Nissan Skyline GT-R Sets Sights on Z06

Eric · 10-28-06, 04:38 AM

From Edmunds.com:

Nissan is gunning for the big leagues with this high-powered sports car and judging by the way it was circling the Nurburgring test track the Skyline will deliver.

After getting teased with the GT-R Proto concept vehicle in Tokyo last year, our latest spy photos reveal the 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R in near production trim. Scheduled for a debut at the 2007 Tokyo auto show, the next-generation Nissan Skyline will be the first version of Nissan's supercar to make its way to the U.S. With as much as 450 horsepower and all-wheel drive, Nissan's high-powered sports car will slot well above the current 350Z.

Although Nissan has shown several Skyline concept vehicles, details on the engine and transmission configuration have yet to leak out. Expect a large V6 with displacement bumped up to as much as 3.8 liters and twin turbochargers so the Skyline can compete with the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Porsche 911 Turbo. Previous Skylines have used manual transmissions only, but this Skyline will use a seven-speed, paddle-shifted gearbox instead. Nissan also considered using rear-wheel drive given recent advancements in traction control technology, but has since settled on a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. Unlike its predecessors, this Skyline will ride on its own dedicated chassis which should help Nissan's engineers shed some of the weight that slowed down previous models. Some rumors even suggest Lotus was brought in to help tune the chassis. It looks like a diet may have already been started as this prototype is running wheels which look considerably lighter than those featured on last year's concept car. Initial speculation suggested that because this Skyline could cost as much as $70K-$80K it would be sold under the Infiniti nameplate in the U.S. Those rumors have since been dispelled as Carlos Ghosn himself told dealers that it would be sold as a Nissan worldwide. With its debut scheduled for next fall's Tokyo auto show, expect to see the 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R in showrooms in the spring of 2008.

Eric · 10-28-06, 04:46 AM

Here's a photo link.

Is it just me or does that front end just look bizarre. Nice profile though. I think it may have a bit of an identity crisis since some of the pics say 07 Infiniti and others say 09 Nissan

.

Pseudomind · 10-28-06, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

Here's a photo link.

Is it just me or does that front end just look bizarre. Nice profile though. I think it may have a bit of an identity crisis since some of the pics say 07 Infiniti and others say 09 Nissan

.

I do not believe it is you, as I also find the front end to have an awkward appearance. I do not like the looks of the front end at all.

JBsC5 · 10-28-06, 08:06 AM

At least its different. ? I'd never buy one but glad someones making something like it.

Probably have an infiniti version somewhere down the line...Maybe with a v8 rwd instead of turbo 6 and awd?

Its supposedly lapping the "ring" at 7.58 in development...Kinda looks like a racoon? I do like the sound of the seven speed sequential shifter though. Thats a cool wave of the future I guess..

For 70 or 80 large its ok..

Should be priced at 40 g's if they want to sell the dam thing...

Didn't vw try and sell 90 thousand dollar luxury cars and fail big time..? Phaeton I think it was called.

70 or 80 grand Nissans in the states? Hope it doesn't look like a racoon when it goes on sale.

Forgetting about vettes there are other cars I'd buy over this new Nissan...JMO but thanks for the link.

Eric · 10-28-06, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBsC5

Should be priced at 40 g's if they want to sell the dam thing...

Didn't vw try and sell 90 thousand dollar luxury cars and fail big time..? Phaeton I think it was called.

70 or 80 grand Nissans in the states? Hope it doesn't look like a racoon when it goes on sale.

Yeh, you think they would've learned their lessons ofter the C5 killed off the RX7, Supra, and that whimpy attempt at a souped up Prelude.

There are a lot of young ricers who drool at the thought of a Skyline but none of them will be able to afford one. My guess, it will become the next NSX - an ok car that just never takes off due to ****-poor planning and pricing.

Brett · 10-30-06, 01:00 AM

The Skyline has a much larger following than the NSX. A US Skyline is something a lot of people have been waiting a long, long time for.

I think it should do pretty well......I don't think Nissan needs to sell that many of them at 80K. It puts it nicely in the Viper, Z06 bracket, and it will be a competitive car there.

The prototype in those pictures is a bit flamboyant, but the production car will look pretty sharp I think. I expect it will be toned down from that.

The Infiniti/Nissan discrepancy stems from the fact that it was originally going to be an Infiniti in the States, but that has since been scratched.

davec0_17 · 10-30-06, 07:46 AM

I don't like the front either, but I'm sure an aftermarket grill will be avalable before the car is even sold here. But with that look, everyone will know what your driving. These cars are legendary, and I'm sure they will sell every one that hits the shores. I have an Infinity, and the quality is just perfection. And I'm sure this car will be just spot on in all respects also.

