GT-R: How Japan Created an Unstoppable Monster

Summary

This video dives into the history of the Nissan GT-R, specifically the R32, which earned the nickname 'Godzilla' for its dominance in motorsports. It explores Nissan's struggles in the 1980s, their resurgence under the leadership of Yutaka Kume, and the development of the 901 movement. By using cutting-edge technology, including the ATTESA all-wheel-drive system, the R32 GT-R became a legend, obliterating competition from Ford, BMW, and others. The video highlights how this car not only won races but also revived Nissan’s reputation as a global automotive powerhouse.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The mantra in the automotive world is that winning races translates to brand success and sales.
• 🚗 The Nissan R32 GT-R was a revolutionary sports car that dominated races and revitalized Nissan's brand image.
• 🔥 The R32 GT-R, nicknamed 'Godzilla,' became an unstoppable force in racing, winning every Group A race it entered from 1990 to 1993.
• 🇯🇵 The success of the GT-R in Japan and globally re-established Nissan as a leader in performance cars.
• 🛠 The development of the R32 GT-R was part of Nissan's 901 Movement, aimed at creating the world's best-performing cars by 1990.
• 🔧 Nissan's advanced engineering, including the ATTESA all-wheel-drive system, gave the GT-R unparalleled grip and handling.
• 📈 The GT-R's dominance in racing led to massive sales, far exceeding the initial production targets.
• 🦖 The GT-R earned the nickname 'Godzilla' after its dominance in Australian touring car racing, where it outperformed all competitors.
• 🏁 The R32 GT-R's success played a significant role in the creation of the Australian V8 Supercars series.
• 👑 The R32 GT-R is remembered as one of the most successful and iconic sports cars in history, cementing Nissan's legacy in motorsports.

Q & A

What was Nissan's state in the early 1980s?

In the early 1980s, Nissan was struggling both financially and in motorsport. Their cars weren't selling well, and they had not been competitive in racing. The Nissan Z had become bloated and unexciting, while the Skyline hadn't lived up to the GT-R badge for a decade.

What was the 901 Movement, and why was it important for Nissan?

The 901 Movement was a company-wide initiative launched by Nissan in the mid-1980s with the goal of creating the best-performing cars in the world by 1990. It was crucial because it marked a turning point for Nissan, focusing the company's efforts on performance and innovation, leading to the development of legendary cars like the R32 GT-R.

How did Nissan's all-wheel-drive system differ from Porsche's 959 system?

Nissan's ATTESA ET-S system only engaged the front wheels when the rear wheels lost traction, providing better oversteer and driving behavior in turns. In contrast, Porsche's 959 system constantly sent power to the front wheels, which resulted in too much understeer for Nissan's preferences.

Why was the R32 GT-R referred to as 'Godzilla'?

The R32 GT-R earned the nickname 'Godzilla' in Australia due to its dominating performance in the Australian touring car scene, where it overpowered competitors like the Ford Sierra. Its monstrous power and capability led the Australian press to associate it with the fire-breathing movie monster.

What role did the ATTESA ET-S system play in the GT-R's success?

The ATTESA ET-S system was crucial to the GT-R’s success because it provided advanced all-wheel-drive capabilities, allowing the car to deliver power to the wheels that needed it most. This gave the GT-R superior grip and handling, especially when exiting corners, which was key to its dominance in racing.

What made the R32 GT-R’s engine, the RB26DETT, so powerful?

The RB26DETT engine was a 2.6-liter inline-six, equipped with two turbos. It produced around 320 horsepower from the factory, but in racing form, it could reach 600 to 800 horsepower. The engine’s design maximized power output within Group A regulations, making it a dominant force in motorsports.

How did Nissan’s Group A success help rebuild its reputation?

Nissan's success in Group A racing helped rebuild its reputation as a leader in performance cars. The R32 GT-R's consistent victories over international competitors like Ford and BMW not only solidified Nissan’s position in Japanese motorsport but also showcased its technological prowess on a global stage.

What was the significance of Nissan’s Mid4 prototype?

