Last year, automotive enthusiasts around the world mourned as the final R35 Nissan GT-R rolled off the production line. While a next-generation GT-R is reportedly in the works, new information has surfaced suggesting it will feature an electrified powertrain and could arrive as early as 2030.
Speaking to The Drive, Nissan North America Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer (CPO), Ponz Pandikuthira, promised, “I’d say by 2028 you’ll see some concrete announcements, and hopefully before the decade turns you’ll see an R36 GT-R.”
Adding to this, Pandikuthira mentioned that the new R36 GT-R must be developed on a new chassis — saying “it’s going to be an all-new car” and that it will feature a “mostly” new powertrain.
The R35 GT-R has reached the end of its production run, largely because it could no longer meet global emissions standards. This issue will almost certainly be addressed in the next-generation model, with hints by Pandikuthira suggesting that the VR38 (the engine in the R35 GT-R) is most likely going to be used and will be paired with some form of electrification to make it compliant with global emissions regulations, including Euro 7.
Pandikuthria said, “If there was a hybrid powertrain, the block of that VR38 engine (which was the engine in the R35 GT-R) is so great. Why would you throw that away? But maybe the way combustion matters needs to be very different. Maybe the heads are very different. Maybe the pistons are very different. So maybe we have to change top end.”
“The next generation GTR will need some level of electrification,” Pandikuthira. But noted “So, does it need to be a full EV? Probably not, but it does need to have some level of electrification to meet, to future proof. emissions, compatibility,” he added.
Nissan needs to be careful on how they implement electrification to its all-important Godzilla. Over the past couple of years, Germany has introduced a number of “overweight” electrified super sedans that boasted immense power but weighed more than a oil tanker. Examples include cars such as the Audi RS5, the Mercedes-AMG C63, and the BMW M5.
While the batteries and electric motors allowed these high powered petrol sedans to exist with stringent emissions standards, motoring enthusiasts weren’t so pleased — voicing their disappointment on the car’s raw agility compared to previous generation models.
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One company that has managed to get it right, unsurprisingly, is Porsche with the 992.2 Porsche 911 GTS and, more recently, the Porsche 911 Turbo S. These models feature what Porsche calls the “T-Hybrid” system, integrating electric motors within the transmission alongside electrically assisted turbochargers. The result is increased power and efficiency, while keeping weight gains in check through the use of relatively small batteries.
However, if there’s one company that can make heavyweight performance cars work, it’s Nissan. The R35 Nissan GT-R was infamously known for its heft when it was first introduced, tipping the scales at 1,740 kg — significantly heavier than rivals like the Porsche 911 Turbo, which came in at approximately 1,585 kg.
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With how successful the R35 Nissan GT-R has been, the nameplate carries immense expectations. When it first launched in 2007, it shocked the world — outperforming supercars in drag races with a blistering 0-100 km/h time of just 3.5 seconds, quicker than flagship models from Ferrari and Lamborghini at the time.
Even in its final years, the GT-R remained a very respectable sports car. In its most extreme Nissan GT-R Nismo form, it produced 600 hp and 652 Nm, dispatching the century sprint in just 2.8 seconds. On its 18th year of production, it still stood shoulder to shoulder with modern performance icons like the Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG GT63, and the now-discontinued Audi R8 — all of which had gone through multiple generations of updates.
ALSO READ: Godzilla retires from the road as the final Nissan R35 GT-R rolls off the production line
