The GT-R isn’t dead... it’s just biding its time.
Despite slashing costs and shifting its lineup toward SUVs, Nissan has confirmed development is underway for an all-new GT-R supercar. And while timelines remain fuzzy, the message is clear: Godzilla will roar again.
Cooking up a storm
Speaking to Auto Express, Nissan’s VP of Product Marketing Strategy, Arnaud Charpentier, didn’t mince words: “There are people working on this. When, how, honestly, this we don’t know.” He added that the new GT-R must embrace a future-ready powertrain, whether electric or electrified, without compromising its sporting credentials.
“If you end up with the same performance as an EV-SUV, this is an issue,” Charpentier said. In short: whatever replaces the R35 won’t just be a badge job with batteries.
Electric dreams and hyper ambitions
Hints of the future came late last year in the form of the Hyper Force concept: an angular, all-electric beast boasting a colossal 1000kW.
Nissan Europe’s design VP, Giovanny Arroba, called it “a tangible dream to achieve by the end of the decade.”
Meanwhile, North American execs like Ponz Pandikuthira have teased a possible link with the next Acura NSX, potentially sharing electric DNA.
Nissan hasn’t officially announced a launch date, but multiple senior leaders across regions seem unusually eager to talk GT-R - which in itself says a lot.
Performance plans in a penny-pinching world
Still, there’s a catch. Nissan is in the midst of a brutal restructuring - axing 20,000 jobs, closing factories and simplifying its global lineup.
The Z is hanging on, but it’s not exactly raking in blockbuster sales. With a new Sentra and several high-volume models in the pipeline, the GT-R’s resurrection may be more about brand halo than bottom line.
Even so, hope remains. New Nissan boss Ivan Espinosa is reportedly a sports car enthusiast who drives a Z daily and has expressed interest in reviving the Silvia as well.
So while the GT-R’s return won’t be fast, it won’t be forgotten. Nissan has not disclosed powertrain specs, production timelines or pricing yet - but one thing’s certain: the R36 is no myth. It’s just lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.