MotorAuthority

Nissan could build an Infiniti GT-R

Posted Mon Feb 11 2008 4:43 PM by Siddharth Raja

We first reported about Infiniti possibly launching its own version of the GT-R back in August of last year, when Nissan’s global design Chief Shiro Nakamura Infiniti was looking at expanding its lineup and one of the possibilities could be a “high end coupe or convertible.” In fact, until only a few months before the GT-R’s release we weren’t even sure if the new super-coupe would wear Nissan or Infiniti badges.

Nakamura has once again ignited speculation that Infiniti could be prepping its own version of the GT-R when he told CAR "we have developed the platform and the transaxle powertrain – an Infiniti version is a future possibility," adding, “I have not done a study yet, but we are thinking about it."

Infiniti dealer Peter Wilson has also hinted that a luxurious version of the GT-R could be offered. Speaking with Automotive News, he said that Infiniti was looking at three main segments to expand its lineup. “One is some sort of a supercar. Would it be on the same GT-R platform? That would make sense,” he commented. The other segments he hinted at include the midsized MPV and high-end limo markets.

Closest rivals Lexus and Acura are both working on developing 500hp supercars of their own and as Nakamura pointed out during a previous interview, there remains significant interest in the segment in the luxury performance market.

story Tags:

• Infiniti
• Nissan
• Supercars

Reader Comments

• Mon Feb 11 2008 5:37 PM

  Ed says

  It makes perfect sense for Infiniti to be jealous. Here's a fine luxury car maker that needs a car to compete with the likes of BMW's 6 series, Mercedes SL, or Lexus SC. An Infiniti variant of the GTR would be the PERFECT contender to the status quo of luxury coupes.

• Mon Feb 11 2008 6:47 PM

  ohmy says

  please dont well powertrain and what not, fine, build it, but have a different bodystyle, please!!!
  
  or at least distinguish teh car enough where it wont look like GTR, cuz people are still stupid and think Infiniti is its own brand, when they are owned by nissan.

• Mon Feb 11 2008 7:16 PM

  C6R says

  The GT-R is way too ugly for a premium brand, sorry...

• Mon Feb 11 2008 7:22 PM

  Ghidorah says

  This was bound to happen; I'm surprised that it didn't happen 1st.

• Mon Feb 11 2008 10:55 PM

  Ayax says

  "The GT-R is way too ugly for a premium brand, sorry…" LOL
  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
  
  However watch it sell like hotcakes. Thats gotta tell you something...

• Tue Feb 12 2008 1:36 AM

  Alan says

  They will need a sleeker body, don't just slap on a Infiniti badge, give it a new body. Also, wouldn't be too bad to use the same chassis and driveline, but give it a V8 engine to compete with european luxury sports cars

• Tue Feb 12 2008 6:48 AM

  scathing says

  "give it a V8 engine to compete with european luxury sports cars"
  
  There's no way they could do this viably. Nissan doesn't have a V8 that makes enough power to challenge the M6 or AMG SL. They'd have to design another engine from the ground up, and that would push the price up.