven by Erik Comas and Masami Kageyama, and featured an increased engine displacement from 2658cc to 2708cc, resulting in a regulated power output of 500PS. In the 1998 season, Comas took home the Driver's trophy.

Next up is the #97 AMR Vantage GTE that I won from the Road to Race Tour until the September 25, 2024 deadline.

Aston Martin unveiled its racing version of the new Vantage, the Vantage AMR, after launching the second-generation Vantage. 

The Aston Martin Racing squad run by Prodrive sealed a 1-2 in the GTE Pro championship with four wins between the two factory cars entered in the 2019-20 season. 

Aston Martin continued to support its privateer teams even though its factory effort was scaled back. In 2022, Aston Martin returned to the top spot in GTE racing.

In 2023, the final season for the Vantage AMR, no team managed to win a race with the turbocharged machine. However, ORT by TF secured second place at Le Mans and third in Spa, while the season closer in Bahrain saw a rostrum round-up, with D'Station finishing second and Northwest AMR third in Bahrain.

Let's give these two outdated racing machines, the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R and the #97 AMR Vantage GTE, a chance to redeem themselves around Road Atlanta, which was recently added to this update. Roll the tapes and enjoy the show!

These two outdated racing machines, the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R and the #97 AMR Vantage GTE, sure know how to perform in their natural habitat. 

Enjoy your new rides!

My GT7 Log: Know Your Legends - NISMO 400R

Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know about the NISMO 400R, an R33 Skyline GT-R with extreme performance, an outrageous price tag, and a legendary rarity to sum it up.

Based on the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 model, the NISMO 400R is the extreme R33 built at the time Japanese carmakers limited their production sports cars to the 280PS power output limit. Built by NISMO in the hopes of producing the most extreme version of the Skyline GT-R, the 400R is powered by a 2.8L RBX-GT2 turbocharged engine, a more potent version of the legendary RB26DETT engine, producing a titular 400PS of power output. It even comes with a twin-plate clutch, carbon fiber propeller shaft, Bilstein dampers, front and rear stabilizers, and reinforced bushings for improved dynamics compared to the normal R33 Skyline GT-R. With only 44 of these made, each costing an ultra-expensive 12 million Yen, it is no doubt the most expensive Japanese car of its time.

Let's drive the NISMO 400R around the Goodwood track to see if this extreme R33 is the stuff of legends.

It did it in 1m27.738s.

For an R33 Skyline GT-R with extreme performance, an outrageous price tag, and a legendary rarity to sum it up, the 400R is no doubt the legendary Japanese sports car worth hunting for.

What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.

Project CARS 3: The best Heisei JDM sportscar

The GT-R really is the cult icon of the JDM craze and no matter the debate, this machine reigns the topic. The R34 Skyline GT-R and the R35 GT-R, if my memory serves me correctly, are the kings of the Heisei era JDM sports cars and for returning Project CARS fans, it's a treat to play these two Heisei era JDM kings in Project CARS 3.

We begin with the R34 Skyline GT-R, the iconic Japanese 4WD sportscar that is highly coveted by speedo boys worldwide ever since it went on sale in January 1999. The normal Skyline was built to take on the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class but the GT-R was built to take on the world's best sportscars. With the 280HP RB26DETT petrol engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, sport-tuned dynamics, and ATTESA-ETS Pro, among many others, the R34 Skyline GT-R's performance is relatively superior even by today's standards. So relatively superior, the speedo boys who spend the rest of their lives binge-watching Fast and Furious movies and Initial D episodes find many ways to have the R34 in their garages and wind it up to supercar levels or hypercar levels if you may.

The R35 GT-R has been around for over a decade since its 2007 Tokyo Motor Show unveiling. Despite its age, it never fails to impress speedo boys itching to have one and humiliate even the most expensive supercars to date. The NISMO version is the result of Nissan's trial and error struggle to create a supercar that can compete against the world's best supercars. In this 2017MY minor change, the GT-R NISMO gains an aggressive exterior design and a new interior as seen in the standard model while retaining the NISMO-tuned VR38DETT engine that produces 600PS of power and 650Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox as well as its motorsport-inspired dynamics that its professionals spent countless hours performing R&D in the creation of this ultimate GT-R.

