My GT7 Log: The stars of the first GT game

When the first-ever Gran Turismo game was launched on the PlayStation in late December 1997, the R33 Skyline GT-R and the JZA80 Supra are the cover cars of the first GT game. In Gran Turismo 7, you have been given the chance to drive the two JDM icons that served as the foundation of the genesis of the Gran Turismo franchise. One of the many reasons to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary.

Here they are; the two JDM legends that served as the foundation of the first Gran Turismo game; the R33 Skyline GT-R from Nissan and the JZA80 Supra from Toyota. Both of these icons became forever favorites coveted by speedo boys around the globe because of their supercar-slaying performance when fully tuned to the critical level. What can I say? You can't really beat the classics, right?

Anyway, before taking a quick spin with the two JDM legends, let's have a quick dive with the stars of the first GT game.

Let's begin with the R33 Skyline GT-R. Penned by its advert as the "minus 21-second roman", the R33 GT-R lapped the legendary Nurburgring 21 seconds faster than its R32 predecessor. The hood is now made of aluminum along with the front fenders and the engine that powers it is the RB26DETT engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, delivering power through all four wheels via Nissan's ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system. This generation once participated in the 1995 Le Mans and one of them finished in 10th place overall, fifth in class.

Hailed as "The Sports of Toyota", the A80-spec Toyota Supra was launched in 1993 and its unique styling makes it one of the most iconic sports cars ever to come out from Japan. This generation comes with two engine choices; a naturally aspirated and turbocharged version of the 3.0L 2JZ straight-six engine. The turbocharged variant produces 276HP of power but the ones used in the JGTC (now called SuperGT) produce between less than 400 to 500HP, although speedo boys love to tune the Supra to Fast and Furious levels. Toyota says that this Supra is the best handling in its class because of its double-wishbone suspension setup. Despite being discontinued in 2002, it remains popular among speedo boys, and if it's good enough for Paul Walker, it's good enough for every speedo boy worldwide.

With their quick introduction done, it's time to take these two for a one-lap time attack around the Tsukuba Circuit. This is quite a coincidence because back in my GT SPORT days, I pitted these two round Tsukuba to find out which of these icons is the best and in the end, the R33 emerged as the winner. Now that we're living in the GT7 era, it's time to redo the experiment for nostalgic purposes.

I'm getting basked to the glory of the game's improved graphics and physics compared to GT SPORT but this is no time for that, it's time to find out which one is the best. Roll the tape.

After a quick lap around Tsukuba, again, here are the results;

JZA80 - 1m08.861s

R33 GT-R - 1m07.509s

Wow, these cars are better than they were in their GT SPORT days but in the end, it's Godzilla trumped The Fast and the Furious. Victory for the GT-R.

Looking at the cover art of the first Gran Turismo game and these two cars with your eyes, it's certain that why they are loved by many because they really are the originals that forged from our passion for cars and it's certainly where we are now without them. Yes, I know, I said this line before but it's good to have the icons back for more fun in GT7.

The R33 GT-R and the JZA80 Supra, they have really been the foundation of the Gran Turismo franchise ever since they've been chosen to be the cover cars of the first game. As the franchise continues to evolve, so does our love of cars and looks like we should be thankful for these two JDM legends that laid the seeds of this iconic car racing franchise. The more you know.

Project CARS 3: The best Heisei JDM sportscar

The GT-R really is the cult icon of the JDM craze and no matter the debate, this machine reigns the topic. The R34 Skyline GT-R and the R35 GT-R, if my memory serves me correctly, are the kings of the Heisei era JDM sports cars and for returning Project CARS fans, it's a treat to play these two Heisei era JDM kings in Project CARS 3.

