The GT-R50 is the first-ever collaboration between Nissan and Italdesign, with the joint project commemorating the 50th anniversaries of both the Italian design firm and the iconic GT-R sports car.
Nissan and Italdesign have created a new prototype vehicle in their first-ever collaboration, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign.
Based on a production 2018 Nissan GT-R Nismo model, the unique coupe commemorates the 50th anniversaries of both the GT-R and Italdesign. The Italian firm developed, engineered and built the car, while the distinctive, crisp exterior and interior designs were created by the teams at Nissan Design Europe in London and Nissan Design America.
Starting at the front, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign features a distinct golden inner element that stretches across almost the full width of the vehicle. The hood has a more pronounced power bulge, and the thin LED headlights stretch from the wheel arch to the lip above the outer cooling intakes.
Dominating the side view, the distinctive roofline has been lowered by 54 millimetres and features a lower centre section, while the slightly raised outer portions give the roof profile a muscular look. The signature GT-R “samurai blade” cooling outlets behind the front wheels have gained more prominence with a gold inlay that extends from the bottom of the doors to the shoulder line.
The rear highlights the car’s wide track with taut, muscular flares around the wheels. The shoulder line tapers around the base of the rear window and draws toward the centre of the boot lid. In a dramatic fashion, the rear window line descends longer and deeper than on the standard GT-R. Combined with more gold elements, it appears as a separate modular element of the rear structure.
The GT-R’s twin round tail-lights have been reimagined as a separate “floating” feature with thin light rings and hollow centres, mounted so as to join the outer buttress and the central portion of the boot structure. A large, adjustable rear wing, mounted with two uprights, completes the overall look. Custom wheels, measuring 21 x 10 inches in front and 21 x 10.5 inches at the rear, accentuate the car’s bold stance. The exterior is finished in Liquid Kinetic Gray paint with distinctive Energetic Sigma Gold anniversary accents.
Inside, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign reflects its modern, high-performance pedigree. Two different carbon fibre finishes are extensively used across the centre console, instrument panel and door linings, along with black Alcantara and fine black Italian leather on the seats. Gold accents echo the exterior treatment across the instrument panel, doors and the futuristic racecar-inspired switchgear. The bespoke steering wheel’s central hub and spokes are made of carbon fibre, while the rim features a flat bottom and matching Alcantara trim.
Underneath the new shape, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign is all business. Drawing on Nissan’s GT3 racing experience, the Nismo division enhanced the hand-assembled 3.8-litre V6 VR38DETT engine to produce an estimated 720hp of Jap power and 780Nm of Tokyo torque.
Changes to the powerplant include optimised twin high-flow, large-diameter GT3 competition-spec turbochargers and larger intercoolers; heavy-duty crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods and bearings; high-flow piston oil jets; revised camshaft profiles; higher-flow fuel injectors; and optimised ignition, intake and exhaust systems. A reinforced dual-clutch sequential 6-speed rear transaxle along with stronger differentials and driveshafts direct the power to the wheels.
A revised suspension has been developed, featuring the Bilstein DampTronic I continuously adjustable damping system. For braking, the Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes feature bright red, clearly visible callipers. Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, sized 255/35 R21 in the front and 285/30 R21 in the rear, add a level of grip needed to harness the engine’s power.
“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.”
The GT-R50 is the first-ever collaboration between Nissan and Italdesign, with the joint project commemorating the 50th anniversaries of both the Italian design firm and the iconic GT-R sports car.
Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan-Infiniti car designer who also did a luxury yacht
