By Steve & Tamami Laser
We’ve seen some amazing Nissan GT-Rs over the years in the U.S. and Japan. We were lucky to witness two R35 GT-R concept cars revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001 and 2005, followed by the production version that made its debut in 2007. Yet we’ve never seen anything quite like the gorgeous new Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign.
Slated to make its debut next month in Europe, this new prototype, dubbed the first collaboration between Nissan and Italdesign, was built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GT-R as well as the renown Italian design company.
As a fusion of Japanese, European, and American ingenuity, Italdesign developed, engineered and built the GT-R50 based on a production 2018 GT-R NISMO model.
The “ultra-limited” prototype’s exterior and interior designs were created by Nissan Design Europe in London and Nissan Design America in San Diego, Calif.
These photos highlight the bold exterior styling of the new GT-R50. There’s a golden design treatment that starts up front and carries through the vehicle. We also like the slim LED headlights and pronounced power bulge on the hood.
The roofline looks much lower than the production model. According to the specs, it’s chopped by 54 mm (about 2.0 inches) and features raised outer portions for added muscle. Meanwhile, GT-R’s “samurai blade” cooling ducts on the front fenders get the gold treatment.
The rear view, dressed with “Energetic Sigma Gold” paint, sports “floating” round taillights with thin light rings and hollow centers, plus a dramatically reshaped rear window line. The dual-post rear wing can be retracted to neatly blend in with the bodywork. The prototype rides on 21-inch wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
Nissan says the GT-R50 is powered by a NISMO enhanced hand-built 3.8-liter V6 producing 720ps and 780 Nm of torque (est.). Mods include GT3 competition spec turbos, heavy-duty crank, pistons, rods and bearings, revised cam profiles, high-flow injectors and optimized exhaust. There’s a reinforced dual-clutch 6-speed sequential rear transaxle, a revised suspension with Bilstein DampTronic® adjustable dampers, and a Brembo braking system.
Inside the snug cabin, the GT-R50 is dressed with two styles of carbon fiber trim on the center console, instrument panel, and door panels. The deeply bolstered sport bucket seats are fitted with black Alcantara® and premium Italian leather.
Anniversary gold accents continue along the instrument panel, doors and race-car inspired switches and controls. The finishing touch is a bespoke steering wheel dressed with carbon fiber and Alcantara.
Italdesign, part of the Volkswagen Group since 2010, recently started a new chapter in its history as a car producer. With its Automobili Speciali brand, it can produce ultra-limited editions for selected collectors and other OEMs. Nissan calls the GT-R50 an “ultra-limited” prototype, so we’re wondering if there might be plans to build more than one?
News source courtesy of Nissan Motor Corp. Press photos courtesy of Italdesign Giugiaro
Story (commentary) © 2018 CarNichiWa.com