Great History of Nissan Skyline - Essay Example

Being one of the most remarkable Japanese cars, the Skyline has been introduced in a variety of models for over 40 years by now. The introduction of the car happened in 1952 with the Skyline ALSI-1 produced by the Prince Motor Company (the company itself was established in 1952 by the Tama Electric Car Company). Tama changed its name to Prince Motor Company in recognition of the Emperor of Japan Crown Prince Hirohita, and started producing petrol powered instead of electric cars. Prince used an engine designed by Fuji Precision Industries, a company which was established by Nakajima Aircraft Company. In 1954 the two companies were merged together. (http://history.jbskyline.net/). The Nissan Skyline is an intermediate-size automobile range sold in Japan and other countries. It is available in either coupe or sedan body styles, and is sold in North America, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Middle East as the Infiniti G35. The first Skyline under the Prince marque was marketed as a luxury car. It featured a 1.5 L (1482 cc) GA-4 engine producing 60 hp (44 kW). It used a de Dion tube rear suspension and was capable of 87 mph (140 km/h). The car weighed around 1,300 kg. Prince Skylines were produced as four door sedans and five door station wagons. Apart from the sedan the Skyline also spawned pickup truck and van lines called the "Prince Skyway." The model with quad headlights appeared in 1957, powered by the same 1.5L engine. Its production went on through 1961. After Fuji Precision Industries changed its name to Prince the S50 series was launched. This second generation car soon became one of the most popular cars in Asia. It was powered by the G-1 engine, a 70 hp (52 kW) version of the old GA-4. A 1,862 cm engine was also available, delivering 91 hp. In 1962, this model was restyled as the S21S series (Pinker 1990). New styling for S50 became available in 1963. In 1966 after the merge of Nissan and Prince the S50 came out with Nissan Skyline marking. This model lasted in production through 1967, featuring hand-built Michelotti bodies in elegant coupe and convertible versions. These cars used the 1.9 L (1862 cc) GB-30 engine, producing 83 hp (61 kW). In mid-60s Prince created a racing GT Skyline. It was basically a variation of the S54 featuring the larger 6-cylinder G-7 engine from the Gloria S40, though the engine compartment needed modification to fit that long engine. Prince had high hopes for winning the 2nd Japanese Grand Prix with their new vehicle. Competing against the Porsche 904, the Skyline managed 2nd through to 6th places. After the success of the GT Skyline another version, Prince 2000GT was released to the Japanese market. In February 1969 the first GT-R Skyline came out. Nicknamed the Hakosuka amongst fans, it used the new 2.0 L (1998 cc) S20 I6 engine which produced 160 hp (119 kW), being therefore equal to the top sports cars of the time i.e. Nissan R380 racing car with its GR8 engine. First GT-R's were sedans, but a 2-door coupe version came out in March of 1971. To make the cars as light as possible for racing purposes the designers have stripped them of unnecessary equipment thus showing prominent results on track such as 33 victories of the sedan in less than two years and the 50 victories of the coupe in 1972. This GT-R is said to have been a competitor of Mazda's third rotary engine machine, the RX-3, and it is said that the two cars performed a desperate effort for victory at the circuits. The GT-R was also a favorite of wild street racers who roamed the streets at night at that time. It is claimed that the art of drifting began among Japanese racers when they purposely engaged their emergency brakes as a way to counter understeer on their GT-Rs. One of the most famous Japanese drifters was the Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya (http://history.jbskyline.net/). New GT-ES came out with a turbocharged engine, the L20ET, which was the first turbo engine to power a Japanese-manufactured vehicle. Turbo versions had no intercooler and no blowoff valve installed until the R32 powered with the RB20DET arrived in the late 70s. The R30 version of 1983 now featured four wheel disc brakes as standard and a number of powerful engines, the best models being the twin cam 4 cylinder turbo FJ20 or the single cam 6 cylinder turbo LT20ET. Due to the cutdown on extras such as electric windows and air-conditioning the FJ-engined version performed very well as a racer. Some of the top spec GT-ES models featured adjustable suspension dampers that could be adjusted while driving, this was a first for mass produced