THE NISSAN WAGON WITH AN R34 GT-R ENGINE
The Nissan GT-R has enjoyed cult-icon status in the automotive world for a few decades now, and for good reason: Few cars have been able to capture the hearts - and wallets - of millions of gearheads quite like the Nissan GT-R, especially the R32 and R34 variants. After all, many of us grew up watching The Fast and the Furious and seeing the late Paul Walker run about in his custom 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34.
Unfortunately, for many of us, rushing off to spend upwards of $40,000 on an older Skyline GT-R in great nick is out of the question, especially considering they're two-door sports cars with a back seat barely large enough to accommodate two people if they happen to have legs (and the out-of-production 2024 version costs well over $121k). So, for the family-oriented, a GT-R is out of the question. Luckily, there's a solution in another of Nissan's products... and it comes in the form of a wagon. A wagon with the R34's GT-R engine in it - so, it seems you can have your cake and eat it, too.
Fun For The Whole Family: The Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech
Quick Facts About The Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech Version
- Produced between 1997 and 2001
- Boasted numerous shared parts with the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R
- Tuned by an outside company called Autech
- Approximately 1,700 examples were built
Nissan was keen to capitalize on building a sporty wagon. When the Stagea was released, it was originally meant to compete with the Subaru Legacy Wagon in the Japanese domestic market. However, in 1997, Nissan unveiled the 260RS variant, which received a tuning job from a company called Autech. Suddenly, the homely Stagea found itself equipped with a GT-R motor, along with a litany of performance upgrades extended to its brakes, suspension, and even its transmission.
While the Stagea 260RS Autech did, in fact, come equipped with the R34 Skyline GT-R's engine, it was peppered with bits and bobs from the previous R33 GT-R. Things like the Stagea 260RS Autech's steering wheel and parts of its drivetrain were borrowed form the older R33 Skyline GT-R model. However, that's not to say it was outdated, because the Stagea 260RS Autech was still an extremely venerable contender in the small, yet competitive, sports wagon segment.
Ins And Outs Of The Stagea 260RS Autech
Of course, the heart of the Stagea 260RS Autech was its 2.6-liter RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-six motor famously shared with the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R. However, in order to turn the Stagea into the 260RS Autech version, Autech decided to take things to the next level. For example, its transmission, a five-speed manual unit, was borrowed directly from the previous-gen R33 Skyline GT-R. On top of that, the all-wheel drive system used in the Stagea 260RS Autech was part of the ATTESA family, specifically the widely-used E-TS version. This was also borrowed from the R33 Skyline GT-R, along with a limited-slip rear differential.
Let's take a look at the NIssan Stagea 260RS Autech Version's detailed engine and performance specs below:
It's easy to see that the Stagea 260RS Autech was no slouch, especially when you consider the fact that it was a factory-produced station wagon from the late '90s. A 5.7-second 0-60 mph time meant you could blow the doors off of many other sports cars at the time, and a 150-ish mph top speed meant you could keep most of them behind you, too. When it came to handling, Autech made sure to give the Stagea 260RS even more of an edge, as a set of Brembo brakes were supplied, along with a set of lightweight BBS wheels and an upgraded suspension.
Not even its exterior was left alone, as Autech gave it a complete makeover, completed with an aero body kit, big rear roof spoiler, and even a new set of bumpers. Inside, the 260RS received a unique set of GT-R-style gauges that tracked your turbo boost, oil pressure, and even one to show the amount of torque being sent to the front wheels. A set of sporting seats and revamped dials in the gauge cluster were present, as well.
How To Get Your Hands On One And What It Will Cost
If you're like the author of this piece and wondering what he has to go to get his hands on one, nobody would blame you. These days, a typical Stagea 260RS Autech, while hard to come by, won't completely obliterate you financially, but it certainly ain't cheap. According to the JDM auction site JDMBuySell.com, a total of two are currently for sale, both of which are in the mid-$40,000s at the time of this writing. Not too bad, but not something you could buy without anyone else noticing.
Luckily, 260RS Autechs produced between 1997 and early 2000 are now eligible for import into the US. However, if you're looking to buy the newest version of the sports wagon, you'll have to wait another year thanks to the 25-year vehicle importation law. You'll also have to factor in the numerous fees that go along with vehicle importation, such as the import duty fee, harbor maintenance fee, merchandise processing fee, and potentially, a customs bond if imported through a third-party broker.
Why It Deserves Your Attention
There are few vehicles that have ever been created that cover more bases than the performance-oriented wagon. Not only will it handle like a sports sedan, it also has enough room inside for the whole family. While several sports sedans like the BMW M5 have these qualities, a wagon also allows for quite a lot more room for stuff due to its open cargo area. In short, the Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech is a perfect combination of these aspects.
Ultimately, throughout its four-year tenure, Nissan managed to shift 1,734 examples of the 260RS Autech. It was never meant to be a complete mass-production job. Rather, it was merely a way for Nissan and Autech - which was later absorbed into NISMO - to flex their muscles, and show the world what could happen when a Skyline-based wagon was given the grunt that was normally reserved for the Skyline GT-R. Because of that, the Stagea 260RS Autech is a favorite among JDM enthusiasts around the world who don't exactly color within the lines. And, that's exactly why it should be on your bucket list.
2025-03-16T00:56:17ZSources: Nissan, NHTSA, WestCoastShipping.com, Supercars.net