3 Reasons Why A 'Luxurious' GT-R Would Be A Massive Waste Of Time

In a recent interview with Top Gear, the programme manager for the GT-R confirmed a more 'luxurious' direction for the R35. Here's why we think that's a really bad idea...

Neil Winn

22 Dec 2015

3 Reasons Why A 'Luxurious' GT-R Would Be A Massive Waste Of Time

In this recent interview with Top Gear, GT-R programme manager Hiroshi Tamura confirmed that the R35 GT-R will be sticking around for a few more years. The reason? Tamara believes that there is still life in the old girl yet.

But instead of developing the performance of the car, he wants to make the GT-R more of a luxury vehicle. In his own words, “not just fancy, but real premium”. We’ve already seen an example of this ethos with the 2009 ‘Egoist’ edition, but Tamura wants to take this a step further, by actually changing handling characteristics and body construction of the vehicle. Here’s why we think that’s a really bad idea…

1. It's called the 'new Godzilla' for a reason

The Nissan GT-R and in fact JDM performance cars in general, have never professed to be the leading light of ‘luxury’ vehicles. Instead they have focused on their unqiue selling points; speed, handling and technology. Unlike BMW’s M-Divison, which has slowly allowed its cars to get fatter and less involving, Nissan has managed to keep the GT-R at the pinnacle of the performance car spectrum.

The company has done this by slowly improving and evolving the original R35. For example, the 2009 SpecV introduced carbon ceramic brakes, the 2012 Track Spec developed the car’s suspension on the ‘Ring (plus added brake cooling ducts), and the 2015 Nismo brought all these elements together to produce the most comprehensive package we’ve seen to date. Which is why a luxury version of the R35 would be quite a serious step backwards for the company.

Ultimately, if buyers want to purchase a more luxurious performance vehicle, then they are spoiled for choice. The fast and capable Bentley Continental GT V8 S is a good option, as is the ballistic BMW M6 Gran Coupe. The same goes for the beautiful Audi RS7. However, these cars are not direct rivals to the R35. Ultimately, if an investment banker wants to buy a luxurious vehicle they won’t choose a Nissan and we can guarantee that a luxury variant will not change matters.

You buy a GT-R for the same reason that you buy a swiss army knife. You have a respect for the brand, it performs a function that no other rivals can offer, and ultimately, it is in a class of its own. There might be more expensive options out there, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s important that Nissan realises that the GT-R’s success is down to its USP - ballistic performance for a reasonable price. Nissan should therefore focus on improving the recipe, not diluting it.

2. We don't want weight gains

Our biggest complaint about the GT-R is that its already impressive driving dynamics could be improved further by removing some weight. The 2015 GT-R weighs a portly 1740kg (3840lb), and once you’ve added in the weight of the driver, a passenger and a full tank of fuel, the Nissan is getting close to two tonnes…

This is one of the main reasons that hardcore special editions like the R33 R400, R34 V spec II Nür and R35 Nismo have been labelled as the cars that the GT-R ‘should have been all along’. Increasing the levels of opulence in the cabin and improving noise vibration and harshness (NVH) levels will only add to this weight, taking the GT-R even further away from the car we wish it could be.

3. Just build the Infiniti already

Not too long ago, Infiniti had its very own, GTR-powered Q50 Eau Rouge. Unveiled at the 2014 Geneva motor show, the Eau Rouge was going to be the model that finally put the company on the map. Powered by Nissan’s monstrous VR38DETT V6 engine, the car would have given the likes of the Mercedes C63 AMG, BMW M3 and Audi RS4 a serious run for their money.

Unfortunately in September, Infiniti announced that the Q50 ER had been canned. After looking at the cost of production, the numbers just didn’t add up, which is a real shame, because it would have been a win for the company and good news for GT-R fans who wanted more doors and greater luxury. Bastardising a GT-R for these purposes, then, is not the way forward.

Comments

How can you honestly say it would be a waste?

3 reasons they should build it.
1: they already have the car in production so it’s not gonna cost them much.
2: by bringing in a ‘luxury model’ they have the opportunity to pull some of the functions out of the base GT-R to make it cheaper and lighter.
3: if the fact Bentley is still in business and producing cars means anything it’s that people will jump at the chance to buy big luxury cars with excess power to drive slowly in traffic and grin smugly as they hand the keys to the valet.

I - having driven a GT-R - did not have many problems with it not being sufficiently luxurious for me and my tastes. That’s not the problem with the car at all! Only problem is the transmission chatter at slow speeds… Traffic would suck.

The Gtr is an amazing performance car for the price thats why he is so popular! They should continue on that way!

Why not have both? Bring back the skyline name and have it as a 4 door, more luxurious model and keep the GTR as the monstorous beast it is

From people that have been in the GT-R I have only heard comments about the wheelie bin quality of the interior. Everyone says something different about the car, but this thing always comes back. Maybe this Tamura bloke’s idea isn’t actually so bad, because it seems the GT-R could do with a bit more of a premium feel.

Yeah yeah, weight reduction and all that, the fact is if you buy a performance car you don’t want the inside to feel like a wheelie bin.

This would be fine. It would actually help a lot. It would however, likely need to come with weight drops in a good number of other places.

Rule number 1…don’t underestimate Nissan. People doubted their claims when they announced the new GTR a few years back now. So this could easily be a repeat of that!