Nissan Italdesign GT-R50 Supercar

Prepare to be impressed with the new Nissan Italdesign GT-R50 Supercar!

I have mixed feeling towards the Nissan GT-R; arguably the car that saved Nissan in the early 2000s from being the brand that made boring functional cars like the hugely successful Almera, yet – I preferred the more traditionally sporty 350Z/370Z, feeling that the GT-R had slightly too much in common with cars like the rather barge-like QX that removed you somewhat from the driving experience.

Yet the GT-R is most definitely a great car and has, from Skyline to present, managed to generate a cult following across the globe. The latest version for cultists everywhere to get excited about is the pandemic-defying Italdesign GT-R50, a limited run of 50 supercars that has not seen any reduction of progress towards release, despite the current worldwide crisis.

Turin-based Italdesign was founded in sixties, those rose-tinted heady times for classic sports cars, and now works closely with car designers and manufacturers to produce stylishly exciting versions of established automobiles. As you might expect for a limited run of 50 vehicles, you can spec your own bespoke vehicle by visiting their website here. Cost will be at least £885,000 – pretty eye-watering and unsurprisingly, there are a few reservations remaining if your wallet can handle it. Such prices mean that limited run vehicles like the GT-R50 will undoubtedly sell out, but just not as fast as less expensive models.

The ‘50’ denotes the celebratory aspect of this release, being 50 years of success for the GT-R and also 50 years of existence for Italdesign. While Nissan created the looks, Italdesign built the car, which is based on the excellent Nissan GT-R Nismo.

So what has changed from the Nismo version? Well, the car is actually slightly bigger but has been dropped in height by 54mm. A rather unsubtle adjustable rear wing is the icing on the cake for the supercar’s improved aerodynamics. The original GT-R Nismo puts out 592bhp, but this limited edition boosts that to a hefty 710bhp from the V6 3.8-litre engine, with torque at an improved 575lb ft.

The two companies saw this as a rare opportunity: Two institutions uniquely coming together to celebrate a moment in time, an anniversary that won’t happen again, so the shackles were pretty much removed for this supercar’s upgrade.

You certainly won’t find it hard to spot one, as the 2-tone paint wrapping around the sharp styling is nothing less than striking. Bold gold bands and highlights over a dark grey finish and a more extreme power bulge for the bonnet along with that lowered roofline give the supercar a menacing, ready to pounce look. Inside, the gold is less in your face and the highlights are actually quite subtle. A mix of luxury leather and carbon-fibre keep the occupants comfortable and happy.

As you can see, this is a full-on re-evaluation of the GT-R design, and such changes require the handling to be looked at too. Italdesign and Nissan have not ignored this very important aspect, and the GT-R50 gets the adjustable Bilstein DampTronic system, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. Meanwhile, Brembo brakes are improved to the tune of 6-piston up front and 4-piston versions for the rear, giving extra peace of mind that you will be able to stop this beast.

Whether you are a fan of the GT-R or not, it’s just impossible not to be hugely impressed with what Italdesign has done here; managing to improve on the GT-R Nismo is no mean feat.

You can currently see the prototype on display in Yokohama in Japan at the Nissan Gallery, and deliveries of the 50 Nissan Italdesign GT-R50 models should commence in the latter part of 2020 running into 2021.