diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py b/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py
index 6c11084032..907b04d11e 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py
@@ -99,33 +99,10 @@ def help(cls, returnhelp=False):
         print(allhelp)
         return None  # R1710
 
-    def __init__(self):
-        """Subclasses must implement __init__"""
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
     def run(self):
         """Execute the command."""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def aggregate_outputs(self, runtime=None, needed_outputs=None):
-        """Called to populate outputs"""
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
-    def _list_outputs(self):
-        """ List expected outputs"""
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
-    @classmethod
-    def _get_filecopy_info(cls):
-        """Provides information about file inputs to copy or link to cwd.
-        Necessary for pipeline operation
-        """
-        iflogger.warning(
-            "_get_filecopy_info member of Interface was deprecated "
-            "in nipype-1.1.6 and will be removed in 1.2.0"
-        )
-        return get_filecopy_info(cls)
-
 
 class BaseInterface(Interface):
     """Implement common interface functionality.
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/base/experimental.py b/nipype/interfaces/base/experimental.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..136739139d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/base/experimental.py
@@ -0,0 +1,348 @@
+"""Experimental Nipype 1.99 interfaces."""
+import os
+import sys
+import platform
+import json
+from io import StringIO
+from string import Formatter
+from contextlib import AbstractContextManager
+from copy import deepcopy
+from datetime import datetime as dt
+from dateutil.parser import parse as parseutc
+
+from ... import config, logging
+from ...utils.misc import str2bool, rgetcwd
+from ...utils.provenance import write_provenance
+
+from .support import Bunch, InterfaceResult
+from .traits_extension import isdefined
+
+
+iflogger = logging.getLogger("nipype.interface")
+
+
+class Interface:
+    """An abstract definition for interfaces."""
+
+    _input_spec = None
+    """A traited input specification"""
+    _output_spec = None
+    """A traited output specification"""
+    _redirect_x = False
+
+    @classmethod
+    def exec(cls, **inputs):
+        """Instantiate the interface and run it."""
+        return cls(**inputs).run()
+
+    def __init__(self, from_file=None, resource_monitor=None, **inputs):
+        """Initialize an interface."""
+        if self._input_spec is None:
+            raise TypeError(
+                "Input specification type not set for interface "
+                '"%s"' % self.__class__.__name__)
+        if self._output_spec is None:
+            raise TypeError(
+                "Output specification type not set for interface "
+                '"%s"' % self.__class__.__name__)
+
+        self._resource_monitor = config.resource_monitor
+        if resource_monitor is not None:
+            self._resource_monitor = self._resource_monitor and bool(resource_monitor)
+
+        # Initialize input object
+        self.inputs = self._input_spec(**inputs)
+
+        # Initialize inputs from JSON file
+        if from_file is not None:
+            self.from_json(from_file, overwrite=True)
+
+            for name, value in list(inputs.items()):
+                setattr(self.inputs, name, value)
+
+    def run(self, cwd=None):
+        """
+        Execute this interface.
+
+        This interface will not raise an exception if runtime.returncode is
+        non-zero.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        cwd : specify a folder where the interface should be run
+        inputs : allows the interface settings to be updated
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        results :  :obj:`nipype.interfaces.base.support.InterfaceResult`
+            A copy of the instance that was executed, provenance information and,
+            if successful, results
+
+        """
+        from ...utils.profiler import ResourceMonitor
+
+        # Tear-up: get current and prev directories
+        syscwd = rgetcwd(error=False)  # Recover when wd does not exist
+        if cwd is None:
+            cwd = syscwd
+
+        os.chdir(cwd)  # Change to the interface wd
+        env = deepcopy(dict(os.environ))
+        if self._redirect_x:
+            env["DISPLAY"] = config.get_display()
+
+        runtime = Bunch(
+            cwd=cwd,
+            prevcwd=syscwd,
+            returncode=None,
+            duration=None,
+            environ=env,
+            startTime=dt.isoformat(dt.utcnow()),
+            endTime=None,
+            platform=platform.platform(),
+            hostname=platform.node(),
+        )
+        runtime_attrs = set(runtime.dictcopy())
+        runtime = self._pre_run_hook(runtime)
+
+        mon_sp = None
+        if self._resource_monitor:
+            mon_freq = float(config.get("execution", "resource_monitor_frequency", 1))
+            proc_pid = os.getpid()
+            iflogger.debug(
+                "Creating a ResourceMonitor on a %s interface, PID=%d.",
+                self.__class__.__name__,
+                proc_pid,
+            )
+            mon_sp = ResourceMonitor(proc_pid, freq=mon_freq)
+            mon_sp.start()
+
+        # Grab inputs now, as they should not change during execution
+        inputs = self.inputs.get_traitsfree()
+        stdout = StringIO()
+        stderr = StringIO()
+        try:
+            with RedirectStandardStreams(stdout, stderr=stderr):
+                runtime = self._run_interface(runtime)
+        except Exception as e:
+            import traceback
+
+            # Retrieve the maximum info fast
+            runtime.traceback = traceback.format_exc()
+            # Gather up the exception arguments and append nipype info.
