GT5 Transcripts/Nissan Silvia S13

In May 1988, the 5th generation S13 Silvia swept the market share away from the Honda Prelude and gained incredible popularity. It captured not just as a "Dating Car", but also being a fun to drive compact FR.

The first and foremost reason for its popularity was its styling. Its refined coupe body was cutting edge, and had a flamboyance that seemed to epitomize the buoyant economy. And of course its driving performance was another major factor. It was agile and sporty, and the price was affordable. This car met every need of the young generation in its day.

Initially the engine was a 1.8L CA18, which was replaced with the SR20 series 2.0L, DOHC inline-4 in later models after a minor change. The premium K's model was turbocharged and produced 202 HP and 202.5 ft-lb of torque, while the Q's and J's were naturally aspirated and produced 138 HP and 131.6 ft-lb of torque.

The front suspension utilized MacPherson struts, with multi-link suspension in the rear. A 4-wheel steering system called the Super HICAS was also available as an option.

Acceleration in the 1170 kg, 202 HP turbocharged K's was exhilarating, and due to the amazing balance of the chassis, drivers could truly feel connected to the road. There are many drivers in Japan who first learned what drifting is while driving this car. Another characteristic of the Silvia was that it had a huge following as a tuning base car. The CA18DET engine was very tough, and was able to withstand over 296 HP when tuned. There was even a period of time when almost all cars parked outside tuning shops in Japan were S13 Silvias.