The 2011 Nissan GT-R: A Promise Honoured

VICTORIA – March 28, 2011: The introduction of the 2011 Nissan GT-R R35 honours a promise made three years ago by Chief Vehicle Engineer and the car’s ‘Godfather’, Kazutoshi Mizuno.

“When the current Nissan GT-R made its debut, I said we would reveal it in its true form within three years,” said Mizuno-san, who has been the driving force behind the R35 model. “This promise is now fulfilled.”

As is the custom at Nissan, Mizuno-san as GT-R’s Chief Vehicle Engineer has had total authority over the development of the R35, with all the resources at his disposal to bring his vision of the 21st Century GT-R to reality.

“"I had this car in my head,” said Mizuno-san – the performance, the dynamics – they were all completed in my head.

“I wanted to make a supercar that would perform in all conditions and would be driveable by all enthusiasts, not just professional drivers.

“The GT-R is for anyone, anytime, anywhere.”

Mizuno-san joined Nissan in 1972 after graduating in Engineering.

He joined Nissan's racing department in 1987 and rose to direct the company's 1994 Le Mans campaign with the R33-series Skyline GT-R.

By 2000, he was in charge of the team that developed the Nissan 350Z, the first Infiniti FX, and the last-generation Nissan Skyline, among other cars.

Then, at the request of Nissan President & CEO Carlos Ghosn, in 2003 he turned his attention to the GT-R and the R35 launched globally at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show was the result.

“The GT-R is unique, as its design and concept come from Japan’s culture and spirit. Three years on, the GT-R has continued its unwavering progress along this road and we have been able to incorporate all the things we originally wanted for the GT-R into this new model.

“My dream for this car is now realized.”