- R35-generation Nissan GT-R ceases production in 2025
- Nissan developing a new GT-R but is undecided on the powertrain
- An electric GT-R using solid-state batteries is a possibility
The current R35-generation Nissan GT-R will finally end production next year, after a 17-year run. That's twice as long as what most other vehicles have for a a generational lifecycle, but if Nissan had its way the GT-R would stay in production well into the next decade.
That's according to Pierre Loing, Nissan's head of global product, who told Top Gear in an interview published on Friday that it's only due to regulations that production is ceasing.
“It’s been on sale for 17 years and we’d love to make it another 17 years, but the regulator gives us some trouble,” he said.
The R35 GT-R was revealed in 2007 and arrived in the U.S. as a 2009 model. It bows out of the U.S. after the 2024 model year and worldwide production is set to end in July 2025. Sales in Europe and some other markets like Australia have already ended. In the case of Europe, the car in its current form falls on the wrong side of noise and emission regulations, while in Australia it doesn't meet the latest crash safety rules. Nissan spokesman Josh Clifton confirmed to Motor Authority that it's also ending its run in the U.S. because it can no longer meet emissions regulations.
2024 Nissan GT-R T-spec Takumi special edition
Nissan has already confirmed on multiple occasions that a successor, an R36, is planned, though there will be a gap before the car arrives, possibly spanning several years, which isn't unusual for the GT-R. Why the delay this time? Nissan is still debating whether the new car should be a hybrid or an electric vehicle, according to Loing.
When asked whether an electric GT-R would use solid-state batteries, a technology Nissan has previously indicated will be ready for production around 2028, Loing said it was a possibility. He clarified this by stating that solid-state batteries would solve many of the current issues surrounding electric sports cars, like the battery's weight and overheating issues sapping performance.
Nissan Hyper Force concept
Nissan last year showed off the Hyper Force concept, an electric sports car fitted with solid-state batteries. It packed 1,341 hp and featured many GT-R styling cues, though Nissan hasn't said whether the concept previews a new GT-R in any way.
By the time a new GT-R arrives, Nissan may also have a third sports car in the form of a modern Silvia. Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's head of planning, has revealed he's trying to get the green light for production of a new Silvia, and that his team is already plotting an architecture for the car.