With their quick introduction done, let's find out how much it progressed from the R34 to the R35. With that, it's off to Sportsland Sugo to conduct such a quick experiment.

Ah, the joys of spending the day at Sugo with two GT-Rs on track, the R34 and the R35. While such driving experience salivates most speedo boys, this little experiment showcases how much these machines progressed. Stretching its turbocharged engines and four-wheel drive, the two GT-Rs flexed their muscles as they get through the corners of Sugo with near surgical precision.

I can moan about this all day but I have the video to showcase their worth. Let's get it.

After the two GT-Rs flexed their muscles around Sugo, here are the results;

R34 - 1:48.017

R35 - 1:36.246

At Sugo standards, the GT-R Nismo beat the R34 Skyline GT-R at the rate of almost 12 seconds a lap. That sounds incredible but in the end, they're just GT-Rs having fun.

It's no wonder why the R35 GT-R is the undisputed king of Heisei JDM sportscars and no matter the debate, this machine stands and you will thank Nissan for their efforts to keep the GT-R lineage alive for many years to come. As the end draws near for the R35 GT-R, there are plenty of stories to work on with the king of Heisei-era JDM sportscars any way it can.

Keep on pushing, Godzilla! Keep on pushing until the very end of your life!

Nissan Serena C27 and Skyline V37 (2020 facelift)

Two of the most noteworthy Nissans in the lineup, the Serena C27 and the Skyline V37 have been facelifted for the 2020 model year with newly redesigned looks, new features, and so much more. So, what's in store for the minor changes of these Nissans?

2020 Nissan Serena

First off, the updated version of the current-generation Nissan Serena. Starting below the 2.53 million Yen bracket, the C27 minor change features a newly redesigned exterior that looks somewhat noticeable by many. The base Serena now looks like the pre-facelift model's Highway Star variant, while the Highway Star variant now dons a massive grille that stretches toward the front bumper, which is rather odd for Japan's best-selling minivan but either way, the new models featured a redesigned wheels and a revised rearview.

On the inside, the Serena features a revised instrumental panel, optional waterproof seats in case the whole family went canoeing at the riverside, and pretty much it.

The choice of powertrains remains the same as the 2020 Nissan Serena is powered with choice of an MR20DD 2.0L petrol engine with a 1.8kW electric motor bolted on it for the S-HYBRID variant, and the popular choice e-POWER variant where the HR12DE petrol engine serves as a range extender for the 126PS electric motor and while it doesn't need charging like most electric cars do, the e-POWER variant will be getting 26.2km/L of fuel economy in the JC08 scale, which is outdated but rather impressive for a minivan like this.

Promising to be the safest Serena ever made since its launch three years ago, the 2020 Nissan Serena is offered numerous safety features, including a revised ProPilot with improved speed control. With a wide array of safety features that lets the Serena stop automatically, detects blind spots, suppresses false starts, and more, it's no doubt that this is the safest minivan Japanese families can't get enough of.

2020 Nissan Skyline

Next up, is the Nissan Skyline V37, and for the latest minor change, which starts at around 4.3 million Yen, not only the GT-R-styled front face that made the Skyline V37 striking to look at, but it's also the implementation of the brand new ProPilot 2.0 semi-autonomous tech as well as the first-ever VR30DDTT 3.0L Twin Turbo engine but more with that later on because let's look at the design first.

The previous Skyline V37 featured some Infiniti badges unknown to most Japanese customers for numerous reasons but for the 2020 minor change, the Nissan badge is back in the Skyline, and with the GT-R-styled nose slapped onto it, you can see that the luxury sports saloon is starting to take shape but please behave, people, because while the front looks like the GT-R, it's still the Skyline made for the posh gentlemen rather than for speedo boys.

On the inside, nothing's changed a bit, especially the twin monitors on the dashboard where the top one's for display and the bottom one's a touch screen. The double monitors, the steering wheel, the gear lever, they're all the same as last time.

Now, let's talk more about the ProPilot 2.0, which is available in the Skyline V37 minor change. The new and improved tech uses a wide array of sensors capable of hands-free driving while cruising in a single lane, although drivers still need to keep their eyes on the road. It kind of feels like the Autopilot from the Tesla but despite its scary-but-unique hands-free driving, the new feature isn't foolproof though so think smart before using this ultra-smart feature on the highway.

Couple that with numerous safety features and the result is a much safer experience, which is rather un-Skyline-ish, but if you want more for the Skyline, let's talk about performance.

While the Nissan Skyline still retains the Hybrid powertrain with the VQ35HR 3.5L petrol engine bolted to an electric motor, a Li-ion battery, and a 7-speed AT, the facelift introduces the brand new VR30DDTT 3.0L Twin Turbo engine. In the range-topping 400R variant, it produces 405PS of power and 475Nm of torque through the rear wheels and it's mated to a 7-speed AT. The 400R serves as the range-topper of the V37 and if you want something more powerful than the Lexus IS, consider this.

Apart from the engine choices, the 2020 Skyline comes with other features such as the revised Intelligent Dynamic Suspension with Direct Adaptive Steering.

These two recently facelifted Nissans are up for grabs in the midst of the autumn season so those who wanted something family-oriented should go for the Serena while those who wanted a luxury sports saloon that delivers a no-filter drive should go for the Skyline.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

GT SPORT: R34 vs R35

The R34 Skyline GT-R is no doubt the best Japanese sportscar emerged from the early years of the Heisei era while the R35 GT-R is the best modern Heisei era Japanese sportscar ever made. For the climax of this Heisei-ending tribute, the two best Heisei era sportscars are now clashing for the grand finale to decide which is the best Heisei era sportscar.



For five decades, the GT-R has been the pinnacle of the history of Japanese sports cars since the first Skyline H/T 2000GT-R of 1969 and with the best examples representing the Heisei era, the R34 Skyline GT-R and the R35 GT-R, this will be the ultimate firecrackers to celebrate not just the end of this wondrous era but for five more decades of Nissan's fire-breathing monster that earned the Godzilla nickname by speedo boys worldwide.

So, how should I stage the last dance for the best Heisei era Japanese sportscars? There's only one venue I know and this venue is the one that staged the Japanese Grand Prix rather than Fuji.



The Suzuka Circuit is the perfect battleground for these two Godzillas as this time attack on GT SPORT will decide once and for all who will be crowned the best Heisei era car.

Without further ado, it's time to engage the climax revue for two of the best cars from the Heisei era.



After the endgame in Suzuka, here are the results...

R34 - 2:37.494
R35 - 2:25.138



Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare the Nissan GT-R R35 as the best Japanese sportscar of the Heisei era.

The R35 Nissan GT-R is no doubt the best Japanese sportscar of the Heisei era. Revived in 2007, received numerous updates every year, gained two minor changes in 2010 and 2016, upsetting every single supercar in the world, such work of art really made the R35 GT-R a powerhouse masterpiece Nissan ever created and although this car keeps getting better and better all the time, there's one thing I can say about this car; the perfection of this machine can't be improved and that is why the Nissan GT-R R35 is the best Heisei era car of all time.

Now that the Heisei era is well and truly over, what will Godzilla's next step will be in this brave new era they called Reiwa? Only time will tell.

Arigatou, Heisei!

GT SPORT - The early Heisei JDMs

Today marks the end of the Heisei era and what better way to pay tribute to this golden era than sampling the most iconic Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era? Of course, since the Gran Turismo franchise is part of those that were born from the Heisei era, our little game of GT SPORT takes us to the heroes of Gran Turismo, the best Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era.



The FD-spec RX-7, the original Honda NSX, the Impreza STi, the JZA80 Supra, the R34 Skyline GT-R, and any of the pizza-lamped Lancer Evos are known to be the best of the Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era and here in GT SPORT, they have what's greater or nearer as the drivers can get from those Heisei era JDM sportscars.

These Japanese sportscars emerged from the early Heisei years are known to be collectibles for speedo boys worldwide because these cars are notoriously known for its street cred and known to be tuned to wake the neighbors after hours. Whether they can let them roar through the Shutokou by nighttime or living the track life by day, these Japanese marvels are everywhere and whether you love them or hate them, Japan is home to those street machines like these and as a tribute, let's take them to the common battleground for testing cars before hitting Japanese roads; Tsukuba.



Ah, Tsukuba Circuit. If my memory serves me correctly, the Tsukuba Circuit is the favorite playground for the over-the-video motoring program known as Best MOTORing. Over the years, we seen professional drivers across Japan testing out the coolest and the weirdest on this very track they called home. Of course, Best MOTORing may be officially dead several years ago but here in GT SPORT, people can do their Best MOTORing homage on this very track while sampling most of the cars offered in-game, just to give them their first impressions.

With the best JDM cars from the early Heisei era stepped to their very own Holy Land of sampling and time attacking, they are ready for a revue they will remember forever.

It's showtime!



After their Tsukuba revue, here are the results...

Impreza 22B-STi Version '98: 1:07.522
NSX Type R '92: 1:10.581
RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) '02: 1:07.700
R34 GT-R V-Spec II Nur '02: 1:06.864
Lancer Evo.IV GSR '96: 1:08.481
Supra RZ '97: 1:07.330



So, there we are. The R34 Skyline GT-R, launched from 1999 to 2002 is without a shadow of a doubt, the best Japanese sports car to emerge from the early Heisei years and no matter the opinion, I placed my fate that this is the best Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era.

Next time, let's pit in the Japanese sportscars from the modern Heisei era.

Forza Motorsport 7: Super Silhouette Skyline

I remember this car, it was the R30 Nissan Skyline that was been turned into a Group C monster fit for Super Silhouette races in the 1980's and became one of the most recognizable Skylines in motorsport history. This Super Silhouette R30 is Forza Motorsport 7's spotlight car of September and I got the chance to meet up with a racecar all too familiar to us, car game fans.



The R30-spec Nissan Skyline has been proven to be a motorsports powerhouse in the 80's and one such example is the one used in the Super Silhouette races.

Masahiro Hasemi competed in Super Silhouette races in 1982 and 1983 with the #11 machine. Under FIA Group C regulations, it allowed massive racing modifications inside and out and the LZ20B engine that powers this monster produces 570PS of power and its performance became a fan favorite.

From its 1982 racing debut, the #11 Skyline Super Silhouette raked up two wins in 1982 and 5 wins in 1983.



Familiarity aside, taking the Super Silhouette R30 Skyline for a drive in Forza Motorsport 7 is one surefire way to get to know about one of the most iconic racing Skylines in history. Being a Group C monster, the raw power, aerodynamics, and dynamics are somewhat between vicious and wild and this is no different than the other iconic racing machines ever to emerge from the 80's. Unlike the the time I first met with this legendary machine several decades ago, it felt like it completely forgotten about me handling behind the wheel of this machine but as time passes, frequent driving of this machine will completely remember what drivers like are when they first set their hands on it and between you and me, it completely remembers who we are. That's throwbacks get information.



Now that the Super Silhouette Skyline knows my driving style, the producers sent me to take a drive round Daytona with this machine. On average, this car can get round the track in two minutes and what I should do is get through the finish line in less than two minutes. Challenging? See if I care.



I got there in 1:59.314, which is somewhat close but it's fair to say that this car knows who the drivers are when they first encounter this machine decades ago.



It's a great honor to meet with the legendary Super Silhouette R30 Skyline in this game. Although the performance and dynamics are somewhat between vicious and wild, the memories will never fade from the minds of earnest men who played with this machine and considering its reputation, there's so much to talk about this machine but I'll leave it here anyway.

Forza Motorsport 7: The Cool Japan effect

Did you see the latest episode of Top Gear where Matt and Chris drove second-hand JDM sportscars they've obtained from the auction for their road trip to Enbu? That was a blast and that episode made us fall in love with Japanese cars again. Talking about here, I got a little playing to do as I tried the JDM cars that are almost similar to the ones the boys drove in the show.





Both the FD3S and the R34 are one of the all-time greats when they emerged in the 90's, which became the golden age of fun, fast, and affordable sports cars speedo boys love to drive. Even in today's times, these 90's Japanese sportscars like these remain a high-value target for speedo boys to smuggle into their homes without alarming their local Customs. Some are crashed, some got modified, and a few sold twice the price when it was in mint condition. Anyway, no time to explain what's going on with 90's JDM sportscars because time for some words about these machines.



I'm in love with the FD3S Mazda RX-7 ever since it got featured in Initial D as Keisuke Takahashi's car of choice but there's a lot more to it than that because it was the first and last to come with a sequential turbo rotary engine that churns out 255PS of power and the power to weight ratio is 5kg/ps. Yes, some people slammed the rotary engine as one of the most rubbish engines in the world due to poor fuel consumption but that doesn't stop purists from having one because it was far out one of the best sounding engines of all time and with all that purring noises, you just can't stop listening to it. You really can't.



The tenth-generation Skyline, dubbed the R34, is by no means one of the best Skylines in its six-decade history like I said but the best of this generation is the GT-R. Yes, that guy from Friends ended up with the lesser GT-T variant but no matter, at least this generation gave it a good show until it lost to the RX-7 at the race to the airfield. Of course, the R34 Skyline GT-R still has the bits and bobs from the previous R33 Skyline GT-R, a car Triads would love to mess around London Chinatown with it.  There's the 280HP RB26DETT petrol engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, sport-tuned dynamics, and ATTESA-ETS Pro, among many others. Although macho by looks, it still works its GT-R magic like it should and it's like the cherry at the top of the cake for this generation. It really is.

So, with a little chit chat over, how about a little shootout between these JDM icons round the track, shall we?



The FD RX-7 did it in 1:30.580 while the R34 GT-R did it in 1:28.822. Plain and simple.





It's kinda sad that Japan is stuck in an era that kei cars and hybrids flooded the streets but despite the outcome, cars like these should never be forgotten because these are the cars Japan is mostly proud of and despite being flooded with boring and beige eco cars, the sportscar genre is slowly crawling back like the creepy lady from The Ring and I believe they're onto something here.

Nissan Skyline V37 - 2018 minor change

2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the Nissan Skyline and the Japanese car company decided to blow the candle on one of Japan's well-respected cars in history by releasing a new model, well, what I say new, what they mean was they are giving the current V37 Skyline, the one with Infiniti badges on it for no reason, a minor change which features almost none of the bits as seen on the Infiniti Q50.

2018 Nissan Skyline

Once again, the Japanese car company continue to disappoint the Japanese public by not selling stuff that was made in Japan but sold in other countries except Japan and this latest 2018 minor change Nissan Skyline is the latest example of Japan's blatant trend. First off, with the advent of the Infiniti Q60, which is the two-door version of the Q50, which is the international name for the Skyline V37, Nissan refused to sell the two-door version despite the fact that it's made in Japan, another blatant example of Japanese cars that don't want to be Tomicanized since the Toyota Hilux, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, and the one that was used to be called the Nissan Dualis. What's next? The one used to be called the Skyline Crossover? The one that is now the all-new Infiniti QX50 with the world's first variable compression turbo? The engine the Japanese too afraid to show it?

Another blasphemy is the engine because in America and Europe, the latest version of the Q50 has the new, fire-breather 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine that produces more power than the old 3.7L V6 engine it replaces. Sadly, Nissan also declined the engine as well, which is another act of cowardice for Japanese car makers these days, which involves afraid to sell global automotive stuff in their home market even though they made it there. Anyway, let's not get bogged down on Nissan's latest act of cowardice because while Nissan's too afraid to show what's new worldwide for the Japanese public, let's observe what's new on the 2018 minor change.

Of course, the 2018MY Skyline still bears Infiniti emblems but what's new in the exterior is the bumper design, set of wheels, and new rear lamps. In addition, there is now an Infiniti badge at the back of the car. Something they should have done a very long time ago.

2018 Nissan Skyline interior

On the inside, there are small changes occurred such as the steering wheel, the gear level now donning the Infiniti logo on the top, and the instrumental panel. Despite some subtle changes, it's still surprisingly as posh as its European rivals and the added wood trim adds a nice touch to the Skyline's well-proportioned interior.

Like I mentioned, Nissan declined to offer the firebreathing V6 turbo engine that the Q50 had in the world market and instead, they've retained the choice of a 3.5L V6 Hybrid and a Mercedes-Benz-sourced 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine. This “Intelligent Dual Clutch Control” Hybrid System has been around since the Fuga and it still works as it promised, balancing performance and efficiency at the same pace. It produces a total output of 364PS of power and for honest reasons, the fuel efficiency based on JC08 mode standards is 17.8km/L.

