A bridge between two of Japan’s greats
The proposed Honda-Nissan merger might be off the table, but collaboration between the two Japanese automakers is far from dead. In fact, it could result in one of the most fascinating sports car projects in years: a shared platform for the next Nissan GT-R and Acura NSX.
Speaking at the 2025 New York Auto Show, Nissan North America Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer Ponz Pandikuthira floated the idea that the two legendary nameplates could be co-developed while still retaining their distinct identities.
“Can we do a next-generation NSX and GT-R off the same platform, make the NSX authentic to what it stands for, and make a GT-R authentic to what it stands for? So they are not clones? Can you co-develop two cars like that? I think we can,” Pandikuthira said in a conversation with The Drive.
Authenticity is key
Pandikuthira emphasized that authenticity is crucial. The original NSX was celebrated for its lightweight, all-aluminum construction and aerospace-like precision, while the GT-R earned a reputation as a heavy-hitting, brute-force performance machine, with a layer of sophisticated engineering underneath.
2017 Acura NSX
Michael Austin
“The authenticity of this matters,” he said, noting that a shared platform doesn’t necessarily mean shared personality. He pointed to Aston Martin’s use of Mercedes-AMG engines as an example: collaboration without cloning.
While this doesn’t confirm that the two supercars are actively being developed together, the idea is now firmly in the public conversation. And there’s some strategic groundwork already laid: despite merger talks falling through earlier this year, Honda and Nissan signed a “strategic partnership” in 2024 to collaborate on future products. That partnership, according to Pandikuthira, is still very much alive.
A new CEO keeps collaboration alive
Nissan’s new CEO, Ivan Espinosa, played a major role in the earlier merger discussions and, according to Pandikuthira, “never stopped talking with Honda.” Both companies recognize the growing importance of alliances to survive and thrive in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape, particularly as electrification and rising costs reshape the industry.
2024 Nissan GT-R
Nissan
For now, specifics about the next GT-R and NSX remain hazy. Acura has confirmed that an “NSX-type” electric sports car is on the way, though whether it will officially carry the NSX name is still unclear. Nissan, meanwhile, is working on what insiders are calling the R36 GT-R — a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model, not a full EV, due in the next three to five years.
Final thoughts
Pandikuthira was careful to clarify that no joint project has been finalized. But if a shared platform can bring us two unique, world-class Japanese supercars at a time when pure sports cars are increasingly rare, it’s an idea worth watching.
Subaru BRZ vs Toyota GR86
Subaru/Toyota
As recent co-developments like the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ have shown, collaboration doesn’t have to come at the expense of character. If anything, it might just be the key to ensuring these icons live on for a new generation.