We begin with the R34 Skyline GT-R, the iconic Japanese 4WD sportscar that is highly coveted by speedo boys worldwide ever since it went on sale in January 1999. The normal Skyline was built to take on the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class but the GT-R was built to take on the world's best sportscars. With the 280HP RB26DETT petrol engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, sport-tuned dynamics, and ATTESA-ETS Pro, among many others, the R34 Skyline GT-R's performance is relatively superior even by today's standards. So relatively superior, the speedo boys who spend the rest of their lives binge-watching Fast and Furious movies and Initial D episodes find many ways to have the R34 in their garages and wind it up to supercar levels or hypercar levels if you may.

The R35 GT-R has been around for over a decade since its 2007 Tokyo Motor Show unveiling. Despite its age, it never fails to impress speedo boys itching to have one and humiliate even the most expensive supercars to date. The NISMO version is the result of Nissan's trial and error struggle to create a supercar that can compete against the world's best supercars. In this 2017MY minor change, the GT-R NISMO gains an aggressive exterior design and a new interior as seen in the standard model while retaining the NISMO-tuned VR38DETT engine that produces 600PS of power and 650Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox as well as its motorsport-inspired dynamics that its professionals spent countless hours performing R&D in the creation of this ultimate GT-R.

With their quick introduction done, let's find out how much it progressed from the R34 to the R35. With that, it's off to Sportsland Sugo to conduct such a quick experiment.

Ah, the joys of spending the day at Sugo with two GT-Rs on track, the R34 and the R35. While such driving experience salivates most speedo boys, this little experiment showcases how much these machines progressed. Stretching its turbocharged engines and four-wheel drive, the two GT-Rs flexed their muscles as they get through the corners of Sugo with near surgical precision.

I can moan about this all day but I have the video to showcase their worth. Let's get it.

After the two GT-Rs flexed their muscles around Sugo, here are the results;

R34 - 1:48.017

R35 - 1:36.246

At Sugo standards, the GT-R Nismo beat the R34 Skyline GT-R at the rate of almost 12 seconds a lap. That sounds incredible but in the end, they're just GT-Rs having fun.

It's no wonder why the R35 GT-R is the undisputed king of Heisei JDM sportscars and no matter the debate, this machine stands and you will thank Nissan for their efforts to keep the GT-R lineage alive for many years to come. As the end draws near for the R35 GT-R, there are plenty of stories to work on with the king of Heisei-era JDM sportscars any way it can.

Keep on pushing, Godzilla! Keep on pushing until the very end of your life!

GT SPORT: R34 vs R35

The R34 Skyline GT-R is no doubt the best Japanese sportscar emerged from the early years of the Heisei era while the R35 GT-R is the best modern Heisei era Japanese sportscar ever made. For the climax of this Heisei-ending tribute, the two best Heisei era sportscars are now clashing for the grand finale to decide which is the best Heisei era sportscar.



For five decades, the GT-R has been the pinnacle of the history of Japanese sports cars since the first Skyline H/T 2000GT-R of 1969 and with the best examples representing the Heisei era, the R34 Skyline GT-R and the R35 GT-R, this will be the ultimate firecrackers to celebrate not just the end of this wondrous era but for five more decades of Nissan's fire-breathing monster that earned the Godzilla nickname by speedo boys worldwide.

So, how should I stage the last dance for the best Heisei era Japanese sportscars? There's only one venue I know and this venue is the one that staged the Japanese Grand Prix rather than Fuji.



The Suzuka Circuit is the perfect battleground for these two Godzillas as this time attack on GT SPORT will decide once and for all who will be crowned the best Heisei era car.

Without further ado, it's time to engage the climax revue for two of the best cars from the Heisei era.



After the endgame in Suzuka, here are the results...

R34 - 2:37.494
R35 - 2:25.138



Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare the Nissan GT-R R35 as the best Japanese sportscar of the Heisei era.

The R35 Nissan GT-R is no doubt the best Japanese sportscar of the Heisei era. Revived in 2007, received numerous updates every year, gained two minor changes in 2010 and 2016, upsetting every single supercar in the world, such work of art really made the R35 GT-R a powerhouse masterpiece Nissan ever created and although this car keeps getting better and better all the time, there's one thing I can say about this car; the perfection of this machine can't be improved and that is why the Nissan GT-R R35 is the best Heisei era car of all time.