The Mercedes-Benz-sourced 2.0L Turbo engine for the 200GT-t variant, meanwhile, produces 211PS of power and 350Nm of torque while delivering a fuel efficiency of 13km/L by JC08 mode standards. Most of the variants are mated to a 7-speed AT.

Also, the Skyline still retains the breakthrough Direct Adaptive Steering which breaks away from mechanical components and uses technology to steer with precision, delivering precise handling and quickly communicates road surface feedback to the driver, but it has been recalibrated for better adaptability.

For safety, the 2018MY Skyline now features a wide array of safety features such as Active Lane Control, Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, Backup Collision Intervention, Blind Spot Warning and Intervention, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Forward Emergency Braking, and Predictive Forward Collision Warning. Couple these with an array of tech in store and the result is a much safer Skyline that you can really drive with confidence.

The 2018MY Nissan Skyline starts at 4,164,480 to 5,840,640 Japanese Yen, which sounds quite a lot but competitively priced between the European opposition. So, while Nissan set another example of their cowardly acts not to sell the Infiniti Q60 as the Skyline Coupe as well as the 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine along with it, the V37 Skyline has been upgraded to make sure it still wants to be accepted by the public even though 2017 is already the year of the Skyline. It maybe a somber way to blow sixty candles but this is just enough to cater this occassion, unless Nissan learns to break the mold and become one with the world market to sell other Skyline versions such as the coupe based on the Infiniti Q60 and the crossover based on the new Infiniti QX50. The more you know.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Forza Horizon 3: Why the R34 is the best Skyline of all

Ask anyone what is the best Skyline ever made for over 60 years and speedo boys have this response; an R34 Skyline GT-R, the last Skyline GT-R ever made before its millennial divorce where Skyline became Japan's answer the BMW's 3-Series and the GT-R became a bona fide supercar against the world's best.



Like you and me, the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R is like a true shogunate to a whole clan of warriors during the feudal times. Or better yet, the ideal Nobunaga to a while clan of JDM cars where it rules with an iron fist. This is the last of its kind where Japanese cars are cooler than watching anime shows until the new millennium comes and Japanese cars got even more boring than having a road trip with your mom and dad and since it was launched in 1999, this JDM car knows how to party like it's 1999.

Let me give you a clear secret, boys and girls. If you live in SoCal, there was a 25-year rule where you can legally import a car that wasn't available on American soil in the first place under certain conditions. Of course, I know that you wanted to smuggle that R34 Skyline GT-R to drive on Cali roads but federal regulations prevented you to do so, but little did you know that since this car was launched in Japan since 1999, you have to wait until 2024 to get one. Not sure? Do the math.



Math aside, the R34 Skyline GT-R still has the bits and bobs from the previous R33 Skyline GT-R, a car Triads would love to mess around London Chinatown with it,  There's the 280HP RB26DETT petrol engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, sport-tuned dynamics, and ATTESA-ETS Pro, among many others. Without it, it wouldn't be the one that was favored by "God Foot" Hoshino from Initial D 4th Stage, Yamamoto from Wangan Midnight, and Brian O'Connor from Fast and Furious movies. This is the absolute epitome of the JDM car culture of the late 90's and when Japan heralded the age of boring cars, this R34 Skyline GT-R remains an all-time great.



Since the R34 Skyline GT-R is considered to be the best Skyline of them all after six decades, it's time to flex its muscles as Godzilla takes on the world over; from Australia to Thrilltopia. And would you look at that R34 that I have? It's someone's idea of artsy but never mind, let's take the R34 a spin round Horizon Australia, starting with the Australian outback against the other JDM bushidos.





Next up is Blizzard Mountain and it's the turning point where the R34 Skyline GT-R's four-wheel drive system is put to the test...





And lastly, Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, where I ramped up the R34's testosterone levels to the critical level...



So, with all of them taken care off, it's the ideal proof why the R34 is the best Skyline of all for six decades and you can't hardly blame the speedo boys who loved driving one or desperate enough to have one in their garages while not letting bureaucracy standing their way. Imagine life without the R34 Skyline GT-R...

60 Years of Nissan Skyline

The story of the Nissan Skyline began since the 24th of April, 1957, when the first-generation Skyline, dubbed the ALS1, came out. The year marks the 60th anniversary of the Nissan Skyline and for thirteen generations, the most iconic nameplate in Nissan history has been through numerous phases from being a family midsize saloon nothing to write home about, to the birthstones of the legendary GT-R performance variants, the iconic Godzilla that dates back from the R32 to the R34 Skyline GT-R, all the way to becoming Japan's 3-Series fighter from V35 to today's V37.

Like every other Nissan execs advising people to stop altering the Skyline Timeline, such in the case of putting the R35 GT-R to this history like you, the speedo boys, now's the time to tell the "real" SKYLINE TIMELINE in honor of the Skyline's 60th anniversary, from ALS1 to V37, but let's keep it quick but understandable to speedo boys elsewhere so they can get to know the real Skyline history.

First Generation (ALS1) - The first Skyline, known as the Prince Skyline at that moment in time, was launched on the 24th of April, 1957 and it was available as either a four-door saloon, two-door coupe, two-door cabrio, and a five-door estate. It was powered by either a 1.5L or a 1.9L petrol engine and its striking feature to the first Skyline is its de Dion tube rear suspension, which makes it handle like a sportscar.

First-generation Skyline

Second-generation (S50) - Following the 1954 merger after Fuji Precision Industries changed its name to Prince Motor Company, the second-generation Skyline was launched in September 1963 and like the first one, it's offered with either a saloon and an estate while being powered by either a 1.5L or a 2.0L petrol engine. Three years later, after Nissan-Prince merger, the car is now known as the Nissan Skyline. It once competed at the second Japanese Grand Prix against the likes of the mighty Porsche 904 GTS.

Second-generation Skyline

Third-generation (C10) - The third-generation Nissan Skyline was launched in July 1968. A year later, the performance variant we know as the Skyline GT-R was introduced. With the chassis code of KPGC10 and known by most as the Hakosuka due to its box-shaped design, the GT-R is powered by a 2.0L S20 six-cylinder DOHC engine producing 160HP of power and 180Nm and it was derived from the Prince R380 race car. It was offered as either a saloon or a coupe and believe it or not, a HakoSuka saloon scored 33 victories in less than two years while the coupe scored 17 more through 1972.

Third-generation Skyline

Fourth-generation (C110) - Launched in September 1972, the fourth-generation Skyline was nicknamed the Kenmeri Skyline because of the TV commercial that has the couple named Ken and Mary on it. The Kenmeri Skyline GT-R, meanwhile, uses the same engine as the previous one and it was the first Japanese car to have disc brakes front and rear. Although popular, it was short-lived with 197 units made after stricter exhaust regulations were introduced following the oil crisis.

Fourth-generation Skyline

Fifth-generation (C210) - The fifth-generation Nissan Skyline was launched in August 1977 and known by the advertising as "SKYLINE JAPAN" due to its Japanese engineering tinkered to this car. The biggest trump card of this generation was the L20ET petrol engine introduced in 1980. Although less than what the previous model's GT-R had, it is the most powerful engine in its range. It was sold in Europe as the Datsun 240K-GT with the 2.4L petrol engine producing 142PS of power, three less than the Japan version's L20ET engine.

Fifth-generation Skyline

Sixth-generation (R30) - Launched in August 1981, the R30 Skyline features a much striking design compared to the previous model and it saw the introduction of the 2000RS variant with some of the concessions to comfort stripped out, turning it into a potent track weapon with 1,130kg of weight while being powered by a FJ20E petrol engine producing 150PS of power and 181Nm of torque. It was later joined by a turbocharged RS variant with power up to 190PS of power, hence labeled as the most powerful Japanese production engine of its time. Paul Newman endorsed this car and it even comes with a special variant named after him.

Sixth-generation Skyline

Seventh-generation (R31) - The 7th Skyline was launched in August 1985 and they are the first Skylines to use the RB engines. It was the first car in the world to introduce the 4-wheel steering system called HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering). The most potent version of the R31 is the GTS-R variant, which was homologated for Group A Touring Car racing. It was powered by a more potent RB20DET producing 210PS of power for road use, while racing-spec versions can produce up to 430HP in Group A trim.

Seventh-generation Skyline

Eighth-generation (R32) - Launched in May 1989, the eighth-generation Skyline was the first Skyline to come with multilink suspension. Later on, the GT-R was returned with the more powerful 2.6L 6-cylinder turbo engine and full-time four-wheel drive system. When it became a Group A racer, it smashed 29 races, hence earned the nickname Godzilla.

