The Nissan GT-R R35 Has Gone EXTINCT! Long Live The Godzilla

The Godzilla is extinct! Let’s observe a 2-minute silence.

After 18 years of being on the production line and redefining what an internal combustion engine-based sports car should be, the Nissan GT-R R35 has been discontinued. Nissan has stopped taking orders for the GT-R across the world and will focus on delivering the last cars to customers before shutting down production. 

“We have received many orders for the Nissan GT-R, and we have now finished accepting orders for the planned production quantity. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our many customers for their patronage over the years since its release in 2007,” says Nissan on its website. 

In an age where electric cars rely on the instant torque and outrageous power of electric motors to post record-breaking numbers, the GT-R R35 showed a middle finger to the industry with clever Japanese engineering. A marriage of a clever all-wheel-drive system and twin-turbo V6 petrol engine made the GT-R an unbeatable force on racetracks. 

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Why is the Nisaan GT-R R35 so special?

The answer is simple – it was fast. Just fast. Blisteringly fast. Not just in a straight line but even around the corners. That kind of performance allowed it to beat the Porsche 911 Turbo around the Nordesclife Nurburgring race track in Germany with a lap time of 7 minutes and 26.70 seconds, matching the Ferrari Enzo hypercar. 

What surprised motoring journalists and the sports car fraternity even more was the price that Nissan charged for one – it was a lot more affordable than an equivalent Porsche, Aston Martin and Mercedes Benz sports car.

However, fast lap times were not the sole reason the GT-R achieved cult status. The ATTESA four-wheel drive system mated to a clever onboard computer system helped the 3.8-litre turbocharged V6 engine put down the 473 hp of peak power efficiently. Later versions of the GT-R carrying the NISMO badge produced up to 600 hp! Since this was a Japanese sports car, the engine was tuner-friendly, with some custom builds producing up to 2,000 bhp of peak power! The GT-R, hence, was suited for all kinds of needs, whether its driving in the countryside or dominating the drag strips. 

For a car originally released in 2007, the GT-R R35 was loaded with tech and drivers required all of them. The G-meter was initially considered to be a gimmick until TV fame and legendary motoring journalist hurt his face and neck while testing the car around a race track on an episode of BBC’s Top Gear. 

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And then there was the matter of looks! The GT-R R35 wasn’t beautiful by definition but it sure was striking. While the Fast and Furious franchise celebrated its predecessors, later instalments, such as Furious 7, gave this GT-R the screen time it deserved. Anybody remember Brian O’ Connor tucking his dark blue GT-R R35 under the pipe-hauling truck by dropping the ride height? Anyone? 

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So, will we see a new GT-R?

If Nissan’s words are to be taken seriously, yes!

There will be a new GT-R and based on rumours, it is likely to hit the showroom floors by 2028. Going with the modern automotive trends, the next GT-R will rely on an all-electric powertrain to live up to its Godzilla fame. Will it beat the Rimac Nevera hypercar while costing its fraction? The wait begins!

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