Nissan GT-R “Custodian” Vows Next-Gen Will Be “What The Customers Want”

Nissan GT-R chief product specialist Hiroshi Tamura doesn’t appear to be in a rush to replace the current model and is the latest in a line of execs claiming that both electric and autonomous technologies could be featured in the Godzilla’s successor. That, however, is hardly news anymore.

Tamura-san is one of the men responsible for bringing the R35 GT-R to life, and during a recent interview with Digital Trends, he didn’t seem bothered by criticisms that the sports car is now rather long in the tooth.

“In 1989 we launched the car, R32 Skyline GT-R. Then the R33 Skyline GT-R, which started in 1995. Then we have the 1999 R34 Skyline GT-R. But they all used the same RB26 engine, twin-turbo, and all-wheel drive system. From 1989 to the end of 2002 – 13 years – we didn’t change anything about this platform except the wheelbase length. From 2007 [when the current-generation R35 GT-R launched overseas] to now is 13 years. So it’s not so long,” he said.

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Quizzed about the importance of developing all-new vehicles to incorporate new technologies, Tamura-san indicated that it all comes down to what customers want. If they want a high-performance EV, then that’s why that will get.

“It all depends on the customer’s voice. If a customer wants an EV, I say “why not?” But don’t write that Tamura-san said, “The next generation of sports cars will be EVs.” I didn’t say that, but why not study all of the solutions for customers? So if customers really want to have an EV, I will do that. If customers want an internal-combustion engine, I have to do that. I have to think about the customer’s voice, real customers. Meaning buyers. That’s it,” he stated.

Tamura-san is similarly open to incorporating self-driving technologies into forthcoming sports car models. According to him, autonomous systems could be used to drive a vehicle to a track before the owner takes over for a track day.