Italdesign GT-R50 deliveries to begin next year
Anniversary model will be on show at Geneva followed by dispatch to 50 lucky customers
It's been almost exactly a year since Nissan confirmed a fifty-car production run for its GT-R50 collaboration with Italdesign. Now the manufacturer has confirmed that the first customer car will go on display at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with deliveries set to begin in late 2020.
The company claims that customer demand for the production version of the car has been "strong", with "a significant number of deposits already taken" - language which reveals that a handful of cars remain unspoken for. Nonetheless, we're told that customers around the world are currently in the process of speccing their vehicles, selecting unique colour and trim combinations which will make their example of the already-limited machine that much more unique again.
This, says Nissan, should make the GT-R50 "even more attractive to collectors", although you have to imagine that anyone interested would have found the time to put their name down by now...
"Our customers have relished the personalized experience provided by Italdesign, who have a long tradition in the exclusive field of ultra-rare, bespoke high-performance vehicles," said Bob Laishley, global sports car program director at Nissan. "Their experience with the GT-R50 has been incredible and I can say first-hand that each car will certainly be a standalone masterpiece."
Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan's senior VP of global design, added: "Designers dream of creating from a blank canvas, but with GT-R, it is a canvas that has been shaped by an adventurous history, a heart powered by NISMO, and a soul reflecting 50 years of dreams of engineers, designers, artisans, developers, racers and leaders. The best of Japan and Italy combined with help from our California and London studios are painting on the best canvas any designer can possibly have!"
Sounds like they shouldn't have any problem selling those remaining build slots, then!
ORIGINAL STORY - 07.12.19
In news that's been coming for a few months now, Nissan has finally confirmed a fifty-car production run for its GT-R50 collaboration with Italdesign.
Billed as "the ultimate expression of the GT-R", it celebrates the 50th anniversaries of both the GT-R in 2019 and Italdesign in 2018. To that end the Turin-based coachbuilder has amplified the recognisable design elements of the standard car to create something which is wider, longer, lower and, well, certainly isn't going to get mistaken for a standard R35 any time soon. The design is particularly dramatic at the rear, where floating LED taillights and an enormous adjustable rear wing leave you in no doubt as to the car's intent.
About that. The 3.8-litre V6 has been fettled to produce 720hp and 575lb ft. This comes thanks to NISMO-spec turbochargers - derived from those used in Nissan's GT3 racer - revised camshaft profiles, higher-flow fuel injectors and optimised intake and exhaust systems. A reinforced six-speed dual-clutch transmission handles the extra power, while Bilstein adjustable suspension, Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres keep everything pointing in the right direction.
The two-tone prototype seen at last summer's Goodwood Festival of Speed was painted grey with gold accents, and while all cars are expected to follow its layout, Nissan says that the fifty customers will be given the opportunity to spec their preferred colour combination as well as pick out custom interior colours and packages. Once they've parted with €990,000 (before taxes and options) for the privilege, of course.
"The reaction from Nissan fans around the world - and potential customers of the GT-R50 - has greatly exceeded our expectations," said Nissan's global sports car director, Bob Laishley. "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."
Those wishing to express an interest in being among those fifty owners can visit www.GT-R50.nissan with deliveries set to begin in 2019 and continue into 2020. The rest of us will just have to keep on waiting for a new version of the standard car...
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