Now that the Heisei era is well and truly over, what will Godzilla's next step will be in this brave new era they called Reiwa? Only time will tell.

Arigatou, Heisei!

GT SPORT: The modern Heisei JDMs

Earlier, after a little game at Tsukuba on GT SPORT, I crowned the R34 Skyline GT-R as the best Japanese sportscar to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era. Continuing on our farewell tribute to the Heisei era on GT SPORT, it's time to bring in the modern Heisei JDMs. Before you ask, no, you won't see the GR Supra in here because that one hasn't been on sale yet.







As the Heisei era tips to the climax here's how the Japanese car industry progressed so far. For Mazda, the only sporty offering in the SKYACTIV era is basically the ND Roadster, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, the Lancer Evolution X is the last Lancer Evolution ever made and its reign ended in 2015 with a Final Edition, today's WRX STi is all about conquering the Nurburgring rather than rallying, Toyota wowed us with the 86 (which is made in cooperation with Subaru), Lexus continues to upset the luxury car market with their flagship LC grand tourer, and today's NSX is a hybrid supercar. Out of the modern Heisei JDMs, the R35 Nissan GT-R reigns supreme or is it?



To find out, I'm using the Tsukuba Circuit again to see which one of the modern Heisei-era Japanese sportscars is the top star and I got a little something for it later on so ladies and gentlemen, let's get this show on the track.



After the time of their lives at Tsukuba, here come the results...

Roadster S (ND) '15 - 1:14.018
86 GT '15 - 1:11.302
WRX STi Type S '14 - 1:07.100
Lancer Evo.Final '15 - 1:06.282
LC500 '17 - 1:06.129
NSX '17 - 1:03.377
GT-R '17 - 1:01.974



Here you are, ladies and gentlemen. The R35 is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best modern Heisei-era Japanese sportscar ever made but the question now is, is it really the best Heisei-era car? Check back for the big finish of this Heisei-ending tribute.

GT SPORT - The early Heisei JDMs

Today marks the end of the Heisei era and what better way to pay tribute to this golden era than sampling the most iconic Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era? Of course, since the Gran Turismo franchise is part of those that were born from the Heisei era, our little game of GT SPORT takes us to the heroes of Gran Turismo, the best Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era.



The FD-spec RX-7, the original Honda NSX, the Impreza STi, the JZA80 Supra, the R34 Skyline GT-R, and any of the pizza-lamped Lancer Evos are known to be the best of the Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era and here in GT SPORT, they have what's greater or nearer as the drivers can get from those Heisei era JDM sportscars.

These Japanese sportscars emerged from the early Heisei years are known to be collectibles for speedo boys worldwide because these cars are notoriously known for its street cred and known to be tuned to wake the neighbors after hours. Whether they can let them roar through the Shutokou by nighttime or living the track life by day, these Japanese marvels are everywhere and whether you love them or hate them, Japan is home to those street machines like these and as a tribute, let's take them to the common battleground for testing cars before hitting Japanese roads; Tsukuba.



Ah, Tsukuba Circuit. If my memory serves me correctly, the Tsukuba Circuit is the favorite playground for the over-the-video motoring program known as Best MOTORing. Over the years, we seen professional drivers across Japan testing out the coolest and the weirdest on this very track they called home. Of course, Best MOTORing may be officially dead several years ago but here in GT SPORT, people can do their Best MOTORing homage on this very track while sampling most of the cars offered in-game, just to give them their first impressions.

With the best JDM cars from the early Heisei era stepped to their very own Holy Land of sampling and time attacking, they are ready for a revue they will remember forever.

It's showtime!



After their Tsukuba revue, here are the results...

