Nissan · Skyline

Nissan Skyline 10th generation (R34)

Years: 1998–2001
Chassis: R34
Drivetrain: FR / 4WD

Image: RL GNZLZ from Chile / CC BY-SA 2.0

Story

Its development concept was "the joy of driving exactly as you intend". Against a predecessor that had leaned toward GT car qualities, it was asked to regain true Skyline driving.

Stories

Passing on the V6 for the inline-six RB

For the tenth-generation R34, Watanabe considered using a V6 engine and the V35's packaging to improve the front-rear weight distribution and packaging, long-standing issues for the Skyline. But the only V engine that could be combined with ATTESA E-TS was the Cima's VH41DE, which risked lengthening development, and the investment in a second line at the Iwaki plant, which builds VQ engines, could not be covered by the Skyline alone. In the end, the inline-six RB engine was refined and used again.

Kozo Watanabe

Chassis

Front

Multi-link

Rear

Multi-link

Production plants

Murayama Plant
Musashimurayama, Tokyo

US import eligibility

Earliest cars: Eligible since May 202325 years after sales began in May 1998
Last cars: Eligible during 202625 years after sales ended in 2001 (month not recorded)

Eligibility depends on each car's month of manufacture on its build plate, not on the sale dates shown here (NHTSA).

Japanese cars reaching 25 years in 2023 →

Engineers

Kozo Watanabe

Hometown: Osaka Prefecture

Head of development (chief engineer) of the ninth-generation (R33) and tenth-generation (R34) Skyline. He refined the R33 GT-R with the goal of making it a faster car than the R32 GT-R.