2018 Nissan GT-R release date, price, features & news: VP Takao Asami confirms self-driving capabilities

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Fans of Nissan would be happy to know that come 2018, the brand will release the self-driving Nissan GT-R, which was first unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, Top Gear reports. The Japanese manufacturer showcased its IDS concept during the event, and emphasized the vehicle's autonomous all-electric hatchback. Nissan's self-driving technology

According to Nissan’s Global Vice President for Research and Advanced Engineering, Takao Asami, performance models "will be included within the autonomous driving program" and that the application of this kind of technology will "could be different to the Leaf."

Auto Express reports that according to Asami, "The GT-R and 370Z are not immune from autonomous driving systems. Whereas we will use piloted driving on regular cars to improve safety and comfort, autonomous technology could be used on the GT-R and other sports cars to help extract more capability and improve performance."

Asami explained, "Even the most enthusiastic drivers make mistakes. Machines are more capable, reliable and better than even the best racing drivers. So thanks to autonomous driving technology we can offer even more driving pleasure out of performance vehicles."

According to Motor, the Nissan GT-R will be a two-door, stylish vehicle that is 250 kg lighter than its predecessor. It will feature a new hybrid powertrain with over 578kW, and will be made of carbonfibre body parts (thus the significantly lighter weight), and reconfigured interiors that have taken out the back seats.

When it comes to exteriors, Nissan’s Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura told Autocar that the GT-R will certainly look more aggressive and distinct, and will have a "boxy, functional appearance. It shouldn’t be too elegant, and it should be brutal, with a rawness."

Nissan pointed out, however, that they do not aim to create a driverless vehicle that would run on its own, but instead create a vehicle that could provide users with computer guides, better driving pleasure, and an overall better experience.

"We want to make an autonomous car, so the driver decides when they want to drive. We want to empower the driver to drive when they want to," Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said.

Autocar also reports that Nissan will be redesigning the GT-R one last time before the end of its ten-year career. Nakamura said, "We’ve been improving it all the time and there’s still room to improve."

Nakamura also told Top Gear, "The GT-R is seven years old, so people think that it’s at the end of its life. But performance-wise it’s still one of the fastest cars in the world. And design-wise, it still looks very independent. But we have some major improvements for the current car that you will see next year."