Since 1957, the Skyline name has adorned some of Japan's most exciting performance cars.
It's hard to believe that the Nissan Skyline is more than 50 years old. Established in the late 1960s by Prince Motor Company, the Skyline GT-R competed in many races, including the Japanese Grand Prix in 1969. Today, it is one of the most popular and iconic performance cars around the globe.
The entire lineup boasts a great selection of high-performance engines, making it a formidable JDM competitor on the road and track. Over the years, the Skyline GT-R has gained a dedicated following, with most past models becoming collectible classics. As a result, the Nissan Skyline GT-R has had a lasting impact on the automotive industry; it's recognized today as one of the greatest sports cars in history.
If you love Nissan Skylines and have wondered what the most legendary models are, you're in for a treat. I've selected 10 of the best Nissan Skylines in history that have become their own icons.
The R35 GT-R has exceeded expectations since it was introduced in 2007. The GT-R was made to replace the Nissan Skyline, so it had big shoes to fill. Since then, it has proven to be one of the best sports cars on the market.
The Nismo trim posts the fastest times around racetracks, but the N Attack Package proves that the Nismo can be lighter. The N Attack Package gets better performance and plenty of aero enhancements in addition to RECARO bucket seats.
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The KPGC10 Skyline was the first GT-R model made by Nissan and was in production from 1969 to 1972. It used a 2.0-liter inline-six engine that produced 158 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque. In addition, the car had a unique "pillarless" hardtop design that is still loved by classic GT-R enthusiasts today.
The GT-R, also known as the Hakosuka, was a sleek and boxy model that helped introduce the entire GT-R lineup. One thing that helped this model stand out from other cars in its class was its use of advanced technology, including an overhead camshaft, a triple carburetor setup, and a four-valve-per-cylinder engine.
The Calsonic GT-R is arguably the most iconic GT-R in existence today. However, in 1992, Japanese car tuning company Calsonic developed a special edition R32 GT-R, which was limited to just ten units. As a result, the Calsonic Skyline is among the rarest GT-Rs ever produced.
Under the hood of the Calsonic Skyline was a 2.6-liter RB26DETT engine, producing 535 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. The Skyline's impressive performance figures made it a popular choice for racing enthusiasts.
While Nissan has produced some memorable GT-R models, the KPGC110, the second generation, is one of the least remembered in the lineup. This is because only 197 were made before production ceased due to low demand. However, enthusiasts consider this model a legend in its own right.
The KPGC110 used the same 2.0-liter S20 inline-six engine as its predecessor, producing 158 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque. Nicknamed Kenmeri (according to Road & Track, the name comes from a series of commercials created to promote it), this GT-R model is among the better-looking ones. Even though it was a slight upgrade from its predecessor, the KPGC110 remains a legendary Skyline that any enthusiast would love to own.
While it might look like any other R34 GT-R to some people, this Skyline GT-R is far from ordinary. In fact, it's one of the most exclusive GT-Rs ever produced. Besides being tuned by Z Tune, it's also a Nismo CRS (Club Racer Special), which means that it was originally built for racing in Japan's Clubman series.
Nissan only produced 15 units of the R34 GT-R LM. However, some of its standout features included a 6-speed manual transmission, a 2.6-liter inline-six engine producing over 400 hp, adjustable suspension, carbon fiber body panels, Recaro seats, and so on.
The R35 generation is the most popular Nissan GT-R because of its supercar-rivaling performance; it's an exclusive sports car that still sparks a hive of emotions from most enthusiasts. The Spec V model offers better performance and lesser weight than the already capable R35 GT-R.
The new model features several upgrades, including lightweight carbon fiber body parts, high-gear boost control, ultra-high performance Bridgestone tires, a unique Bilstein suspension, and carbon ceramic brakes. The result is a Godzilla that can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
Nismo, the Nissan tuning division, introduced one last model before launching the next-generation GT-R: the R34 Z Tune. This special edition of the R34 GT-R was Nismo's most powerful road-going GT-R.
To achieve ultimate performance, the Z Tune gets the larger 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged engine with racing camshafts, pistons, and connecting rods. It also gets an upgraded ECU to produce 500 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.
The 2000s was an excellent decade for the Nissan GT-R. During this time, legends like the GT-R V Spec II Nur were born. This special edition GT-R was in production from 1999 to 2002 and featured the most successful engine of all R34 models.
Nissan only made 1,000 V Spec II Nur models to commemorate the GT-R's 13th anniversary. The V Spec II Nur featured an RB26 2.6 liter inline six that produced 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. Nissan created the V Spec Nur to deliver high-performance driving potential.
The GT-R50 is a unique modern GT-R. It has sleek lines and a lower profile, and it comes with numerous upgrades, including a larger intercooler, better turbos, different pistons, a heavy-duty crankshaft, connecting rods, and improved exhaust and intake systems.
The GT-R50 concept is a fusion of Italian and Japanese design, resulting in a masterpiece of the brutish GT-R. It's a gorgeous concept that takes on from the 2018 GT-R Nismo. Under the hood sits a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 producing 710 horsepower and 585 pound-feet of torque.
For car enthusiasts, the Nismo 400R is the holy grail of Japanese performance cars. Nismo, Nissan's racing division, built it in the late 90s to celebrate the Le Man's car. Although Nismo planned to produce 100 units of the 400R, they only made 44 units.
Nismo added plenty of improvements to the standard model to make the GT-R stand out. The result was the 400R, which had everything it needed to take on the supercars of its time. It featured the 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine, producing 400 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque.
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Volkswagen |
Germany |
| #2 |  Toyota |
Japan |
| #3 |  Stellantis |
Netherlands |
| #4 |  Mercedes-Benz Group |
Germany |
| #5 |  Ford Motor |
United States |
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Michelin |
France |
| #2 |  Bridgestone |
Japan |
| #3 |  Continental |
Germany |
| #4 |  Goodyear |
United States |
| #5 |  Sumitomo |
Japan |
