The next-generation Nissan GT-R will be the "the fastest super sports car in the world."
These were the words of Nissan's Senior Vice President of Global Design, Alfonso Albaisa, who was speaking at this past weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the extreme GT-R50 – a collaboration between ItalDesign and Nissan – made its world debut.
"Whether we go to a lot of electrification or none at all, we can achieve a lot power-wise. But, we are definitely making a new platform and our goal is clear: GT-R has to be the quickest car of its kind. It has to own the track. And it has to play the advanced technology game; but that doesn't mean it has to be electric," explained Alfonso Albaisa.
The “R36” GT-R is expected to debut in the next few years, with insiders claiming it will be launched in the “early 2020s”. Interestingly, Nissan hasn’t started work on the sportscar, because they haven’t made any decisions about its powertrain yet. While the car will no doubt be technologically advanced compared to the R35, it won’t necessarily be hybridized. Despite Nissan claiming they are yet to decide on propulsion, a figure of 700 horsepower (522kw) seems to be suggested as its power output.
One area they have made up their mind though, is regarding its platform. Albaisa has said that it will run on a completely new platform, meaning it will likely be slightly lighter than the current incarnation of Godzilla – as aspect that has blighted the sports cars’ performance in recent years.
While Nissan do have brief design sketchs of what the “R36” would possibly look like, Albaisa says that it would look very different from the GT-R50 - which was recently described as a “GT-R without limits” – the new GT-R will be "its own special car." That said, the design could very well be a toned-down version of the 2020 Vision Gran Turismo Concept.
"It’s an animal; it has to be imposing and excessive," says Albaisa. "Not in terms of its wings, but rather its visual mass, its presence, and its audacity. It doesn’t care what every other supercar in the world is doing; it simply says: 'I'm a GT-R, I'm a brick, catch me.' It's the world's fastest brick, really. And when I review sketches for the new car, I say that a lot: 'Less wing, more brick.”
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FAQ
Q: When will the new Nissan GT-R R36 be released in South Africa?
The next-generation Nissan GT-R R36 is expected to debut in the early 2020s, though Nissan hasn't confirmed specific timing for the South African market yet.
Q: How much power will the new Nissan GT-R have?
While Nissan hasn't finalised the powertrain, insiders suggest the new GT-R could produce around 522kW (700 horsepower), making it significantly more powerful than the current R35 generation.
Q: Will the new GT-R be electric or hybrid?
Nissan's Senior VP Alfonso Albaisa confirmed that while the new GT-R will feature advanced technology, it doesn't necessarily have to be electric or hybridised to achieve their performance goals.
Q: What will the new Nissan GT-R cost in South Africa?
Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but expect the R36 GT-R to cost significantly more than the current R35's pricing of around R2.5 million, likely pushing into R3 million plus territory given the substantial upgrades.
Q: Will the new GT-R be lighter than the current model?
Yes, the R36 will run on a completely new platform which should make it lighter than the current R35, addressing one of the main performance limitations of the existing Godzilla.
Should You Buy It?
Hold your horses, speed demon. While the promise of a 522kW beast that could be "the fastest super sports car in the world" sounds absolutely mental, this GT-R is still a few years away and Nissan hasn't even finalised the powertrain yet. If you're sitting on R3 million plus and need your adrenaline fix right now, the current R35 GT-R at around R2.5 million is still an absolute weapon that'll embarrass most supercars on track. But if you can wait until the early 2020s and want the ultimate Godzilla experience, the R36 promises to be worth every rand with its new platform, reduced weight, and bonkers power output. Our verdict: wait if you can, because this next-level GT-R is shaping up to be the ultimate track destroyer.
