Nissan never officially brought its iconic Skyline GT-R sports cars to North America, a decision that nearly changed, as revealed by interviews with the car's lead developers in a recent article by Japanese magazine Best Car Web. After the R33-generation GT-R gained significant popularity in Europe following its appearance on Top Gear in the 1990s, then-president Hanawa Yoshikazu instructed GT-R team leader Watanabe Shozo to explore the feasibility of introducing the car to North America.
"North America uses left-hand drive," Shozo explained to Best Car Web. "If we moved the steering wheel to the left, the GT-R's twin turbos would place the steering shaft too close to the rear turbo, causing thermal issues. We also considered making it a single turbo, but that would have compromised the GT-R's identity."
Shozo also disclosed that the subsequent R34 model nearly featured a V-6 engine instead of the renowned RB26DETT straight-six. The team even constructed a prototype with a V-6 engine. "When I tested it on the course, it handled corners well and felt excellent," Shozo recounted to Best Car Web.
Despite serious consideration of the V-6, the team opted to retain the straight-six to avoid the lengthy development needed to integrate the new engine with the GT-R's sophisticated all-wheel drive system. "We couldn't envision the R34 Skyline without the GT-R, so we deliberated extensively," Shozo continued. "Ultimately, we chose to refine the straight-six GT-R, leaving the V-6 for future models."
Shozo's reference to future models does not include the R35 GT-R, but rather the Skyline-branded coupe sold in Japan, known in America as the Infiniti G35. The interviews delve deeper into the GT-R's development and history, including anecdotes from before the R32 era, and how engineers utilized the concept of horses to design Godzilla's all-wheel drive system. For Skyline enthusiasts, this article is a must-read.
