GT-R R36 Nissan GT-R Approved For 2018 Launch: Report

[HighestOfHigh]

R36 Nissan GT-R Approved For 2018 Launch: Report​

Following a report last month claiming officials at Nissan had yet to give approval for the launch of a successor to the current R35 GT-R supercar, a report out today claims the green light for the new car, the R36, has been given and a launch date set for 2018. This would give the R35 a 10-year lifespan, which ties in with previous comments made by the car’s chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno. Speaking at the conclusion of the Nürburgring 24 Hours earlier this year, Mizuno said the current car will continue to evolve over the next five years, and that participation in the tough endurance race had helped verify the durability and reliability of its platform to ensure it’s capable of handling whatever upgrades Nissan has in store for the future. Note, Mizuno recently retired due to Nissan’s mandatory retirement age of 60, though the expert engineer is expected to continue to aid GT-R development in a consulting role.

According to Inside Line, Mizuno’s official departure has led to a slight delay in the arrival of the R36, though development work is underway. Engineers are reportedly keen to see the performance of the upcoming Acura NSX, which boasts a sophisticated hybrid system and is promised to lap the Nürburgring-Nordschleife faster than the R35.

Nissan hasn’t decided whether it will add a hybrid system to the R36, though the automaker has already previewed a high-performance hybrid in the stunning 2009 Infiniti Essence Concept. By taking the Infiniti G37’s 3.7-liter V-6 and bolting on a pair of turbochargers, Nissan was able to boost output of the engine to around 440 horsepower. It then combined this with a 160-horsepower electric motor and the end result was a powertrain developing close to 600 horsepower.For the R36, Nissan is expected to stick with the current model's 3.8-liter VR38DETT mill but possibly combine it with an electric motor, like in the Essence. Final output would fall somewhere around the 600-horsepower mark while fuel economy could improve to around 25-30 mpg combined.

The only hurdle would be the increased weight of the hybrid system’s batteries, which would need to be offset by an intensive weight loss program. The end goal would be to build a car that performs equal to or better than the current model while returning much better fuel economy.

In the meantime, the current R35 model will continue to evolve. Yet another update is planned for the 2014 model year, possibly the biggest we’ve seen thus far. Some of the reported changes include new bumpers and lights, as well as an upgraded powertrain.

- http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1040600_report-r36-nissan-gt-r-to-go-hybrid-arrive-in-2012

 

[HighestOfHigh]

​

Just the Facts:

• A second-generation Nissan GT-R is planned for production.
• The current development schedule suggests it will arrive in 2018.
• A refresh of the current GT-R is scheduled for the end of 2013.

SANTA MONICA, California — Despite previous information that suggested otherwise, Edmunds has confirmed that a next-generation Nissan GT-R is still planned for production, but the all-new version of the supercar won't arrive until 2018. Our latest information was obtained during a recent visit to Nissan's R&D center in Atsugi, Japan. Originally, the second generation of the GT-R was scheduled to arrive in 2015. Part of the reason for the delay is that the chief engineer and product specialist of the GT-R, Kazutoshi Mizuno had left the company. We now know that Mizuno took a leave of absence because of health problems, but has since returned to the company. He is again at the helm of the GT-R's development team, and was involved with the GT-R's recent class-winning effort at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Edmunds has also learned that at the end of 2013, Nissan will be making some significant changes to the GT-R's exterior styling and power plant. Nissan execs feel that making big changes to the car is important because 2013 marks the sixth year since the GT-R's introduction, and if it were to follow the examples of its European counterparts, such as the Porsche 911, the car is due for a major transformation. We don't know exactly how the GT-R's appearance will change, but some have hinted that the bumper and lights will be redesigned, while the main body panels will be left largely untouched.

Sources close to the company say the GT-R team is watching the development of the soon-to-be-introduced Acura NSX closely, especially after Honda insiders revealed that their hybrid-powered sports car will lap the Nürburgring faster than the GT-R. Nissan's keen interest in the Acura NSX also indicates that a hybrid version of the GT-R is a distinct possibility. When asked about the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder, which also features hybrid technology, Mizuno didn't seem very impressed. We can't confirm if Mizuno will utilize the R38DETT engine from the current car for use in the GT-R's hybrid system (which may debut sooner rather than later), or wait until 2018 to introduce a brand new system for the next-generation GT-R.

