Skyline, a history in 12 generations: Gen 8, “The Ocho”
1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R BNR32
OK, I made that Ocho part up. But you Skyline guys are free to use it, my little gift to you.
With the 1989 R32 series, the Skyline reached new performance heights, led by the resurrection of the GT-R badge after a 16-year absence. The engines were mostly new, the smallest the 2.0-liter, 155hp RB20DE.
1989 Nissan Skyline GTS-t Type M RCR32
Skyline GT-R, launched in August, 1989, was now a supercar. It featured the immortal 2.6-liter, 276hp RB26DETT twin-turbo straight-six, and it came straight out of Group A racing. Japanese car fans will know that the 276hp number was the result of an informal horsepower limiting agreement among Japanese manufacturers; listed outputs were likely lowball figures. GT-Rs included ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All – Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel drive and Super-HICAS all-wheel steering with multilink suspension. There was little that could compete with it, a BMW M5, perhaps, but that was a different vibe.
1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R NISMO BNR32
1991 Nissan Skyline 2dr GTS-t Type-M KRCR32
1991 Nissan Skyline 2dr GTS-4 KRNR32
1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec BNR32
On track, it was astonishing. The combination of the RB26DETT engine and ATTESA E-TS proved too much for its rivals at the All Japan Touring Car Championships (Group A). It won 29 of 29 Group A races and killed the class, the 1993 Tsukuba 12-hour Endurance Race and was entered in the 1993 Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours (Belgium) and 1994 Daytona 24 Hours (N1 specifications) .
1993 Skyline GT-R BNR32 N1 Tsukuba 12-Hour
The All Japan Championships started in 1966, but the one that has consistently enjoyed high popularity is the Japan Touring Car Championship (JTCC), at which both the first- and second-generation Skyline GT-R chalked up an extraordinary record of victories.
1992 Skyline GT-R BNR32 Group N No. 2 Zexel
The debut for the second-generation GT-R (R32) was the opening race at the All Japan Championship of March 1990, the All Japan Touring Car 300km Race (Nishi-Nippon Circuit (now MINE Circuit)). This event was won by K. Hoshino and Toshio Suzuki (Calsonic), but also driving GT-Rs in this series, to the delight of the crowds, were Masahiro Hasemi (UNISIA JECS), K. Takahashi (Advan), and K. Tohira (Zexel).
1993 Skyline GT-R BNR32 Group A No. 12 Calsonic
At the time, the category for the All Japan Touring Car Championship was Group A, and in all 29 races of the four series held from 1990 to 1993, the R32 GT-R reigned supreme as the undisputed champion. It was victorious too at the final Group A championship race in 1993, bringing this chapter in the GT-R’s history to a glorious conclusion (from 1994 Group A was replaced by the Super Touring Car).
1989 Skyline GT-R BNR32
SPECS
Overall length / width / height | 178.94/69.1/52.76 inches |
| Wheelbase | 102.96 inches |
| Tread | 58.27 inches (front & rear) |
| Curb weight | 3,153 pounds |
| Engine | DOHC RB26DETT straight-six, 2,568CC |
| Max. power, Hp@RPM | 276@6,800 |
| Max. torque, lbs.ft.@RPM | 260@4,400 |
| Transmission | 5-speed, floor shift |
| Suspension | Multilink (front & rear) |
| Brakes | Ventilated disc (front & rear) |
| Tires | 225/50R16 |
1993 Skyline GT-R BNR32
SPECS (N1 Tsukuba 12-Hour race)
| Overall length / width / height | 178.94/69.1/52.76 inches |
| Wheelbase | 102.96 inches |
| Tread (front/rear) | 63.4/60.24 inches |
| Curb weight | 2,774 pounds |
| Engine | DOHC RB26DETT straight-six |
| Displacement | 2,568CC |
| Max. power, Hp@RPM | c. 398@7,200rpm |
| Max. torque, lbs.ft.@RPM | c. 325@4,800 |
| Suspension | Four-wheel multilink |
| Brakes | Brembo (V spec) |
| Tires (wheels) | 225/50R17 (9J-17in.) |
1993 Skyline GT-R BNR32
SPECS (Group A No. 12 Calsonic)
| Overall length / width / height | 178.94/69.1/52.76 inches |
| Wheelbase | 102.96 inches |
| Tread (front/rear) | 63.4/60.24 inches |
| Curb weight | c. 2,778 pounds |
| Engine | DOHC RB26DETT straight-six, 2,568CC |
| Max. power, Hp@RPM | 543@7,600 |
| Max. torque, lbs.ft.@RPM | 361@6,000 |
| Transmission | 5-speed, floor shift |
| Suspension | Four-wheel multilink |
| Brakes | Ventilated disc (front & rear) |
| Tires (wheels) | 265/700-18 (10Jx18) |
1992 Skyline GT-R BNR32
SPECS (Group N No. 2 Zexel)
| Overall length / width / height | 178.94/69.1/52.76 inches |
| Wheelbase | 102.96 inches |
| Tread | 58.27 inches (front & rear) |
| Curb weight | 2,734 pounds |
| Engine | DOHC RB26DETT straight-six, 2,568CC |
| Max. power, Hp@RPM | 394@7,200 |
| Max. torque, lbs.ft.@RPM | 325@4,800 |
| Transmission | 5-speed, floor shift |
| Suspension | Four-wheel multilink |
| Brakes | Ventilated disc (front & rear) |
| Tires (wheels) | 225/50R17 (9Jx17) |
For more Skylinery, visit the JBCar pages and Skyliner Owners Forum (home of over 1.2 million posts. Yikes.)