Kazutoshi Mizuno Q+A

By Jack Rix

27th October 2011

When you first launched the GT-R, did you always expect it to be the car it is now?

Right from the first introduction in 2007 I said that every year the GT-R would grow up. Already in my head I have ideas for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 models.

How long then, until the GT-R is replaced with an all-new car?

Last year I said that the current car would be around for another five years.

And how much further can you take it?

More and more and more. There are different ways and different possibilities for improving the car. Up until now we’ve been developing mainly the performance, next is even more options for the customers and then additional models.

So with the MY12 car, is the horsepower figure is close to the limit?

Not, it’s not the limit. Better handling, acceleration and stability is all possible. At this point we’ve reached 80 per cent of the car’s potential, there’s still another 20 per cent still to come.

Read our first drive of the Nissan GT-R MY12

Would the easiest way to improve handling and performance not to simply shed 100kg of weight?

It might be faster, but the stability would suffer. The GT-R is a car developed for our customers, not just the racetrack. The most important balance is between performance and stability.

How important are Nurburgring lap times to you?

This year we won’t be measuring the MY12 car, but next year it will set a time. I don’t think it’s right to compare the GT-R to competitors , we are our own competitor. When you consider that very few customers cars can do a sub-eight minute lap, the fact that we are well below that says enough.

Do you see the GT-R as Nissan’s 911 - it will always be around and always evolving?

No, I think there is a big difference because the GT-R package can be used on less expensive models, such as small SUVs. The 911 on the other hand has a package developed specifically for that model only, it’s a very important difference.

Does the GT-R make a big profit for Nissan, even though it’s relatively cheap to buy for the performance on offer?

Yes, of  course. I call it accurate engineering. An expensive price tag for high performance, I think, is not a professional job. A cheap market price, but with high performance and high specification is a truly professional job. It’s our challenge to achieve this. One of the ways we do this is by producing it on the same line as the Infiniti G37 Coupe and Nissan 370Z.

How do you see the GT-R in 10 years?

It’s top secret, I can’t let you know what I’m thinking about!

Ok, so will we ever see a hybrid GT-R?

Very difficult question. All the possibilities are being considered at the moment. As I said before though, there are some different versions of the car on the way.

What do you think of the Juke R? Were you involved in the project?

No no, I was never contacted about this. The project is nothing to do with the GT-R, it’s a Nissan Europe project. In fact the team that works on the GT-R and the Juke team don’t know each other at all.

So were you angry when you heard about it?

A little bit because I’m proud of the GT-R team, they are all well trained and work hard and honestly. It’s a pure and precious project, not one that needs to be publicised by putting the engine in another model.

Will we ever see an Infiniti version of the GT-R?

No, this is the worst-case scenario! If we did that you would compare the Nissan GT-R and Infiniti GT-R, and say the Infiniti was more comfortable but heavier and slower than the Nissan, it would be a disaster. You would say, the Infiniti’s price is high, but the performance is low. I will never make an Infiniti GT-R, because I never want to make journalists happy.

Is it true you’ll be retiring soon?

Company regulations say that at the end of January I have to retire. But, the company has asked me to continue. So, next month I will have a meeting with the company to decide whether I continue or stop.

If you do call it a day in January, what will be your greatest memory of the GT-R project?

It’s just the customer’s smile. To see their faces after driving the car is the happiest point for me, because the GT-R is developed for the customers and not the company.