R35 Nissan GT-R still has room to develop – report

Nissan GT-R 2015MY

The R35 Nissan GT-R has been with us for eight years now, but despite a string of evolutionary updates over the years that upped the performance (output has risen from 480 hp at launch to 550 hp this year) and handling capabilities of the Godzilla, Nissan still believes that there’s life left in the ol’ dinosaur, according to Australian portal CarAdvice.

Nissan’s director of design Shiro Nakamura told the press at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans that while it is unlikely to expect the current GT-R to be any faster, there are still improvements to be gained in terms of styling or handling.

“[Before a new GT-R arrives] we still want to improve [the] current GT-R because it has more potential to be better. I think it’s an improvement. You will see. Even the design wise, we have some minor change coming very soon. You will see very shortly.

“Performance is already very good – 0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds. So it might be impossible to get higher speed wise but maybe more better handling and that kind of thing,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Nakamura said that the next GT-R is still “more than two years away,” and while it will take inspiration from the radical front-wheel drive hybrid GT-R LM Nismo Le Mans racer, it will be more of an evolution of the current car, rather than a revolution.

“Nissan GT-R LM Nismo is not a production car but it is inspired by GT-R and also to give us inspiration for future GT-R,” he added. “We want to be more challenging, we want to be more innovative, just not following what other people do. Therefore this is a racing car, but in the spirit of this one, it’s very similar to what we want to do for the production [car].”

Nakamura was also mum about the possibility of an electric or hybrid powertrain for the next generation, saying only that the company was experimenting with them. “To be honest, we have not yet finalised next generation of GT-R,” he said. “But electrification is one of the aspects – so nothing confirmed.”

2016 Nissan GT-R 45th Anniversary Gold Edition

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Same L0rrrr on Jun 16, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    You won’t go wrong with sushi cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • shawal on Jun 16, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    The next godzilla would probably push 600 bhp from the v6 mill alone…

    the battery will either occupy the floor plan ala tesla.. to have the lowest centre of gravity..or just pack it at the back at the expense of bootspace…

    the question is where would the electric motors be…?
    at the back only , front and back or the front wheels is exclusively powered by electric motors
    elimination of the propshaft from the gearbox at the back to the front would enable the battery being putin the floor and the engine sits lower, hence better styling….

    or it might have another gear at the front ala ferrari FF

    inclusion of an electric motor is next logical step to reduce its 0-60 time…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • albag on Jun 16, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    wow time flies… didn’t realize this beast is already 8 years old… no doubt the current GTR is truly a masterpiece in automobile engineering.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  • sepul on Jun 16, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    And ETCM never once to consider bring the GTR here officially. All GTR here are grey imports. Why??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
    • Bcoz official import will cost you 700K for a brand new GTR. Where as grey import only cost 300K below. Nobody gonna buy a 700k GTR bro

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
  • ben yap on Jun 16, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    this car can chase after a ferrari already.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • GetSomeValue on Jun 21, 2015 at 3:24 pm

      if you mean speed, they did it long time ago. if you mean image, probably there are still long way to go.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Janwy on Jun 16, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Nissan don’t like Hybrid, but maybe this time? Fuel cell not so fast… Or will they go for EV supercar?
    I think they are still lingering between these choices. Either EV or Hybrid. I think Hybrid is quite possible, cause EV is not that popular at this point of time (not even 2 years forward). But I’m sure, they will do something special to the Hybrid. Special enough to WOW the petrol heads. Most probably they are brainstorming now…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Will the next one fly like the one in Nurburgring?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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