Next month, Nissan will attempt to take the overall win at the Le Mans 24 Hours with a front-wheel drive car, the first time anyone has ever tried that.

Unlike other LM P1 car that will compete in the world’s most famous endurance race, the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo’s 550hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine sits in the front of the front-wheel-drive car, while the hybrid power is harvested from the front driveline to augment acceleration. Combined output is estimated at around 1,250hp.

It’s an amazing concept, and Nissan has just released new details about it. The VRX 30A Nismo engine is a 3.0-liter, 60-degree V6 direct injection gasoline twin turbo mated to a five-speed sequential gearbox with pneumatic paddle shift system.

The race car has epicyclic final drive reduction with hydraulic limited slip differential and a Tilton 3-plate carbon clutch assembly. The FIA homologated weight is 870 kg (1,918 lbs) and the fuel tank has a capacity of 68 liters (18 US gallons).

Drivers will sit on the right of the vehicle, with a mechanical flywheel ERS housed ahead and beneath driver’s feet inside the survival cell, which comes equipped with Cosworth Electronics with Nismo steering wheel mounted LCD, Nismo 5-point harness and a Lifeline lightweight extinguisher system.

The bodywork features carbon-composite body panels, a polycarbonate windscreen with hard coating CFD and full scale wind tunnel developed ultra high efficiency bodywork geometry. An adjustable rear wing is also fitted.

The suspension features Ohlins multi-adjustable front dampers and Penske multi-adjustable rear dampers, as well as hydraulic rear anti-roll bar system. The braking system includes 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers and allows the driver to adjust brake bias.

The GT-R LM Nismo rides on BBS center-lock, magnesium forged 18”x13” front and 16”x9” rear wheels, shod with Michelin 31/71-18 front, 20/71-16 rear radial tires.

The electrical system features a Cosworth engine control unit featuring engine control, gearbox control, driver adjustable traction control, anti-lag system control, lift-and-coast fuel conservation, drive-by-wire throttle control and ERS deployment strategy control.

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