What would you guys do without me? :D (thanks to krnsx at FA.com)

http://img54.exs.cx/img54/8870/GTRmule.jpg

After years of rumors and intense lobbying by Nissan enthusiasts in the U.S., Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn announced that his company plans to release a fully redesigned version of the legendary Skyline GT-R by 2007. The new version will take its cues from the GT-R concept car that has made the rounds at various auto shows over the past several years, and unlike its predecessor the GT-R will make its way to the U.S. With the 350Z already occupying a steady spot in Nissan's lineup, look for the GT-R to come Stateside wearing an Infiniti badge. A prototype caught testing on Germany's grueling Nurburgring test track made the rounds wearing the shell of a current G35, but obvious signs of serious modifications indicate it was no ordinary Infiniti. The car is expected to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in the fall of 2007 and go on sale later that year.

linkage: http://www.edmunds.com/future/2007/infiniti/gtr/100486033/preview.html?tid=edmunds.f.mmindex.content.num1.4. infiniti*

looks like a horrid chop....

Yeah, the front bumper looks a little odd. I thought the mule would have some sort of hood duct for better airflow, like the one spotted at Lotus HQ in Hethel.

Overall, the car almost looks a little too polished to be a mule.

I'm sure the performance will br nice, but the bumper looks a little ricy. I guess the designers thought we would like it, cause I guess they think everyone is into rice and 2 Fast 2 Gay.

eh...seems good, im pretty sure by 2007, designs would majorly change of the Sky to come here in the US

at that price range i seriously doubt they give a fuck about teenagers and people in their 20's who like the 2fast 2 furious movie. and again.... how many times did we see the V35 "prototype" designs and all that crap.... did any of those cars ever hit the nissan dealers.....

i don't give a shit if it's on nissans site. i'll believe it when I see it on the showroom floor of a dealer.

The back end looks like a botched photoshop attempt at a widebody conversion so I'm not putting any faith in that picture...

Your right, they might deffinatly change a lot about that car by 07. I remember back in 01 when they had that horrible looken GTR concept. That changed, and I'm sure this will too.

they should really change the front.

It should be obvious that the actual production car will look nothing like it. It was at Nurburgring testing it's handling and performance, not it's looks. The best way to test those without revealing the car is to put it's suspension, engine, brakes, etc. in a simuliarly balanced car. Then add weight to certain areas finish off the correct balance.

Plus, I also don't believe something until I see it. For example, I lived in Germany before and know that when the track isn't being used for an event on the weekends. You can pay (used to be 35 marks, now that it's the Euro I don't know how much) and take your car out around the track. It could easily be someone's modified G35 taking a spin.

Yea, thats true. I have heard you can pay to run your car at that track, and I think they will close down the road for you. Man, wish the US had things like that....

The US sucks......and i live in it.

ur dumb the pic of the 2007 skyline isnt even the a nissan if you look at the front of the car it isnt a nissan symbol it a symbeol to another manufacterer of cars

ur dumb the pic of the 2007 skyline isnt even the a nissan if you look at the front of the car it isnt a nissan symbol it a symbeol to another manufacterer of cars

Yeah, it's an Infiniti symbol...which is the luxury branch for Nissan in the US. The GT-R will almost certainly be an Infiniti.

The thing is, the badge makes me a little wary now that I think about it. Why get an Infiniti earmarked for the US, when a JP market Skyline would have done the job?

It really does look like a chop, too. Look at the shut line for the door. It's pretty blurred, which makes it seem like the picture was altered to give the illusion of wider fenders behind the door. The front bumper has this blurring, too, where it looks like someone just 'chopped a deep front spoiler on.

There's still the lack of a hood vent and fastening clips, which is inconsistent with the spy photo taken at Lotus' track.
http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk//Car/Nissan/1393341553.jpg

Yeah, it's an Infiniti symbol...which is the luxury branch for Nissan in the US. The GT-R will almost certainly be an Infiniti.

The thing is, the badge makes me a little wary now that I think about it. Why get an Infiniti earmarked for the US, when a JP market Skyline would have done the job?

This press release from August could be an explanation:
http://www.fleetnewsnet.co.uk/news/view_article.asp?art_ID=35640

Nissan decided to go global with not only the Skyline, but the Infiniti name also. Even in Japan, which if that occurs, the new GTR may be the flagship of the Infiniti name for the world, even Japan. It'll be interesting to see what present Infiniti models in the US go under that name in Japan. It'll drastically change the JDM line ups!

