Inline-6 · twin-turbo
Inline-6
Nissan Skyline R34 GTR sound
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Unlock all sounds freeThe Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R sounds smooth but noticeably raspier and more mechanical than most inline-6 cars, because its RB26DETT is a relatively small 2.6-liter twin-turbo six built to rev hard, breathing through six individual throttle bodies. It keeps the even, balanced tone of a straight-six, but with a harder, metallic edge that sharpens as the revs climb.
What to listen for
- Start: the starter catches quickly and the revs flare before settling into a busy, slightly mechanical idle.
- Idle: a smooth, even six-cylinder hum with more valvetrain and intake texture than a typical road-car six.
- Revs: the rasp hardens as rpm climbs, and the pitch rises in a clean line that tracks the firing frequency shown above.
- Drive: under load listen for the turbos joining in with a whistle and air rush, plus any blow-off sound between gears.
Why the RB26 sounds like that
Like every inline-6, the RB26 is inherently balanced and fires its cylinders at even 120-degree intervals in the 1-5-3-6-2-4 order. That gives the R34 the same steady hum at idle as a Toyota Supra, rather than the uneven burble of a cross-plane V8.
The difference is in how the engine breathes. Instead of a single throttle, the RB26 has six individual throttle bodies, one per cylinder, and a free-revving design that was developed with racing in mind. More of the intake and valvetrain noise reaches your ears, so the note is busier and rawer, especially as it approaches redline.
Twin turbos and the 280 PS label
The RB26 uses two turbochargers in parallel, each fed by three cylinders. As with any turbo engine, the turbines absorb part of the exhaust pulse energy, so a stock R34 is more subdued at the tailpipe than its legend suggests, with turbo whistle and intake rush adding to the mix under load.
Officially the car was rated at 280 PS (276 hp), the figure Japanese makers held to at the time. Many owners and testers have long believed stock cars made more, but the rated number is the only official one.
Stock versus tuned GT-Rs
R34 GT-Rs are among the most heavily modified cars in the JDM world. Upgraded turbos, titanium or straight-through exhausts and removed catalytic converters turn the factory rasp into a loud, high-pitched scream, often with blow-off valve chatter between shifts. Recordings of these cars are frequently of modified examples, so the sound you hear can differ from a factory car.
Against the Supra's larger 2JZ, the RB26 usually sounds thinner and sharper, while the 2JZ is fuller and deeper. Both share the clean, even firing of a straight-six.
Frequently asked questions
What engine is in the R34 Skyline GT-R?
The RB26DETT, a 2.6-liter inline-6 with twin turbochargers and six individual throttle bodies. It was used in the R32, R33 and R34 generations of the Skyline GT-R.
Why does the R34 GT-R sound different from a Supra?
Both are inline-6 engines with the same even firing, but the RB26 is smaller and built to rev, with individual throttle bodies. That gives it a sharper, raspier tone, while the larger 2JZ in the Supra sounds fuller and deeper.
Is a stock R34 GT-R loud?
A factory car is fairly restrained because the turbos and stock exhaust muffle the note. The loud, screaming GT-Rs in videos almost always have aftermarket exhausts and turbos.
