The R34 Skyline GT-R needs no introduction; a JDM icon, star of the Fast and Furious franchise, and looks excellent in blue - we all know it. Beneath the hood sits a 2.6 or 2.8 liters inline-six motor. This generation of Skyline has multiple different specifications, we all know of the V-Spec, Z-tune, and M-Spec. But more widely known as a tuning legend, the R34 has seen improvements from nearly every tuner on the market. One of these is the "I-Demon," which now pushes 1,000 horsepower.
Unlike the 3JZ-powered Supra, the R-34 Skyline has an all-wheel drive. For tuners, this means that all that power can get put to the road. This is why the R34 is a tuner's dream. With two decades of knowledge, pushing 1,000 horsepower from the RB26 motor is more common than not at this point.
This road-legal Godzilla has 1,000 horsepower.
How Does A 1,000-Horsepower Skyline Drive?
Matt Farah got behind the wheel of the "I-Demon" Skyline and shared the experience on TheSmokingTire YouTube channel. However, according to Farah, due to road conditions the owner, Faizal Ramzan, turned the boost down, providing only 720 horsepower at the wheels. Still a truly dizzying number, this matches the McLaren 720S, which hits 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and tops out at 211 mph.
Farah speeds along the New Zealand B-roads. According to Autodius, the R34 from the factory weighed only 3,672 lbs and produced a meager 276 brake horsepower. Rumor has it that the car left Nissan's factory with more power than this sub-300 figure. However, the "I-Demon," certainly more than doubles this figure and sees the 5 second 0-60 mph time slashed.
Faizal's R34 GT-R looks remarkably understated for the power that it punches. A few Nismo logos adorn the hood and trunk. The shade of red matches the front splitter. Not in the iconic blue, this Skyline is gray. Flying under the radar. With the R34 in production around the turn of the millennium, gray is remarkably common. Seeming futuristic and almost UFO-like, the trend away from bright colors shifted to these more discrete grays and silvers. The "I-Demon" even has a sedate nature. Farah demonstrates cruising around and shifting at only 3000 rpm.
What Work Has Faizal Done To The Skyline?
"The myths of it are absolutely real," proclaims Farah. Since appearing in 2 Fast 2 Furious in 2002, the lore surrounding the R34 has only grown. Referred to, just like the GT-Rs before it as Godzilla, with the Attesa ET-S 4WD System, rarity, and luxurious features for many the R34 seems perfect. It also only recently an owner could legally import one due to the 20-year rule. With this, the R34 has only seen values climb, unlike the R35 which after over a decade-long production seems remarkably common.
Faizal says that his aim was to "have a high horsepower car, but have it road-legal," a truly noble pursuit. The owner works as an engineer, dropping $100,000 into a tuning dream is easy. Faizal opted to research and build his own solutions, impressive considering this Skyline is from the era when working on your own cars was less feasible. Drawing inspiration from the Z-tune model of the car, Faizal went beyond the engine and crafted a Titanium Strutt brace. So not only can the "I-Demon" move faster in a straight line than the stock car, it also moves around the corner stiffer. As a structural engineer by trade, Faizal researched and figured out the specifications before fabricating it.
A V Spec II serves as the base for the I-Demon. Launching in 2000, the V-Spec II replaced the original V-Spec. This saw minor revisions with black interior cloth, aluminum pedals, and weight reduction with a carbon fiber hood. The original V-Spec had a more track-oriented design, with that four-wheel steer system and an LSD at the rear. As tradition dictates, the suspension is firmer, and there's an upgraded rear diffuser. Incredibly rare this specification of Skyline carries a high price tag. The owner has a massive amount of money in this car.
The body mods such as the front splitter, are all functional and generate extra downforce. This is why this Skyline is more subdued than many of those on the market. With functional aero, this car is ready for the road but like all Godzillas, the car could easily blend in at the track. Coming from Nismo is the front bumper, and the guards are from Z-tune. Faizal added custom wind deflectors and vents that once more help the car's abilities but also give it a look like no other tuned Nismo.
Where Is The I-Demon Skyline Now?
Since featuring on TheSmokingTire's YouTube Channel in 2015, the "I-Demon" Skyline has faded into obscurity. A middle-aged and sensible man, Faizal more than likely just enjoys his car on the roads when he isn't working his job or tinkering with the impressive project. When this JDM powerhouse rose it's head a smattering of blog posts expressed their praise for its capabilities. Since then, the car has had no attention on social media. Sharing a name, the Dodge Demon would likely take this on in a straight line, although quite frankly nothing road-legal could take on this tuner's dream.