Nissan Wants to Move Existing GT-R Into The Premium Realm - What Challenges Can You See With That?

The new Nissan GT-R won’t be here any time soon, because the current one still has some work to do. Boo.

That’s the word from GT-R programme manager Hiroshi Tamura, who told TopGear.com that the R35 generation of Nissan’s supercar-slaying Godzilla still has some objectives to hit.

When asked how much development potential was left in the current GT-R, Tamura-san said: “Let’s get to the more simple question – when is the next GT-R coming? Not yet, because I want to hit some of the other objectives first.”

He said that the drive for a more ‘premium’ feel in the GT-R only started two years ago, and that the car had two distinct natures: the first part of its name (GT) was the ‘blue zone’, while ‘R’ was the ‘red zone’ for performance.
 

PUGPROUD - 12/22/2015 9:36:51 AM

+6 Boost

...The way it looks.
...The antiquated interior design
...Its brittle ride
...Its a Nissan not an Infiniti
...Its image is rice rocket based culture not Rodeo Drive
...When you buy a premium car you never want to have to justify your
purchase particularly to your neighbor
...No answer when your wife asks "You spent what on this?!"

MDarringer - 12/22/2015 10:14:12 AM

+1 Boost

It's price "makes" it premium even if it's not.

It should have been marketed as the Infiniti Skyline GTR. The Nissan badge was a dumb move.

Its drivetrain needs a LOT of work to make it reliable. Things break way too easily now.

It's rice rocket persona is an asset, but sending it out the door for $75K would make it relevant against the 911 and Stingray i.e. the real competition.

While it has a LOT of technology to make it handle well, it feels like you're driving software. A similarly priced 911 has gobs of handling technology/software, but the Porsche creates the illusion that the driver is connected to the car.

Nissan/Infiniti need desperately to chuck their styling upchucks and come up with something gorgeous.

Sciros - 12/22/2015 12:20:51 PM

+2 Boost

If you ask me, challenge #1 is ironically the NSX.

It's in the premium realm. It's at the right price point. It's a performant car. It's (hopefully) high quality. It has street presence. It's Japanese.

The GT-R isn't going "premium" until it's redesigned, in any case. The current one is a monster track car but it's no more "premium" than the Z06, and probably less so.

MDarringer - 12/22/2015 1:13:50 PM

0 Boost

Yes, it is known as a "monster" track car but its not demonstrably better than a 911 or a Z06, but it is more expensive than both. Most people haven't driven all three. I have. The GTR is a great $50K car for nearly 3x that price.

MDarringer - 12/23/2015 9:04:55 AM

+1 Boost

The GTR and the NSX are very similar in price point. Most GTRs come fully loaded and that bumps them to around $140K. They don't sell and dealers don't bargain so that they have the bauble to display in the show room.

The GTRs sales are TERRIBLE. The new NSX will be dead for sales just like the last one was and it will be because of pricing $50-70K too high.

pcar4evr - 12/22/2015 1:38:41 PM

+1 Boost

Can't fault a man for his dream, but c'mon, the GTR is and always will be viewed as a giant slayer, but not the giant.

MDarringer - 12/22/2015 8:16:46 PM

+1 Boost

Drive one back to back against a Z06 and a 911 and get back to me. The weekend after next, I'm heading out to the track with my GT350 and I plan to hunt a moron in in GTR. This will be fun. I've killed the idiot in a Sagaris LOL.

cidflekken - 12/23/2015 2:16:25 PM

+1 Boost

I think the "damage" has been done. Moving the GT-R to a premium car and/or to Infiniti will just confuse and dilute its image. At the same time, they run the risk of alienating existing the fans and customers of the GT-R.

If Nissan wants a premium car, then they need to focus on developing a proper flagships and halo cars for Infiniti. Then they need to build an Infiniti-specific supercar, i.e. the EMERG-E, to set itself apart. Leave the GT-R to battle the Corvette and position it with appropriate power and price. Build an Infiniti model to battle Porsche/NSX/Ferrari/R8/AMG-GT.

MDarringer - 12/23/2015 2:38:14 PM

+1 Boost

With Infiniti flailing for identity because the reject from Audi replaced one confusing alphabet soup naming scheme with one equally stupid, moving Infiniti to NAMES would be a start at standing out.

MorePower - 12/25/2015 9:05:31 PM

+1 Boost

Nissan would need to refine the noises, fit and finish as well as smooth out the suspension so 1%'s Grande Americano does not spill on broken roads.

It would still need to perform better than cars costing twice as much.

w222 - 12/28/2015 4:36:05 PM

+1 Boost

Just make it not look like a raccoon. Change the appearance and make it more upscale. The performance is there, but some people prefer not to be seen driving one.