JDM vehicles (http://www.gtrnation.com/). LT-series engines were also used in Nissan Glorias and Laurels as well as some diesel (Laurel only) variants. In Japan there are still dedicated "one make" drag racing for the FJ20 powered FJR30 Skylines (Pinker 1990). The advent of the HR31 Skyline of 1986 was a natural evolution on the HR30 shape (the design was slightly "squarer" and larger than previous Skylines) and sported RB-series straight-6 engines, which would go on to make this car a legend with drivers all over the world. An Australian version of the R31 came out with a 3.0 motor (RB30E) available in sedan or wagon form, as well as a four-cylinder version called the Nissan Pintara. The only difference between the wagon and the sedan was the absence of the four round brake lights that had been a consistent and recognizable element of Skyline design. The main reason for manufacturing Skylines in Australia was the heavy import law which made it too expensive to bring cars onto the Green Continent. The R31 Skyline introduced many new technologies and features that were improved upon in later models, namely a new RB-series of engines using the "NICS" (Nissan induction control system) injection system, which were usually referred to as a "red top" due to their cam covers being red. Another technological first for the R31 was the introduction of Nissan's proprietary 4-wheel steering system, dubbed HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering). The R31 series were also the only models in the Skyline family to feature a 4-door hardtop variation. These models were generally referred to as the Passage GT (Pinker 1990). The revitalization of the model began in 1989 with a new BNR32 Skyline. The model came in the variety of either a hardtop 2-door or 4-door sedan/saloon. The new "ECCS" (electronically concentrated control system) injection system was introduced in the RB-series straight-6 engines. Some improvements included a 5 speed automatic transmission (in the 2.5 liter version) and a HICAS four wheel steering with the rear wheels being hydraulically linked to the front steering. Another newcomer a twin-turbo Skyline GT-R model contained an impressive array of characteristics: ceramic turbochargers, all-wheel steering, all wheel drive, and 280 hp (208 kW) at 6800 rpm. In reality, the RB26DETT engine produced more power than this, but it was not stated as there was a "gentleman's agreement" between the major Japanese car makers not to produce production vehicles exceeding 206 kW (276 hp). This was also the first model since 1973 to have the GT-R badge. The GT-R had Super HICAS which was a more advanced four wheel system using electric actuators and a computer to control the system (http://www.gtrnation.com/). The GT-R also had a larger intercooler, larger brakes, and aluminum front wheel arches and bonnet. Apart from wearing the GT-R badge, other distinguishing features include wider front and rear wheel arches (also applies for the R33 and R34 GTR models) and a small grille under the flat bonnet. Inside was much the same as other models except that race seats were fitted, and the turbo boost gauge and digital clock were removed from inside the instrument cluster. The clock was relocated to the left of the steering wheel into the instrument surround. Inside the instrument cluster the clock was replaced with a torque meter that indicated how much torque was being dellivered to the front wheels (0%-50%), beneath the climate control 3 auxiliary gauges were also fitted, oil temp, voltage and turbo boost (White 2001). The nickname of the model, Godzilla, probably came from its outstanding performance in drag racing. In the competition against Holden and Ford V8 saloons at the Australian Bathurst 1000 touring-car race the R32 GT-R had an instant success, which however sounded the death knell of Group A Touring Car racing, with the formula being scrapped soon after. The R33 Skyline was introduced simultaneously with the end of the R32 production in August 1993. Slightly heavier than the R32, and available as a 2 and 4 door, all models now used a 6-cylinder engine. Nissan took the unusual step of down grading the GTS model to have only the RB20E, while the twin-cam of the R32 GTS was discontinued along with the 2.0 L turbo RB20DET. As with the R32, all manual transmissions on the 2.5 liter models were 5 speed, all 2 liter and turbo 2.5 liter automatic models were equipped with a 4 speed transmission (Quincy 2000). Super HICAS, a new version of the HICAS 4-wheel steering system was installed into some models. This computer-controlled four wheel steering system was previously featured on the R32. A new