© Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.
Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign
Japan-based automaker Nissan and Italy-based design and engineering firm Italdesign have collaborated for the first time to create a stunning new prototype — the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign, based on a production 2018 Nissan GT-R NISMO. Longer, lower and wider than the production model, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign celebrates the 50th anniversaries of both the Nissan GT-R and Italdesign. This captivating car is scheduled to debut in Europe next month.
© Nissan North America
Design and Development
Nissan design teams at Nissan Design Europe in London and Nissan Design America envisioned the black and gold exterior and recreated the GT-R interior, while Italdesign took on engineering, development and the actual build of the car. Italdesign has a long history of collaborating with many automakers to create some stunning automobiles, including the BMW M1, DeLorean DMC-12, Bugatti 18/3 Chiron, Chevrolet Corvette Moray, Ford Mustang by Giugiaro and Ferrari GG50.
© Nissan North America
GT-R Without Limits
“How often do you get to ask, ‘What if we created a GT-R without limits,’ and then actually get to build it?” said Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s senior vice president for global design. “This is a rare window in time when two big moments intersect: 50 years of Italdesign shaping the automotive world and 50 years of Nissan generating excitement through our iconic GT-R. So to celebrate this convergence, Nissan and Italdesign created this custom GT-R to mark 50 years of engineering leadership.”
© Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.
Exterior Design
At the front of the GT-R50 by Italdesign, the wide grille is surrounded by a gold accent that spreads to the corners of the car. The hood has a raised center and the air intakes are also accented with gold. LED headlights extend from the corners of the grille surround up into the fender arches. The exterior is finished in Liquid Kinetic Gray paint and the gold accents are Energetic Sigma Gold.
© Nissan North America
Profile
In profile, the GT-R50 by Italdesign’s roofline has been lowered by more than 2 inches; the center of the roof is lower while the outer sections are slightly raised. The cooling ducts behind the front wheels are more prominent, extending from the bottom of the doors to the shoulder line with a gold element added.
© Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.
Rear Design
The rear fenders of the GT-R50 bulge with muscular flares, and the shoulder line flows around the rear window toward the center of the trunk. The rear window line extends lower with gold accent elements. A large adjustable rear wing towers over signature twin round taillights that have been styled to appear as if they are floating, incorporating thin rings of light and hollow centers.
© Nissan North America
Interior
Inside the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign, Nissan designers used two different carbon fiber finishes to trim the instrument panel, center console and doors, with gold accents on the instrument panel, doors and racing-inspired switches. The seats are finished in fine black Italian leather and black Alcantara. The flat-bottom steering wheel features a carbon fiber center hub, carbon fiber spokes and black Alcantara trim.
© Nissan North America
Under the Hood
The NISMO team massaged the hand-built twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine to produce an estimated 710 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. Based on Nissan’s GT3 racing experience, engine changes include a high-flow, large-diameter GT3 competition-spec turbocharger; larger intercoolers; heavy-duty crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods and bearings; a revised camshaft; higher-flow fuel injectors; and optimized ignition, intake and exhaust systems. The dual-clutch sequential 6-speed rear transaxle is reinforced, and stronger differentials and drive shafts are added.
© Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.
Suspension and Brakes
For this special commemorative car, the GT-R NISMO suspension has been revised, adding the BILSTEIN DampTronic I continuously adjustable damping system. The Brembo brake system feature 6-piston monoblock front calipers, 4-piston monoblock rear calipers, 2-piece floating drilled discs and bright red caliper paint. The 5-spoke 21-inch custom wheels are 10 inches wide at the front and 10.5 inches wide at the rear, fitted with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires 255 / 35 R21 at the front and 285 / 30 R21 at the rear.
© Nissan North America
Celebrating Two Anniversaries
“Although this is not the next-generation GT-R, it is an exciting celebration of two anniversaries in a provocative and creative way — wrapping one of Nissan’s best engineering platforms and Japanese design with Italian coachbuilding,” said Albaisa.
