Back in the Rumormill: Infiniti working on four-door GT-R
We've heard this particular rumor before, but despite Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's denials that a four-door GT-R is in the works, AutoExpress cracks open the taps once more, citing its usual "sources in Japan." But there's a twist.
According to the British rumormongers, the Infiniti-badged GT-R will be stretched to accommodate the extra set of doors, making the wheelbase longer and giving it a more comfortable ride. However, the GT-R's twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 won't be used. Instead, the FX50's 5.0-liter V8 will be mated to the same all-wheel-drive system and rear-mounted twin-clutch gearbox as its Nissan counterpart. Output is pegged at 420 hp with a 0-60 time of five seconds and a top speed of 170 mph.
While we're suitably skeptical about any mention of a four-door GT-R, this could be the long-rumored replacement for Infiniti's Q, taking the fight to the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63.
[Source: AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
why not the LS2LS7? 12:03PM (10/24/2008)
I don't think the GT-Rs front to back to front AWD system makes sense for a 4-door. It robs too much space. If they make a car like this, I'd expect it to have a drivetrain more like the regular G35/G37/Skyline AWD with the transmission in the front and the power flowing only from front to back.
If you change the motor and change the AWD system, is it really related to a GT-R?
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TKE 12:06PM (10/24/2008)
Sounds like a car that 'shares some architectural elements' sort of thing.
Also sounds more than half-decent
Franz 12:17PM (10/24/2008)
I'm just speculating here, but I don't think it'd be too difficult to move the tranny to the front, considering one of the main reasons for mounting it in the rear of the GT-R was to help with weight distribution. Stick the innards in a conventional case with a bell housing to bolt directly to the VK50VE block and it should be a breeze.
Speculation aside though, it sounds like it'd be one helluva ride. That V8 is awesome.
BigMcLargeHuge 1:04PM (10/24/2008)
One of the defining features of the improved handling of the R35 over the R34 was mounting the tranny in the back. If they feel it will make it handle better, I'd say go for it.
tankd0g 12:50PM (10/24/2008)
They can put the transmission in the middle right under the martini bar :-)
Cardude 12:06PM (10/24/2008)
Sexy! Hot! Build it build it BUILD IT! This is a natural for the 4 door coupe class!
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Torrent 12:06PM (10/24/2008)
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Nissan GT-R:
DON'T MAKE A SEDAN
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Red 12:20PM (10/24/2008)
While previous GT-Rs were only available with 2 doors, it was still based on the Skyline chassis, which was historically have been available as 2-door coupes, 4-door sedans and even 5-door wagons.
The R35 may not be a Skyline, but an Infiniti sedan version makes complete sense. It would make sense more sense based on those numbers that they'd be competing with the 550i ($60K USD) and not the M5 because 420hp ain't even gonna cut against the next M5 and E-class based AMG product. If that's the case, are we likely to see an Infiniti coupe based on the R35? I'm presuming Nissan is planning to move Infiniti further upmarket, based on the recent price increases and the whole "Nissan vs. Porsche" thing (first the R35 vs. 911 Turbo and now 370Z vs. Cayman).
In any case, as usual, I'll take AE with a grain of salt.
Frylock350 1:24PM (10/24/2008)
@Red,
The the proposed specs, I'd see this is a ringer for an Audi competitor with the AWD and whatnot.
JohnL 12:07PM (10/24/2008)
Nice design.
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Papi L-Gee 12:28PM (10/24/2008)
Shouldn't a replacement of the Q be more of a competitor to the 7/S/A8/LS than the M5/E63?
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Jei 12:10PM (10/24/2008)
they say a GT-R-based 4dr is a rumor, but look at the emerging market of 4dr supercars that are in development by other car firms. seeing the likes of the AM Rapide, Porsche Panamera, Lambo Estoque; this flagship Infiniti is truely a possibility.
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Stumpy 12:13PM (10/24/2008)
Just don't call it a GT-R and it should work out to be an awesome 4 Door Luxury Sports Car.
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xpolarx 12:18PM (10/24/2008)
Well, it was bound to happen. The four-door coupe (by the way, oxymoronic names like this piss me off) segment is poised to take off with all the companies throwing their hats in the ring. But it would serve Nissan well to make the aesthetics of this car a complete departure from the GTR. The Panamera's chief failure is that it takes styling cues from the Porsche coupes and poorly rearranges them. The key is to make it it's own car...not just a four-door version of something else.
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jg 2:22PM (10/24/2008)
Coupe does NOT mean two doors so there is no oxymoron. Coupe may sound somewhat like the word two and a lot of automakers use it to designate their two door offerings but the word means 'cut' (coup d'etat doesn't mean two heads, it means cut off the head ). The interior volume is cut relative to the sedan. It has nothing to do with a door count.
Can we get a glossary of terms added to this site? This crap about not understanding how a coupe can have four doors is getting out of control.
hashiryu 4:06PM (10/24/2008)
Coupe DOES mean two doors, so it IS an oxymoron.
xpolarx 4:45PM (10/24/2008)
@ jg
You're right and you're wrong. While couper does indeed mean 'to cut', in french, and the past participle coupé does mean 'cut' (as in "my hand was cut"), the term coupé is also used to refer to something that has been shortened. In a traditional sense, a coupé carriage was one that had been shortened and used one seat that could accommodate two passengers. In any english dictionary you open, a coupe is defined as a car with 2-doors. Even if you used the traditional definition of the word, shortened, you still fall short of defining what a "4-door coupe" actually is. See what I mean?
LK 12:23PM (10/24/2008)
I don't know about you guys but it sounds like the only thing in common this car has with the GT-R is the AWD system
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BoxerFanatic 12:26PM (10/24/2008)
It won't be a Nissan, it will be an infiniti, with all associated interior upgrades, styling cues, and interior quality.
It won't be called a GT-R. it could be the new Q. I could even see it be called an R50, or something, both sequential from Q, and derived from GT-'R'.
5.0 VVEL V8, HECK YES!!! I have been saying that Infiniti should be developing sporty special models of the G series with that engine, and it should be the engine in the M-series, as well.
If this can be an even sportier sedan than the M, 4-seats, sleek roof, etc... with a V8, dual-clutch, AWD (whether rear transaxle, or mid-transmission and two diffs)
That sounds pretty fantastic, especially if designed WELL by Infiniti, and doesn't look like a GT-R.
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Uber Jordan 12:24PM (10/24/2008)
The Q45 hasn't been in production for a couple of years...one of the most overlooked luxury cars, and one of the best, too bad they didn't sell.
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