R33/R34-platform based wagon was introduced in 1996, by the name of Stagea, featuring a different body style than the R33 and R34. It was only available with an automatic transmission (with the exception of the RS FOUR variant). A common modification on the Stagea is to fit it with an R34 skyline front, in effect making a 4 door R34 wagon. Unlike the R33 Skyline, the Stagea is the only four wheel drive manual transmission Nissan with the RB25DET engine. Presumably, a 5 speed 4WD Skyline equipped with an RB25DET would have been too close in performance to the much more expensive GT-R. There was also a Stagea released with full GT-R running gear, the RB26DETT engine, and manual transmission. The successor of the R32, the R33 Skyline (Series 2) continued the concepts of the former and expanded them. The sportiness of the model was the main concern over the change from the R32 to the R33. The RB20e engine was discontinued in the R34 base model (GT) and the RB20DE reintroduced after last being used in the R32 Skyline. The R34 GT powered by the RB20de and 5 speed gearbox becomes the most fuel efficient straight six Skyline to date of any shape (http://www.gtrnation.com/). The 5 speed automatic transmission available on some models in the previous 2 shapes was discontinued. In its place Nissan produced a 4 speed tip-tronic transmission for all of the automatic versions. In 1999, a revised chassis and incremental updates to the GT-R model proved once and for all that the R34 was one of the fastest all-around cars in the world. It has held many track records and won many JGTC championships. All GT-R models use the RB series engine, and all models of the Skyline have an approximate top speed of 160 mph (260 km/h) (Tannenbaum 1999). The new FM platform shared with the 350Z becomes the ground base for the 11th generation (V35) of Nissan Skylines. Sporting the ubiquitous (and esteemed) VQ35DE engine, the Nissan Skyline uses a front-midship engine, rear-wheel drive layout (all-wheel drive is available for the sedan) to achieve a 52%/48% weight distribution. The V35 also marks the first generation Skyline made for export to the United States. There it is sold under the company's luxury brand, Infiniti, as the Infiniti G35 (http://www.nissanusa.com/). The design direction for a future GT-R was presented during the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show. In 2003 then Nissan president Carlos Ghosn announced that Nissan would release the a new GT-R, probably as a 2007 model and would do so all over the world and not just in Japan and select right-hand drive markets (Britain and New Zealand). Meanwhile, in tracks around the world, most notably the Nurburgring, development mules disguised as V35 Skylines have been seen running tests. At the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan unveiled the GT-R PROTO, a prototype version of the 2007 GT-R. It is reported that the next GT-R will be a purebred sports car not based on a sedan chassis like the previous models, however no engine and drivetrain details have been given. The next GT-R's suspension is being tuned by Lotus at their development center in England. In the nearest future the marketing strategy of Nissan is aimed at the sales of the next generation GT-R in America (branded Infinity) with a price similar to the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche Boxster. The car is expected to sport a Nissan VQ V6 engine with twin-turbos. VQ30DETT has been already successfully tested in JGTC in an R34 Skyline GT-R during 2003, where the GT-R came out a victor in GT500 class, while a naturally aspirated VQ35DE-powered Nissan 350Z took the GT300 class prize. Taking into consideration Nissan plans for the introduction of the GT-R in the United States, privateer Igor Sushko has announced plans of racing the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R N1in SCCA's SPEED World Challenge Series (GT Class). If the event does take place it would be the first time for the Nissan Skyline GT-R to compete in a professional road race series in North America. References 1. GTR technical parameters, retrieved at 22 Mar 2006 2. Official USA website of Nissan, retrieved at 22 Mar 2006 < http://www.nissanusa.com/> 3. Pinker, S. (1990). The history of Japanese automobile production. New York: Morrow. 4. Quincy, L. (2000) Nissan Skyline - choose your own adventure. Autoweek, 40, 46-47. 5. Skyline History, retrieved at 21 Mar 2006 6. Tannenbaum, R. (1999). A re-examination of Nissan: new Skyline test-drives results. Car and Driver, 24, 30-34. 7. White, M. (2001) Nissan Skyline GT-R vs Toyota Supra Turbo. Automobile Magazine, 33, 12-17. Read More