The Nissan Mid4 prototype was an ambitious attempt at creating a supercar. While it never made it into production, the development of the Mid4 helped Nissan perfect technologies like all-wheel-drive and four-wheel steering, which were later used in the R32 GT-R.

What effect did the R32 GT-R have on international motorsport rules?

The R32 GT-R was so dominant in racing that it led to changes in motorsport rules. In Australia, for example, its overwhelming success in the touring car championship contributed to the development of the Australian V8 Supercars series, which excluded cars like the GT-R.

How did the 901 Movement impact Nissan’s production cars beyond the GT-R?

The 901 Movement led to the creation of several iconic Nissan cars, including the 300ZX, Silvia, and Pulsar GTiR. These cars helped Nissan build a reputation for performance and innovation, cementing its place in the sports car market.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 The Glory of Winning: The Impact of Champions

This paragraph emphasizes the power of winning in sports and its connection to brand success. It discusses how automakers like Lotus, Ferrari, McLaren, Ford, and Mazda used racing victories to strengthen their brand reputations. The section also highlights how consumer behavior, such as buying Nikes or Red Bull, is influenced by athletes like LeBron James and Max Verstappen. The main focus is on the Nissan GT-R R32, which became a legend due to its racing dominance, fundamentally changing the sports car world with its performance and leading Nissan to become one of the most respected names in motorsport.

05:03

🚗 The Rise of Group A Racing and Nissan's Struggles

This paragraph explains the evolution of Group A racing, which had stricter rules than Group B. Cars in this category had to be closer to the consumer models, making them better sales tools. However, Nissan faced difficulties competing with their DR30 Skyline, which struggled against stronger competitors like the BMW 6-series, Honda Civics, and turbocharged Volvos. Though Nissan had a brief victory in 1986, their grip weakened as international competitors dominated the podium. This created a growing urgency for Nissan to develop a new car, leading to the revival of the GT-R badge.

10:06

🔧 Building a Monster: The Birth of the R32 GT-R

This paragraph describes how Nissan, under the 901 movement and Yutaka Kume's leadership, aimed to build a revolutionary car. The development of a 2.6-liter inline-six engine with twin turbos and a cutting-edge all-wheel-drive system (ATTESA ET-S) made the R32 GT-R a technological masterpiece. Despite its modest exterior, the R32 GT-R was engineered for performance, with features like aluminum body panels to reduce weight. This innovative combination of power, lightweight design, and advanced technology made the R32 GT-R a dominant force in racing, paving the way for Nissan’s return to the top.

15:07

🐲 The Dominance of Godzilla: How the R32 GT-R Became a Legend

This paragraph illustrates the supreme dominance of the R32 GT-R in Group A racing from 1990 to 1993. Its all-wheel-drive system, combined with its powerful RB26 engine, allowed it to outperform international competitors like Ford, Honda, and Toyota. Nicknamed 'Godzilla,' the R32 GT-R became an unstoppable force in various racing events, including the Spa 24-hour race and the Bathurst 1000. Its incredible performance earned it the reputation of being almost unbeatable, with the GT-R frequently filling the entire podium. The car's success revitalized Nissan's brand and solidified its place in motorsport history.

💥 Godzilla's Commercial Success and Nissan's Revival

This paragraph highlights the commercial success of the R32 GT-R, which sold far beyond Nissan’s initial expectations. The company originally produced 5,000 units for Group A homologation, but consumer demand pushed them to manufacture over 40,000 units. The success of the R32 GT-R helped revitalize Nissan's brand and established it as a leading name in performance cars. This was part of a larger resurgence led by the 901 movement, which also introduced other iconic Nissan vehicles like the twin-turbo 300ZX, Silvia, and Pulsar GTiR. Nissan's efforts not only boosted their brand but also enhanced the reputation of the Japanese automotive industry globally.

Keywords

💡R32 GT-R

The R32 GT-R, also known as 'Godzilla,' is a legendary car produced by Nissan in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was renowned for its dominance in motorsport, particularly in Group A racing, where it obliterated its competition with advanced technologies like the ATTESA all-wheel-drive system and the powerful RB26 engine. The R32 GT-R revived the GT-R name and reestablished Nissan as a top player in the performance car world.