Eighth-generation Skyline

Ninth-generation (R33) - Introduced in August 1993, the ninth-generation Skyline is slightly heavier than the previous model while retaining some of the sporty characteristics from its predecessor. It comes with the brand new Super HICAS four-wheel steering system which uses electric actuators to steer the rear, unlike the hydraulic HICAS. It even comes with an available active limited slip differential which can lock the rear differential if it senses lack of traction by one of its wheels. The GT-R was returned to the lineup in 1995, adopting the slogan "Minus 21 second roman" because of the Nurburgring lap time of 7:59:000 meaning that's 21 seconds faster than the R32's lap time of 8:20:000. With the same RB26DETT engine, the R33 got an improved ATTESSA E-TS that was called ATTESA E-TS Pro all wheel drive system, which contains LSD.

Ninth-generation Skyline

Tenth-generation (R34) - The tenth-generation Skyline was introduced in May 1998, featuring a totally new bodywork that was labeled by the advertising as "DRIVING BODY."Apart from its improvements to the chassis, suspension, and dynamics that can match through the best of Europe, the R34 Skyline comes with their most powerful brakes ever made with the stopping time from 100kph to a dead stop in three seconds. A year later, the GT-R was introduced and it was known to be the best GT-R ever made before the end of the century, with the same ATTESSA-ETS Pro and the RB26DETT engine from the R33. The Nur variants, named after the Nurburgring, of the R34 Skyline GT-R are the special final variants just before the R34 and the Skyline GT-R's demise in 2002.

Tenth-generation Skyline

Eleventh-generation (V35) - In June 2001, the eleventh-generation Nissan Skyline was launched and it's now a luxury-focused saloon that competes against the likes of BMW's 3-Series, Benz's C-Class, and Audi's A4. Using the new FM platform that would underpin its station wagon equivalent, the Stagea, and its bigger brother, the Fuga, the eleventh-generation Skyline was powered with a choice of either a 2.5L, 3.0L, and 3.5L V6 engine. It was first sold in America as the new Infiniti G35, in saloon and coupe guise.

Eleventh-generation Skyline

Twelfth-generation (V36) - The twelfth-generation Nissan Skyline was launched in Japan in November 2006. It was joined with the coupe version a year later and a crossover variant in 2009 (which was sold globally as the Infiniti EX or QX50). It features 4-way Active Steer that behaves like the predecessors' HICAS. At first, it was powered by a 3.5L V6 engine but later, it was replaced by the same 3.7L VVEL engine from the Z34 Fairlady Z while being powered by a 7-speed automatic gearbox. The coupe variant has the same Z-derived setup as well.

Twelfth-generation Skyline

Thirteenth-generation (V37) - And now, here we are, the latest-generation Skyline that went on sale to the Japanese market since February 2014. This generation has a major twist because while this car was sold globally as the brand new Infiniti Q50, this Skyline bears Infiniti badges on the front grille and the interior while the rear view bears the SKYLINE letterings on it. It has a new Direct Adaptive Steering which delivers precise handling and quickly communicates road surface feedback to the driver. There's also the Active Lane Control which uses a camera to detect direction of the vehicle based on the lane markers to help fine-tune the tire angle and steering reaction force. Also, it comes with the world's first Predictive Forward Collision Warning that detects possible collisions ahead and triggers and alert to the driver with a visual warning and audible buzzer. For now, the V37 Skyline features 3.5L V6 engine connected to an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery as well as a Mercedes-Benz-derived 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol engine. There are no plans to launch the coupe version, which was sold globally as the Q60, along with its new VR30DTT petrol engine with up to 400HP of power output.

Thirteenth-generation Skyline

...and there we have it. 60 years, 13 generations, various bodystyles, one Skyline. Need to say more? Anyway, here's for another 60 years of Nissan Skyline and no matter which direction one of the most iconic nameplates is heading at, rest assured that the Skyline will long be remembered as either an average saloon from the distant past, the Godzilla that won the hearts of speedo boys, or the luxury car that battles the best of European imports.

HAPPY 60th ANNIVERSARY, SKYLINE!