Press Release
Nissan GT-R Legend in the 21st Century
Nissan GT-R Proto at a glance:
- Ultimate driving pleasure
- Exterior design close to final
- Official launch set for 2007
At the 35th Tokyo Motor Show in 2001, Nissan unveiled the GT-R Concept, confirming that the GT-R legend would be continued into the 21st century. Then, at the 37th Tokyo Motor Show in 2003, Nissan announced the next-generation GT-R would be rolled out in 2007. Now with the launch of the production model just two years away, the development of the new GT-R has moved ahead again with the reveal of the GT-R PROTO.
Ultimate driving pleasure
In essence, driving pleasure means that a car responds faithfully to the driver's wishes and performs precisely as expected. Successive generations of the GT-R have consistently pursued this vision of ultimate driving pleasure. Whether on the road or the racetrack, the GT-R has always represented ultimate performance combined with handling qualities that stay faithful to the driver’s wishes, in all conditions. As a result, the GT-R has built a reputation that extends far beyond just its loyal owner base.
Exterior design: pure performance
The design of the GT-R PROTO expresses pure GT-R heritage, coming from the first model PGC10 (1969) through R34 (1999), in a new and expressive form.
From its original roots as a pure-bred Japanese performance car, the new GT-R will now be a car sold globally, recognising its ability to compete with the very best in the world. For the first time in its history, the new GT-R will be designed as a specific body-style, and not derived from a sedan.
The design language of the GT-R PROTO is expressed by a distinctive body-style that communicates pure performance and functionality. The form of the GT-R PROTO instantly expresses its purpose and potential, but in a way that is unique to this iconic car.
At the front end, the single centre air intake is designed to optimise airflow and to strongly link the identity of the GT-R from R34 to GT-R Concept (2001). Front fenders are uniquely designed through intensive analysis of the airflow around the tyres and the air vent behind the front fender also optimises aerodynamics. The sides of the body are sculptured towards the rear fender, expressing the power and dynamic tension of the car.
The overall shape of the body combines solid and smooth surfaces to achieve the look of a well-trained athlete. The unique C-pillar crease is designed for optimum aerodynamics, reflecting the racing DNA of the GT-R.
The rear of the GT-R PROTO is strong and well defined. The signature four ring-shaped tail lamps provide an immediate visual link to previous GT-R models. Four large-bore exhaust pipes complete the purposeful look, which could only be that of a pure GT-R.
The GT-R PROTO provides for the first time a clear indication of the final design direction for the production model to be launched in 2007, the first all-new GT-R in eight years.
Nissan Foria Concept
Nissan Foria at a glance:
- A premium-quality compact sport coupe
- Designed to make driving a pleasure
- Exterior styling combines sportiness with elegance
- High-quality interior
The Foria is a compact coupe concept targeted at customers looking for
performance, elegance and high quality.
Emphasis placed on quality
The feeling one experiences when seeing or touching well-designed and crafted objects was uppermost in the minds of the Foria design team. That concept was projected throughout the exterior and interior with the aim of creating a car whose value cannot be measured just in terms of specifications or performance figures.
Fun-to-drive package
The Foria is packaged as a compact 2+2 coupe. The front-engine, rear-drive layout allows an exceptionally short front overhang, long hood and compact cabin. These styling features, together with the neatly-styled rear and 18-inch wheels positioned at the four corners, result in a car that is not only pleasing to look at but also delivers driving pleasure. Powered by a mid-sized engine and paddle-shift automatic transmission, the powertrain promises agile driving in town, as well as fully engaging performance when traveling on more open roads. Four-wheel Active Steer gives reassuring precision and steering feel at all driving speeds.
Center-opening, B-pillarless doors have been adopted for effortless access to the rear seats in the coupe body style. The large door openings make it easy to get in and out of the rear seats despite the sporty position of the front seats.
Elegance and sportiness
The exterior styling lends an air of elegance to the car. An integrated grille and headlamps form a powerful front face. The headlamps are a combination of precision technology and jewelry-like quality, with deep blue lenses reminiscent of cut-sapphires.
A horizontal body-line motif along the sides conveys an image of power and elegance. The aluminum moldings reflect the wrap-around window shape while the outside mirrors and door handles express a sense of elegance.
The curved rear of the Foria serves to heighten the car's overall dynamism. The slim, elegant character lines around the back and the crystal-like expression of the rear combination lamps lend a refined atmosphere to the overall appearance.
Strong sense of driving purpose
While the interior design reinforces the car’s dynamic potential, the accent is on elegance. The control switches on the center stack and the instruments are designed to appeal to those who love mechanical instruments and to capture the spirit of traditional silver halide cameras. That feeling combines with a sporty driving position to convey a strong sense of driving purpose. The multifunction dial commander and large function switches in the middle of the center stack are designed to reduce the driver’s workload substantially, while providing multifunctional capabilities.
The instrument panel, center stack and door trim are embellished with thick saddle-like leather which is smooth to the touch and has a carefully designed texture. In combination with the metal parts, the result is a fusion of sportiness and elegance. The hand-stitched seams around the edges convey a warmth characteristic of hand-made articles. A dimpled surface pattern, inspired by
The interior is finished in a lustrous gray sports jersey fabric that combines with the brown leather of the instrument panel and other trim parts, as well as the ivory-colored front seats, to project a contemporary look.
The wide dashboard monitor is positioned for minimal change in the driver’s line of sight and its exceptional width is used to good advantage to display all the distances of the recommended route in one screen. In addition, the monitor can be used selectively, such as for simultaneously displaying a navigation map and point-of-interest (POI) information which can be obtained live while driving.
