It seems the Nissan GT-R lives up to the Godzilla name, not only in terms of performance but also in terms of its lifespan. Although it’s ancient (for a supercar), the Japanese supercar slayer is still holding its ground with the dignity and decisiveness of a true samurai. If for some reason you had doubts, that the GT-R is a great performance car, think about this: When a performance car of this caliber comes out, it’s usually at the top of the performance car food chain for maybe three years, before someone else dethrones it. But that isn't the case with the GT-R.

The GT-R was an undefeated supercar slayer for around six years before the likes of Ferrari and Porsche came up with something quicker, and even after that, it managed to keep up, despite its age starting to show. Apparently, even after 14 years of production, Nissan is not ready to retire the R35 GT-R. In fact, it seems Godzilla is about to be infused with some mild-hybrid technology, at least according to Japan’s Best Car.

The source of the information is not the most reliable, however, as Best Car has been known to have their fair share of misses when it comes to rumors. However, this news is a good indication that Nissan really is up to something. It’s worth noting that, in the past, Nissan has given us information about the GT-R getting a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Obviously, that didn’t happen, so it’s best we take any new info about the GTR with a pinch of salt.

That said, there have been numerous talks about a GTR hybrid in the past. According to the latest rumor, the GT-R's mighty 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 will be aided by a 48-volt starter generator. It said that the mild-hybrid powertrain will go on sale in 2022, replacing the purely petrol-powered GT-R.

Moreover, it will be produced until 2024. At that point, a final edition of the R35 with 710 horsepower and no hybrid powertrain will arrive to celebrate the R35’s retirement with a bang. Although the introduction of a new GT-R always sparks emotions with the car community, there’s no denying the fact that the R35 is an old platform. With sales in the US plummeting in recent times, it’s hard to see a justification for electrifying the GT-R. Moreover, will Nissan be able to afford this?

Nissan GT-R Nismo vs Nissan GT-R