The Unstoppable Rise Of The Nissan GT-R R32, Its Moniker, “Godzilla”
When the Nissan GT-R first rolled onto the scene quietly, it was just a mere new model for the industry and enthusiasts alike. But only Nissan knew at that point that it was going to redefine the capabilities of a high-performance vehicle. Dubbed ‘Godzilla’ by awe-struck fans, the GT-R emerged from Japan’s meticulous approach to innovation, quickly becoming synonymous with raw power and exceptional handling.
Let’s delve deep to understand how a once-struggling Nissan turned the tides of fortune and created a “MONSTER” of mythic proportions in the racing world.
The 901 Movement — Nissan’s Turning Point
The late 1980s were a period of introspection for Nissan. Plagued by unremarkable sales and lackluster performance on the racing circuits, it seemed that the automaker’s glory days were a speck in the rearview mirror. It was under this cloud of uncertainty that Yutaka Kume, then president of Nissan, launched what would become the company’s renaissance — the 901 Movement.
Nissan’s goal was simple yet daunting — to produce the world’s best-performing cars by the end of the decade. It was a clarion call that would galvanize the entire company. For Nissan, the road to redemption lay in returning to its roots — making cars that excited the senses and won races.
NISMO, Nissan’s skunkworks dedicated to squeezing every ounce of performance from its vehicles, revived the spirit of the legendary C10 GT-R. This car had once dominated the All Japan Touring Car Championship, and it was this legacy that the new team of engineers and designers was determined to exceed.
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The Birth of the R32 GT-R
The racing world in the mid-1980s was a fiercely contested battleground, with titans like Ford and BMW setting the pace. Nissan’s offerings paled in comparison, and a radical change was needed. The answer came in the form of the “Nissan Mid4”, a prototype designed to redefine the sports car paradigm with its all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. Although it never reached production, the Mid4’s DNA was vital to the resurrection of the GT-R badge.
The 1989 R32 GT-R was born out of this hotbed of creative breakthroughs. Its design was quite simple and its silhouette unassuming. But beneath the hood, it was anything but ordinary. The heart of the beast was a potent 2.6L Inline-6 engine, bolstered by twin-turbochargers and churning out an understated 280 horsepower. It was a powerhouse that promised and delivered.
ATTESA ETS All-Wheel Drive System
Nissan’s engineers were not content with merely creating another powerful engine, they knew the crux of victory lay in delivering power to the tarmac. Enter the ATTESA ETS all-wheel drive system, which would become the GT-R’s secret weapon. Taking cues from the advanced systems developed for the Porsche 959, Nissan’s wizards crafted an intelligent system that primarily drove the rear wheels but could instantly channel power to the front when needed. This translated to a car that maintained the dynamic feel of a rear-wheel drive but with the unyielding grip of an all-wheel drive when the situation demanded it.
Besides its brute traction, the ATTESA ETS was all about precision and a nimble dance of power distribution that allowed the Skyline GT-R to tackle corners with surgical precision.
Success And Its Commercial Impact
The R32 GT-R quickly became a cultural icon. In Japan, its birthplace, the GT-R did not just sell — it soared. In Australia, the GT-R earned its Godzilla nickname for the way it upended the touring car championship, claiming victory over the established monarchs of the racetrack.
Over 40,000 R32 GT-Rs were sold, reviving Nissan’s fortunes and cementing its reputation as a creator of fast and desirable cars. But the ripple effect went beyond the GT-R itself. Nissan’s entire lineup felt the reverberations, with vehicles like the 300ZX, Silvia, and Pulsar GTiR all benefiting from the halo of the GT-R’s success.
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