Not only is Nissan doing it, Toyota announced last year at the Tokyo motor show 2003 (october), that the Lexus name is to arrive in Japan August 2005:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/event/auto_shows/

yuck!!! look at the spoiler!!, im not going to believe anything until it comes.

This press release from August could be an explanation:
http://www.fleetnewsnet.co.uk/news/view_article.asp?art_ID=35640

Nissan decided to go global with not only the Skyline, but the Infiniti name also...

Maybe. I guess it would depend on when the Infiniti brand was launched in Europe and when the picture was taken. Who knows.

Well, Infiniti isn't in Europe yet. It's supposed to arrive about the same time the new GTR should be released.

Like I said, it could be an explaination... and it's the only possible reason I can think of right now.
There is a big Skyline import craze in the UK. Most of them are just in as much anticipation of the new GTR as the rest of the Skyline fans in other parts of the world. There are often "spotted" reports coming from near the Lotus test area.
Now if you are Nissan and you intend to release the Infiniti name in Europe, along with the new GTR, which is supposed to carry an Infiniti badge. Why confuse people when all the "spotted" pics and reports have a Nissan badge, and then you go and release it under Infiniti...
It makes since if you plan it to be an Infiniti, test it with the Infiniti badge.

I bet this picture is an Infinity G35...everyone know all skylines have round lights in the back, and I can say it's a classic part on them, and on this picture, lights are more like a G35...

I bet this picture is an Infinity G35...everyone know all skylines have round lights in the back, and I can say it's a classic part on them, and on this picture, lights are more like a G35...

The body shown in the pic is an Infiniti G35 body, aka. a Skyline. Same tail lights:

http://skyline.nissan.co.jp/GALLERY/PREMIUM/2003_01/IMAGES/s10.jpg
http://skyline.nissan.co.jp/GALLERY/PREMIUM/2003_01/IMAGES/s03.jpg

And a nice side pic:
http://www.nissan.co.jp/EVENT/WALLPAPER/IMAGE/skyline_c_s.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2007/Infiniti/100486033

So thats what it looks like. Reminds of a 350z.

THANKS TO REZZ AND SKYLINESAUSTRALIA.COM FOR THIS! (AGAIN!) THOSE GUYS ROCK!
From "Best Car" magazine:

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/1681/3gtr1.jpg
Yes, it's a lefthand drive "Infinity"... LHD in Germany remember!
A German photographer snapped these pics recently, remarking on how quickly the car was travelling around that part of the 'ring. A professional driver from Japan has been flown to Germany to carry out "overall" testing with emphasis on aerodynamics appraisal.

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/4347/3gtr3.jpg
The test at Nurburgring wasn't about parts testing, but overall performance and handling, suggesting that the GT-R has entered the middle phase of development where engineers concentrate on the entire package rather than just seperate parts. The front bumper seen in the pic above isn't the final design!!! It's a just a quick bumper thats been made so the car has some kind decent airflow characteristics without any attention to styling.

The rear wing on the other hand does give a big hint as to what the final one will look like. The reporter from Best Car was suprised that the rear wing is just your generic late model FD3S RX-7 type wing with beefed up end plates. The wide fenders will make the GT-R 100mm wider than the current V35 Skyline Coupe, making it the same width as the current Porsche turbo. Some effort has been put forward to make the fenders blend in as a component of the complete aerodynamics package, one that will become one of the strongest merits of the car.

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/5457/3gtr22.jpg
*sorry about the wonky pic*
Best Car couldn't report on much about the engine this time around, but were quick to point out that a "number" of different engine capacities are being tested, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 and possibly a 4.0 (a la the V36 VQ41DE) but still retaining the electric spool-up twin turbo configuration. Also note the two air opening under each headlight on the pics above, they aparently feed each turbo, with a highly efficient intercooler design making use of the third opening. Power is still being set at about 460ps.

Just a final note, the engine is the ultimate "saving grace" for this V-series GT-R, and as far as Best Car can see, Nissan WILL NOT dissapoint in this area.

ah shit...I wanted my round lights...the car is nice anyway, but nothing can beat the classic models !

The car isn't ugly, but if you add a wing like the one on the bnr34 then its ricey.
http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk//Car/Nissan/1393341553.jpg

People this is not the final design -- no one has seen the final design, the mule basically is using the G35 body to run and test the internals of the car -- no one will know the design for sure until 2007.

ahh... that's cheering me man

yeah read the starting post it says clearly they chucked the G35 body over the engine etc

all im saying is if it looks like that then im rather buy a honda and put a gt wing and a gtr emblem and call it a day:lol2: j/k .

before I get an honda man, i'll shoot a bullet in my head, and ask someone to make sure i'm dead