Look, I know that Nissan’s GT-R is an amazing car to drive. I know that, because I have driven them on a number of occasions. I also know that it’s a technological tour de force, perhaps Nissan’s greatest achievement, and a fitting torch bearer for the venerated Skyline-GT-R line. I also know that I find the car to be, how shall I say this… butt ugly. And while yes, there’s a light refresh of the GT-R right around the corner let me let you in on a little tip: it’s no better looking
Now, Nissan really hasn’t had their styling mojo heated up for some time. It’s kind of perplexing too as their Infiniti brand seems to be firing on all cylinders of late, aesthetically speaking. But Nissan? No. And as the GT-R is the marque’s halo car–the one that all the buyers of Versa Notes and Rouge Crossovers imagine their taking possession of when they sign on to the 120-month payment plan–it really should look the part.
I do know that styling is purely subjective and not everybody has the same taste. Hell, that’s why they make dogs in both normal and yappy-little rat turd versions because perplexingly some folks like the latter. The thing of it is, I can’t see how people can like those little ankle nibblers, nor do I get how they can like the GT-R. Help me understand, do you find the present GT-R to be attractive?
Image: Chris Myers Nissan
Hooniverse Asks: Do You Think the Nissan GT-R is Attractive?
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No, I don’t find the GT-R to be good looking. Brutish, maybe – perhaps that works well with the car’s intended mission. But not pretty.
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Not really, but that’s not exactly the point. Godzilla doesn’t conjure up images of beauty, but it doesn’t need to.
That said, it is a little disappointing it doesn’t look much like a regular Skyline anymore, or really any Nissan. -
Personally I find the GT-R to be stunning, aesthetically. It’s not super outlandish in its styling, nor is it very subtle. However, anytime I’ve seen one I can’t help stopling to stare.
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I find it attractive in an awkwardly purposeful yet understated way.
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It’s one of those cars that photographs awkwardly and looks way better in the metal where it’s sense of presence can be appreciated. I’m basing this on the “wife test”, where if even my wife reckons it looks good, it must be. Astons and Jag F-Types are top of the list, the new MX5 gets hearty approval, GT86 and S2000 still get the nod, but the likes of Evos or indeed the old Skylines and other bewinged angry things would not, so the fact the Nissan is still seen as nice says a lot. In the right color especially, it’s a classier looking car than you’d expect.
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No – haven’t seen one in real life though. Just a blend of current design elements like whale mouth, triangular, bend-over headlights, messy lines.
The idea of it though – approved.-
I know the first time I saw one on the road my thoughts went from “cool” to “that things enormous” really fast.
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My three year old boy found a generic sports car toy at his friend the other day that was such a perfect, well-rounded, simple design – think the old Lotus Elan with the cabin a bit further back – that it really made me pause. Why can’t anyone make something so simple?
http://cdn3.3dtuning.com/info/Lotus%20Elan%20Sprint%201972%20Coupe/factory/1.jpg-
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Close, but I don’t think it was a Miata. Certainly not a 2016 model. 🙂
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It’s tough, because the R34 was pretty much perfect. I know the question isn’t is it the prettiest GTR, but it was so good and the current one is pretty much just ok.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Nissan_Skyline_R34_GT-R_N%C3%BCr_001.jpg-
Prefer the R32 myself, it just looks (and is) more compact in the metal, plus I’m a sucker for drawn with a ruler 80s design. Plus, only one of that trilogy of GT-Rs that was a proper homologation special.
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The 33 and 34 looked like they showed signs of ‘decontenting’ from the Renault takeover/collapse of the Japanese bubble economy. IMHO. The 32s have a solidity in their looks. The R35 is brutalist, like some architecture, all masses and angles..
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I am obsessed with the bubble era, but I don’t see it. Where did they take the money out of the R34?
They absolutely cheapened stuff around that time, though. The P11 Primera lost its IRS, the Z32 lost the will to live, and the L30 Altima tragically lost its illuminated ash tray.-
It’s a body detail thing, not so obvious with the Skyline two door R33 vs R34 but clearer with the Skyline four door G33 vs G34. Particularly with the doors that switch from a one-piece pressing to a multi-piece assembly. Shutline tolerance seemed to increase too, base models no longer had door rubbing strips, as well as the finish on many out of sight items like seat-bases having cheaper finishes.
G33 base (93-96)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/1993-1996_Nissan_Skyline_%28R33%29_GTS25t_sedan_01.jpg
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200610/1957-nissan-skyline-6_800x0w.jpg
G34 base (96-01)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Nissan_Skyline_1998.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q272/japimports/Cars%20in%20stock/image5.jpg
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One of my neighbours suddenly imported one of these the other day. Supplements his equally rare (in Europe) Ford F150 SVT and his BMW 535d wagon. He’s a good guy.
