Nissan GT-R DESIGN STORIES World Auto News & Reviews Advanced Autozone
The Making of a Nissan Supercar
(Chief Engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno shown)
The design of the all-new Nissan GT-R began with a shift.
Of course, the blueprint was there. Encoded within the DNA of a humble sedan known as the Skyline was Nissan’s performance gene. Through the miracle of Nissan engineering a family car was transformed into a supercar and racing legend.
Imagine then what would be possible with a clean slate. A supercar designed from the ground up - without restrictions. Carrying the best of what came before into the Zlst century. Nissan’s most passionate minds were put exactly to that task. This is their story.
2001 GT-R Concept
At the 35th Tokyo Motor Show in 2001, Nissan unveiled the GT-R Concept. The surprise announcement drew cheers throughout the audience with the news that the next incarnation of the GT-R would, for the first time, be available around the world. An avalanche of anticipation followed.
The bold, purposeful exterior of the GT-R shows new thinking in aerodynamic design. Modern details and a uniquely chiseled shape are set off by four ring-shaped tailllights, the signature of GT-R for generations.
2005 GT-R PROTO
Watch Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn unveil the GT-R PROTO at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. “A car worth waiting for”.
Transcript:
“The GT-R PROTO provides clear design direction for the final production car. One look suggests sheer muscle and the promise of extreme excitement. The GT-R is a car worth waiting for and the wait will soon be over. The GT-R will go on sale around the world in just two years time. You can continue to expect the best from Nissan”.
Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO
Shaping The Myth
This was the first time in its history that the Nissan GT-R was not based on the Skyline sedan or coupe. Vice President of Design Shiro Nakamura gave Chief Designer Hiroshi Hasegawa total freedom to push the limits of possibility.
The GT-R PROTO unapologetically expresses its supercar power and potential while maintaining and even elevating its GT heritage. This prototype reveals the first indication of the final design direction for the production GT-R.
Pure Performance
The uniquely muscular design of the GT-R PHOTO unites aerodynamics, power and elegance. Striking fender lines define an aggressive stance while expertly managing air around the tires. A crisp roofline and wind-sculpted tail convey the remarkable down force that draws the car to the road. A characteristic the production GT-R confidently lives up to.
The President’s Vision
Discover the inspiration to create a new GT-R for the world, from Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Transcript:
“I can see from the buzz around the GT-R, particularly on the Internet, that all the fans of the GT-R and potential buyers of the GT-R are already discussing about it, so there is a lot of curiosity, there is a lot of passion, there is a lot of enthusiasm, and that is exactly what we want to steer into the public: bring in an attractive car which means a lot for them. When we started to work on this one, we wanted the design to be in line with how people imagined the GT-R. We wanted it to be a global car, versus a Japanese car, because a lot of people in the United States or even in Britain said, “Why do you not make the GT-H available for us?” and we really have been extremely influenced by the fact that many people, particularly through games like on the PlayStation used to see the GT-R and say, “When are we going to have this car?” I would say that this is a modern version of an icon that always existed as a pillar of the Nissan brand that Japanese customers so far have enjoyed, but that we are going to make available for sports car fans across the globe”
Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO
Tested on the Toughest Tracks
When they chose the proving grounds far their new supercar, the Nissan GT-R team dismissed most of the world’s racing circuits. “They were simply too easy”, Chief Engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno said. Instead, the GT-R sharpened its teeth on the world’s most challenging raceways. Arduous days and nights were spent mastering the infamous Corkscrew at California’s Laguna Seca and Japan’s demanding Sendai track. At Germany’s Nurburgring, universally revered as the world’s toughest track, the GT-R endured over 5,000 km of continuous high-speed testing.
Cruising the Autobahn
Chief Engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno chose to measure the GT-R’s cruising ability on Germany’s Autobahn for a simple reason: It’s the best real-world laboratory for ultra-high-speed motoring. Open-road testing at 300 km/h allowed the team to create a supercar with a true luxury-GT driving experience. A ride with unmatched stability and so quiet you can carry on a pleasant conversation with your passenger at 150 mph.
The All-Season Supercar
Winter comes, and most supercars head for the garage. Not the Nissan GT-R. Its patented drivetrain design and advanced all-wheel drive were put to the test on Michigan’s frozen roadways. On a snow-covered racetrack in northern Japan and rain-soaked skidpads, the GT-R was developed to deliver tremendous grip and responsive handling in any season. The result is a supercar that isn’t just unafraid of bad weather, it’s eager to come out and play.
Disclaimer: Use tires appropriate for weather conditions.
Some Like it Hot
Under the sweltering sun of an Arizona summer, the Nissan GT-R sprinted lap after lap, around our high-speed oval. On the track and out on the desert highways, our team tested the GT-R’s endurance, and proved the effectiveness of its advanced cooling systems. Even in the unforgiving heat of the desert, the GT-R’s engine, turbos, running gear and brakes have been designed to keep their cool.
GT-R PROTO
From 2005 Tokyo Motor Show press kit
- Ultimate driving pleasure
- Exterior design close to final
- Official launch set for 2007
At the 35th Tokyo Motor Show in 2001, Nissan unveiled the GT-R Concept, confirming that the GT-R legend would be continued into the 21st century. Then, at the 37th Tokyo Motor Show in 2003, Nissan announced the next-generation GT-R would be rolled out in 2007. Now with the launch of the production model just two years away, the development of the new GT-R has moved ahead again with the reveal of the GT-R PROTO.
Ultimate driving pleasure
In essence, driving pleasure means that a car responds faithfully to the driver’s wishes and performs precisely as expected. Successive generations of the GT-R have consistently pursued this vision of ultimate driving pleasure. Whether on the road or the racetrack, the GT-R has always represented ultimate performance combined with handling qualities that stay faithful to the driver’s wishes, in all conditions. As a result, the GT-R has built a reputation that extends far beyond just its loyal owner base.
Exterior design: pure performance
The design of the GT-R PROTO expresses pure GT-R heritage, coming from the first model PGC10 (1969) through R34 (1999), in a new and expressive form.
From its original roots as a pure-bred Japanese performance car, the new GT-R will now be a car sold globally, recognizing its ability to compete with the very best in the world. For the first time in its history, the new GT-R will be designed as a specific body style, and not derived from a sedan.
At the front end, the single center air intake is designed to optimize airflow and to strongly link the identity of the GT-R from R34 to GT-R Concept (2001). Front fenders are uniquely designed through intensive analysis of the airflow around the tires, and the air vent behind the front fender also optimizes aerodynamics.
The sides of the body are sculptured towards the rear fender, expressing the power and dynamic tension of the car.
The overall shape of the body combines solid and smooth surfaces to achieve the look of a well-trained athlete. The unique c-pillar crease is designed for optimum aerodynamics, reflecting the racing DNA of the GT-R.
The rear of the GT-R PROTO is strong and well defined. The signature four ring-shaped tail lamps provide an immediate visual link to previous GT-R models. Four large-bore exhaust pipes complete the purposeful look, which could only be that of a pure GT-R.
The GT-R PROTO provides for the first time a clear indication of the final design direction for the production model to be launched in 2007, the first all-new GT-R in eight years.
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