Nissan Will not Let Godzilla Die, A New GT-R Is Nonetheless On The Horizon

Nissan sports activities automotive followers don’t have any worry, the GT-R is not going wherever. That’s, in response to Motor1, who completely and lately sat down with Nissan USA’s head of product planning, Ponz Pandikuthira on the New York Worldwide Auto Present. Within the interview, Pandikuthira confirmed with the outlet that Nissan remains to be very adamant about making a next-generation GT-R. Not solely is it the automaker’s most iconic sports activities automotive, it is also a significant staple for the Nissan model as certainly one of its signature halo automobiles.

Nissan could have lately discontinued the outgoing GT-R. However that does not imply Godzilla is six toes beneath for good. When rumors started signaling the tip of the “R35” technology GT-R, extra rumors started surfacing suggesting Nissan was going to succeed the mannequin with a brand new one. Now, with the newest updates, it seems these rumors are holding true.

Key Takeaways

• Godzilla is not useless
• Nissan remains to be engaged on a brand new, next-gen GT-R
• The brand new GT-R will not go full-electric as initially anticipated
• Nissan nonetheless needs to dethrone the Porsche 911 Turbo

The Subsequent-Gen GT-R Will Be Electrified In Some Manner

Initially, the rumormill steered the next-gen GT-R would go all-electric. On the time the rumors started surfacing, the business was on the peak of its preliminary push in the direction of all-electric lineups to fulfill federal mandates scheduling the ban on gross sales of internal-combustion-powered autos.

However that was a while in the past, and the marketplace for EV’s spoke loud and clear: they are not as scorching and electrifying as many had anticipated. In consequence, phrase is the brand new GT-R will not go full-electric. Nevertheless, in response to Pandikuthira, it will be electrified ultimately, suggesting gas-electric hybridization is perhaps the next-gen GT-R’s new bag.

Moreover, Nissan remains to be treading very fastidiously on easy methods to plan the brand new GT-R’s development, with Pandikuthira emphasizing the significance of sticking to the unique automotive’s method. Which means a rear-wheel-drive-based platform with all-wheel drive, and a brand new force-fed (seemingly turbocharged) gas-powered V-6.

“It is a matter of the place the tech catches up with us. Battery tech, motor tech, and it might take us just a few years, however GT-R can be again, unquestionably.”

– Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan USA Head Of Product Planning

Nissan Is Maintaining The Porsche 911 In Its Sights As GT-R’s Arch Rival

Just like the outgoing R35 GT-R, Pandikuthira mentioned that Nissan engineers are nonetheless maintaining the newest Porsche 911 Turbo as its arch rival and benchmark. And that is as a result of the post-millenial GT-R has at all times held the 911 Turbo as its splendid goal, with the metric of comparability being a record-setting time lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

When the R35 GT-R debuted, it shocked the world by lapping the notorious Nordschleife faster than 7:30, an exceptional file given the then-new GT-R’s comparatively inexpensive and below-six-figure price ticket on the time.

However with a purpose to obtain this aim and preserve the 911 Turbo in its sights, Nissan is aware of huge energy nonetheless must be a significant requirement within the next-gen GT-R’s tech roster.

“Primary, it needs to be a really genuine automotive,” Pandikuthira informed Motor1 throughout their interview. “Think about when you did a front-wheel-drive electrical automotive and known as it a GT-R. Good luck, proper? It must be genuine to its roots, and it must have a Nürburgring efficiency file. That is what established the automotive’s cred, that it beat a Porsche 911 on its dwelling turf. That should maintain good.”

Nevertheless, he additionally mentioned Nissan has its biggest challenges but, in terms of determining how the brand new GT-R will take form. The largest challenges: emissions compliance, battery tech, and different electrified car points reminiscent of weight.

“These huge horsepower automobiles are merely not going to fulfill emissions requirements,” Pandikuthira continued. “So it is a matter of the place the tech catches up with us. Battery tech, motor tech, and it might take us just a few years, however GT-R can be again, unquestionably.”

Fortunately, Nissan nonetheless has a twin-turbocharged V-6 in its arsenal, within the type of the newest VR-family of V-6s, which is actually a descendant of the outgoing GT-R’s authentic VR38DETT 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6. Whereas the R35 GT-R’s engine launched the VR V-6, Nissan primarily spun off a new-generation household of V-6 engines off of the GT-R’s VR38DETT, all in an effort to switch the tried, examined, true, however growing old VQ-family of V-6s.

As we speak, the newest model of the VR is discovered within the Nissan Armada/Patrol and its Infiniti cousin, the QX80. It is known as the VR35DDTT, displacing 3.5 liters whereas punching out 425 and 450 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. One other model of the VR got here within the type of a 3.0-liter model, which powers the final variations of the Infiniti Q50 sedan and Q60 coupe. The three.0-liter VR30DDTT model nonetheless exists immediately, powering the newest RZ34 Nissan Z sports activities coupe.

TopSpeed’s Take

We’re excited to know that Nissan remains to be adamant about maintaining Godzilla round. However extra so, we’re much more excited to listen to it might doubtlessly stick with inside combustion energy to some extent. Although, we’re additionally nonetheless very curious as to how Nissan engineers will proceed with sustaining the GT-R because the efficiency icon that it’s for the brand new technology.