The Nissan GT-R has been around since 2007 and in that time has conquered the supercar->ke177 market with its lightning-fast acceleration, all-wheel-drive, and innovative, tech-filled cockpit. Now seven years later, talks of a next-generation GT-R are well underway.
Rumors have spread claiming the car will debut for 2016, but Nissan’s->ke62 chief creative officer, Shiro Nakamura has seemingly put an end to those talks. In an interview with AutoCar, Nakamura says the car is another three to four years away.
Nakamura revealed Nissan is already working on the next-generation GT-R’s chassis and drivetrain, but its exterior design isn’t even on the drawing board yet. He assures the GT-R will retain the essential characteristics of the current model, yet will likely be more aggressive in its styling. Its rear-wheel bias and on-demand all-wheel-drive powered by a front-mounted engine will remain.
Speculation about a hybrid->ke147 powertrain is extremely likely to prove true, though Nakamura says it will remain as a stand-alone model and will share little similarity to other Nissan products.
The chief creative officer continued by saying the new design will continue the current car’s “boxy, functional appearance.” More specifically he says, “It shouldn’t be too elegant, and it should be brutal, with a rawness.”
But before any of this becomes reality, the current-generation GT-R will undergo its final facelift before being replaced. Count on smaller changes that help create an updated look, but one that’s still familiar. Nakamura ended by saying, “We’ve been improving it all the time and there’s still room to improve.”
Click past the jump to read more about the next generation Nissan GT-R.
Why it matters
The GT-R has been a massive success for Nissan since its debut for 2007. The car has competed and won against some of the most expensive and powerful supercars on the road. Revamping its halo car is a big deal for Nissan. Not only does it have to keep the design fresh and customers interested, it has to surpass the performance of the current car. That won’t be an easy task, but we look forward to the results.
Nissan GT-R
The latest and greatest GT-R, the 2015 Nismo, boasts an updated, 3.8-liter V-6 with twin turbos providing boost. The high-strung engine makes an impressive 600 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque that’s sent to all four wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The GT-R’s interior includes enough screens and computers to be considered a fighter jet, and its computer software allows for multiple settings for dialing the car in just right.
Pricing for the GT-R starts at $101,770 for the base model while the Nismo version commands a $149,990 price tag.