+            exc_args = e.args if getattr(e, "args") else tuple()
+            exc_args += (
+                "An exception of type %s occurred while running interface %s."
+                % (type(e).__name__, self.__class__.__name__),
+            )
+            if config.get("logging", "interface_level", "info").lower() == "debug":
+                exc_args += ("Inputs: %s" % str(self.inputs),)
+
+            runtime.traceback_args = ("\n".join(["%s" % arg for arg in exc_args]),)
+
+            stderr.write("Nipype captured error:\n\n%s" % runtime.traceback)
+            raise
+        else:
+            # Execute post-hook only if successful
+            runtime = self._post_run_hook(runtime)
+        finally:
+            if runtime is None or runtime_attrs - set(runtime.dictcopy()):
+                raise RuntimeError(
+                    "{} interface failed to return valid "
+                    "runtime object".format(self.__class__.__name__)
+                )
+
+            # This needs to be done always
+            runtime.endTime = dt.isoformat(dt.utcnow())
+            timediff = parseutc(runtime.endTime) - parseutc(runtime.startTime)
+            runtime.duration = (
+                timediff.days * 86400 + timediff.seconds + timediff.microseconds / 1e6
+            )
+            results = InterfaceResult(
+                self.__class__, runtime, inputs=inputs, outputs=None, provenance=None
+            )
+
+            # Add provenance (if required)
+            if str2bool(config.get("execution", "write_provenance", "false")):
+                # Provenance will only throw a warning if something went wrong
+                results.provenance = write_provenance(results)
+
+            # Make sure runtime profiler is shut down
+            if self._resource_monitor:
+                import numpy as np
+
+                mon_sp.stop()
+
+                runtime.mem_peak_gb = None
+                runtime.cpu_percent = None
+
+                # Read .prof file in and set runtime values
+                vals = np.loadtxt(mon_sp.fname, delimiter=",")
+                if vals.size:
+                    vals = np.atleast_2d(vals)
+                    runtime.mem_peak_gb = vals[:, 2].max() / 1024
+                    runtime.cpu_percent = vals[:, 1].max()
+
+                    runtime.prof_dict = {
+                        "time": vals[:, 0].tolist(),
+                        "cpus": vals[:, 1].tolist(),
+                        "rss_GiB": (vals[:, 2] / 1024).tolist(),
+                        "vms_GiB": (vals[:, 3] / 1024).tolist(),
+                    }
+                results.runtime = runtime
+
+            # Store captured outputs
+            runtime.stdout = stdout.getvalue()
+            runtime.stderr = stderr.getvalue()
+
+            del stdout
+            del stderr
+
+            results.outputs = self._find_outputs(runtime)
+            os.chdir(syscwd)
+
+        return results
+
+    def from_json(self, json_file, overwrite=True):
+        """Import inputs from a JSON file."""
+        with open(json_file) as fhandle:
+            inputs_dict = json.load(fhandle)
+
+        def_inputs = set()
+        if not overwrite:
+            def_inputs = {i for i in self.inputs.get_traitsfree().keys()}
+
+        new_inputs = set(inputs_dict.keys()) - def_inputs
+        for key in new_inputs:
+            if hasattr(self.inputs, key):
+                setattr(self.inputs, key, inputs_dict[key])
+
+    def _run_interface(self, runtime):
+        """Execute the body of this interface."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    def _find_outputs(self, runtime):
+        """
+        Automagically fill in output fields.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        outputs : :obj:`traits.HasTraits`
+            Collected outputs
+
+        """
+        outputs = self._output_spec()
+        inputs = self.inputs.get_traitsfree()
+
+        for name, spec in list(outputs.traits(transient=None).items()):
+            if spec.stdout is True:
+                setattr(outputs, name, runtime.stdout)
+                continue
+            elif callable(spec.stdout):
+                setattr(outputs, name, spec.stdout(runtime.stdout))
+                continue
+
+            if spec.stderr is True:
+                setattr(outputs, name, runtime.stderr)
+                continue
+            elif callable(spec.stderr):
+                setattr(outputs, name, spec.stderr(runtime.stderr))
+                continue
+
+            out_template = getattr(outputs, name)
+            if not isdefined(out_template):
+                continue
+
+            template_fields = {pat[1] for pat in Formatter().parse(out_template)
+                               if pat[1] and not pat[1].isdigit()}
+
+            if template_fields.intersection(inputs.keys()):
+                fields = {}
+                for field in template_fields:
+                    fname = os.path.basename(inputs[field])
+                    fname, ext = os.path.splitext(fname)
+                    if ext == '.gz':
+                        fname, ext0 = os.path.splitext(fname)
+                        ext = ''.join((ext0, ext))
+                    fields[field] = fname
+
+                # Only the last extension is kept, if several template
+                # names
+                setattr(outputs, name,
+                        ''.join((out_template.format(**fields), ext)))
+        return outputs
+
+    def _pre_run_hook(self, runtime):
+        """
+        Perform any pre-_run_interface() processing.