💡901 Movement

The 901 Movement was an internal initiative launched by Nissan in the mid-1980s under the leadership of Yutaka Kume. Its goal was to create the best-performing cars in the world by 1990. This movement led to the development of iconic cars, including the R32 GT-R, and played a crucial role in revitalizing Nissan's reputation in both the consumer and racing markets.

💡Group A Racing

Group A was a motorsport category established by the FIA that featured cars closely resembling production models with limited modifications. It was a significant platform for manufacturers like Nissan to prove their cars' capabilities on the track, as success in Group A directly translated to consumer sales. The R32 GT-R's success in this category solidified its reputation as a dominant performance vehicle.

💡Nismo

Nismo, short for Nissan Motorsports, is Nissan’s performance and racing division, established in 1984. Under the leadership of Yasuharu Namba, Nismo became the driving force behind Nissan's return to competitive racing, playing a pivotal role in the development and success of the R32 GT-R. Nismo’s efforts in touring car racing helped elevate Nissan's status in the global motorsport arena.

💡ATTESA ET-S

The ATTESA ET-S is an advanced all-wheel-drive system developed by Nissan, featured prominently in the R32 GT-R. It uses sensors and an electro-hydraulic clutch to distribute power primarily to the rear wheels, engaging the front wheels only when necessary for improved traction. This technology was crucial to the GT-R's racing success, providing superior handling and grip compared to its competitors.

💡RB26 Engine

The RB26 is a 2.6-liter inline-six engine used in the R32 GT-R, known for its twin-turbocharged setup and high power output. In racing form, this engine could produce upwards of 600 to 800 horsepower, making it a key component of the GT-R’s success. The RB26 became synonymous with performance and contributed significantly to the GT-R's legendary status.

💡Yutaka Kume

Yutaka Kume was the president of Nissan Motors who played a pivotal role in transforming the company in the 1980s. He pushed for innovation and performance, leading initiatives like the 901 Movement, which aimed to create the best cars in the world. His leadership and vision were instrumental in the creation of the R32 GT-R and Nissan’s resurgence in motorsport and the global automotive market.

💡Godzilla

The nickname 'Godzilla' was given to the R32 GT-R by the Australian press due to its monstrous performance on the racetrack, where it dominated and defeated all competitors. This name symbolizes the car's unmatched power and aggressive nature, mirroring the famous Japanese movie monster known for wreaking havoc. The nickname has since become synonymous with the GT-R series.

💡Mid4

The Nissan Mid4 was a mid-engined concept car developed in the 1980s that featured advanced technology, including all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. Although it never made it to production, its technological innovations influenced the design of future Nissan performance cars, including the GT-R. The Mid4 represented Nissan's ambition to enter the supercar market during the 901 Movement.

💡Touring Car Championship

The Touring Car Championship, particularly the All Japan Touring Car Championship (JTCC), was a premier racing series where Nissan’s R32 GT-R made its mark. This competition featured modified production cars and was a battleground for manufacturers like Nissan, Ford, and BMW. The GT-R's dominance in this series solidified its status as one of the most successful racing cars of its era.

Highlights

The mantra 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday' drives the branding success of iconic car manufacturers like Ferrari, McLaren, and Nissan.

Mazda became the pride of Japan after its 787B won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, proving the importance of racing to national pride.

In the early 90s, Nissan's R32 GT-R was an unstoppable force in motorsports, earning the nickname 'Godzilla' for its dominant performance.

The R32 GT-R obliterated the competition in Group A racing, leading to a rethinking of race car design and competition rules.

The success of the third-generation GT-R saved Nissan from financial difficulties and restored the brand’s reputation as a performance leader.

Nissan's 901 Movement aimed to create the best-performing cars in the world by 1990, leading to the revival of the GT-R badge.

The ATTESA all-wheel-drive system used in the R32 GT-R was a key innovation, allowing for superior power distribution and handling.

