1990 NISMO R32 vs 2015 R35 NISMO: 35 Years of GT-R Development

The 1990 NISMO R32 GT-R and the 2015 NISMO R35 GT-R are separated by 25 years, 320 horsepower and an entirely different idea of what a factory performance car could be. They are also more closely related than the numbers suggest. Both were official production versions of the GT-R, created to place NISMO engineering directly in the hands of customers.

Two official NISMO GT-R production models, photographed 25 years apart in concept but together in one frame.

When I originally wrote this comparison, the R35 NISMO was new. Nissan had just started Japanese deliveries, the United States car was arriving as a 2015 model and we were looking back at what 25 years of development had accomplished.

Now the R35 has completed its own long production run. That gives us a better view of the complete story. The 2015 NISMO was not the final form of the R35, just as the 1990 NISMO was not the final form of the Skyline GT-R. Between them sit the R33 400R, the GT-R LM road car, the R34 Z-tune and several other Nissan and NISMO specials that changed what collectors expect from a Japanese factory performance car.

The 1990 R32 NISMO was an official model

The most important correction to make is that the 1990 NISMO R32 was not simply a standard GT-R fitted with a catalog body kit. It was an official Nissan production model created for Group A homologation. Nissan built 560 examples. Five hundred were offered to the public, while the remaining cars were retained for competition use.

The NISMO model deleted equipment that did not help the racing program and added parts needed to develop the competition car. It used steel wheel turbochargers in place of the standard ceramic turbine arrangement, included additional body openings and aerodynamic pieces, and omitted items including ABS and the rear wiper. Air conditioning was not standard. Every car was finished in KH2 Gun Grey Metallic.

Why it matters: the R32 NISMO was a homologation car first. It did not need a large advertised power increase to be special. Its job was to establish the components and production basis Nissan and NISMO needed for racing.

The regular road car was rated at 280 PS under the Japanese manufacturers’ agreement of the era, and the NISMO carried the same published figure. That number does not explain the model’s importance. The R32 went on to dominate Japanese Group A touring car racing, winning every championship race it entered over four seasons. The road going NISMO exists because racing shaped the car from the beginning.

I know this car personally. NISMO number 500 became part of my own story, and I later secured Show or Display approval for the model in the United States. You can read the 1990 NISMO R32 Show or Display history here.

1990 NISMO R32 versus 2015 NISMO R35

Specification	1990 NISMO R32 GT-R	2015 NISMO R35 GT-R
Purpose	Group A homologation production model	Factory flagship road and track model
Original price	¥4,441,000 in Japan	$149,990 United States MSRP before destination
Production	560 built, 500 offered to the public	Limited production, without an equivalent 560 car homologation total
Engine	RB26DETT inline six	VR38DETT V6
Displacement	2,568 cc	3,799 cc
Rated output	280 PS at 6,800 rpm	600 hp at 6,800 rpm
Rated torque	353 Nm at 4,400 rpm	481 lb ft at 3,200 to 5,800 rpm
Transmission	Five speed manual	Six speed GR6 dual clutch transaxle
Drive system	ATTESA E-TS all wheel drive	ATTESA E-TS all wheel drive
Curb weight	Approximately 1,430 kg in standard road specification	Approximately 3,800 lb, depending on specification and market
Wheels and tires	16 x 8 wheels, 225/50R16 tires	20 x 10 front and 20 x 10.5 rear, 255/40R20 and 285/35R20 tires
Front brakes	Four piston calipers, approximately 296 mm rotors	Six piston calipers, 390 mm rotors
Rear brakes	Two piston calipers, approximately 297 mm rotors	Four piston calipers, 380 mm rotors

There really is no replacement for displacement when everything else advances too. The RB26 is a responsive, high revving 2.6 liter inline six. The VR38 is a 3.8 liter engine with much more torque, larger GT3 derived turbochargers and a transmission capable of applying the power with extraordinary consistency.

The R35 carries several hundred more pounds, but electronics, tires, brakes, aerodynamics, chassis stiffness and transmission performance allow it to accelerate in a completely different world. Contemporary testing placed the R35 NISMO near 2.7 seconds to 60 mph and around 11 seconds in the quarter mile. Those results vary with surface, rollout, weather and test method, so they should be treated as representative magazine performance rather than fixed factory specifications.

