Nissan will take on Audi, Toyota and Porsche in the World Endurance Championship from the start of next season.
Nissan has confirmed that it will mount a two-car attack on the full WEC with a car to be known as the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO.
Nissan vice-president Andy Palmer explained that his company wanted to exploit the new energy-based P1 rules introduced for this season by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest at Le Mans and the FIA.
"We applaud the ACO and FIA for the work they have done to get the rules right," he said.
"LMP1 is not just an arms race - all our rivals in the class have taken different technical approaches and we will be doing the same."
He explained that Nissan wanted "to win in a very different way to that of our rivals".
"We won't be turning up in a vehicle that is a basically another hybrid that looks like another Porsche, Audi or Toyota — they all look the same to me. Our intention is to do something that is a little bit different."
Nissan, which made its announcement in London on Friday afternoon, has yet to disclose technical details of the car or where it will be built.