Nissan's engineers tore apart a Porsche 959 to study its all-wheel-drive system, which inspired innovations in the GT-R's technology.

The R32 GT-R set a lap record at the Nürburgring in 1989, becoming the fastest production car at the time.

The R32 GT-R dominated Australia’s Bathurst 1000, leading the local press to nickname the car 'Godzilla' due to its overwhelming performance.

Nissan sold over 40,000 R32 GT-Rs, far surpassing the initial 5,000 units needed for Group A homologation, demonstrating its mass appeal.

The 901 Movement also produced other iconic models like the 300ZX, Silvia, and Pulsar GTiR, reshaping Nissan’s lineup of performance cars.

The GT-R's dominance in Group A racing helped re-establish Japan’s automotive reputation on the global stage.

The R32 GT-R was instrumental in reshaping Australian touring car racing, ultimately influencing the creation of the V8 Supercars series.

Yutaka Kume’s leadership as president of Nissan played a pivotal role in reviving Nissan’s fortunes through racing and performance car development.

Transcripts

No one really cares about second place.

And to the champion goes all of the glory

If you win on Sunday, you sell on Monday.

This is the mantra that entire brands

have been built upon Lotus, Ferrari, McLaren,

even Ford revitalized its entire image

by smacking down the prancing horse with the GT40.

Mazda became the pride of Japan

when its 787B screamed across the finish line of Le Mans

you wear Nikes because LeBron does.

You drink Red Bull because Max Verstappen says so

and in the early nineties

you bought a skyline GT-R because it didn't

freaking lose

today the R32 GT-R is a balanced, fun

little sports car capable, understated and full of potential

in the 1990s it was unstoppable

in racing form

the R32 GT-R obliterated anything it faced.

Its performance was so dominating, so monolithic,

that it sent everyone back to the drawing board.

It changed the rules.

The third generation GT-R saved a struggling Japanese company

and catapulted them into one of the most respected names in the sports car

universe, all thanks to a top secret project

known only as 9 0 1

Nissan created a monster.

Its name was Godzilla and this is how it was

born.

Look, I'm not going to start at the beginning.

You've already heard that story.

There was a war crime. There was a merger.

Then came the skylines.

Then there were GT-Rs and then there wasn't anything

for a while

no. Today our story begins in 1984.

You see Nissan was struggling, they were floundering,

they couldn't sell cars and they couldn't win races.

The Nissan Z had become bloated and boring.

The skyline hadn't been worthy of the GT-R badge in a decade

the gas

crisis of the seventies had changed Nissan and not for the better.

Enter Yutaka Kume taking over as president of Nissan Motors

in 1985 Kume takes the company by storm.

You see Nissan was buried in bureaucracy Kume directs his people

to remember the customers to stop making boxy boring cars

and he plans to lead with what is known as a spirit of hunger.

Most companies in dire situations go the easy route.

They start cutting costs.

They build more mass appeal cars, **coughs** Porsche and usually they get out

of costly enterprises like racing but Kume wanted Nissan to double down.

He knew that for Nissan to be truly successful, they needed

to raise their reputation on the world stage.

And there is no better way to do that than to win.

Kume and Nissan form a company wide initiative known as the 901 Movement.

Its goal is to create the number one best performing

cars in the world by 1990.

This is the moment that changes Nissan's history forever.

You see in 1984 Nissan's performance

division, Nismo, was born and so was I. It was a pretty good year.

Yasuharu Namba is given the task of leading Nissan's new performance division.

He had been driving and testing Nissan race cars since 1958

and under his guidance

Nismo entered touring car racing in 1985 with a serious intent to win.

Their target was the All Japan Touring Car Championship.

Despite its name it was actually a global competition that took place in Japan.

So Ford, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche all came to compete with Japan's best

and for a long time Nissan was Japan's best.

Nissan dominated the series with the C10 GT-R

back in the sixties and in the seventies they fought hard against Porsche.

BMW and Ferrari in Group five, championing the insane super silhouette skyline

and then in 1985 the series was reborn

with Group A

Group A

for those that are uninformed is related to group B,

you know, those wild rally racing monsters everybody loves.