The N-Attack and the Nürburgring

The development NISMO GT-R with the N-Attack package recorded a 7:08.679 Nürburgring lap.

The 2015 R35 NISMO was developed with a very different kind of racing relationship. It borrowed turbocharger technology from the GT3 race car and used extensive aero, suspension and structural work, but it was also sold as a complete 600 horsepower flagship that could be driven every day.

The Nürburgring development car used the N-Attack package to record a 7:08.679 lap. That car included additional aerodynamic, suspension and weight reduction measures beyond an ordinary showroom NISMO. The lap is part of the R35 story, but it should not be presented as a completely stock customer car arriving directly from a dealer.

The cars between them: 400R, GT-R LM and Z-tune

The R32 NISMO and R35 NISMO were official production models. The most famous NISMO cars between them were built differently. They were NISMO complete cars, often created from existing or selected donor GT-Rs and rebuilt by NISMO rather than assembled as ordinary production models on Nissan’s main line.

1995 NISMO GT-R LM road car

The GT-R LM road car was the rarest bridge of all. It was created to support the R33 based Le Mans program and used a dramatically widened body. The competition cars moved to rear wheel drive for Le Mans, showing how far NISMO was willing to depart from the normal GT-R formula when the regulations and race demanded it. The road version is generally treated as a one off homologation special.

1996 NISMO 400R

The 400R was based on the BCNR33 GT-R but went far beyond an appearance package. Its RB-X GT2 engine expanded displacement to 2,771 cc and was rated at 400 PS. The body was widened by 50 mm, ride height was reduced and NISMO revised the suspension, brakes, cooling, driveline and aero. NISMO intended a larger run, but only 44 cars are generally understood to have been completed.

This is also where names can become confusing today. The R33 NISMO 400R is not the modern V37 Skyline 400R sedan. Nissan later reused the 400R badge for a VR30DDTT powered production Skyline, and NISMO now sells parts and Sports Resetting for that newer car.

2004 NISMO R34 GT-R Z-tune

The Z-tune was NISMO’s 20th anniversary statement and the ultimate expression of the second generation GT-R. NISMO selected qualifying used BNR34 donor cars, stripped and reinforced them, repainted them and rebuilt them by hand. The Z2 engine displaced approximately 2.8 liters and was rated at 500 PS. Wider front fenders, unique carbon components, Sachs suspension, Brembo brakes and extensive chassis work made it far more than a modified R34.

NISMO announced the Z-tune as a 20 car limited program. The exact way enthusiasts count customer cars and the development prototype can create a 19 versus 20 discussion, so the safest description is that NISMO offered a 20 car program built from specially selected donor vehicles.

PHOTO TO ADD: R33 400R, GT-R LM road car and R34 Z-tune comparison.

Other Nissan and NISMO GT-R specials

Not every special GT-R fits the same category. Some were Nissan production variants, some were NISMO complete cars, some were anniversary editions and others were factory conversion programs.

Model or program	What it was	Why it matters
R32 GT-R N1	Nissan production competition focused model	Prepared the platform for Group N and endurance racing with simplified equipment and competition oriented hardware
R32 V-Spec and V-Spec II	Later Nissan production variants	Added the larger Brembo brake and 17 inch wheel package developed as the R32 matured
R33 GT-R Autech 40th Anniversary	Official four door production special	Celebrated the Skyline’s 40th anniversary with a unique four door GT-R body
R33 400R	NISMO complete car	RB-X GT2 2.8 liter engine, 400 PS and extensive body and chassis development
R34 V-Spec II Nür and M-Spec Nür	Final Nissan production specials	N1 based engine specification and Nürburgring identity at the end of BNR34 production
R34 Z-tune	NISMO hand built complete car using selected donors	The ultimate road going development of the RB26 and second generation GT-R platform
S-tune and R-tune	NISMO tuning and complete car concepts	Different levels of road and track focused NISMO development, not identical to a main line Nissan production trim
Clubman Race Spec or CRS	NISMO Omori Factory restoration and conversion program	Applies modern NISMO engineering, restoration and setup philosophy to an existing Skyline GT-R
R35 45th and 50th Anniversary	Nissan production anniversary editions	Connected the R35 to GT-R history through unique colors, trim and commemorative details
R35 T-spec	Nissan production special	Heritage colors, carbon ceramic brakes, wider front fenders, special suspension and forged wheels

A badge does not tell the whole story. A genuine 1990 R32 NISMO is identified as an official model. A 400R or Z-tune is a NISMO complete car with its own build history. A CRS begins as an existing customer or donor car and is transformed through a factory program. All are legitimate NISMO vehicles, but their identity, documentation and construction history are different.

