Where to for next GT-R?

As Nissan prepares to reveal two sports car concepts at the Tokyo motor show next month an ongoing debate about the look and intent of the next-generation GT-R has been revealed.

And there are hints from within Nissan that those concepts, one of which is expected to be a traditional design and the other quite radical, may provide clues about what we can expect from the next GT-R.

“The key thing is there are concepts coming at the Tokyo motor show that are sports derived so wait for those,” a Nissan source told motoring.com.au.

One of the Tokyo concepts is almost certainly a preview of the 370Z replacement, which is expected to offer the choice of a turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.

There is plenty of speculation about the other concept, some media outlets punting on a 200SX successor to take on the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ. However, because the new Z is expected to downsize other pundits question whether there is room for such a car.

“There is a debate about how it (the next GT-R) looks,” Nismo President Shoichi Miyatani told motoring.com.au.

“Some people say this (current) design looks very nice like a transformer … but some people say this is not so beautiful. Some people say Aston Martin and Ferrari looks beautiful.

“These kinds of debates are never-ending, but some time we need to decide.”

The Tokyo stand will also feature a newly developed Nismo version of the R35 GT-R, which is expected to take the twin-turbo all-wheel drive super-coupe’s performance to an even more extreme level.

This car is a precursor to the R35’s all-new replacement which Nismo will take the lead role in developing. It is expected to go on sale in 2016.

Miyatani, speaking to motoring.com.au at Fuji Speedway in Japan on Sunday, also confirmed the positioning of the next GT-R was another big issue for Nissan.

“Already this is a kind of supercar -- how to see the future of that car is a lot of debate inside of Nissan,” said Miyatani. “Whether we should go for a more race kind of car, or should we target a little bit more mature customer.”

Speculation is raging that the next GT-R will be a petrol-electric hybrid. This is being fuelled by the recent announcement of an alliance between Nismo and Williams Advanced Engineering, which was involved in the development of the stillborn Jaguar C-X75 supercar.

“The involvement of Williams is defined project by project,” said Miyatano. “We are utilising some of their technologies, techniques and skills into our programs.

“Hybrid or a motor booster or whatever you call it could be one of the technologies we should consider and are considering,” he added. “But I cannot specifically tell you this technology is being utilised by the next generation.”

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