A New Design Chief Has the GT-R in His Sights
There’s been a change of the guard at Nissan’s design department. Matthew Weaver, the man behind the original Nissan Juke’s rather controversial styling, has taken over as the automaker’s head of global design as of October 1. With decades of experience at Nissan, Weaver has a considerable task ahead of him: help make the company’s future vehicles more desirable as it works through a major business revival.
Among the nameplates that will inevitably attract attention is the Nissan GT-R. The Japanese performance car has built a following over several generations, and expectations for its eventual successor are understandably high. Nissan has yet to bring the R36 to production, but that hasn’t stopped people from wondering what direction the company might take with its next flagship sports car.
Weaver appears to be aware of those expectations. During an interview with Japanese media, Nissan’s new design chief offered a brief but interesting thought about what he would like to see if the company eventually builds another GT-R.
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Round Headlights for the R36?
“If we were to make an R36, it would have round headlights. That’s all I can say right now,” Weaver said during the interview, Japan’s Best Car reports.
It’s a short statement, but one that piqued our attention. Round headlights would represent a departure from the design language associated with most generations of the modern GT-R. Interestingly, though, Nissan has experimented with this look before, and it goes all the way back to the nameplate’s earliest days.
The OG Skyline GT-R – the Hakosuka – rocked four round headlights up front. Its follow-up, the Kenmeri, kept the circles going. These two set the tone for the GT-R’s early look, before things got all sharp and futuristic in later generations.
Since then, the R32, R33, R34, and R35 have all adopted their own interpretations of modern sports car lighting. The R35, in particular, became recognizable through its aggressive front fascia and distinctive rear circular taillights rather than round headlights.
Bringing circular headlights back could give the R36 a visual connection to the original Skyline GT-Rs without necessarily turning the entire car into a retro design exercise. It could also give the next model a more recognizable identity in a market where many performance cars are beginning to look increasingly similar.
Joel Stocksdale
What Else Can We Expect From the Next GT-R?
Word on the street is the R36 will keep a combustion engine, maybe a twin-turbo V6 with some hybrid help. A new platform is in the cards too, so Nissan can squeeze out more performance and still play nice with emissions rules. And then there’s the GT-R SUV, but we’re not holding our breath for that.
The real trick will be keeping what makes the GT-R a legend: all-wheel drive, relentless performance, and that track-hungry attitude. If electrification is coming, it better make the car even better – not mess with its DNA.
Weaver’s round-headlight tease gives us a peek at how he might tackle the R36, especially with his history on the R35 and Nissan’s design playbook. Of course, this could just be his personal wish list, not a sneak peek at the real thing. Will Nissan actually bring back the circles? We’ll have to wait and see.
Joel Stocksdale