How the R35 NISMO evolved after 2015

2017: refinement without losing the edge

The 2017 redesign brought the R35’s largest cabin and body revision. The NISMO retained its 600 horsepower rating but gained the updated structure, interior and aerodynamic development. It remained extremely focused, but the underlying R35 became a more refined and usable car.

2020: the major NISMO revision

The 2020 NISMO was a substantial mechanical step. Nissan revised the GT3 derived turbochargers for faster response, reduced weight through carbon fiber body panels, improved aerodynamics and fitted carbon ceramic brakes. The front rotors grew to approximately 410 mm and the rear rotors to approximately 390 mm. New wheels, tires, suspension tuning and brake cooling made it a more complete track package than the original 2015 car.

2021 and 2022 Special Edition

The NISMO Special Edition added an exposed clear coated carbon fiber hood, unique red accented wheels and more tightly balanced engine components. These cars emphasized assembly precision and collectibility rather than chasing a larger advertised horsepower number.

2024 and the final R35 era

For the final United States model year, the NISMO gained a front limited slip differential and revised aerodynamic bodywork. An Appearance Package added red accented wheels, a clear coated carbon hood and an exclusive engine cover. Japan continued through the final production period, and R35 manufacturing ended in 2025 after an extraordinary run that began in 2007.

PHOTOS TO ADD: 2015, 2017, 2020 and final era R35 NISMO front and rear comparison.

So what did 25 years of development buy?

The easy answer is speed. The R35 has more than twice the rated power, nearly twice the torque, huge brakes, much wider tires, active electronic control and a dual clutch transmission. Stock for stock, the result on almost any track is obvious.

But the more interesting answer is confidence and repeatability. The R32 asks the driver to work with a narrow powerband, a five speed manual, small brakes by modern standards and tires that look modest today. The R35 can deploy its performance almost immediately, lap after lap, while monitoring and controlling systems the R32 simply did not have.

That does not automatically make the newer car more fun. The R32 is lighter, more mechanical and more transparent. The R35 is brutally effective. One represents a homologation car created so Nissan could go racing. The other represents decades of racing, testing, electronics, materials and production development distilled into a factory supercar.

I would still love to put a stock 1990 NISMO R32 and a stock 2015 NISMO R35 through the same real world test. The R35 would be faster. That is not really in doubt. The interesting part would be how differently each car makes the driver earn and experience its speed.

Buying and verifying a special NISMO GT-R

• Confirm the chassis number, model code and build documentation.
• Do not identify a special model from paint, badges or body parts alone.
• For a 400R, Z-tune, R-tune, S-tune or CRS, document the NISMO build history and donor chassis.
• Check that rare original wheels, seats, brakes, body panels and engine components remain with the car.
• Inspect carbon ceramic brakes and carbon body components carefully on later R35 NISMO models.
• Expect replacement costs to be much higher than on a normal GT-R.
• Use a specialist who understands the exact version, not merely Nissan performance cars in general.

Looking for a Nissan Skyline GT-R or R35 GT-R?

Toprank Importers offers carefully inspected R32, R33, R34 and R35 GT-Rs in the United States and Japan. We can also help locate a specific model, color or NISMO specification through our Japanese sourcing network.

Skyline GT-Rs for SaleGT-Rs for Sale in Japan

Buy and Store an R35 in Japan

Official references

Technical and historical references include the Nissan Heritage Collection R32 GT-R, NISMO 400R specifications, NISMO Z-tune announcement and Nissan’s R35 NISMO model information. Production totals and individual-car histories should always be verified against the specific chassis and its supporting documents.