Nissan, Italdesign Collaborate on GT-R Prototype
Gold trim decorates the outside and inside of the custom supercar, which makes an estimated 710 hp and 575 lb.-ft. of torque.
June 29, 2018
For the first time Nissan collaborates with Italdesign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of both the Japanese automaker’s GT-R mid-engine supercar and the Italian design group.
The result is a prototype GT-R making an estimated 710 hp at 7,100 rpm and 575 lb.-ft. (780 Nm) of torque from 3,600-5,600 rpm, wrapped in some unique sheet metal and trim.
The custom GT-R50, which Nissan notes doesn’t hint at the next-generation production version of the supercar (rumored to be due in 2020), answers the question: “‘What if we created a GT-R without limits,’ and then actually get to build it?” Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president-global design for the Japanese automaker, says in a statement.
Key exterior design features of the Nissan/Italdesign GT-R include gold trim around the car’s grille; a bigger hood bulge; a lowered center roof, but raised outer roof; gold inlay in the car’s cooling outlets behind the front wheels; and a rear-window line descending longer and deeper than on the standard GT-R, says Nissan.
Wheels are custom – 21 x 10 ins. in front and 21 x 10.5 ins. at the rear – and the car is painted Liquid Kinetic Gray.
The interior boasts two carbon-fiber finishes (including on steering-wheel spokes), black Alcantara faux suede and black Italian leather. The gold trim from outside the car is carried through to the inside, with gold accents decorating the instrument panel, doors and “futuristic, race-car-inspired” switchgear, the automaker says.
Nissan’s own design studios in London and La Jolla, CA, were responsible for the car’s changed exterior and interior, while Italdesign in Turin developed, engineered and built the GT-R50.
The prototype supercar is powered by a Nismo-enhanced version of the standard GT-R’s 3.8L V-6 VR38DETT engine. To attain more than the 565-600 hp the mill churns out in other GT-Rs, engineers used optimized twin high-flow, large-diameter competition-spec turbochargers, as well as more robust pistons, connecting rods and bearings. Higher-flow fuel injectors and optimized ignition, intake and exhaust systems also were installed on the GT-R50.
The standard GT-R’s dual-clutch 6-speed has a reinforced rear transaxle and stronger differentials and drive shafts, Nissan says.
The suspension is revised, using Bilstein’s continuously adjustable damping system.
The Nissan and Italdesign GT-R50 debuts in Europe in July.
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