Nissan had built a considerable reputation with GT-R version of its Skyline coupe. The model became a world wide icon with the launch of the R32 version in 1989. It came to represent a Japanese car industry at its most intelligent and innovative. The 1993 Skyline and 1999 R34 Skylines built on this, but used the same basic formula of mid size coupe body, fitted with a high tech four wheel drive system and very powerful six cylinder engine. By the time the R34 model was launched, Nissan was suffering into serious financial difficulties and had French marker Renault buy 44 Percent of its shares. New Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn set out to turn Nissan fortunes around and promised in 2003, after the R34 Skyline was dropped, that a replacement would be launched under the plain GT-R badge, but not until the Tokyo motor show in October 2007. It’s widely agreed that the new GT-R has been worth waiting for. It is based on Nissan’s respected FM platform, but has undergone extensive stiffening, including inner wings and a cast alloy rear bulkhead.
The transmission layout is very unusual, A four wheel drive transaxle, the gear box is mounted on the back axle, driven by the V6 engine. However, a second carbon fibre proshaft is used to take power from the back axle to the front wheels. Early reports suggested that Nissan had succeeded in building what was probably the quickest car in the world, over real world roads.
