Nissan confirms GT-R50 production
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 10th Dec 2018
NISSAN has revealed the production-ready styling of its GT-R50, a collaboration with Italian design house Pininfarina, which will be priced from €990,000 ($A1.57m) ahead of deliveries commencing in 2019.
Created to mark the 50th anniversary of both the GT-R nameplate (2018) and Pininfarina (2018), only 50 examples of the GT-R50 will be built, however there are currently no plans to bring the special edition to Australia.
First teased in concept form in July, the GT-R50 has been tweaked to stand apart from the ‘regular’ GT-R Nismo donor vehicle with a number of visual and mechanical enhancements.
Visually, the GT-R50 sports a number of unique touches, including slim, horizontally striped LED headlights and a large front grille framed by a striking two-tone bezel.
A black front splitter, aggressive side air intakes and hood-mounted air vents complete the sporty front fascia, while at the side, 21-inch black alloy wheels, two-tone air vents and black side skirts embossed with GT-R50 logos signify the model’s racing heritage.
The visual changes are arguably the starkest at the rear, with the two-tone paint scheme taking centre stage and creating a split effect that draws extra attention to the rear quarters.
A shark-fin tail-light creates a streamlined look on the roof, which sits 54mm lower than the GT-R Nismo, while the tail-lights have been given a 3D effect that makes the ringed LED tail-lights protrude from out of the bodywork.
A new tailpipe design, a large rear splitter and more aggressive wing spoiler all add to the GT-R50’s unique look while providing extra aerodynamic assistance.
The car revealed by Nissan shows a royal blue primary paint colour with a contrasting bronze hue, however the car-maker says that buyers will be able to specify their own colour schemes.
Customers will also be able to choose their own interior themse, which in standard form includes microfibre dashboard trim, carbon-fibre on the doors and centre console, sports bucket seats and a stitched leather steering wheel.
The GT-R50 employs the same twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 as the GT-R Nismo, however has been dialled up from 441kW/652Nm to an “estimated” 530kW/780Nm, thanks to competition-spec turbochargers, larger intercoolers, high-flow piston oil jets, revised camshaft profiles, high-flow fuel injectors, optimised ignition and revised intake and exhaust systems.
Other mechanical changes include a strengthened six-speed dual-clutch transmission, continually adjustable suspension and six-pot front and four-pot rear Brembo brakes.
Nissan global sportscar program director Bob Laishey said the GT-R50 had attracted a great amount of interest from fans.
“The reaction from Nissan fans around the world – and potential customers of the GT-R50 – has greatly exceeded our expectations,” he said.
"These 50 cars, which celebrate 50 years of the GT-R as well as 50 years of Italdesign, will be rolling tributes to Nissan’s engineering leadership and rich sports car heritage for a long time to come.”