You see the FIA organization has specific classes

or groups for racing cars on or off road

Group B was the more unlimited class and Group A had tighter restrictions.

They were cars that closely resemble the ones consumers could buy

from dealerships.

They had limited modifications, factory body panels,

which means that they were a far more effective sales tool for Nissan.

If racing fans could see a car that they could actually buy winning races

and it was defeating global superpowers like Ford and BMW,

they would sell those cars.

That is, if they could win

and you see,

that was the problem at the time.

The GT-R name was all but a distant memory for Nissan.

The Nissan DR30 Skyline

had been successful in the Group five racing series,

but group A meant it had to come in largely stock form.

So gone were all the wild aero parts

and the DR30 could not keep pace.

In the 1985 season, it struggled to compete with the BMW

6-series, Honda Civic Si, the turbo Volvos and even the Levin Corollas.

Then in 1986 Nissan debuted the R31

the first RB powered skyline. it was boxy

it wasn't very inspiring and today it's pretty much all but forgotten.

But it did take home the top spot in its

very first race of the JTTC and thanks to some weird

scoring structures in the series it won the overall championship in 1986.

The team at Nissan

starts to feel the electricity of victory.

But that moment is short lived.

As the years go on the series gains

popularity and competition heats up

more international manufacturers start joining the fray.

The E 30 BMW M3 is released upon the tracks of Japan.

Ford fields the Sierra and begins to win races.

The podiums of this Japanese championship begin

to be almost completely dominated by foreigners.

Nissan's grasp on the top spot begins to weaken, Japan as a whole starts

to take a backseat in its own championship to truly dominate group A

Nissan knew they needed a new car and for that the 901 movement

needs to show the world what Nissan is truly capable of.

Thanks to the efforts of the 901 project and Kume's leadership

mid-eighties Nissan was a technology powerhouse

and it culminated with the reveal of the Nissan Mid4

Nissan's ambitious take on the word supercar.

A mid engined wedge shaped sports car

that might make some fans of the NSX question if maybe Honda

copied some of their homework off of Nissan in the eighties.

While it is a crime against humanity that the Mid4 and the Mid4 2

never made it into production as a result of its development,

Nissan had a proper all wheel drive system to implement into its new Halo car.

They even had a revolutionary four wheel steering system.

And thanks to Kume's devotion to catapulting Nissan

to the upper echelons, they had the vision they needed

not just make another skyline, but to bring back a legend

all of the

pieces were in place Kume and Nissan had decided

that now was the time to revive the sacred GT-R badge.

It had been 15 years since the silver and red letters had graced the skyline

and with Group A as the target for the next generation skyline.

From the outset, Nissan knew exactly what they needed to build.

They developed the RV platform into a 2.6 liter inline six

it was a monster of a power plant

spinning two turbos and now putting around 320 horsepower from the factory

and soaring to more like six or 800 horsepower on the racetrack.

And based on the group A class rules, they knew that the 2.6 liter engine

was the biggest engine they could fit into their class

and weight was always in mind from the outset.

Nowhere was that more apparent than in the interior.

It was Spartan.

It was simple.

It's well designed, but sitting on those cloth seats and holding

a pedestrian steering wheel, you'd never think this was a Halo car.

But the R32 GT-R was strictly business

its body design was simple aerodynamically.

It was an improvement over the boxy skylines of the eighties,

and they had made panels out of aluminum to stay within the group A weight target.

But visually, it was still a modest car in all regards.

Only a small wing

and a couple of ducts let you know that this was a performance piece.

But underneath that modest outward appearance,

spinning beneath the muted gray carpets

laid the secret weapon that was the key to the success

the ATTESA ET-S

Nissan's engineering team had been paying attention

to what was going on in the world of sports cars.

To them, Porsche had built the best

handling cars on the market, and their 959 was the most advanced road

car ever built so they bought one and tore it to shreds.

What they found underneath was the secret to its success

its all wheel drive system,

Look, all great art is stolen in some way.

