Nissan’s Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo is seeing red

The Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo will make one more appearance outside the digital realm at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. One of a series of Vision Gran Turismo concepts designed by carmakers to commemorate its eponymous video game series, the Concept 2020 could also preview some of the styling of the next Nissan GT-R.

Unveiled last year in a more subdued color, the Concept 2020 was billed as a futuristic performance car, although, like many of the other Vision Gran Turismo concepts, much of its styling appears to be too radical for the real world. There are some clear GT-R references, though, including the grille, hood vents, and four round taillights. The headlights and canopy-like roofline appear to have some relation to the current, R35 GT-R, too.

A new GT-R is coming, although likely not for a few more years. It’s widely believed that the next-generation “R36” model will be a hybrid, but maintain the front-engined two-door coupe layout of all previous models.  Nothing more specific is known yet, but one report claims the car could boast over 700 horsepower.

It’s possible Nissan hoped to use its GT-R LM NISMO Le Mans car to give the hybrid GT-R road car a little extra luster, but the racer’s poor record so far might make the connection less of a selling point. The front-wheel drive GT-R LM NISMO had a terrible showing at Le Mans, and is sitting out the rest of the racing season while Nissan looks to address its flaws.

The next GT-R road car isn’t expected until 2017 to 2018. In the meantime, Nissan will continue to refine the current-generation GT-R. Despite its age (it arrived in the U.S. in 2008), Nissan appears confident that there are still improvements it can wring out of the R35. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a special 45th anniversary edition model, and will likely follow it up with more special editions and tweaks.