Nissan Confirms Hybrid GT-R R36 by 2030

Nissan North America's Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer, Ivan Espinosa (Ponzi Pandikuthira), recently confirmed that the next-generation GT-R (codenamed R36) will adopt a hybrid powertrain, abandoning a pure-electric solution, and is scheduled for official launch before 2030. The development timeline has been extended—and the launch delayed from the original schedule—due to the need to simultaneously comply with stringent global emissions regulations and meet Nürburgring-level durability performance requirements. The current GT-R R35 will cease production in 2025, concluding an 18-year product lifecycle that began in 2007. Building on its predecessor, the R36 will uphold the "Godzilla" legacy, retaining the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged VR38 V6 engine architecture while featuring redesigned cylinder heads, pistons, intake and exhaust systems, and upper engine structure. A new hybrid system will be integrated to enhance low-end torque response, fuel efficiency, and emissions performance. The new model will continue to feature core performance technologies such as the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system and torque vectoring, aiming to further refine power delivery, track endurance, and driver feedback. Nissan emphasized that the GT-R, as a brand icon, must endure; its electrification strategy is not merely about regulatory compliance but also about ensuring the car can complete multiple high-speed laps consecutively at the Nürburgring while maintaining its legendary lap-time benchmarks—a key reason behind the development delay.