Nissan has officially confirmed that the iconic GT-R will be making a comeback. Although the automaker is no longer producing GT-R models, CEO Ivan Espinosa has stated that Godzilla will “evolve and reemerge” in the future. Here’s what we know so far.
It seems like the talk about the next-gen Nissan GT-R has been ongoing for years. After the last model rolled off the production line at the Tochigi plant in Japan, Nissan’s CEO made it clear that the GT-R will be making a comeback. Despite bidding farewell to the R35, Espinosa gave hope to GT-R fans worldwide, stating, “I want to tell you this isn’t a goodbye to the GT-R forever.”
He further added that it is Nissan’s goal for the GT-R nameplate to return one day. While this marks the end of the line for the R35, the company is committed to the GT-R nameplate and aims to reimagine it for a new generation.
According to Espinosa, Nissan does not have finalized plans yet, but he assured that “the GT-R will evolve and reemerge in the future.”
The next iteration of Godzilla will ensure the GT-R’s legacy lives on, with even more performance. The big question now is, what type of powertrain will it come with? Will it be electric, hybrid, or gas-powered?
At the New York Auto Show in April, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President, and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, mentioned that the next GT-R will be a hybrid rather than an all-electric model.
However, Nissan had previously teased an electric GT-R with the Hyper Force EV concept, boasting over 1,300 horsepower. This power is expected to be derived from solid-state batteries. Nissan recently secured a partnership with LiCAP Technologies to mass-produce all-solid-state EV batteries, a significant step towards bringing this new technology to market.
Since Nissan plans to launch its first EV powered by solid-state batteries in 2028, we may see the GT-R reemerge as a plug-in hybrid until the technology is fully ready.
While it may take a few years before we see an electrified Godzilla, the possibility of an all-electric GT-R delivering the necessary performance is debatable. BYD’s electric supercar, the Yangwang U9, recently set a new EV speed record, reaching nearly 300 mph.
The decision on whether the GT-R should go all-electric or settle for a hybrid remains uncertain. Feel free to share your thoughts on which version you would prefer in the comments below.