+
+        Subclasses may override this function to modify ``runtime`` object or
+        interface state
+
+        MUST return runtime object
+        """
+        return runtime
+
+    def _post_run_hook(self, runtime):
+        """
+        Perform any post-_run_interface() processing.
+
+        Subclasses may override this function to modify ``runtime`` object or
+        interface state
+
+        MUST return runtime object
+        """
+        return runtime
+
+
+class RedirectStandardStreams(AbstractContextManager):
+    """
+    Context that redirects standard out/err.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> f = StringIO()
+    >>> with RedirectStandardStreams(f):
+    ...     print("1")
+    ...     print("2", file=sys.stderr)
+    >>> captured = f.getvalue()
+    >>> "1" in captured
+    True
+    >>> "2" in captured
+    True
+
+    >>> out = StringIO()
+    >>> err = StringIO()
+    >>> with RedirectStandardStreams(out, err):
+    ...     print("1")
+    ...     print("2", file=sys.stderr)
+    >>> captured_out = out.getvalue()
+    >>> "1" in captured_out
+    True
+    >>> "2" in captured_out
+    False
+    >>> captured_err = err.getvalue()
+    >>> "1" in captured_err
+    False
+    >>> "2" in captured_err
+    True
+
+    """
+
+    _defaults = (sys.stdout, sys.stderr)
+
+    def __init__(self, stdout, stderr=None):
+        """Redirect standard streams."""
+        self._out_target = stdout
+        self._err_target = stderr
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        sys.stdout = self._out_target
+        sys.stderr = self._err_target
+        if self._err_target is None:
+            sys.stderr = self._out_target
+            return self._out_target
+        return self._out_target, self._err_target
+
+    def __exit__(self, exctype, excinst, exctb):
+        sys.stdout, sys.stderr = self._defaults
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/base/tests/test_experimental.py b/nipype/interfaces/base/tests/test_experimental.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f5bfa388dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/base/tests/test_experimental.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+"""Proof of concept."""
+import sys
+from ....utils.filemanip import fname_presuffix
+from ... import base as nib
+from ..experimental import Interface
+
+_TOOL_OUTPUT = r"""\
+  _____________
+< Nipype rocks! >
+  =============
+                  \
+                   \
+                     ^__^
+                     (oo)\_______
+                     (__)\       )\/\
+                         ||----w |
+                         ||     ||
+
+
+"""
+
+
+def _parse_err_cb(in_text):
+    if '3.0' in in_text:
+        return 3.0
+    raise RuntimeError('Failed Parsing')
+
+
+class _InputSpec(nib.TraitedSpec):
+    foo = nib.traits.Int(desc="a random int")
+    moo = nib.traits.Int(desc="a random int", mandatory=False)
+    hoo = nib.traits.Int(desc="a random int", usedefault=True)
+    zoo = nib.File(desc="a file")
+    woo = nib.File(desc="a file")
+
+
+def test_AutoOutputInterface():
+    """Proof of concept."""
+    class _OutputSpec(nib.TraitedSpec):
+        out_woo = nib.File('{woo}_brain', usedefault=True)
+        out_std = nib.Str(stdout=True)
+        out_err = nib.traits.Float(stderr=_parse_err_cb)
+
+    class TestInterface(Interface):
+        _input_spec = _InputSpec
+        _output_spec = _OutputSpec
+
+        def _run_interface(self, runtime):
+            print(_TOOL_OUTPUT)
+            print(' '.join(('a', 'b', '1', '2', '3.0')), file=sys.stderr)
+            out_fname = fname_presuffix(
+                self.inputs.woo, suffix='_brain')
+            open(out_fname, 'w').close()
+            return runtime
+
+    iface = TestInterface(woo='sub-001_T1w.nii.gz')
+    result = iface.run()
+
+    assert result.outputs.out_woo == 'sub-001_T1w_brain.nii.gz'
+    assert 'Nipype rocks!' in result.outputs.out_std
+    assert result.outputs.out_err == 3.0