The Nissan R35 GT-R is the result of years of development, and great engineering to create a sports car that could compete with a Porsche 911.
The automotive world is full of fast and wonderful cars, and the Nissan GT-R R35 stands out on its own as one of the most interesting and iconic sports cars ever made. It is the result of engineers from all over the world coming together to make the best car possible. It took seven years of development before Nissan was ready to reveal it to the world.
The GT-R is exclusively powered by a twin turbocharged 3.8-liter DOHC V6 engine. The official title for the engine is the VR38DETT that Nissan's most brilliant minds spent years creating. The early models of the R35 have an output of 480 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. There are four valves per cylinder led by a dual overhead camshaft and the cylinders come bored with plasma transferred wire arc. The two turbochargers manufactured by the IHI Corporation provide supreme forced induction.
The VR38DETT is one of the most sophisticated and efficient engines to ever hit the automotive market, and the aluminum engine block has several layers of protective coatings. The spark plugs have high-quality iridium in the tips, and a continuously variable valve timing control system connects to the intake valve. Each VR38DETT engine consists of 300 total pieces and comes with sophisticated systems that even some of the most knowledgeable gearheads haven't heard of. A team of five specialized mechanics hand built every one with their names badged into them as a tribute to their part of the GT-R legacy.
Other than the impressive power train that features a six-speed dual clutch transmission, every part of the GT-R is meticulously placed for performance and precision. Each component's location serves to bring balance to the vehicle. The GT-R nameplate deserves nothing less.
The Nissan GT-R R35 is an evolution of the high-performance Nissan Skyline model. It branched out into its own nameplate in 2007. The design took several years to complete as it took to an updated platform. The project began in 2000 with an international team of Nissan engineers and designers. The slogan for the new and improved GT-R was "A super car for anyone, anywhere, anytime." Nissan wanted it to be an affordable elite car that could outperform competitors like the Porsche 911.
Responsibility for the development project fell upon the same engineer who oversaw the Skyline models – Kazutoshi Mizuno. He conducted wind tunnel tests on prototypes and tested them on various tracks. The testing models had an entirely new 3.8-liter twin turbocharged V6 engine under the hood. Engineers at Nissan specifically designed the engine for the R35 GT-R.
After seven years of hard work, the GT-R made its debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor show in Japan. Nissan released the track times for the GT-R at its initial showing and revealed that it had successfully beaten the Porsche 911 as planned. The audience loved the design, and interest easily gained traction. Soon after it debut, The R35 GT-R received 3,000 preorders before the model hit the production line.
The GT-R made tremendous waves in its homeland of Japan. The model's success led Nissan to share it with the world and begin exporting to other countries. Nissan conducted the official launch in the United States in 2008 for the 2009 model year. Shortly after, the GT-R made its way to Canadian and European markets as well.
GT-R ownership stayed in-house, though. The first to join the exclusive owner's club were all CEOs of Nissan who worked in America. The company delivered the first model to the customer at exactly 12:01 AM, July 7, 2008. The event received coverage by the automotive media as many car enthusiasts eagerly waited for the day to come.
GT-R is an abbreviation for Gran Turismo Racing, and this car lives up to the name. It proves time and time again that it is a menace on the racetrack that leaves competitors at the starting line. The R35 competes in the GT500 class and has seen 14 seasons of racing. Since 2008, the Nissan team fought and earned 41 impressive victories. The Nissan Nismo team also won four team and five driver championships in the same period. This brings it to a total of fifty overall wins for the GT-R R35.
The new and improved R35 GT-R truly fought its way to legendary status. It is an icon in the world of cars. It isn't famous just for its performance or stunning beauty. The GT-R is a showcase of genius minds and steady hands. It radiates an aura of excellence that even people who aren't interested in cars can see. It is a testament to the marriage of skills and dedication that no one can ignore. That is what gave the Nissan GT-R its rise to fame.
Nathan started writing for HotCars in 2022. Growing up in Alabama, he has always had a passion for cars that lead him to work in several fields in the Automotive Industry. He left his last job manufacturing trash trucks to pursue a career as a writer.