If you're not taking cues from the competition, you're not going to win.

So Nissan did exactly that.

They employed a similar electro hydraulic clutch to distribute power,

but unlike the 959, which always sends power to the front wheels,

giving it too much understeer for Nissan's tastes,

the GT-R is all wheel drive system would only engage the front wheels.

When the rear wheels lost

traction, it utilized computers and G-force sensors to deliver power.

Exactly where and when it was needed.

The result was supreme power delivery to the rear wheels,

rocketing the GT-R down a front straight and giving the car more oversteer,

better driving behavior in turns, but delivering unparalleled grip.

In any situation, it was the best of both worlds.

While the RB 26 gets all the glory today,

it really was this ATTESA system that made the GT-R special.

But not even Nissan themselves could have predicted how this combination

of power technology and low weight would dominate.

In 1990 a GT-R pulled up to the start line on a racetrack in Japan.

Its competitors are staring at its four round red brake lights

and for years that's all they ever see of it.

In sports, rarely are there dominant performances

and when they happen they make history

Gretzky, Ali, Jordan.

But you see all of them suffered losses

the R 32 didn't. for years in group A

in every race the GT-R crossed the finish line first,

leaving the best of Ford, Honda and Toyota in the dust,

not just taking the top spot but typically filling the entire podium

for the 29 races in 1990 to 1993, in group A

driving in R 32 was practically cheating.

The results cemented Nissan as the performance car king of Japan.

It fought off the foreign adversaries

that had been making a mockery of them on their home turf.

It rebuilt the honor of Japanese motorsport but

it wasn't just group A, in 1991

it took home the trophy in the Spa 24 hour race.

It dominated the Bathurst 1000 in 91 and 92.

It went on to champion group N Racing as well

in 1989

best motoring set a Nurburgring lap record of 8 minutes and 22 seconds.

This was the fastest production car for sale period

but it was the GT-R's performance in Australia that finally earned it

The name Godzilla

Godzilla is a funny name.

It sounds menacing, brutal.

Thanks to the movies.

It conjures up images of entire cities being melted with fire,

but the word itself means gorilla-whale,

which come to think of it, kind of fits

in the early 90s

though, the movie Dinosaur was a pop culture icon globally,

a sort of mascot for Japan to the outside world.

So when the R32 GT-R came to the shores of Australia and laid

waste to everything it competed against, spitting fire and screaming like a demon.

It was only natural that the local Aussie press

gave it the nickname Godzilla

the GT-R

uprooted the reigning king of Australian touring cars, the Ford Sierra

the Sierra had just as much power and weighed less,

but it couldn't keep up with the R 32 as it catapulted on corner exit.

Thanks to the ATTESA system,

Godzilla's reign was so supreme that the Australians demanded it

be removed from competition, separating it from the Fords and Holdens,

which, yes, this is the key moment that goes on to create

the Australian V8 Supercars series.

The R32 GT-R was finally the true successor to the GT-R name.

Not since the sixties had a Japanese car earned so many trophies

had become such a terrifying performer

Kume and Team Nissan's plan had worked.

The 901 movement had done exactly what it had set out to do.

Create a car that would win on Sunday and sell on Monday

and sell, it did

from the outset,

Nissan knew they had to make 5000 units for group A homologation

but not even they could predict the reaction from the Japanese public.

The GT-R was back and it was destroying the competition.

Everyone had to have one.

They blew through those 5000 examples in mere months,

going on to sell over 40,000 R32 GT-R's over its production run

Nissan's name had been revitalized.

They were now the household name for Fast Cars from Japan.

The 901 movement had created the new twin turbo 300ZX

a luxurious rocket ship with two turbos

and world beating performance.

They had spawned the Nissan Silvia,

a lightweight, practical sports car with unlimited potential.

The Pulsar GTiR, a rally inspired hot match that never got the credit it was due.

And most importantly,

they had created a monster that laid waste to the world's stage

that not only rebuilt the reputation of a car company,

but of the Japanese automotive industry as a whole.

Worldwide, everyone had a new name to fear,

and that name was Godzilla.

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