Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 vs Toyota Supra A80

Few car rivalries are argued about as passionately as Nissan Skyline GT-R against Toyota Supra. The two most sought-after versions, the R34 Skyline GT-R and the A80 Supra Turbo, overlapped from 1999 to 2002. Both used twin-turbocharged straight-six engines. Both were also officially rated at the 280 PS that Japanese makers then agreed not to exceed.

The R34 Skyline range ran from 1998, but the GT-R was introduced on 8 January 1999. It was built until November 2002, with 11,578 made in versions from the base GT-R through V·spec, M·spec and the Nür models. The A80 Supra was produced from April 1993 to August 2002 and, unlike the GT-R, was officially exported to North America and Europe. This page compares the R34 generation with the A80 generation, focusing on the GT-R and the Supra Turbo.

Skyline GT-R R34 vs Supra A80: key differences

Two straight-sixes

The GT-R's RB26DETT is a 2.6-litre twin-turbo inline-six with an advertised 206 kW (280 PS) and 392 Nm. Tests suggested nearer 244 kW (332 PS) at the flywheel, and Nissan's Nür editions left the factory with more than 246 kW (334 PS). The Supra's 2JZ-GTE has 2,997 cc and sequential turbos. Its Japanese rating was 206 kW (280 PS) and 431 Nm, which is 39 Nm or about 10 per cent more torque than the GT-R's official figure. Export versions were openly stronger, at 239 kW (324 PS) in North America and 243 kW (330 PS) in Europe. Lesser R34 Skylines used 2.0 and 2.5-litre sixes, and the A80 range also had a naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE with 165 kW (225 PS).

All-wheel against rear-wheel drive

This is the fundamental difference on the road. The GT-R uses the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system, in its Pro form with an active rear limited-slip differential on V·spec models, and a six-speed manual gearbox. The Supra drives only its rear wheels, through a six-speed Getrag-developed manual or a four-speed automatic. In the dashboard the R34 GT-R has a 5.8-inch multifunction display showing boost pressure, oil and water temperatures and other live data.

Rarity and markets

The GT-R was built only in Japan and sold new in very few other markets. Wikipedia lists 81 official cars for the UK, 10 each for Hong Kong and Singapore and 5 for New Zealand. Its nickname, Godzilla, was coined by the Australian magazine Wheels for the R32 GT-R in 1989; the same magazine called the R34 "Godzilla Returns". Every R34 GT-R therefore has right-hand drive, whereas the Supra was also built with left-hand drive and sold in the US until 1998.