After much anticipation, Nissan has reportedly revealed the release date of its new Nissan GT-R R36. The next-gen Godzilla is due in early 2023—and as expected, the sports car will receive a major revamp with prior rumors suggesting that it will go hybrid.

Speaking in an interview with Autocar, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said that the model will be built on a new platform—different from the preceding R35 generation.

“We’re definitely making a new platform, and our goal is clear: the GT-R has to be the quickest car of its kind,” the automobile’s CEO remarked.

The upcoming GT-R series is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated sports cars in recent times, as plans for developing a GT-R hybrid powertrain date back to 2013.

So, with the countdown to its release officially on, what does this illustrious sports car entail? We’ve got all the scoop—from rumors about the hybrid engine to the design, performance, and pricing.

An Upgrade From Nissan GT-R 35

Nissan is well-known for drawing inspiration from prior models while keeping a forward-looking viewpoint. Since the debut of the R35 platform in 2007, Nissan enthusiasts have adored driving the car—on track and on the streets, due to its power and sports car appeal.

Let us remind you about the R35 model.

Recap: The Nissan GT-R R35

The Nissan GT-R R35 is a high-performance sports car that was introduced in 2007. It is one of the most popular sports cars on the market, and its performance has made it a favorite among car enthusiasts.

It is considered a successor to the Nissan Skyline GT-R. The R35 is powered by a 3.8L twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which produces 485 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque. It can reach a top speed of 196 mph and go from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds.

The R35 is available in both a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan body style. It has been praised for its impressive performance, handling, and braking.

It has also been criticized for its high price tag and lack of features compared to other sports cars in its class. But despite its high price tag, the Nissan R35 has become one of the most popular sports cars on the market. It has won numerous awards, including “Best Driver’s Car” from Motor Trend and “World Performance Car” from the International Automobile Federation.

Looking forward, the 15-year-old platform is showing its age. Having the longest production cycle among the GT-R’s heritage, the R35 model has undergone many upgrades in its lifetime. But now, it is long overdue for a redesign.

To the Japanese car lovers, it’s time for more than just a facelift or fresh wheels; it’s time for a new model.

Enter the new GT-R hero car!

The GT-R sports car will be receiving the “R36” designation, and Nissan is said to be currently working on a complete design model.

Let’s look at what we should expect from this powerful version of the GT-R series.

Nissan R36 GT-R’s Hybrid Backflip

After reports surfaced that the all-new Nissan R36 supercar would ditch the twin-turbo V6 found in the R35 GT-R in favor of a hybrid powertrain, a new report says that’s not the case after all.

According to the Japanese magazine Best Car, the R36 will keep its venerable VR38DETT V6, albeit with significant modifications.

Details are scarce, but it is speculated that the R36 will come with an improved 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, projected to produce more than 600 horsepower.

It’s also expected to get an all-wheel-drive and an updated version of Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system.

The current GT-R NISMO is already one of the quickest cars on the market, with a 0-60 mph time of just 2.5 seconds. So it’s anyone’s guess as to what the R36 will be capable of.

R36 Nissan GT-R vs Nissan GT-R Nismo

	R36 Nissan GT-R	Nissan GT-R Nismo
Transmission	6-speed automated manual transmission	6-speed automated manual transmission
Engine	3.8-litre twin-turbo V6	3.8-litre twin-turbo V6
Torque	575 lb-ft	481 lb-ft
Power output	710 hp	600 hp
Top speed	196 mph	205 mph
0-60 mph	2.9 seconds	2.5 seconds
Weight	3,933 LBS	3,865 LBS

Why Drop the Hybrid Powertrain for the R36 to Stick With a Gasoline Turbo Engine?

The mild-hybrid engine system was still under debate, owing to Japan’s noise regulations and the pending 2022 Corporate Average Fleet Emissions (CAFE) standards.

These stricter rules and regulations were bound to make things worse for any super sports car, including the GT-R.

