February26
While new CAFE regulations will eventually force automakers to shift their SUV-heavy lineups, in today’s market, SUVs are still some of the biggest profit earners. Because of this fact, some automakers best known for sports cars have entered the SUV market — such as Porsche with its Cayenne SUV. So if Porsche can make a successful high-performance SUV, why not Nissan?
Japan’s Best Car Magazine has published renderings of what a Nissan GT-R-based SUV might look like. While it remains unclear if Best Car created the pictures on insider information or just for speculation, the magazine reports that the SUV would use the same 480 horsepower powerplant found in the GT-R.
And if such a vehicle is under development — although there have been no indications that Nissan plans to produce such a vehicle — the Porsche Cayenne Turbo would be a likely benchmark, just as the 911 Turbo was a benchmark for the GT-R.
As unlikely as an SUV version of the GT-R seems to be, a four-door variation of the GT-R might be brought to fruition via an Infiniti model.
**** NO.
Way to whore out the GT-R Nissan. I’m kidding. No if Porsche can come out with a 4 door and an SUV I see Nissan’s why can’t we attitude, but mind you the Panamera, and Cayenne are different styled and named vehicles. I think doing this with the GT-R is going to negatively affect the GT-R aura.
oh and lol I know the Nissan GT-R has had those dual circle tail lamps since like the earliest gen Skyline’s but LMAO the Cobalt coupe rear end looks almost identical to the New GT-R…
Why not? Porsche has proven there is a market for this class of SUV. However- assuming it would take at least 3 years before production- where is that market going to be if in 2011 a gallon of premium is 5 bucks.
Terrible idea
Awe, that just looks stupid. The GT-R is already butt ugly as a two sports car, now this?
lol.
This will never happen
Nissan’s just full of bad ideas, isn’t it?!
TOZO : They surely are.
To GTR SUV: You look like ****, mate.
I’m confused by all this second-hand reporting. So I guess LLN doesn’t know by reading the article if the GT-R SUV illustrations are a random artist rendering, but if the Japanese mag is *reporting* that a GT-R based SUV would use the same powerplant, then wouldn’t they be reporting it from some source? And if LLN’s not sure and it could be some magazine’s wild speculation, why is it news for us?
Aside from that, my opinion re the GT-R SUV: don’t do it. A 4-door GT-R variant for Infiniti is already a stretch, esp. since Infiniti has got some nice sedans to start with. But if you want a performance SUV, spec out a Murano or FX, use the GT-R engine if you want, but don’t morph the GT-R body into an SUV, whatever you do.
Not gonna happen - no way.
god no say it aint so.
It’s already a bad idea creating a 4 door out of the GTR, now they thinking a SUV. Please don’t.
At this point I wouldn’t rule out Nissan spinning off the GT-R to form a new division or slowly replace everything in Infiniti.
Just what america needs… another gas guzzling SUV. When will people get over these road hogs?
I’ll have to agree with Deanster on this one.
that’s just wrong…..WRONG I TELL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trying too hard to make more money!
Cayenne… successful? How do you measure success; sales?
Im surprised they dont make a GT-R mini-van…Im sick of all this GT-R hype!!
This should be interesting if ever produced. The coupe is hideous while the sedan seems like a smarter move than an SUV but both will look ridiculous.
hahahaah, looks like a fatter brother of the GTR
^^ I WANT MY GT-R PICK-UP TRUCK!!!
As ugly as the GT-R body is, it was likely originally designed as a Murano option. Jk, but really, it is that ugly.
I think the new GT-R is awesome looking.
I think this is a really, stupid idea though.
dmanero- I don’t think your link to your page works right, buddy. It sends me to some weird search site.
MY si- Well, we’ve all been saying we want utes, right?
I dont know why they wouldn’t use some of the underpinnings for other vehicles. They’ve put a lot of time and money into developing a world beating solution. It only makes sense to use it in other cars. I dont expect the new SUV to share the name or look of hte GTR, but it would be cool if it did share its engine and AWD.
Just wait for the Corvette CUV in a few years.
no. please. performance suvs = oxymoron & overrated.
If this is true, Porsche must be asking themselves “What did we ever do to piss off Nissan???!!”
lol
Go ahead Nissan, build it! After I win the lottery this week I would like to have a GTR Coupe to use on Saturdays and a GTR SUV to use on Sundays…..
Stupid….!
Also the comment about the cobalt rear and the GT-R is pretty much correct…
No doubt, that’s a Chevy Cavalier, err… I mean Cobalt rear end. Good job Nissan.
_Ugly
_****
Porsche Panamera clone.
This **** has gone too far.
um…um…this is too much…but the porsche suv is bringing in needed sales that porsche needed..so i do see the light at the end of nissan/infiniti’s tunnel