Nissan GT-R (R35, 2009 - 2022) review – design
The GT-R has always been best described as big and bold. Its looks aren't to everyone's tastes, but it's always had huge presence on the road.
The GT-R is far from subtle. Its big exterior makes it a very imposing road car, and while its four large tail pipes, big rear wing and gaping mouth exaggerate its size. It's a car of angles and details, the GT-R, rather than curves and sensual surfacing.
In other words, it's really quite Japanese. People do love this squat, square-jawed coupe, though – always have, always will. It's also recognisably a member of the Skyline GT-R lineage, even though it's a very different car to the R34 GT-R, those staggered round rear lights and that mouth passed down from the generations.
It received a subtle facelift in 2017, softening its looks, which fits with the model’s more comfortable attitude. In its halcyon days, the GT-R did become an old soul. The styling changes aren’t just for aesthetics, though. Nissan aimed to improve the cooling by increasing vents and openings without increasing drag.
The GT-R Nismo features a much more aggressive aero package, with a large rear wing, more pronounced shoulders over the front wings and deeper front splitter. Spotting the difference between the old GT-R Nismo and the new 2017 model isn’t easy, the biggest difference is the aggressive front splitter that makes it look more like the GT3 car, and carbon slats venting the front wheel arches.
