Thursday, March 24, 2011

The many faces of Godzilla

Song played on my Personal BGM: Athena Main Theme by Lee Dong-jun
From the album: Athena -Goddess of War- OST Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

The reason why most car enthusiasts from across the globe called the Nissan GT-R or Skyline GT-R Godzilla is this; if Godzilla (known in Japan as Gojira) is the king of monsters, the Nissan GT-R is the king of Japanese sports cars because of the engine that roars like Godzilla. Those three letters are always the stuff of legend in the JDM world. In Gran Turismo 5, we are often getting to know more about the legendary king of JDM.

R32 GT-R in Tsukuba

Seen here is the third-generation Skyline GT-R, which the chassis code is R32, and it was produced from 1989-1994. Most notable for being armed with the 2.6L RB26DETT engine and equipped with the ATTESA E-TS, Nissan's All Wheel Drive system with electronic torque split. The design of the R32 was penned by Nanganori Ito. Variants of this model include the base model, V-Spec, and V-Spec II. 

My 100のヴィ学: It looks okay for the R32 GT-R. At least what I can say is that the way the R32 behaves is just more of an original beast. Common known fact that this was driven by Night Kids' Takeshi from Initial D and Reina Akikawa and Koichi Hiramoto from Wangan Midnight. The reason why I pick an N1 version of the R32 because it looks more similar to Reina's R32 GT-R.

TRIADS! No wait, Triads drive black R33 GT-R models

From 1995-1998, Nissan transformed the R32 into the R33 Skyline GT-R, adopting the slogan "Minus 21 second roman" because of the Nurburgring lap time of 7:59:000 meaning that's 21 seconds faster than the R32's lap time of 8:20:000. With the same RB26DETT engine, the R33 got an improved ATTESSA E-TS that was called ATTESA E-TS Pro all wheel drive system, which contains LSD. The R33 GT-R was designed by Kozo Watanabe.

My 100のヴィ学: I've seen this R33 as the Chinese Triads' gang car on The Getaway, driven by the R200 Club and Takayuki Kuroki from Wangan Midnight and occasionally, this was rarely appeared in Philippine dramas. For instance, in the second book of Kristine, Rafael Rosell, as Marco, drove a modified R33 GT-R, then a red R33 GT-R appeared on Momay and it was driven by Justin/Jay-Jay's rival, Gary, who is the son of Auntie Hillary. My perception about the R33 GT-R is that it has something that the R32 couldn't achieve such as being more faster, stronger, and badder than its predecessor. Variants include are the Base, V-Spec, special edition LM Limited, and the Nismo 400R, which is a Nismo-modified version of the R33 GT-R.

God Foot vs. Kuroki

This here is my favorite Skyline GT-R of them all, and this is surely a quick fire thing that made them called it Godzilla, the R34 GT-R. Produced in 1999-2002, this is its ultimate form and it was still designed by Kozo Watanabe, who is behind the R33 design. with the same ATTESSA-ETS Pro and the RB26DETT engine, I think this ultimate GT-R has something that the R33 left. Despite it was discontinued in 2002, the R34 is still popular with JDM fans.

My 100のヴィ学: Driven by "God Foot" Hoshino from Initial D 4th Stage, personal car from Yamamoto from Wangan Midnight, incidental car on 2 Fast 2 Furious, this Godzilla is widely popular in popular culture that's for true. The reason why I love the R34 GT-R, it made me more like God Foot because the R34 GT-R can be somewhat fun to tear down all corners. Trust me, I've experienced it all the time when I got approached to this menacing beast. Anyway, the variants consisting of the base, V-Spec, V-Spec II, M-Spec, V-Spec II Nur, and the M-Spec Nur. The Nur variants are the special final variants just before the R34 and the Skyline GT-R's demise in 2002.

Before the R35:

Future GT-R in Tokyo

Before the Nissan R35 GT-R debuted in 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, let's rewind six years ago at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, where Nissan, headed by Carlos Ghosn now and then, unveiled what would the 21st century GT-R would look like and this time the names Skyline and GT-R will be separate. Then it begins...

At the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan redesigned the GT-R concept even further by introducing another concept that is "almost ready" to be on production form, which is called the GT-R Proto.

GT-R Proto in Bern Market Street

The design of the GT-R Proto is more feisty than the 2001 GT-R concept, but the process may take some time before its late 2007 premiere.

GT-R Spyshot? Indeed it was because of the Black Mask

Days after days, even when spyshots of this car occurred all the time, Nissan tries to perfect every angle this GT-R has. From the circuit-racing world, the Shutokou, and any other roads, this car tries to perfect its angle and now the awakening,

The R35 GT-R achieved its dream to battle
the Shutokou

At the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, "THE LEGEND IS REAL" because Nissan unveiled the R35 Nissan GT-R to the public and the crowd loves its comeback. It received the all new VR38DETT 3.8L V6 BiTurbo engine plus more new features that gives Godzilla a legendary stage to rage through. As what the in-game description says, the launch not only take place at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show but also simulcast online via Gran Turismo. It even gained a promotional role at GT5 Prologue as the main character car.

My 100のヴィ学: Fast fact that actor Richard Gutierrez drove one R35 GTR until this car was crashed and caused Richard Gutierrez to face some raps at the public because of his assistant's death. Anyway, forget about that and WHOA! This is how Godzilla became since its Tokyo debut in 2007! The power, the atrocity, the sound, I love it! What upsets me is the cornering because of its heavy body. I guess this is how GT-R accidents occur because of its heavy body.

R35 GT-R Spec V hanging out
at Shoren-in, Kyoto

In the winter of 2009, Nissan pushes Godzilla a little further with the introduction of the Spec V variant. The GT-R Spec V features the same, untouched, VR38DETT engine and a 6-speed semi-auto transmission, but it packs a high-geared boost, improved exhaust system for improved cooling and air flow, carbon brakes, redesigned Bilstein suspension, forged wheels, aero and cooling enhancements, and carbon bucket seats. The GT-R Spec V is 60kg lighter than the base GT-R because 1680kg is lesser than 1740kg, It's true that Godzilla's biggest enemy is Godzilla itself. In late 2009, it made an appearance at Gran Turismo PSP as a purchasable car.

My 100のヴィ学: I've been toying around with the R35 for 4 years and still it satisfies me, even with this lighter Spec V variant.

And now, here's a little something I got, the Nissan GT-R Spec-V GT Academy Version!

For academic purposes only, not for
city slicking!

Same specs from the Spec-V, only this time, you'll see the exterior dressed in GT Academy livery. To get this GT Academy Version GT-R Spec V, finish all 10 Super License tests in Gold, that's it.

I guess Godzilla keeps on evolving and learning how to use them all in Gran Turismo 5 is all up to you.

No comments: