Summary
- The highly anticipated R36 Nissan GT-R is long overdue and its release has been postponed due to environmental regulations affecting sports cars.
- The price of the new GT-R R36 is likely to fall between the base level R35 and the GT-R NISMO, with the possibility of leaning towards the higher end.
- The performance expectations of the R36 GT-R include options for both an internal combustion engine and a hybrid drivetrain, with the potential for an all-electric version in the future.
The upcoming R36 GT-R has to be one of the most highly anticipated supercars in recent times. Nissan has been working on a complete redesign for its flagship model for a while now. Looking back at Nissan's history, the Skyline GT-R, which has long been the icon of Nissan's sports car lineup, is currently in the third generation of models with the GT-R nameplate.
Following the first generation from 1969 to 1973 and the second generation from 1989 to 2002. The third-gen model has been around for 15 years after its release in 2007. In fact, the Nissan GT-R R35 is one of the Japanese automaker's models with the longest product cycle. Over the years, Nissan has made slight improvements to this Japanese treasure, giving the GT-R numerous facelifts with the most recent one being the 2024 Nissan GT-R R35 unveiled at the Tokyo Auto salon. A new model is now long overdue.
The Best Car Scoop team from Japan has scoured the web and beyond; for more on the upcoming Nissan GT-R, and they have received some interesting news! It's the most recent information on the highly anticipated GT-R R36. So, what will become of this illustrious model? We've got lots of the latest stuff you don't want to miss, from rumors about the powerplant to the design of the forthcoming GT-R!
Updated On August 28, 2023: As time for the R35 successor grows near, we learn more about what we can expect from the next-generation GT-R. Here are a few more things that we know the future Godzilla will have, as well as some things it won't have.
We gathered information from Nissan, Best Cars Web, Top Gar, Hotcars and Car & Driver, and other reputable websites to give you a sneak peek of what the Nissan GT-R R36 could be.
14 When Will The R36 Nissan GT-R Go On Sale?
The next "R36" GT-R won't be coming anytime soon. What is the reason for the delay? What are the challenges of the next GT-R? Well, Nissan says, "We have to wait patiently". Environmental regulations are hurting the future of sports cars. When TopGear contacted Mr. Philip Klein, Nissan's product planning executive, and asked him about the next-generation R36 GT-R, he replied,
"Yes, you guys have to be patient because we will meet your expectations. The driving experience is a high priority, and as we move from gasoline engines to hybrids, nothing will be lost in the fun of driving, even if we go electric." Philip Klein adds -For these reasons, it is certain that the announcement of the next model has been postponed.
13 How Much Can You Expect to Pay For The New GT-R R36?
It is hard to say how much a top-end performance coupe will cost without official confirmation that the car will be on the market for the following model year. However, with some deductive reasoning, it is possible to get a ballpark figure so you will know how much money to save. First, let's look at the base level 2023 GT-R R35, which starts at $116,040. Next, check out the Nissan GT-R NISMO, which has a starting price tag of $215,740. When the new Nissan R36 GT-R comes out, it will be between these two cars, meaning that the price will be in the middle of these, with the likelihood of it being more towards the high end being very reasonable.
12 R36 Nissan GT-R Performance Expectations With An Internal Combustion Engine
Initially, BestCar got information claiming that the present model would be phased out in the fall of 2022 and that a mild hybrid powertrain based on the VR38DETT engine would be installed on the next model. According to fresh information, the 2023 GT-R is being designed to accommodate a gasoline turbo engine rather than a mild hybrid system, despite the future strict emissions and noise rules. The improved 3.8-liter V-6 twin-turbo engine is also projected to produce 600 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, similar to the current GT-R NISMO.
11 R36 Nissan GT-R Performance Expectations With A Hybrid Drivetrain
The modest hybridization was planned from the outset of the GT R's by Kazutoshi Mizuno, the father of the GT-R. As a result, the GT-R R36 will likely be a heavily revised R35, with a number of chassis revisions, new components, and a newly calibrated suspension. If Nissan decides to go this route, the GT-R R36 can be expected to have the same technology used in Formula One racing, which will give the car well over 800 horsepower, hopefully reaching up to 1,000 horses.
10 The Nissan R36 GT-R Will Keep Electrification To A Minimum
Japanese publication, BestCarWeb, indeed, confirmed that the R36 GT-R will be a BEV, but we now know the extent of hybridization will not be as major as we have seen on some other high-performance models like the Acura NSX. Instead of a FHEV or PHEV drivetrain, the R36 Nissan GT-R will rely on a mild-hybrid architecture, revolving around the same, VR38 DETT engine we know from the R35. The VR38 DETT is known to be a bit "laggy" compared to more modern platforms so, electric assistance will greatly improve acceleration, especially in the 0 to 60 mph department.
9 R36 Nissan GT-R Performance Expectations With An All-Electric Drivetrain
Even though most of the rumors point toward the new R36 being an internal combustion engined monster, the future for such cars is bleak. The company will have to convert its line of sports cars over to all-electric drivetrains if they want to stay competitive with its rivals, so if they choose to jump ahead, it very well could push out a Nissan GT-R R36 that is all-electric. If they do, we can only hope it has a high-powered motor on each wheel, turning the car into an all-wheel drive vehicle that can accelerate from 0 to 60 in under two seconds.
8 Why Would Nissan Abandon The Hybrid Powertrain For The R36?
The Japanese automaker has always aspired for the GT-R to be one of the world's fastest cars, which is both a goal and a task. Given stricter worldwide exhaust gas regulations, how Nissan intends to accomplish this without any type of hybridization is perplexing. It will most likely be challenging to create an electric platform that is lighter than the previous one. CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) may have a bit more freedom due to their hallmark e-POWER and EV approach, but noise laws will get stiffer starting in 2022, making things worse for super sports cars like the GT-R.
7 The New R36 Will Be The Next "Godzilla"
In the '90s, you may remember the Nissan R32 GT-R, as one of the most highly respected race cars of the time. It was praised for its exceptional handling and power and was the pride of Nissan lovers nationwide. Even today, the company has continued with the nameplate by offering a high-powered electric version, which is why it would only make sense to transform the next version of the R36 into the next true internal combustion "Godzilla" and let the R32 take the lead as the new Electric "Thunderbolt."
6 Design of the Nissan GT-R R36 Exterior
While several renderings of the upcoming R36 GT-R have been making the rounds on the web, the exterior design is believed to be heavily influenced by the Nissan Vision GT concept vehicle. } According to Japanese media, the long-awaited 2023 Nissan GT-R may feature the R35 body and undergo a big makeover rather than creating a new car from scratch, confirming that the new car may not incorporate the hybrid powertrain after all. Despite this, we anticipate that the design will be extensively altered.
To boost cooling performance for the high-performance motor, the front grille might be widened. The headlights could be outfitted with cutting-edge LED technology. The future GT-R's rear could possibly be based on the current model with minimal alterations. We can only hope that the R36 GT-R is inspired by the Italdesign GT-R50, which was sold as a limited edition of 50 examples of the current model. The GT-R50 did, however, serve as a design study for the next model. That certainly seems promising.
5 Design of the R36 Nissan GT-R Interior
The current model has straight lines to give it the sumptuous sense of a top-tier car, but the forthcoming model may add a futuristic aspect by connecting each element with curves. The new interior will also have to match modern technology and safety regulations, as well as a need for a virtual dashboard and the latest from Nissan's in-car entertainment systems.
4 A Sports Car-Turned SUV Could Be The Next Trim Level For The R36
The Ford Mustang Mach-E did something nobody ever thought possible: take a muscle car and turn it into a popular SUV that people must wait in lines to order. Turning a sports car into an SUV may be a little harder to figure out because it is difficult to get a vehicle to handle at such high levels when it is higher off the ground, but honestly, who is to say that an SUV has to be tall? A Nissan R36 Sport SUV would be popular for daily driving, nightly racing, and people who like to cruise at highway speeds. It would be an all-around vehicle that may put Ford on notice!
3 The Future Of The Nissan GT-R Does Not Include An EV SUV
The GT-R and Skyline nameplates have always been intertwined, but that stopped with the introduction of the R35 GT-R. Since 1957, the fastest Skylines proudly “wore” the GT-R badge, and dominated motorsports. While the GT-R moniker continued to be synonymous with high performance and motorsport prowess even after the R34 GT-R, the Skyline nameplate was given to more mainstream models. This included the Infiniti G35, G37, and Q50/Q60, which were sold as Nissan Skyline in Japan. They even put the Skyline Crossover nameplate on the SUV we know as the Infiniti EX50/ QX50.
Infiniti is in the process of reinventing itself… again, and it seems electrification will be a major part of that. Moreover, back in 2021, Nissan Executive Vice President, Asako Hoshiro, confirmed that the Skyline name will live on. At the same time, AutoEconomictTimes reported that Infiniti stopped production of all sedan models, meaning the future of the name will revolve around EV crossovers and SUVs. Meanwhile, the GT-R’s iconic status will ensure it will continue to be a high-performance sports car.
2 There Is Still A Chance The R36 GT-R May Give Up Electrification
Yes, we said the next-generation Nissan GT-R will come be a mild hybrid. Nissan has been moving forward with electrification, but even with all that said, a non-hybrid GT-R is still on the table. Nissan has been somewhat reluctant to electrify its sports cars, and Nissan is one of the few companies dabbling in synthetic e-fuels, similar to Porsche. A hydrogen-combustion-powered GT-R is out of the question since Nissan’s endeavors in this regard have, so far, been limited to fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The VR38 DETT is a stout unit, but it’s not all it can be.
Even in the 2024 model-year GT-R the tuner-friendly V-6 still lacks direct fuel injection, something its smaller sibling, the VR30 DDTT, has featured from the start. Other carmakers, including Ford and Chevrolet, have already added direct fuel injection in addition to the traditional, multi-port fuel injection, allowing the best from both. With that said, hybrid or not, the engine in the R36 GT-R is expected to feature some significant revisions.
1 Summing Up The Next Godzilla
According to Japanese media, two of their most iconic names, i.e., the GT-R and Z, will never die. If the R36 is only available with a gas engine, Nissan will demonstrate the internal combustion engine's future potential to the world.
We have no idea how Nissan will meet the strict emissions regulations. Perhaps they're banking on their upcoming all-electric and hybrid cars emitting low enough CO2 emissions to meet tightening requirements. Nonetheless, would the new GT-R be prohibited from being sold in more and more countries if it does not use hybrid power? Time will tell. But here's how electrification Will Save the Nissan GT-R R36.
Given the specifics of these improvements, for the sake of sales strategy, there is a strong probability that the next GT-R will be dubbed as the R36, which is a "complete model update." TopSpeed will keep you posted as more information becomes available.
FAQ
Q: Will there be a R36 GT-R?
According to Automotive News from Japan, an all-new Nissan GT-R is currently in the works
Q: Is the R36 real?
The R36 is real and the flagship Nissan Supercar is being developed as an all-new model from the ground up
Q: What engine does a R36 GT-R have?
The upcoming Nissan GT-R will most likely be powered by the VR38 DETT 3.8 liter V6, but hybridization is also a strong possibility
Q: Why is the R35 being discontinued?
Having been in production for nearly 14 years, low sales and tighter emissions norms Nissan decided to discontinue the R35 GT-R
Q: How much does a GT-R R36 cost?
The GT-R has always been priced competitively, especially when compared to its biggest rival, the Porsche 911 Turbo. Details about the R36 GT-R's price will become more clear once we inch closer to what the production model
Q: R36 GT-R release date?
Rumours suggest that the upcoming R-36 GT-R could debut as soon as early 2023, but this is subject to change