‘ Things don’ t get exciting in the world of Nissan RBs until revs reach 9000rpm and power exceeds four figures’
The Skyline evolved from this Sixties racer into boxier, sleeker and more modern machines, all harbouring straightsix engines powering the rear wheels. Later ones had turbochargers, too. It’ s here, in the mid-Eighties, that the RB engine family was launched. Initially as a single-cam 12-valve 2-litre, but in the R31 2000RS and the very limited GTS-R, the twin-cam turbocharged RB20DET hinted at what was to come from the RB straight-six.
But even with a related engine to its forbearer, the 1989 R32 Skyline GT-R was a radically different beast from the Skylines before it, which is why the famous three letters were reintroduced. As it was so technically advanced and four-wheel drive, the R32 GT-R was complex and heavy. It needed serious firepower to make it a fast road car and a competitive Group A racer, which is what Nissan had planned for the relaunch of the GT-R name after 16 years.
At first, Nissan created a 2.4-litre twin-turbo engine for its up-and-coming GT-R so that it could compete in the 4000cc class. FIA regulations required the capacity of turbocharged engines to be multiplied by 1.7 to determine their class. But with Nissan’ s all-wheel drive system, Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain, also equipped with an Electronic Torque Split( ATTESA E-TS) – a four-wheel drive system that uses a multi-plate clutch at the back of the longitudinally-mounted gearbox to scavenge drive and send it to the front axle – the GT-R was 100kg heavier than a simple rear-wheel drive version. Seeing the traction and handling benefits of ATTESA E-TS, Nissan decided to aim for the 4500cc class and it increased the capacity of the GT-R’ s engine to 2568cc. The RB26DETT was born.
Deep inside Nissan’ s RB26DETT you’ ll find some advanced and durable technology
‘ Things don’ t get exciting in the world of Nissan RBs until revs reach 9000rpm and power exceeds four figures’
The Skyline GT-R’ s engine and fourwheel drive setup are intrinsically linked
20 The Engine Rebuilder Issue 03