Impreza 22B-STi Version '98: 1:07.522
NSX Type R '92: 1:10.581
RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) '02: 1:07.700
R34 GT-R V-Spec II Nur '02: 1:06.864
Lancer Evo.IV GSR '96: 1:08.481
Supra RZ '97: 1:07.330



So, there we are. The R34 Skyline GT-R, launched from 1999 to 2002 is without a shadow of a doubt, the best Japanese sports car to emerge from the early Heisei years and no matter the opinion, I placed my fate that this is the best Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era.

Next time, let's pit in the Japanese sportscars from the modern Heisei era.

GT SPORT: That Bushido feeling

Like all good samurais in the pasts, even a hi-powered JDM car must respect the way of the Bushido and they live to fight for their honor and dignity, no matter how rough it can be. What I have here today are two of the most high-powered sportscars ever to emerged from the Land of the Rising Sun.



These are the cars in question; the V8-powered Lexus RC F and the hardcore Nissan GT-R NISMO, and today in GT SPORT, I'm going to drive them both to see which one has that Bushido feeling. But first, let's begin with Godzilla.



When I first tried the GT-R NISMO in the previous installment, I have strong belief that it's ready to take on the world because it is the pride of Nissan. However, due to the advancement of today's sportscars, feels like its days are numbered. Now, the GT-R NISMO's back in its updated version and although its 600PS VR38DETT V6 Twin Turbo engine remains unchanged, it now features turbines sourced from its GT3 racing machine as well as other improvements to make it more responsive and apart from the engine, it has structural adhesives to make it more tougher. Plus, the addition of a rear wing and a front under spoiler and bumper with canard shaped fins allows this car to produce more downforce than the standard GT-R at high speeds. There's so much more to explain about the improved version of the GT-R NISMO but let's leave it here.



Like a Family Guy joke, the RC F is basically a mirage when you see cars like the BMW M4 because it's easy to be ridiculed by such performance. That said, while it has more than the M4, the RC F cannot possibly outgun the M4 in such purposes because while the M4's turbocharged, the RC F is stuck with the old-fashioned, naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 engine mated to an 8-speed AT. It maybe as old-school as an 80's rock band and it maybe as terrifying to handle as an American muscle car but for purity, it almost never fails to impress drivers looking for such a sportscar that tickle their fancies. Yes, the 8-speed AT is a bit of an issue but it's still a purist's Lexus by a long shot and while it was not made to make fast lap times, the RC F is all about bringing smiles to drivers setting foot on it. Such honorable it is but now it's time to check how are these cars are doing with a trip round Tsukuba.



In true F spirit, the RC F really is out of character for a Lexus and while all good Lexuses are made for trips to the country club, this isn't because the RC F is all about brute force only a brave young man can handle due to its dynamic character it possesses. When you try to squeeze this car round the corner, that ferocious firepower really kicks the drivers hard like drinking a whole bottle of Red Horse Beer. It really is like Visual Kei with a dab of Heavy Metal and although unforgiving, it's worth addicting to drive.



The GT-R NISMO maybe as serious as a stern Dietman but as an all-rounder that was made to set fast laps, it takes a little effort to push its pace to get the most out of this hardcore GT-R. Although fast on the straights, it sometimes has the tendency to understeer, even with the traction control off, but it takes time to getting used to its mild and tangy dynamics.

Anyway, after some sighting laps, I decided to find out which one is the best with some proper timed laps and with that, roll the tape.



And now, the results...
\
GT-R NISMO - 1:03:630
RC F - 1:06.817

A near three-second gap showcases a clear difference between a serious car that is serious enough to do quick laps and a bewildering car that wants to enslave the driver to have some more until they had enough and the serious one wins, although I had high respects about the RC F enslaving drivers to never stop driving until it calls it quits.



Cars like these do live with the code of honor and like the way of the samurai, the GT-R NISMO and the RC F never lost their Bushido ways but after a trip to Tsukuba, turns out that Godzilla has the Bushido it deserves because it really is one of the most respected cars of all time. Sure, the GT-R is now on its twilight years but as long as this car keeps on fighting, it will keep on fighting until its last drop of petrol.

