By Nick Aziz
Tuesday, Jan 17th, 2006 @ 1:44 pm

In an interview with Automotive News, Bruce Campbell, Nissan’s head of design, talks about the new Skyline GT-R, G35 coupe, and more. He said the reason the GT-R wasn’t at the Detroit auto show was Nissan is trying to limit its exposure for the time being. “We’re going to low-key it for a while. We don’t want people to get tired of seeing it.” Campbell said the new G35 coupe concept, show in Detroit, is a combination of Japanese and American influences. “If that car had been purely the result of Japanese DNA, it might have turned out differently,” he said. “The surfaces would’ve been different. It wouldn’t have been as muscular.” As for drawing from European design, Campbell said that is becoming less of an influence. “Europe has always been a bigger problem for us. We don’t draw that much from Europe. Ten to 15 years ago, it was a much bigger inspiration for everyone. Today there are other considerations.” Similarly, Ford’s head designer said his company is no longer taking cues from European cars. “A Ford is a Ford and an Audi is an Audi,â€? he said.