Edmunds says: 2018 is a long way off. Some might say too long. Hopefully the next GT-R will be worth the wait.

- http://www.insideline.com/nissan/gt-r/next-generation-nissan-gt-r-on-track-for-2018.html

 

[Makini]

Whoohoo! the ninja assasin lives on. Hope he doesn't look like that shite render tho...

 

[Sunny]

What they need to do is make the car mechanically smoother and not make it feel like a washing machine that is going to shake itself loose. Don't get me wrong, I love the thing and is still amazed at it's ability to pummel any patch of pavement into submission, but the clunks and grating from the mechanical components especially the transaxle seriously gets in the way of fully enjoying the car.

 

[Wolfgang]

New GT-R will be ‘front-engined 2+2 hybrid’
2018’s ‘R36’ GT-R definitely won’t go mid-engined, Nissan’s creative boss tells TG
Shiro Nakamura might be a diminutive chap in stature, but in car-drawing terms Nissan's Chief Creative Officer is a colossus.

TG caught up with Nakamura-san - fresh from winning the Grand Prix du Design award at the International Automobile Festival - at the London launch of Infiniti's revised Q70 exec saloon.

Of course we should have been complimenting him on the Q70's new LED lights and tweaked bootlid, but, um, we want to know about the new GT-R instead.

So we asked Nakamura-san if he'd seen any of the speculative renderings the internet has spewed out, all purporting to show how the new GT-R will absolutely definitely look.

"Yes, I've seen them," Shiro smiles. "Not one of them is close [to how the car will look]". But what about the Vision Gran Turismo (pictured above)? Any GT-R clues in that virtual concept car?

"Maybe some elements from the front and rear, but that is a mid-engined car. Mizuno-san [the GT-R's legendary father] says the GT-R will always be a front-engined 2+2-seater coupe."

So, no need to worry about a GT-R crossover or convertible, then? Nakamura-san grins and shakes his head. Phew. "It will be a hybrid," he confirms, "but not mid-engined."

And when might we see a new GT-R? "Not yet. 2018 at the earliest," is Shiro's reply. He says the current car, updated every year with revised styling, suspension and software updates, is still selling healthily, and the GT-R's team reckons there's yet more performance to squeeze from the current car.

Yup, more performance from a car that can run 2.8 seconds from 0-62mph and laps the Nurburgring in 7m8s. The mind does indeed boggle.

TG suggests a new feature to stop Olympic cyclists crashing might be useful. Shiro laughs, and cringes a little.

"Yes, I was there at the Festival of Speed [when Sir Chris Hoy punted a Nismo GT-R into the hay bales]. I heard the crash and thought ‘argh!'. Then for the next two days, all they show on the big screen is the same shot of our GT-R crashing into the barrier. But at least the car was safe and strong..."

Source: TOPGEAR

 

[kingjr9000]

Next-gen Nissan GT-R getting a 700 PS GT-R LM NISMO-sourced powerplant

Nissan 2020 Concept Vision Gran Turismo

A 3.0-liter engine and an electric motor
AutoBild is reporting the 2018 Nissan GT-R will be powered by a hybrid system, similar to the one in the GT-R LM NISMO.

The race car features a hybrid system that includes a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine, supported by an electric motor. The system works with a five-speed sequential transmission with a Tilton three-plate carbon clutch and a pneumatic paddle shift system.

The GT-R LM NISMO reportedly has around 1,250 PS (919 kW), but the next generation of the production GT-R will have around 700 PS (515 kW). Basically, the hybrid system will be identical, but will be significantly detuned for a lower fuel consumption.



Earlier this year Nissan confirmed the hybrid system will sit in the front of the car, denying rumors of a mid-mounted powerplant.

Note: Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo pictured.

 

[rollo]

Wow, those renders both look like the batmobile.

 

[Sunny]

They are not renders, but the Nissan 2020 concept - http://jalopnik.com/the-nissan-concept-2020-is-a-nissan-gt-r-hypercar-1591364656

 

[tristatez28lt1]

MY2018 GT-R render