Nissan GT-R50 concept: the future Nissan GT-R shows its claws

From the first collaboration between Nissan and Italdesign comes the Nissan GT-R50, a prototype that gives us a preview of the next generation of the Nissan GT-R.
Nissan and Italdesign have joined forces to celebrate a very special anniversary together, and have “gifted” themselves this prototype, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign. For Nissan, it marks 50 years since the legendary GT-R initials first appeared. For Italdesign, it is also five decades of shaping the automotive world with its designs.

A preview of the future Nissan GT-R

The first thing Nissan makes clear with the GT-R50 is that this is a prototype, not the next generation of the Nissan GT-R. But, judging by the result, it is hard to believe that this work will not inform the future performance direction of the Japanese brand.

The basis for the Nissan GT-R50 is the current Nissan GT-R NISMO. From here, the best thing is not to miss a single one of the details the images reveal. It is instantly recognisable as a GT-R, but far more aggressive, and it was already a tough act to follow. The roofline has been lowered by 54 mm, with a darkened rear pillar and front pillars that make it look as if it is floating. The wheelbase stays the same, but the car gains width, and the track widths also increase.

All the lines are more angular, yet the surfaces are at the same time cleaner. It is as if each “muscle” of the bodywork had been emphasised. The gold-coloured finishes across the rear section and on elements such as the mirror housings or the bonnet air intakes add a loud note, an exercise in style that would hardly make it to production. The “kinetic” grey bodywork colour would fit perfectly, as would the spectacular 21-inch alloy wheels.

We also liked the proposal for the interior, with a very racing-oriented cabin in which the number of controls on the dashboard has been simplified and in which carbon fibre, leather and Alcantara trim dominate.

Under the bonnet: with the NISMO stamp

To remain a genuine threat to the rest of the cars in its class, the future Nissan GT-R will have no difficulty doing so. One could say it would hardly need to evolve the current model at all. That is what this Nissan GT-R50 demonstrates, with the 3.8-litre V6 engine that, after passing through NISMO’s hands, here delivers 720 CV at 7,100 rpm, with a peak torque of 780 Nm.

The transmission uses a transaxle system with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, while the adaptive damping is signed by Bilstein. The brakes are Brembo units, with six-piston monobloc calipers at the front and 390 mm discs, and four-piston calipers with 380 mm discs on the rear axle. The wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, sized 255/35-21 at the front and 285/30-21 at the rear axle.

Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign image gallery