The $1 Million Nissan GT-R50 Is Going Into Limited Production
When Nissan revealed its striking GT-R50 recently, there was only one thing we wanted to know: will it go into production? In the lead-up to the Goodwood Festival of Speed Nissan had hinted that the car - built in collaboration with Italdesign to celebrate the anniversaries of both the design studio and GT-R itself - might be made, but now we know for sure.
Speaking to Car Throttle at the show - where GT-R50 made its public debut - Nismo programme director Bob Laishley confirmed that 50 examples will indeed be built. Perhaps predictably, they won’t be cheap: you’re looking at a starting price of €900,000 (around £800,000, or $1,050,000). The bespoke nature of the car means that it’s as expensive as the buyer wants to make it. “If they want a car for the road we’ll make it for the road, if they want it for the track we’ll make it bespoke for their requirements, inspired by this vehicle [the concept],” Laishley said.
Laishley also noted there’s “No reason why we can’t reach 50 quickly…the interest is phenomenal”. But he denied that the GT-R50’s existence is down to an increase in demand for highly-bespoke, mega-expensive supercars (like Italdesign’s own R8-based ZeroUno). “Clearly there are other competitors around making cars in this kind of market, [but] that wasn’t a consideration,” he said.
The manufacturing process involves taking a completed GT-R from the production line and sending it to Italdesign in Moncalieri, Italy to be heavily modified into the car you see here. The concept version has larger turbochargers taken from the Nismo GT3 version of the GT-R, bigger intercoolers, stronger pistons and much more besides, bringing the power output to 710bhp. We fully expect that spec - which also includes posher Bilstein ‘DampTronic’ shock absorbers - to be available to any buyer who asks for it.
There’s no arguing with the mechanicals, although the distinctive looks may prove divisive. Regardless, Laishley is clearly a fan. “Now seeing it for the first time…it’s just phenomenal. Even though every surface has changed, it still looks like a classic GT-R,” he concluded. Do you agree?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
900000€ for a computer? It must be fast…
Seen it in person yesterday, wouldn’t say it looks that good. Doesn’t sound or drive any better either. Not worth the money for a rebodied 2007 Datsun
Ifkr!
I don’t think that the target audience of a car like this cares about value for mouney all that much. They want only the most exclusive vehicles, and they are ready to pay whatever sum to get it. Nothing is more exclusive than a car that’s coachbuilt to your own specifications.
Sure, you could say “1 million dollars? You could buy a Bugatti from that”, but the truth is that the people buying this car probably have one or two of those already.
The design does polarize, but then again, Italdesign isn’t really known for building understated cars these days.
Veneno
You know that it doesn’t drive any better how?
It may be vastly different to the original, but it still manages to be distinctly GTR looking. I definitely agree with Laishley. It may be different in person though, it usually is.
. . . to be snapped up by Youtubers
When Ferrari does this it’s totally fine… With Nissan people suddenly get this double standard… Anyways, I’d totally pay the million dollar price tag. I think this car looks stunning!
Because Ferrari has a heritage, brand and exclusivity to their brand. Nissan doesn’t.
I agree, however I think that it is different considering that it isn’t just a car made by Nissan to rival the LaFerrari for example, it is simply a special version of a much, much cheaper car that costs almost as much as a LaFerrari.
But I do agree with you that people can have the double standard and can be badge snobs.
I think that the problem is more complex than that.
I mean first of all it’s based and shaped as a GTR, that is a “cheap supercar” debuted 10 years ago.
Second, Nissan spends money doing this instead of actually renewing the GTR or 370Z.
Third, they are getting quite a hate for not being able to do a proper car, doesn’t matter what segment you think of.
The hate would probably be the same if lotus did this with one of their current cars
Totally agree! I also don’t understand that hate the regular GTR receives. It came in and put the super car world on notice, and still give most cars a run for its money years later. A car that was constantly improved as well.
People don’t like the looks but i think it looks great. Its unique at the very least.
Well it’s a very good looking car but the price tag does kind of ruin the whole underdog, supercar slayer vibe of the GTR
The back reminds me of a GT-R/MkV Supra baby
Looks like a bottom feeding fish from the front
I’m sorry but who in there right mind would say no I don’t want a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti, McLaren ect…. I want a £1,000,000 Nissan.
A collector
I think this is one of the few cars that looks better in a picture than in person. I was expecting to like it more when I saw it at goodwood.