What is RB26DETT?
Nissan's legendary 2.6-litre twin-turbo inline-six, built for the Skyline GT-R and revered for its strength and huge tuning potential.
The RB26DETT is a 2.6-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine produced by Nissan from 1989 to 2002, developed specifically for the Skyline GT-R (R32, R33 and R34). Its designation breaks down as RB engine family, 26 for displacement, D for dual overhead cams, E for electronic fuel injection and TT for twin turbo.
Factory rated at around 276 horsepower under Japan's gentlemen's agreement, the RB26 actually produced more and was hugely underrated. Its strong iron block, individual throttle bodies and robust internals made it capable of withstanding enormous power once tuned, with built examples comfortably exceeding 800 or even 1,000 horsepower.
The RB26DETT's combination of motorsport success, tuning headroom and GT-R mystique made it one of the most iconic Japanese performance engines ever built. It remains a centrepiece of JDM culture and a popular swap candidate among enthusiasts.
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RB26DETT on the blog
Nissan has built 13 Skyline generations since the 1957 Prince ALSI, and the 14th, the V38, debuts in December 2026. Here is every one, with its chassis code, years, nickname, key engine, and look, from the boxy Hakosuka to the Infiniti-badged V37.
Nissan's RB26DETT and Toyota's 2JZ-GTE are both turbocharged inline-sixes rated at 276 hp in Japan. The RB26 is smaller and built to rev, while the 2JZ has more displacement, more torque, and a reputation for taking huge power.
No car in the history of American automotive obsession has been wanted this badly by this many people who never had a legal way to get one. The Nissan Skyline GT-R spent twenty-five years as forbidden fruit, visible in every corner of car culture, unattainable on public roads, and somehow more desirable for being both of those things simultaneously. The story of why that happened, and what finally changed, is one of the stranger chapters in the relationship between American car enthusiasm and government regulation.