• Nissan creates high-performance, high technology GT-R drone
  • Car vs Drone race previews Nissan's celebration of the legendary GT-R at Goodwood Festival of Speed (23-26 June)

SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom – Nissan has unveiled the GT-R Drone – one of the fastest accelerating FPV (First Person View) racing drones in the world.

Built to be able to keep up with the new 2017 Nissan GT-R while filming on the track, the drone features the very latest in performance-enhancing technology – just like its automotive equivalent.

Custom designed by World Drone Prix Champions, Tornado XBlades Racing, the GT-R Drone uses a special race tuned configuration and low-drag canopy to reach 100kph from a standstill in just 1.3 seconds.

To show off the talents of both machines, the GT-R Drone took on the road-going supercar around the challenging Silverstone circuit.

Both machines use incredible technology and engineering to extract the maximum performance, both in a straight line and through corners. The GT-R car transfers power from its twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre 24-valve V6 to all four wheels; the GT-R Drone delivers incredible acceleration via four propellers mated with 2000kV XNova motors and race specification Sky-Hero quadcopter frame.

The race saw Nissan NISMO driver Ricardo Sanchez take the wheel of the new GT-R with James Bowles, the 2015 British National Drone Racing champion, piloting the GT-R Drone around a purpose-built 1.2 mile course at Silverstone.

The new 2017 GT-R represents the most significant changes to the car since the R35 model was first introduced in 2007. Unlike the drone, the GT-R features new aerodynamic features which are designed to keep it firmly on the ground.

While the drone can out accelerate the car, wheels soon catch up with rotors: the GT-R Drone has a top speed of approximately 185kph, versus 315kph for the car.

Even the incredible four-wheel-drive system of the GT-R can't match the ultimate agility of the drone though, which is has a turning circle of just 0.3m. Its custom setup allows it to perform heart-stopping manoeuvres with incredible precision and agility.

The on-track battle can be seen here: https://youtu.be/ARHjF3T7MKI. Both machines will also be on display at Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Tech Spec on the GT-R and GT-R Drone

  GT-R  GT-R Drone
Top Speed  315kph  185kph 
Width  1895mm  30cm 
Length  4710mm  30cm 
Height  1370mm  6.5cm 
Weight  1752kg  0.7kg 
Battery Power/Engine  V6 twin turbo  1400mah Lithium Polymer 6s 
Turning Circle  12.2m  0.3m 
Static Thrust/Max Torque  637Nm   4.68kg
Model/Drone Frame  Nissan GT-R  Sky-Hero 
Skill  Straights   Slalom Cource

About Nissan Motor Co.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 244,500 employees globally, Nissan sold 5.32 million vehicles and generated revenue of 11.38 trillion yen (USD 103.6 billion) in fiscal 2014. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. Nissan leads the world in zero-emission mobility, dominated by sales of the LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle. It is the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment.

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Issued by Nissan