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Okay, but using that particular colour for your example is cheating. Almost anything would look good covered in that paint.
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A color that looks good on any car on a car that looks good in any color. Pretty fair match.
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I always found the GT-R to be a big, hulking presence. If cars are women, the GT-R is Chyna.
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I think they did a good job with differentiating it enough from the R34 but still keeping a family resemblance. It’s more clean and understated than the concept was and they haven’t shoehorned that hideous “U” shape in the front end or the floating roof they’ve been putting on almost every other car that they make… yet. Although as with the Z, I think that Nissan hasn’t done enough to update it for how long it has been out. Then again, maybe that’s a good thing; they probably would have just made it like the later Z34 and softened it, backtracking a good design. To be fair though, it’s no R33 (my personal favorite), but I wouldn’t say it looks bad.
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It is purposeful. Looks wise its big and a more than a bit bloaty.
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The GT-R’s styling is odd and slightly grotesque, but somehow a bit boring. It doesn’t look as special as I think it should. Granted, the Skyline GT-Rs were never outlandishly styled. They were appreciated for their performance which colored enthusiasts’ opinions of their styling.
But at least the Skyline was never intentionally ugly, which cant’ be said for pretty much Nissan’s entire portfolio these days. -
The c-pillar and roofline is stunning, and some of the character lines are really effective. The issue for me is it looks like a small car riding on top of a much bigger car, like the grotesque Lexus NX200.
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No, it’s awful.
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It looks aggresive, which is OK. It looks hungry like it’s going to eat me or/and you in nanoseconds. Something you’d expect more from a Hummer. Wrong message?
The front aside, it looks a less than mediocre attemp to be special. Something more Japanese coupės suffer.
“butt ugly” sums it up quit adequate. -
Nissan has not made a good looking car since the 510 & 240z, and they hired Italian designers to make those. The 300zx mid 90s are nice, but styling has never been a nissan strong point.
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I have to disagree, specially with the Skylines, there has been a wonderful continuity of design themes and family characteristics that rivals that of Mercedes Benz, (and exceeds that of most other european marques.)Particularly the ‘z’ graphic around the rear wheel arch. And Japanese designers have proven themselves equal to the best from around the world. Ken Okuyama was head of design at Pininfarina and brought us the Ferrari Enzo.
http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/10693405_289556911240873_813468380_n.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.carthrottle.com/workspace/uploads/posts/2015/04/nissan_skyline_history_gtrcana-5530c3fc79b71.jpg
.http://only-carz.com/data_images/gallery/01/prince-skyline/prince-skyline-08.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/06/24/c4/0624c4f4839ad53dd036e6e2cfc50ae1.jpg
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it’s funny how everyone’s all “uhhh buhh buhh form follows function” and then you show them a GT-R and all that shit goes right out the window.
it’s ugly. i’m not about form following function; i think things should be beautiful first and useful second. i think the GT-R, though, is special. it would have no more appeal to me if it were beautiful – it is a machine for Accomplishing Things, and it is so singularly focused on those Things that it does a better job at them than literally any other car. i don’t want one, but i admire the GT-R very much because of hot utterly it dominates its field. it is The Best. i can only submit respectfully to its will. its beauty, or lack thereof, is of no consequence.
there were a couple of dudes living down the block from me back in Pittsburgh who drove one of these and parked it on the street. i thought that was pretty cool. -
I’ve never liked the styling of the GT-R. It strikes me as a rather mundane 2 door sedan with an aggressive and not well thought out body kit.
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Sort of like good manners, it costs no more to make it timelessly pretty than it does to make it homely.
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It looks fast. So I like it.
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Attractive ?? Are we judging by shades of grey? Nissan not beautiful. See any number of Alfas. http://resources.carsguide.com.au/styles/cg_hero_medium/s3/dp/images/uploads/2006_Alfa_Romeo_Brera_front-wide.jpg
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Any number? Alfa’s had more than their share of mingers over the years.
How about these numbers?
75 based SZ. Il Mostre.
https://ignitionmotors.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/autowp-ru_alfa_romeo_s-z-_71-copy-copy.jpg
145
https://ranwhenparkeddotnet.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/alfa-145-1.jpg
155
http://www.motorstown.com/newsImages/alfa-romeo-155-2.jpg
75
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Alfa_Romeo_75_front_20110416.jpg
166 early
http://resources.carsguide.com.au/styles/cg_hero_large/s3/2002_Alfa_Romeo_166.jpg
The Nissan/Alfa, the Arna Not a great car but not badly or oddly styled like the above.
http://petrolblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/arna-brochure.jpg
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The gtr is like the fat chick who does everything else well but still is gross to look at
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whenever I see a GTR I never think wow that looks sick..I think meh
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Its like those crossfit girls. Not easy on the eyes but has great performance
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