Nissan Celebrates 50 Years of the GT-R
Nissan’s longest-running GT-R, the R35, sported a 50th Anniversary special livery at the L.A. Auto Show.
If there’s any car that deserves to be celebrated, it is the Nissan GT-R. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary for the 2020 model year via a special edition. Seen here at the L.A. Auto Show, this Bayside Blue GT-R is adorned with 50th Anniversary graphics, but that’s not all. Special interior features are included as well. Embossed leather on the seats is complemented by blue switchgear as well. RAYS wheels in 20-inch diameter are part of the package as well. It leads to a great celebration of a car that revolutionized its segment.
Keep in mind the R35 has now been in production for an astonishing 13 years. That’s longer than the entire existence of the I-Phone. The R35’s performance has increased in that time. Continuous updates and refreshments keep the performance at supercar levels. The price of just over $100,000 stays justified.
Could this be the R35‘s final hurrah?
A 13 year run for a car platform is incredibly long. There are only so many ways to improve a car like this before evolution becomes necessary. Eventually, something will have to change, and we feel it will be dramatic. The V6 twin-turbo motor might stay, but its location may not. The thought of a mid-engined GT-R is intriguing, possibly taking a hint from the new C8 Corvette. The 2+2 configuration might have to be sacrificed in the pursuit of speed.
Nissan would also have to look at one thing that has always kept the GT-R’s performance slightly stunted. That would be the car’s heft. Pushing the scales at nearly 4000 lbs won’t do the car any favors going into the future. What Nissan needs to do now is figure out how they can raise the bar. They also need to keep costs in mind as well. The Corvette now represents direct competition in terms of performance, while undercutting cost significantly. Nissan is creative enough to sort out those details. The 370Z could evolve into their top-tier sports coupe, while the GT-R can then turn into their flagship model.
Photos for 6SpeedOnline by Derin Richardson
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