JHL · 11-14-06, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

Yeh, you think they would've learned their lessons ofter the C5 killed off the RX7, Supra, and that whimpy attempt at a souped up Prelude.

HELLO !!!! Hey Eric you need to take off the Rose tinted or should that be Corvette tinted glasses there is the rest of the World out here

Just to give you an idea, I get out and about a bit and I have only ever seen 1 C6 in the UK. I am sure there are a few around but if it is anything like the last time GM properly marketed the Vette in Europe you won't see many as most of the GM dealers that got C5 stock couldn't give them away over here.

Yeh Yeh, I know I am just a dumb Brit and this is after all a Corvette site, fire proof coveralls are on

vett boy · 11-15-06, 05:15 AM

The front is butt ugly and it would be my intent never to see the rear end.

Gorgon · 11-15-06, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

Yeh, you think they would've learned their lessons ofter the C5 killed off the RX7, Supra, and that whimpy attempt at a souped up Prelude.

The C5 didn't kill anything off, the economy did. By the time GM finally got the C5 into production there was no competition because of the value of the yen and how much the other cars had increased in cost. And the Prelude was never even in the same class.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

There are a lot of young ricers who drool at the thought of a Skyline but none of them will be able to afford one. My guess, it will become the next NSX - an ok car that just never takes off due to ****-poor planning and pricing.

There are a lot of young people that like American muscle that will never be able to afford a Corvette as well. And young people who like imports typically grow up to like imports as well and I'm sure this will sell well enough to justify the production. As Brett said, there is a large following of the GT-R in the US and it should be fairly successful. Just watch out with the all wheel drive cuz this thing will chew up most Vettes on the road.

Leon

SmoothZ · 02-07-08, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vett boy

The front is butt ugly and it would be my intent never to see the rear end.

Think again. Unless your Vette is equipped with something special, the GT-R will eat up most cars on the road today. In fact, the base model GT-R has been pitted against the likes of the Z06 and the Porsche 996 at the 'Ring. They're considered the top 3 fastest production cars on the market today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorgon

There are a lot of young people that like American muscle that will never be able to afford a Corvette as well. And young people who like imports typically grow up to like imports as well and I'm sure this will sell well enough to justify the production. As Brett said, there is a large following of the GT-R in the US and it should be fairly successful. Just watch out with the all wheel drive cuz this thing will chew up most Vettes on the road.

Leon

Well said and thank you.

Don't get me wrong. I've always liked the Vette since I was a kid, and I still think that someday I'll have one to grace my garage. But this car has now moved up my list of attainable cars in my lifetime.

JBsC5 · 02-07-08, 10:16 PM

I think the Nissans being hyped a bit too much. I like the technology yet I bet the base c6 takes it out on a road course..

The ls2 Corvette beat the 911 twin turbo and I didn't hear all the hoopla that this new Nissan is getting as the second coming of christ..

We'll see soon enough.......

Anyon see the gTR reports on the possibility of even changing the wheels. without setting the car into a limp mode..(or some other nonsense)

Drive the GTR in Japan at one of the tracks where the GPS raises the 111mph speed limiter and the car must be brought to a Nissan inspection safety center ...at the cost of 1000 dollars otherwise the warranty is expired...

Sounds a little too big brother is watching to me...

Thankfully the USA bound cars don't have all this nonsense..

navy2kcoupe · 02-08-08, 07:05 AM

Looks like the front end was transplanted onto this thing from a 350Z AFTER it was butchered. Almost looks like a cross between a 350Z and a Sebring convertible front end. Put me down in the "doesn't like it" box.
Andy

Bonnell · 02-08-08, 07:40 AM

It must be pretty light if it 'only' has 450hp and it is going to compete with the Z06. Nissan claims it went around the track faster than the Z06. I have read other articles that said the physics don't match up with the track claim and the posted specs.

The Skyline does have a big following but from what I have seen it if almost exclusively in the teen/early twenties group. I wonder how many of those can afford $70-$80K? I would think many would already have a 911 or Z06 if they could afford that number.

warren s · 02-08-08, 08:02 AM

There is no doubt the Skyline will be an excellent high performance automobile. It will be an alternative to the Z-06.

Personally – I don’t think it will ever have the virtually unlimited aftermarket resources of the Chevrolet Corvette, and it wont be taking away to many sales from Chevy dealers. For my money a used base C6 with low miles and some bolt ons would compete for half the price, and you can still take the roof off.

But than again the same could be said about the Z-06.