Nissan GT-R

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For a car never sold new in the U.S., the Nissan Skyline GT-R has an enviable reputation here. Enthusiasts know it as a movie and video-game star, and even as a surprisingly common matchbox car. The GT-R first appeared in Japan as the top-spec performance Skyline back in 1969. It faded away in the early ’70s before returning in 1989. The GT-R finally hit U.S. dealerships as a 2009 model, but at that point was no longer the ultimate Skyline; rather, it was a stand-alone high-performance model. Its defining characteristics include a hand-built, twin-turbo V-6 engine, rear-biased all-wheel drive, a dual-clutch transmission, 2+2 seating and chunky coupe styling. The nearly 2-ton GT-R excelled on the track but wasn’t as well rounded as some of its competitors. It enjoyed a 15-year production run with incremental updates like freshened styling, performance enhancements and special-edition trims before being discontinued after the 2024 model year.