Next Nissan GT-R to be 'fastest super sports car in the world'

Nissan is in the very early phases of designing and engineering an all-new platform for the next-generation GT-R — but has still to decide how much electrification the car’s powertrain will adopt.

Talking exclusively to Autocar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Nissan design boss Alfonso Albaisa said the car won’t take cues from the limited-run GT-R50 special edition on show this weekend, but “has to be its own special car”. He said it has to be “the fastest super sports car in the world” and retain a visual identity that's unique among cars of its kind.

Although he’s constantly reviewing sketches for the car, Albaisa said his team can’t begin serious work until decisions are made about the powertrain and the new platform is finalised.

“The challenge is on the engineer, to be honest,” he said. “We will do our jobs when the time comes to make the car something really special. But we’re not even close to that yet.”

Nissan GT-R (2009-2015) used buying guide

That suggests the new GT-R is still several years from production readiness, meaning it’s likely to arrive early in the next decade.

Albaisa said that while Nissan was undecided on the powertrain, he admitted that electrification was likely, albeit not confirmed.

“Whether we go to a lot of electrification or none at all, we can achieve a lot power wise,” he said. “But we are definitely making a new ‘platform’ and our goal is clear: GT-R has to be the quickest car of its kind. It has to ‘own’ the track. And it has to play the advanced technology game; but that doesn’t mean it has to be electric.”