Nissan GT-R dies another death as electric switch looms
The Nissan GT-R’s run is one step closer to winding up, following the announcement that the flagship sports car will go off sale in the US this year.
Now 17 years old, the Nissan GT-R’s US sendoff includes two new special editions which celebrate the near two-decade history of the R35 model, as well as its Skyline-based predecessors.
These comprise the aptly named Skyline Edition (finished in Bayside Blue, the R34 model’s hero colour) and the Takumi Edition, painted Midnight Purple and paying tribute to the master craftspeople who hand-build each of the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 engines that power the GT-R.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert
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Neither of these special editions will come to Australia, after the Nissan GT-R was dropped from local showrooms in November 2021 when new side-impact laws saw multiple cars including the Japanese supercar killer be heavily updated or be pulled from sale.
In March, Nissan revealed its 2025 updates for the GT-R in Japan, and cryptically noted its “production is limited and some orders might not be accepted”, giving weight to recent Japanese reports claiming the sports car will bow out this year.
Though Nissan didn’t make mention of a specific production number it will be running to, a translation of the brand’s Japanese websites included mention of a “culmination” of the GT-R, before closing with “The deepening of the GT-R will never end”.
If this is the final year of Nissan GT-R production, it’ll be the end of the line for one of the oldest cars on sale globally.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Both the Skyline and Takumi editions will be limited to less than 200 examples for the US market, starting from US$131,090 (A$198,260) and US$151,090 (A$228,510) – each US$10,000 (A$15,120) more than the GT-R Premium and T-Spec grades upon which they’re based.
The Nissan GT-R Skyline Edition not only gets a Bayside Blue exterior paint finish but also a Sora Blue interior upholstery scheme.
Takumi Editions feature a unique engine badge with red-etched writing and a gold VIN plate, as well as a Mori Green interior.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Engine outputs are unchanged, with the VR38DETT engine continuing to punch out 419kW of power and 637Nm of torque, with drive sent to all four wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
It’s expected the Nissan GT-R nameplate will live on past the R35 generation, albeit with electric power.
At last year’s Tokyo motor show, Nissan unveiled the 1000kW electric Hyper Force concept car, which incorporated a number of Skyline and GT-R design features – fuelling speculation the flagship sports car will switch to battery power for its next generation.
Previous reports have claimed the new ‘R36’ GT-R will debut in 2028.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert
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