But for Nissan, the main concern is to balance the creation of a sleek car that meets environmental regulations while maintaining its reputation for producing fast sports vehicles.

However, according to Philip Klein, Nissan’s Product Planning Executive, the company’s highest priority is giving users a performance-oriented driving experience. It, therefore, made sense why Nissan had to ditch the hybrid powertrain originally designed for the R36.

Besides, there are other reasons why Nissan might have decided to stick with its gasoline turbo engine:

• First, the hybrid powertrain is costly and complicated to develop and manufacture.
• Secondly, it’s not clear how popular the hybrid GT-R has been among consumers.
• Finally, the V6 super-hybrid powertrain is likely to be more powerful and efficient than the current GT-R model.

The Exterior Design of the R36 Nissan GT-R

Currently, there are no images of the R36 Nissan GT-R other than a number of concept sketches available on the internet.

Yet, the new GT-R is expected to have a more aggressive exterior design, with many speculating that the design will be inspired by the 2014 Nissan Vision GT concept vehicle.

As such, there is a high chance that it’ll have: a lower COG, new track tires, a larger, and wider front grille, and future headlights will likely come with cutting-edge LED technology.

In addition, Nissan R36 GT-R is likely to retain the rear of the current model, but with several modifications.

What About Interior Design?

Developments suggest that the interior of the next Nissan GT-R may even have a more dramatic design to match the exterior appearance.

The current R35 is designed with straight lines, giving it the luxurious impression of a top-tier sports vehicle. As for the forthcoming version, it may have futuristic aspects where each element will be connected with curves.

Also, expect the driver’s cabin to be designed with modern technology, enhanced safety functions, digital gauges, and vehicle monitoring systems.

Nissan GTR Release Date and Pricing

While Nissan released a report confirming that the next generation Godzilla is in the works, there are no specific dates scheduled for the debut of the sports car.

However, it is expected that the new GT-R will be unveiled in early 2023, although this is subject to change.

As for the pricing figures, this might not be available until Nissan has a near-ready vision of the car. For now, we can only wait for the Japanese automaker to give us an update to know for sure.

FAQs

Will there be a Nissan GTR R36?

Yes. A next-gen Nissan GT-R R36 is already in the works. In a  statement released by Nissan’s CEO Makoto Uchida, the hero car will likely hit the market in early 2023. The CEO has also confirmed that the vehicle will get a new platform, although it won’t go hybrid as previously rumored.

Is the R36 Electric?

It’s not clear yet whether R36 will be electric. In an interview with Autocar, CEO Makoto Uchida hinted that the GT-R project’s engineering team is “looking at how they can make it [R36] electric.”

He went ahead to add, “Whether we go to a lot of electrification or none at all, we can achieve a lot power-wise.”

Did Nissan stop making the R35?

Due to the upcoming changes in safety regulations, the Nissan R35 GT-R will likely be discontinued— but in the months to come.

In addition, Nissan has confirmed that the GT-R heritage will end soon after the release of the R36.

How much will a Nissan R36 cost?

The price for the upcoming R36 edition is not available, and we have to wait for updates from Nissan.

However, if we consider the base price of the current 2020 Nissan GT-R, which is around $113,540, then we can speculate the price for R36 to be around this range or just slightly higher.

Is the Nissan GTR a Supercar?

Because the Nissan GTR has a lot of power, and is an all-wheel-drive vehicle that can accelerate quickly, the GTR is definitely a supercar.

The upcoming R36 will also feature a gasoline turbo engine with a 6-speed automated manual transmission.

Conclusion

It’s still early to get a comprehensive picture of the Nissan GT-R R36, but this highly anticipated sports car will undoubtedly meet our expectations.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that the vehicle won’t feature a hybrid engine as previously rumored. What we can confirm is that it’s likely that Nissan will stay true to its roots and keep the turbo V6 for the R36. And with an ancient design, a completely new form is on the way sooner rather than later.