Nissan has officially put an end to the production of the Nissan GT-R R35 in Japan after 18 years. With that, the global availability of an iconic sports car turns to dust. The Nissan GT-R R35 wasn’t just a sportscar; it was a dream for many, and it will be.
Let’s see where it all started;
The Dawn of Godzilla
Often referred to as “Godzilla,” the Nissan GT-R R35 was launched in Japan at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. It was introduced to end the legacy of the Porsche 911, which was untouchable at the time—that is until the GTR came up.
The GTR proved to be faster, better handling, accelerating, comfortable, and practical than the Porsche 911. It also cost almost half the price, which made it a huge success.
World-Class Nurburgring Lap Time
One of the major reasons the Nissan GT-R R35 has a cult fanbase is its record-breaking Nurburgring lap time. Despite being on road tires, the GTR completed a lap in just 7 minutes and 29 seconds, making it one of the fastest production cars around the track at the time.
Performance
The Nissan GT-R R35 was equipped with a 3.8l twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produced 565 hp and 630 Nm of torque. Power was delivered to all four wheels via a 6-speed DCT and its iconic Attesa ETS AWD system. This enabled the GTR to catapult from a standstill to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds.
That may sound quite normal by today’s standards, but GTR was doing this 10 years before. There was a time when Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear broke his neck while testing the GTR on the track. It wasn’t from a crash but from the insane acceleration and G-forces his body couldn’t handle.
All Good Things Must Come to an End
The GTR was introduced in the U.S. in 2009. In 2022, Nissan pulled it off the EU market because of noise and emissions. In 2024, GTR production concluded in the U.S., with two farewell models available to U.S. customers. Japan was the only market where the GTR was still being sold.
Finally, Nissan Japan’s website displayed an emotional message stating, “GT-R new order acceptance end. Nissan GT-R has received orders from many guests and has finished accepting orders for quantities scheduled for production. Thank you for your long patronage of many guests since its launch in 2007.”
Conclusion
After successfully dominating the car scene, the Nissan GTR has officially been discontinued worldwide. Tightening emissions and noise regulations, as well as evolving safety standards, played a significant role in the car’s discontinuation.
It solidified itself as a reliable supercar killer, providing astounding performance at a lower price tag than many of its competitors. Thanks for reading till the end. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Keep following the Arabwheels Blog for more content like this.
The GT-R R35’s retirement really marks the end of an era for Nissan, but it’s amazing how it reshaped the performance car landscape. It’s impressive how a car launched in 2007 could still stand toe-to-toe with competitors, especially considering its insane Nurburgring time.
Sad to see the GT-R R35 retire, but it’s clear it’ll remain a legendary car for years to come. I think a lot of people don’t realize how groundbreaking its Nurburgring time was for its time.
It’s wild to think that after almost 20 years, the R35 GT-R is finally retiring. For so many enthusiasts, this car symbolized the perfect blend of performance and value. It’ll be interesting to see how Nissan fills the void left by this legend.