Skyline GT-R

What's Hot: * Big twin-turbo performance * high-tech electronic AWD * exclusivity

What's Not: * Bland styling * steering/shifter/controls on the opposite side * big $$$ for a used car

MotoRex Skyline GT-R - Performance TestSome have labeled it "the best production supercar to ever come from Japan." Others have called it "the ultimate street sleeper." But the one thing that it's never been is "for sale in the USA"-officially, at least. Over the past 10 years, many companies have tried, and failed, to import Nissan's bad-boy supercar-the Skyline GT-R-but MotoRex claims to have succeeded.

Packing standard wares such as a 2.6L DOHC intercooled twin-turbo I-6, electronically controlled variable-ratio all-wheel drive, taut suspension, 17x9.0-in. wheels, and a six-speed manual gearbox, the GT-R is a serious player. So much so that it helped spawn the Gran Turismo generation, long before the PlayStation. Its mission statement says nothing about being beautiful; in fact, it's somewhat bland on the outside, and even blander on the inside. The GT-R is all business: the business of going fast in a straight line or around a curve.

We recently tested two Skyline GT-Rs-one stock R-33 version ('95 model year) with an insurance-rated output of 276 hp (really about 315 hp) and one R-34 ('99 model year) tuner version pumping out about 500 hp, according to MotoRex. The R-32, R-33, and R-34 designations indicate newer models of the current (and most famous) Skyline, which originally dates back to the model's debut in '57. Once you get past the oddity of navigating via right-hand drive and speed shifting with your left, these GT-Rs downright crank. Rev the I-6 to 6000 rpm, dump the clutch, and hold on, as the electronically controlled AWD system figures out the traction. Point the car straight and shift quickly to churn out 5.1-sec 0-60-mph times on most any road surface. Slaloming a GT-R is odd, as application of the AWD is ever changing (which is felt in the steering response), but works to deliver a stout 65.14 mph.

Lookin' for more? MotoRex can give your GT-R a tuneup including larger turbos, special intercooler, more aggressive cams, a recalibrated computer, and more, to pump flywheel horsepower to over 500 hp. The tunerized R-34 we tested blasted the 1320 in 12.2 sec, thanks in part to a stellar 3.91-sec 0-60 charge. That's Ferrari Modena territory-impressive.

And so are GT-R pricetags. MotoRex must buy each one as a used car in another country. Then it imports them, performs the necessary compliance conversions and EPA certification, and is, of course, entitled to a profit. Thus, a stock R-32 will set you back about $31K, an R-33 about $46K, and a R-34 about $78K. But rest assured that, for the price, you'll enjoy both potent performance and a certain exclusivity, as only 50 cars are slated for import per year.

Source:MotoRex310/224-5085www.skylinegtr.com