(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – The Nissan GT-R is an icon – a cornerstone of Japanese performance with an almost 60-year tradition. The popular R35 generation bid farewell to the market for good in 2024; two special editions marked the end of an impressive 17-year run of the sports car. However, this does not mean that the GT-R is gone forever.
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In a conversation at Nissan’s headquarters in Yokohama, CEO Ivan Espinosa confirmed that a new GT-R is already in development. Although he did not provide concrete details, he emphasized that the GT-R remains a defining symbol of the brand – and will continue to be so in the future. He said:
‘Yes, we will be working-we are actually working-on GT-R. Not many details I can share today, but the GT-R will come, and it will come with the credibility and credentials it has always had, because it’s an icon of a company, but more so an icon of the industry. It’s proof of what Akashi-san’s team can do technically.’
Translated: “Yes, we will be working on the GT-R – we are even already working on it. I can’t reveal many details today, but the GT-R will come, and it will come with the credibility and reputation it has always had, because it is not only an icon of our company but above all an icon of the entire industry. It is proof of what Mr. Akashi’s team is technically capable of.”
This is not the first time a Nissan manager has confirmed that a new R36 GT-R is on the way – but it is the first time this confirmation comes directly from the CEO. Last April, Ponz Pandikuthira, Chief Product Planner of Nissan USA, told us at the New York Auto Show that the GT-R would “without a doubt” return to the portfolio. That makes sense, because like the MX-5 at Mazda, the GT-R is part of Nissan’s brand core.
Photo series: Last Nissan GT-R R35 rolls off the line
Both Espinosa and Pandikuthira emphasize that the next GT-R must remain a true performance sports car. Some electrification in the form of a hybrid system is considered likely – as with many modern high-performance vehicles. If early rumors are any indication, however, the R36 is supposed to live up to the legacy of its name.
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Exciting: It might not be the only performance model in Nissan’s future plans. A new Skyline has already been teased (see image above). For some time, there have been rumors about a more affordable sports car below the current Z – possibly with a revival of the Silvia name. Espinosa hinted that he would like to see a project like the Silvia, but nothing has been officially confirmed. He added:
‘Sports cars are the core of what we are as a company. So we’ve been doing that for many generations, and there are multiple nameplates that we could leverage on. If you ask one part of my brain, I would love to do that very quickly. But the other part of my brain tells me that we have to be prudent at the moment and go step by step. But for sure, we will see more sports cars coming into the portfolio.’
“Sports cars are the heart of our company. We have been involved with them for many generations, and we have numerous model names we could draw on. If you ask one part of my mind, I would love to implement that immediately. However, the other part tells me that we need to proceed cautiously at the moment and move forward step by step. But for sure, we will add more sports cars to our portfolio.”
More sports cars in the portfolio are generally always good news – but we are especially curious about what Nissan has planned for the next GT-R. Espinosa seems clear about how important this badge is for the brand. That gives hope.
More from Nissan:
Farewell to the combustion engine: Nissan Juke goes fully electric
Nissan discontinues models, but many new products are coming
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