Nissan Skyline R32
JDM · Nissan
The R32 Skyline GT-R. RB26DETT inline-six, AWD, the car that won so much in Group A racing it earned the Godzilla nickname.
The Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R (1989-1994) is widely considered the breakthrough modern Skyline. The car was Nissan first Skyline GT-R since the C110 in 1973, returning the GT-R name after a 16-year hiatus. The R32 dominated Group A touring car racing globally; the car earned the "Godzilla" nickname in Australia after winning the Bathurst 1000 multiple years and effectively ending the Group A category there (rules were changed to ban it). The R32 GT-R uses the RB26DETT engine: a 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six making 280 horsepower (the famously underrated Japanese gentleman's agreement number; actual output was higher). The car has ATTESA-ETS all-wheel drive (which can transition from RWD to AWD electronically) and HICAS rear-wheel steering. The combination produces a remarkable chassis dynamic: the AWD provides launch capability, the rear-wheel steering improves cornering, and the engine delivers strong power across a broad range. Production was around 43,000 units across various trims (V-Spec, V-Spec II, Nismo, etc.). The R32 was sold only in Japan; North America never got the model new. The car has become eligible for US import under the 25-year rule starting in 2014 for early R32s. Used R32 prices have appreciated dramatically. On WhipJury, R32 GT-R submissions are particularly active among JDM enthusiasts. Stock factory cars and modified examples both reliably top voting. The community recognizes the R32 as the model that made the GT-R name globally famous.
The RB26DETT
The 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine. 280 horsepower factory rating (likely 320+ actual). Iron block, closed-deck head, oversized rotating assembly. The engine has been famous for handling huge power on stock internals (700+ horsepower with appropriate supporting modifications). The RB26DETT is one of the most modified production engines in tuner history.
The Group A legacy
The R32 GT-R dominated Group A touring car racing in the early 1990s. Multiple Bathurst wins, JTCC championships, and other touring car victories cemented the Godzilla reputation. The R32 was eventually banned from Group A racing in Australia because the rules could not handle its competitive advantage.
R32 GT-R on WhipJury
Stock and modified R32 GT-Rs both do well in voting. The community recognizes the R32 as the foundational modern Skyline GT-R. JDM imports are increasingly common as cars age into the 25-year rule.
Frequently asked questions about Nissan Skyline R32
More on the Nissan Skyline R32
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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.
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JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market: vehicles and parts built for sale in Japan, to Japanese specifications, for Japanese buyers. A car is JDM because of where it was sold, not where it was made, which means the term gets misused constantly. The Civic your neighbor bought at an American Honda dealer is a Japanese car, but it is not a JDM car.