Nissan teams up with Italdesign for ultra-limited GT-R prototype

Both design house Italdesign and the iconic Nissan GT-R turn 50 this year, so the two companies have teamed up to celebrate. The result? A one-off concept car, named the Nissan GT-R50.

The GT-R50 is based on the standard GT-R in hot Nismo form, but every element has been breathed upon either by Italdesign or by Nissan’s design centres. No original exterior panel remains – even the roofline has been lowered by 54mm. The GT-R50 is longer and wider than the GT-R, too.

A dramatic restyle sees the GT-R’s styling details taken to the extreme, such as the circular taillights which now sit proud of the rear fascia. A gaping grille and slim LED headlights make the front distinctive, while a gunmetal and gold colour scheme finishes off the exterior look.

The interior is swathed in carbon fibre and Alcantara, once again with gold accents.

Under the skin, the GT-R50 sees upgrades just as extensive as the styling ones. The hand-built 3.8-litre V6 engine has been given race-spec turbochargers and a larger intercooler system, plus upgraded exhaust and intake systems. This helps give the car an incredible 118bhp boost over standard – it now produces 710bhp and 780Nm of torque, over 592bhp previously.

“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.”

Nissan pointed out, however, that this car bears no relation to the next generation of GT-R. That car is due in around 2020 and will likely feature a hybrid powertrain.