The R35 generation of the Nissan GT-R debuted nearly 14 years ago, yet it stubbornly refuses to go out of production. Furthermore, according to multiple Japanese media, an update is planned for the next year.
The rumor claims that the new car will be called R36 despite only minimal differences from the current model. Aside from the usual design tweaks, it should get a mild-hybrid powertrain for the first time on record.
The Japanese carmaker did say it had no intention of turning the GT-R into a full-fledged plug-in hybrid, but this is perhaps beside the point. A 48V starter-generator based powertrain plugged into a compact battery may not be considered ‘full-fledged’ and actually appears viable in the current market conditions.
Fuel efficiency is not the only reason: new legislation is about to come into power in Japan that will clamp down on engine noise levels. Adding an ISG starter-generator device to the existing internal combustion engine would grant it an extra 27 PS (27 hp / 20 kW) and 250 Nm (183 lb-ft) of torque for use during acceleration.
The sources are reporting that Nissan is going to keep the GT-R R36 on the market in Japan for at least two years since launch. A brand-new generation provisionally called the R37 may follow as late as 2027.
The current GT-R sells for 10,828,400 – 24,200,000 Japanese Yen. Its 3.8-liter VR38DETT V6 uses dual turbos to hit the wheels with 570 PS (562 hp / 420 kW) and 637 Nm (470 lb-ft) of torque. A top spec called Nismo raises the output to 600 PS (592 hp / 441 kW) and 652 Nm (481 lb-ft).
In related news, the company is working on bringing us the R35 GT-R Final Edition by the end of the next year. The car will use a non-electrified GT-R 50 powertrain rated at 720 PS (710 hp / 530 kW) and 780 Nm (575 lb-ft) of torque. The production run will probably be limited to around two dozen units priced around 40,000,000 JPY, a near 100% markup over the latest GT-R Nismo, but still a mere fraction of the €1,000,000 price tag of Italdesign’s GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition.