Latest word is the GT-R R35 will be coming to the US in 2003, with:

• 400hp twin turbo version of the 3.5 liter VQ V6.
  
• Four-wheel drive
  
• Brembo brakes
  
• Six-speed manual transmission
  
• Maybe a CVT option with eight speed Tiptronic-like function
  
• Two door
  
• Four seats
  
  

-taken from Car and Driver June 2001, page 28.

 

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

The specs sound Skyline-ish, but according to various mags, the Skyline should have been here 10 years ago.

But a 2003 arrival would be perfect.

 

I do not believe

 

Did the article say whether it'd be a Nissan or Infiniti? Infiniti really needs a sports car, so I figured the Skyline would have been badged for it(and maybe gotten the 4.5L V8). Just MHO, though. Another M30 would have been nice.
OT: Did anyone notice that the M30's side profile looks an awful lot like the R32 Skyline? Some guys at the Fresh Alloy forums said that they were on the same chassis.

 

Ehh, I think I'm just gonna save up for a lightly used R33

 

HHmmm, I wonder how much it would sale for?? The skylines currently in the US sale for about $60-75k from motorex. I don't think they'll be any cheaper than that.

 

Wasn't April 1 last month?

Who here really thinks that Nissna would replace the ultra boostable RB with a 400-450HP max VQ?

Nice to know the crack dealers in Maximus97SE's area are doing serious business.

Jambo, delete this thread!

 

What do crack dealers in Maximus97SE's area have to do with an article in Car and Driver? What is the significance of April Fool's day? He's talking about the June issue.

Nissan probably will not use the RB-series I6, since it's interfered with the conversion of the Skyline to LHD. That's the primary reason we haven't gotten it yet. Car and Driver said in an earlier issue that the proposed powerplants were either the JDM-offered VQ30DETT from the Gloria(JDM Q45) or the 4.5L V8 from the 2002 Infiniti Q45.
And 'ultra-boostable' or not, the RB engine is very heavy due to it's iron block configuration. I'd be willing to bet that both of the proposed new engines are lighter. This will save on weight, which is pretty much the Skyline's only real flaw. The vee-configured engines will also be safer in an accident, because of their more compact layout. Even BMW is thinking hard about this fact, and you know how much they love their inline-sixes.
Also consider that the tt'd VQ is also rated at the same limit of 280hp as the tt'd RB. The real power may even be the same. Nissan insiders say the RB really makes around 320hp. That figure wouldn't be out of the question for the VQ. And we all know that the '02 Q45's V8 already makes more power than that. Right now in it's luxury application, it makes 340hp. It's still in a relatively mild state of tune, and IMHO, 400hp shouldn't be a problem. Keep in mind that this is naturally aspirated. There'd still be room for supercharging, turbocharging, whatever Nissan might decide on.

So think next time, k? This actually works to our advantage. If it wasn't for the engine switch, we'd be missing out on yet another generation of a great car.

 

don't know about 2003, but it will be soon.
450+ hp 4.5 liter twin turbo charged direct injection for Japanese market.
400+ 4.5 liter N/A for export.
Those were the last stats i heard.

 

3.5L twin turbo? Maybe.....but not VQ for sure.

eight speed tiptronic???? Do you know what you are talking about? BTW, where is the GT-R made in? Europe?

Never heard of Japanese made sports car will have more than 350hp. The max Japan allow is 280hp.

 

Here is the EXACT copy from Car and Driver June 2001 issue. Yes June 2001. Get a copy at your local bookstore.

"Skyline on the horizon: Sources in Japan say plans for the 400-hp, 4.5-liter V-8-powered Skyline GT-R have been put on the back burner in favor of a reworked (400 horsepower) twin-turbo version of the 3.5-liter V-6 destined for the Nissan Z-car. More interesting is that the GT-R, long Japan's hottest coupe, will come to the U.S. in 2003. The R-35, as the new Skyline GT-R is code-named, will get four-wheel drive, massive Brembo brakes, and a six-speed manual transmission. Strong rumors suggest a CVT option with an eight-speed Tiptronic-like function. A six-speed version of the toroidal CVT is currently fitted to the home-market Gloria. It will follow the same body design as the GT-R's over the past decade and will be outfitted as a two-door coupe with four seats and a massive rear wing."

Those RETARDS on this thread, and you know who you are, did you think I pulled this out of my a**?

 

This cutout is from the June issue of Automobile magazine. It looks like most publications are now reporting that the Skyline is indeed coming to North America, and will be badged under Infiniti.



Whether or not North America will ever see the GT-R version, only time will tell. Interesting to note is the first sentence, "Coming to America as the entry-level Infiniti..." suggests the retirement of the G20.

 

I don't know how reputable these two are, but...

http://home.netvigator.com/~europa/0...News_frame.htm

-and-

http://www.mag-x.com/scoop/skyline0104/index.html

 

is about the same, the XVL is supposed to be up against the 3 series, but why would the GT-R then have a 400 hp engine? To blow away the M3 maybe? I dunno. It doesn't make much sense. On another note, if they XVL coupe looks like that and has the performance to back it...I will buy one in a second!

 

The R35 will be based on the XVL platform, just like the Z and any sport sedan(s) Nissan/Infiniti derives from it.

 

Thanks for the links, Qin. So then Skyline = XVL, and R-35 = souped up XVL with shortened wheelbase plus blown engine?? That might make sense. In either case, I'm saying good-bye to my Max, and hello R-35.

If anyone is interested, check out
http://www.nissan-global.com/GCC/NRP...ival2000-e.pdf . Look at page 30, 31 to see planned product launches for FY01 and FY02. Note that FY02 (fiscal year 2002) is actually model year 2003.

Also check out http://www.nissan-global.com/GCC/NRP.../revival-e.pdf page 32. One of the 12 platforms on this page should be the Z/XVL platform (assuming it is assembled in Japan). Anyone wants to guess which one it is?

 

Can't compare that to Motorex Skyline, it's expensive because the conversion. If Nissan/Infiniti actually imports it(which I doubt), it will be LHD already, but the price should still be high due to the specification.

 

R35 based on the XVL (FR-L platform)...

 

Yuck, that picture makes it look very narrow.

 

http://www.fantasycars.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000035.html


check out the pic...soo sweeet, so much better looking than the current BOXY skyline


i heardits gonna be v8, not v6
400+hp

60k$ 20k cheaper

u.s may or maynot get it..=(

 

Dude, don't take this comment so personally. I'm not attacking you or anything. It's just the proportions of the picture make it look like the R35 is about to tip over....

Sheesh, didn't you know that wider is better?

 

According to the new Car & Driver they dropped the V8, and are going with a TT V6, and it will come to the US. The quote from C&D is in this message, up a bit.

 

R35 in the same year as the new Z? I don't see that happening, Nissan has a heck of a lot riding on the new Z and bring out 2 sports cars in 2003 would kill sales of the new Z.

As nice as the Z is, it just can't compete with a Skyline and the people that would buy a new Z would probably end up saving their pennies for an R35.

 

The Nissan-badged Z will be priced around $30,000. You can bet that the R35 will be significantly higher. Plus the R35 will probably be an Infiniti. Given that an M3 is around $47,000, you can bet that the R35 will be at least low $40,000.