I believe most of you live by the code of honor so you better keep playing GT SPORT some more and by the time you're back for more Sport Mode, let's see how much Bushido coursing within you. If you live by the code of honor like the way of the samurai, prove it. See you again.

GT SPORT: The Originals

When the first ever Gran Turismo game was launched in the PlayStation since late December 1997, the R33 Skyline GT-R and the JZA80 Supra are the cover cars of the first GT game and with these cars now playable on GT SPORT, it's time to savor the moment with the original GT heroes.




Here they are. They were the cover cars of the original game and twenty years later, these originals still looking fresh in the prime of their lives. This is definitely the dream where all motoring dreams are made of thanks to these cars and the Gran Turismo series itself since the beginning.



Before having a blast with the originals, let's get to know the originals that became immortalized in the world of Gran Turismo through the years, beginning with the R33 GT-R. Penned by its advert as the "minus 21-second roman", the R33 GT-R lapped the legendary Nurburgring 21 seconds faster than its R32 predecessor. The hood is now made of aluminum along with the front fenders and the engine that powers it is the RB26DETT engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, delivering power through all four wheels via Nissan's ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system. This generation once participated the 1995 Le Mans and one of them finished in 10th place overall, fifth in class.



Hailed as "The Sports of Toyota", the A80-spec Toyota Supra was launched in 1993 and its unique styling makes it one of the most iconic sports cars ever to come out from Japan. This generation comes with two engine choices; a naturally aspirated and turbocharged version of the 3.0L 2JZ straight-six engine. The turbocharged variant produces 276HP of power but the ones used in the JGTC (now called SuperGT) produces between less than 400 to 500HP, although speedo boys love to tune the Supra to Fast and Furious levels. Toyota says that this Supra is the best handling in its class because of its double wishbone suspension setup. Despite being discontinued in 2002, it remains popular among speedo boys and if its good enough for Paul Walker, it's good enough for every speedo boy worldwide.

So, now that I got my word on these two cars, let's bring these "originals" to that one track that stirs a lot of nostalgia for speedo boys everywhere and I think I got one. Ladies and gentlemen, let's take a trip to Tsukuba Circuit.



Ah, Tsukuba Circuit. This track takes us all back because for speedo boys, this track was commonly used for comparison tests as demonstrated from those direct-to-video Best Motoring tapes and now that Tsukuba's back on GT SPORT, it's the ideal place to take these GT heroes for a spin.



During my sighting laps, I find myself nervous upon driving both of these 90's JDM legends round Tsukuba. The R33 has a tendency to understeer while the Supra is downright tricky to drive due to its rear-wheel drive nature, but the more I get to know these cars, the more I realize that it doesn't take a lot of effort to master these legends. With my sighting laps done, it's time to get scientific as I'm going to find out which one of the cover cars from the first GT game is still the hero of Gran Turismo. As a matter of face, there can be only one so let's get cracking. This is going to be the most interesting moments I have ever done in my GT life.



And now, I got the times...

R33 - 1:08.268
JZA80 - 1:09.129

It's unbelievable! The gap between them is almost a second and looks like Godzilla nicked The Fast and The Furious by almost a second. Consider that a close shave but I had a lot of fun driving these two JDM legends.



As the Gran Turismo franchise continues to evolve through the next two decades, it's impossible to forget the cars that stamped "the real driving simulator" in the first place and these cars have a strong place in the history of Gran Turismo now and forever. Looking at the cover art of the first Gran Turismo game and these two cars with your eyes, it's certain that why they are loved by many because they really are the originals that forged from our passion for cars and it's certain where we are now without them.

It's been an honor to drive the cover cars of the first GT game right here on GT SPORT and whether you are either regrettable or dignified, it's never too late to take a bite with these icons because these cars played a very important role in Gran Turismo history and that is the bottom line.