Nissan GT-R ... design classic?

Is Godzilla a style icon? Dan argues a case for the GT-R to be lauded for more than raw power

So much is discussed about the Nissan GT-R’s nerdish obsession technology and outrageous performance I think it’s a shame its design isn’t talked about more. Because, for my money, Nissan has quietly nurtured a style and visual language for the GT-R as strong and long-lasting as those who trade more overtly on such things. I’m thinking specifically here of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Porsche 911, both of which could be considered rivals in terms of target audience, price and performance, if perhaps not mindset.

Stuck in the same groove for 50 years...

I remember an eye-opening drive with former Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez in a V12 Vantage S on the launch event, him banging his fist on the hub of the steering wheel as he hammered home the point he thought Aston had created a design template as strong as the 911’s in the Vantage. And there was no reason why it shouldn’t last 50 years, just like the Porsche.

Strong stuff, the more so given the conversation was conducted at around 140mph and underscored by thunderous V12 echoing off desert rock somewhere in the Californian desert. But then Bez played a big part in the development of the 993 in his time at Porsche and there’s an argument for that being the perfect intersection of tradition and modernity in the 911’s evolutionary cycle.

If it ain't broke and all that

The GT-R doesn’t have the luxury of a half century of aesthetic tweaking or the instinctive, timeless style of an Aston Martin Vantage. But it does have a formidable heritage, more recently rooted in both motorsport and, of course, video games. And Nissan has been very smart about integrating both of those into an unmistakable visual style. A GT-R is a GT-R from any angle but perhaps its strongest visual signature is that rear view, the circular lights glowing like afterburners and gaping, cartoonish exhausts. Guess what – that’s the image we all grew up with in pixellated form on our PlayStations.

One can only go so far pontificating on design before enlisting professional help though. So I phoned a friend and PHer who works in the business for his views on the GT-R. “I love it! Rarely is an aesthetic so well matched to the actual character and performance of the car,” he said. “It looks aggressive, fast, solid, stable, purposeful. To me it actually looks four-wheel drive and a bit heavy as well, which all parts of its charisma. Successful also, as it is not bland, yet has aged very well – tough to manage. They have done very little to it aesthetically since 2007 or so, and yet it still looks fresh.”

Mistake it for something else? Unlikely

He makes the interesting point that it was “one of the first blue-collar Japanese cars to move upmarket and create a look not linked to more humble models, whereas the R34 still felt like it had a chunk of its DNA shared with a Nissan family car.” The interior, however, he rates as “pretty dire” for a car of its price range and if you got out of a 991 and into the GT-R you’d probably be nodding in agreement.

Constant evolution is all part of the GT-R story and we hear rumours of future developments up to and including hybrid powertrains. It might seem wishy-washy in comparison to all the technology but without firm aesthetic foundations it’d all be to little gain. And the GT-R’s most overlooked strength is worth celebrating.

Dan

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tomellingham

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