Review: Nissan R34 Skyline (1998-02)

Overview

Released in May 1998, the Nissan R34 Skyline was available as a coupe or sedan. Manufactured in Musashimurayama, Japan, the R34 Skyline was not imported to Australia by Nissan Australia, such that local vehicles are private imports and the information below pertains to vehicles sold for the Japanese domestic market.

RB20DE, RB25DE, RB25DET and RB26DETT engines

The R34 Skyline range was powered by Nissan’s RB20DE, RB25DE and RB25DET engines. Of these,

• the 2.0-litre RB20DE inline six-cylinder engine had double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1;
• the 2.5-litre RB25DE inline six cylinder added variable camshaft timing and had a compression ratio of 10.0:1; and,
• the 2.5-litre RB25DET was fitted with a turbocharger and had a lower compression ratio (9.0:1).

For these engines, transmission choices consisted of five-speed manual and four-speed automatic units.

In 1999, the high-performance GT-R coupe was released. The GT-R was powered by Nissan’s 2.6-litre RB26DETT engine which had two T28-type ceramic turbochargers operating in parallel and with maximum pressure of 1.2 bar; a six-speed Getrag manual transmission was fitted as standard. Compared to the standard Skyline coupe, the GT-R had a reduced front overhang.

Dimensions and suspension

Compared to its R33 predecessor, the R34 sedan was 15 mm shorter (at 4705 mm), the same width (1720 mm), 15 mm taller (1375 mm) and had a 55 mm shorter wheelbase (2665 mm). Relative to the sedan, the R34 Coupe was 125 mm shorter (at 4580 mm), 5 mm wider (1725 mm) and 35 mm lower (1340 mm). The R34 Skyline had independent, multi-link suspension front and rear. The 25GT Turbo, 25GT-V and GT-R variants were also fitted with front strut tower and rear stabiliser bars.

ATTESA

The all-wheel drive models were fitted with Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel drive system. With this system, drive to the rear wheels was constant via a tailshaft and rear differential, though drive to the front wheels was controlled by a transfer case on the rear of the transmission – the transfer case contained a chain which drove a multi-plate wet clutch pack. As such, torque would be directed to the front wheels under acceleration or if traction was lost, with up to 50 per cent of the engine’s torque capable of being directed to the front wheels.

GT-R variants were fitted with the ATTESA E-TS Pro system which could vary the torque split between the left and right rear wheels via an active limited slip differential.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the R34 Skyline included dual front airbags, ABS, brake assist and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters. The 25GT Turbo variants were also fitted with traction control.

The 25GT Turbo and 25GT-V variants were also fitted with an upgraded braking package which included four-piston front brake calipers and two-piston rear calipers.

The GT-R was fitted with a Brembo braking package which consisted of 300 mm ventilated front brake discs with four-piston calipers and 280 mm ventilated rear discs with two-piston calipers. From May 2001, however, the GT-R had 300 mm rear discs.

Features: Skyline sedan

Standard features for the Skyline GT included 205/60 R15 91H tyres, a four speaker sound system with CD player, air conditioning, remote central locking, power windows and a tilt adjustable steering wheel.

The Skyline 25GT Four L was further equipped with 205/60 R15 91H tyres, while the 25GT added a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, leather-wrapped park brake and rear spoiler. The Skyline 25GT Turbo and GT-V added 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 ZR17 tyres and a rear wiper.

The Skyline 25GT-X was differentiated by its 16-inch alloy wheels, 205/55 R16 89V tyres, six speaker sound system and automatic headlights; the Skyline 25GT-X Four was similarly equipped, but fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels with 205/60 R15 91H tyres.

The Skyline 25GT Four, 25GTX-Four, 25GT-V and 25GT Turbo were also fitted with limited slip rear differentials.

Features: Skyline coupe

Standard features for the Skyline GT included 205/60 R15 91H tyres, a four speaker sound system with CD player, air conditioning, remote central locking, power windows and a tilt adjustable steering wheel.

The Skyline 25GT Four was further equipped with a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel and leather-wrapped park brake. Beyond this, the Skyline 25GT-V added 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 ZR17 tyres and a rear wiper. The range-topping 25GT Turbo was distinguished by its 225/45 ZR17 tyres, xenon headlights and rear spoiler.

The Skyline 25GT Four, 25GT-V and 25GT Turbo were also fitted with limited slip rear differentials.

Features: Skyline GT-R

Standard features for the Skyline GT-R included 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/40 ZR18 Bridgestone Potenza RE040 tyres, a four speaker sound system with CD player, air conditioning, a 5.8-inch multifunction dashboard LCD, xenon headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and park brake, remote central locking, power windows, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel and rear spoiler. The GT-R was also fitted with a limited slip rear differential.

During its production, the GT-R was offered in several limited editions:

• N1: a homologation special, the N1 was fitted with an engine that was developed specifically for racing purposes and omitted features such as the sound system, air conditioning and rear wiper to reduce mass;
• V-Spec (Victory Specification): fitted with firmer suspension, front and side splitters, a carbon-fibre rear diffuser and intercooler intake and exhaust temperature sensors;
• V-Spec II: released in October 2000, fitted with stiffer suspension (than the previous V-Spec), 300 mm rear disc brake and a carbon-fibre bonnet with a NACA-style duct. Inside, the V-Spec II featured an iridium centre console and aluminium pedals;
• M-Spec (‘M’ for Mizuno, chief Nissan engineer): similar to the V-Spec, but fitted with ‘Ripple control’ dampers and revised suspension (including a stiffer rear sway bar). Standard features were extended to include leather upholstery and heated front seats; and,
• The V-Spec II Nür and GT-R M-Spec Nür: named after the Nürburgring circuit, the Nür editions were released in February 2002 with 750 and 250 vehicles produced for the V-Spec II and M-Spec, respectively. The Nür editions were powered by a variation of the N1 engine that included larger turbochargers, increased boost pressure and ceramic blades (previously steel).

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: Nissan R34 Skyline