El Nissan GT-R, one of the most iconic sports cars of the Japanese brand, is no longer available in its home country. Nissan has officially confirmed that it has stopped accepting orders for the model in the Japanese market, marking the end of its production after almost two decades.
This XNUMXth-century Announcement closes an era for car that has been a reference in the world of supercars, offering amazing performance at a competitive price within its category. Since its launch in 2007, The GT-R has made its mark with its twin-turbo V6 engine and its all-wheel drive, consolidating itself as a rival to models from luxury brands such as Ferrari, Porsche y Lamborghini.
The end of a legend: Nissan closes orders for the GT-R in Japan…
The end of the Nissan GT-R in Japan does not come as a total surprise. This model, developed under the code R35, had already been discontinued in several key countries. In Europe, for example, it stopped being sold in 2022 due to environmental restrictions and noise regulations.
In the US, production ceased in 2024, leaving Japan as the only country where it was still on sale. Through its official website in Japan, Nissan published a statement announcing that “Order acceptance for the planned production quantity has been closed”, thanking customers for the support received since its launch in 2007.
With this last step, the commercial life of the GT-R R35, the model that represented a revolution in the sports segment by offering a top-level level of performance without reaching the high prices of its European competitors. In addition, it joins the list of Sports models that say goodbye.
Evolution of the Nissan GT-R R35: from 473 to 600 hp…
Since its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007, the Nissan GT-R has become a cult car in the automotive sector. Over the years, it has received multiple restylings, with improvements to its aerodynamics, mechanical performance and incorporation of advanced technologies.
The 6-liter twin-turbo V3.8 engine with which it debuted delivered 473 CV, but over the years it has been refined to reach 565 HP in its most recent versionsIn the case of the Nismo variant, the figure climbed to 600 CV, making it a formidable rival on the track and on the road.
One of the great attractions of the GT-R has been its ability to offer a Performance comparable to Ferrari or Porsche models at a more competitive priceHowever, over time its costs have risen progressively. While at the start of its commercialization in 2008 its price was around 50.000 euros, in recent years it has reached over 200.000 euros in its most exclusive versions.
Reasons behind the Nissan GT-R’s farewell…
The Nissan GT-R has not been immune to the evolution of the automotive market. For nearly two decades, the world of motoring has changed radically, with increased regulation of CO2 emissions and a rise in electrification that has made it increasingly difficult to justify the continued production of cars with combustion engines.
Strict environmental regulations have played a crucial role in the GT-R's demise.In Europe, noise regulations that came into force in 2021 forced Nissan to withdraw the model. In other countries, pressure to reduce emissions has made it difficult to continue. While the model has been updated over the years, the lack of electrification in its powertrain has left it at a competitive disadvantage compared to its rivals.
In addition, demand for the model has fallen in recent years. In 2019, sales in Europe were lower than 400 units, and in 2021 they were barely sold 193 units in this market. In a context where manufacturers are betting on electrification, maintaining the production of a vehicle of this type was becoming increasingly unviable.
Will there be an electric successor to the Nissan GT-R?
The future of the GT-R is still uncertain. Although Nissan has not officially confirmed a new generation, rumors have emerged Rumors about a possible electrified successor. During the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan unveiled the Hyper Force concept, a model that some consider a preview of the next GT-R. This fully electric prototype would have an impressive power of 1.341 CV and would be based on solid-state battery technology.
The problem is that Nissan is currently going through a difficult financial momentThe company has had several consecutive quarters of losses and its plans to develop new technologies could be delayed. Some predictions indicate that the first generation of solid-state batteries will not be ready until 2028, which would imply that a possible electric GT-R would not arrive before then.
Another alternative would be the launch of a hybrid model in the coming years, which would allow the legacy of the GT-R to be kept alive while electric technology continues to evolve. However, for now, Nissan has not given any concrete details about what the future of its legendary sports car will look like.
With the official farewell of the Nissan GT-R R35 in Japan, an important chapter in the history of the automobile comes to a close. For 18 years, this model has proven that a mainstream manufacturer can compete head-to-head with some of the best supercars in the world. Although its production has ended, its legacy lives on in automotive culture and in the memories of fans.
Source - Nissan
Images | nissan
More information about this model
- Plazas 4
- Power 570 cv
- Consumption 14 l / 100km
- Assessment 4,7