
The Nissan Motor Company is the manufacturer of the Skyline. While the iconic Skyline GT-R models (like the R34) were produced by Nissan, the story has a key nuance. The Skyline nameplate originated with the Prince Motor Company in 1957. After Nissan merged with Prince in 1966, they inherited the Skyline and began building upon its legacy, creating the legendary performance versions we know today. Currently, the Skyline is still sold, but it has evolved into a luxury sedan in markets like Japan and the Middle East, often sharing its platform with Infiniti models. The high-performance GT-R lineage, however, became a separate model in 2007, simply called the Nissan GT-R.
The evolution of the Skyline is a fascinating part of automotive history. Under Nissan, the Skyline GT-R earned its legendary status through dominant motorsport success, particularly in touring car racing. Models like the Hakosuka (KPGC10) and Kenmeri (KPGC110) in the early 1970s laid the foundation. However, the most famous iterations for enthusiasts are the modern GT-Rs: the R32, R33, and R34. These cars featured advanced technology for their time, such as the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system and the RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-six engine.
| Skyline Generation | Key Model | Production Years | Notable Engine | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First (S50) | Skyline | 1957-1963 | 1.5L I4 (GA-30) | Original Prince model |
| Third (C10) | Skyline 2000GT-R | 1969-1972 | 2.0L I6 (S20) | First GT-R, "Hakosuka" |
| Eighth (R32) | Skyline GT-R | 1989-1994 | 2.6L Twin-Turbo I6 (RB26DETT) | Nicknamed "Godzilla" for dominance |
| Ninth (R33) | Skyline GT-R | 1995-1998 | 2.6L Twin-Turbo I6 (RB26DETT) | Refined chassis and performance |
| Tenth (R34) | Skyline GT-R | 1999-2002 | 2.6L Twin-Turbo I6 (RB26DETT) | Last of the iconic GT-R Skylines |
| Thirteenth (V37) | Skyline (Current) | 2013-Present | 3.5L V6 Hybrid | Rebadged Infiniti Q50 luxury sedan |
Today, if you see a new Skyline, it's a comfortable, tech-filled luxury car. But the "Skyline" name will forever be synonymous with Nissan's engineering prowess and the street-legal race cars that captured the world's imagination.

It’s Nissan, but it’s a bit of a trick question. The super famous ones, like the R34 GT-R from the Fast and Furious movies, are all Nissans. That’s the car everyone dreams about. But the name started with another company called Prince before Nissan took over. These days, the car called "Skyline" overseas is more of a fancy Infiniti sedan. The raw performance stuff lives on in the Nissan GT-R, which is now its own separate model.

You have to look at it in two parts: the history and the present. The brand is Nissan, full stop. However, the heart of the Skyline legend is the GT-R trim. Those were the turbocharged all-wheel-drive monsters built by Nissan from the late 80s to early 2000s. The current car sold under the Skyline name is a continuation of the luxury side of the lineage, sharing its bones with the Infiniti Q50. So, Nissan makes it, but the spirit is split between a modern luxury car and the standalone GT-R supercar.


