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HOME » GTRForums Features
After 30 Years the GT-R Comes Stateside
Author: Ali Allage
Page: 1
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On the import playground, the US has long been the fat kid left to play on his own. However, just like grade school, times eventually change, and whatever politics, marketing, or engineering barriers have been broken and we’re finally getting included. Still, I don’t want to make it seem like this all happened overnight. For example, we got the Evo in 2003 and the STi in 2004. That’s old news though.
To this day, no car ever badged ‘Skyline’ has been for sale on our shores. That still isn’t changing. Sure it’s been possible to import one as a track car, and some have even shelled out upwards of $150,000 to convert the Right Hand Drive cars to LHD and US emissions spec. Due partially to legislation and partially to design, it was no easy task to make them street legal in the US. The fact that over 100 made the journey to the states says all there is to say about the ‘old’ Skyline.
Now it’s 2007 and we will still not get a ‘Skyline.’ We will however get Nissan’s new GT-R. This is basically the next generation following the R34 which was discontinued in 2002.
From track spottings the car is going to be everything it should be and probably a lot more. It’s hard to fill the shoes of such a powerful GT car. Maybe that’s why there is a five year gap between the models. Nissan is aiming towards the top in the typical Japanese way. Will they directly challenge the Italians? No, they’ll build a car that’s cheaper than a Porsche, faster than a corvette, and without a doubt nipping at your rich neighbor’s Ferrari’s heels.
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