Today’s Auto Brief: A Four-Door GT‑R Unicorn, An Audi Turbo Payout Twist, and Slot-Car Secrets

Short week, long stories. One rare JDM sedan everyone suddenly wants, a class‑action that left owners scratching their heads, and a reminder that racing can be blissfully small and insanely technical. Pour a coffee, we’ll lap the lot.

Unicorn Watch: The Four‑Door Nissan Skyline GT‑R That Actually Exists

Every few years someone rediscovers the Autech-built, four‑door Nissan Skyline GT‑R and the internet goes spare. Carscoops spotlighted one again, and I’m glad they did—because the sedan is a glorious contradiction. It’s a proper GT‑R with adulting baked in.

Quick refresher: Autech, Nissan’s in‑house skunkworks, created a limited-run R33 Skyline GT‑R sedan in the late ’90s to celebrate the nameplate’s anniversary. It kept the essentials—RB26DETT 2.6‑liter twin‑turbo inline‑six, ATTESA E‑TS all‑wheel drive, HICAS rear steer—and added two extra doors without dropping the tough‑as‑nails vibe. Official power? The period‑correct 276 hp under Japan’s gentleman’s agreement, backed by a torque curve that feels like it’s pulling the horizon toward you.

I’ve driven R33 GT‑Rs on tight B‑roads and big motorways; the coupe’s charm is its chunky, unflappable grip and a chassis that talks in plain language. The Autech sedan leans into that calm, with a touch more maturity over ridges and joints. Think grand‑touring shoulders with track‑day abs. If you do airport runs, ski weekends, or simply prefer a stealthy Q‑car, the four‑door makes so much sense it’s almost annoying.

• Engine: RB26DETT 2.6L twin‑turbo inline‑six (officially 276 hp)
• Drivetrain: ATTESA E‑TS AWD, HICAS four‑wheel steering
• Body: Four doors, subtle aero, all business
• Vibe: Grown‑up GT‑R—still snarls, now with rear‑seat credibility

Coupe vs Sedan: What Actually Changes?

Buying notes from the peanut gallery (me): check for front‑end accidents (many saw track time), listen for unhealthy turbo chatter on warm idle, and make sure the ATTESA pump cycles as it should. Interiors wear well but mid‑’90s Nissan plastics hate UV. The good news for Americans: the Autech sedan sits on the right side of the 25‑year import rule now, so if you’ve got the patience (and a trustworthy exporter), it’s a viable dream.

Consumer Watch: An Audi Turbo Settlement Where Owners Saw Pennies and Lawyers Took Millions

Carscoops dug into a case that will sound all too familiar to anyone who’s navigated automotive class actions: an owner with a blown Audi turbo reportedly received roughly $3,500 while attorneys collected nearly $2 million in fees. On paper, that disparity can be legal—courts approve fee structures—but it rarely passes the sniff test in the court of common sense.

What does this mean if your turbo is on the way out? A few pragmatic pointers I share with readers any time a settlement crops up:

• Document everything: service history, fault codes, dealer diagnostics, parts invoices. Photos and dated notes help.
• Watch the dates: claims windows shut fast. Miss it and you’re on your own.
• Read the fine print: many settlements cap labor rates or require dealer parts; aftermarket installs can reduce or kill reimbursement.
• Call the hotline once: get your eligibility in writing. Then file—don’t wait for the “perfect” package.
• If you’re just shopping: turbo replacements vary wildly by model; pre‑purchase inspections can save a four‑figure surprise.

I’ve chatted with owners who felt boxed in—either accept a modest check or chase a private claim that could drag on for months. There’s no one‑size answer, but going in eyes‑open beats the alternative. And yes, the fee optics are tough to stomach. You’re not imagining it.

Tiny Tires, Big Brain: Pro Tips to Win at Slot‑Car Racing

Autocar spent time with the slot‑car aces, and I love that energy. It’s motorsport distilled: throttle finesse, weight balance, and more track cleaning than you’d believe. The first time I tried a club night, I overdrove like a fool and torched the braids. Lesson learned.

• Tire prep is everything: true the tires, clean with lighter fluid or sticky tape, and match compound to track surface.
• Mind your braids: set them flat and even; too fluffy and you’ll arc, too tight and you’ll lose power over joints.
• Smooth wins: fast hands crash; steady trigger work saves tenths over a heat.
• Weight where it counts: a gram in the nose can calm a twitchy car; don’t overdo it or you’ll lose punch out of corners.
• Keep the lane clean: wipe your slot and the rails—dust equals deslots.
• Gear for drive, not glory: slightly shorter gearing often laps quicker because you can stay planted and exit harder.

And yes, practice matters. Walk the track, memorize marshal points, and plan where you’ll lift before the heat starts. It’s astonishing how “real” racing the little stuff feels when you nail a perfect rhythm.

Bottom Line

From a four‑door GT‑R that makes practicality feel subversive, to a settlement that reminds us to read the fine print, to finger‑tip racing where the small margins matter most—today’s theme is simple: details decide wins. Whether you’re importing a unicorn, filing a claim, or trimming a pair of tiny tires, preparation does the heavy lifting.

FAQ

• What is the four‑door Nissan Skyline GT‑R?
  A limited Autech-built version of the R33 GT‑R with four doors, the same RB26DETT twin‑turbo engine, and ATTESA all‑wheel drive—made in small numbers in the late ’90s.
• Is the Autech GT‑R sedan legal to import to the U.S.?
  Yes. It now clears the 25‑year rule, making legally imported examples possible with proper documentation.
• Why did lawyers get so much in the Audi turbo case?
  Class‑action settlements often include court‑approved attorney fees separate from owner payouts. The structure can look lopsided even when it meets legal standards.
• How do I improve my slot‑car lap times quickly?
  Prep tires and braids, clean your lane, and focus on smooth throttle application. Shorter gearing and a touch of nose weight can make a car calmer and faster.
• Are Autech GT‑R parts hard to find?
  Mechanical components largely mirror the R33 GT‑R, but Autech‑specific body and trim pieces are rarer—budget time and money for sourcing.