What made the GT-R one of the Automotive Greats

When you think of Nissan, the last words that would come to mind is of a car that can outperform Europe’s finest. But alas, in 2007, at the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan introduced its magnum opus. The R35 GT-R was part of its Revival Plan under the then-CEO Carlos Ghosn. Many just assumed it to be the long awaited successor for the Skyline GT-R, but what it was in fact was the biggest advancement in the automotive sector.

A lot of technology that cars for the last two decades have revelled in owes their thanks to the yardstick set by the R35 GT-R. Every single part, from its nitrogen-filled tyres, it’s hand-built 3.8l twin-turbo V6, its innovative 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it’s unique four-wheel drive system, it’s perfectly scoped aerodynamics, and its astonishing launch control system was simply there to showcase to the world what true performance was.

And it certainly did that. The first R35s averaged 473 horsepower, 443 lb-ft of torque, and maxed at 197mph, which at the time was rapid but nothing ground-breaking. But thanks to the unparalleled launch control, the nitrogen-filled tyres, the dual-clutch gearbox, and the aerodynamics, they would do 0-62mph in a staggering 3.4 seconds, quicker accelerating than almost anything from Italy, Germany, Britain, or America at the time.

And by the time any rival could catch up to a GT-R, they were left wailing and failing at how quickly it cornered. On average, a GT-R could generate 1.26G in a corner, and the net result of this was an astonishing time of 7:38.54 around the Nurburgring. And no supercar or sports car from Europe or America could even get close to that time for the longest of times. The GT-R had truly redefined performance.

But what was most astonishing was that the GT-R wasn’t some million-dollar track-hard, uncouth abomination. Beneath the somewhat ugly exterior was an ordinary car, with four seats, sat-nav, Bluetooth, Phone Connectivity, and a decently sized boot. A car that brand new costed nearly $70,000, half the price of performance cars that were all considerably slower and less practical.

It wasn’t until McLaren started building road cars in 2011 that we ever saw such astonishing value for money in performance. Actually, scratch that, because remember, McLarens are delicate purpose built machines, the GT-R was just an ordinary car. A car you could take to work on one day and then humiliate hypercars (minus a Bugatti Veyron) on the next. Small wonder, it earned the nicknames “Godzilla” and the "supercar killer”.

Rise and Fall of the GT-R

Over the years, Nissan tweaked the recipe of the GT-R several times over, adding more power and fettling with the suspension. They really hit the sweet spot in 2014, with the V6 now generating 542 horsepower and 0-62mph taking just 2.8 seconds. This year also saw the introduction of the Nismo, a hardcore, 600-horsepower track-focused variant of the GT-R. The GT-R had truly hit its peak.

However, after 2015 or so, the GT-R began to struggle somewhat. The 2010s will forever be one of the greatest decades in the automotive world for this is when cars truly hit their peak. The Europeans and the Americans were now using far more advanced tech to ensure their cars maximised performance to the nth degree. Cars of the 10s felt decades ahead of cars of the 00s.

Yet Nissan were still using relatively the same recipe that they had used in the GT-R for almost a decade at this point. Still the same 6-speed dual clutch gearbox, the same 3.8l twin-turbo V6, the same all-wheel drive system, and the same aerodynamics. The exact advancements that had given it an edge once were now limitations that now evidently held it back.

What was once a gamechanger that humiliated rivals costing double or three times as much was now just another fast car, that wasn’t on the same level as Europe’s finest. A car that was now evidently out of its depth. It was also clear that the GT-R was costing Nissan dearly. Nissan’s global product chief, Pierre Loing, explained: “The GT-R’s been on sale for 17 years, and we’d love to make it another 17 years, but the regulator gives us some trouble.”

By this, he was referring to the ever more stringent regulations across the world that ultimately played a role in the GT-R’s demise. By 2021, the GT-R was banned from Australia for not meeting the crash-test regulations. A year later, Europe and the UK waved goodbye to the GT-R after it failed both noise and emissions regulations. And just last year, the US markets phased the GT-R out after failing to meet the stronger regulations.

The Final GT-R: The End Has Finally Come

Over its long production run, 37 percent of GT-Rs stayed in Japan, which, though a lot was never enough to justify the cost of building such a benchmark. Ultimately, the GT-R stood out amongst its predecessors for its global availability, something most JDM cars never were. Ultimately, this resulted last year in the final specs of GT-R being commissioned as the T-spec Takumi and Skyline variants.

And so, on the 27th August 2025, after 18 years and nearly 48,000 cars, the final R35 GT-R rolled off the production line at Nissan’s Tochigi plant in Japan. This final encore is a Premium Edition T-Spec finished in Midnight Purple with gold wheels. It will be delivered to a lucky customer in Japan. Such was the impact of this moment that remarkably, Nissan’s engineers halted production just to celebrate this end of an era.

Even Nissan’s Boss Ivan Espinosa noted how significant the GT-R has been and how the final production is more than just an end of an era. He stated, “After 18 remarkable years, the R35 GT-R has left an enduring mark on automotive history. Its legacy is a testament to the passion of our team and the loyalty of our customers around the globe. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey.”

What’s coming next: The Plans for the R36

At present, it’s uncertain to know what the future holds for the GT-R . Loing has noted the many long gaps between GT-Rs, like how it was 16 years between the Kenmari Skyline GT-R and the R32, and likewise five years between the R34 and R35. Loing then questioned, “What is a GT-R in an era of electrification? We don’t have all the answers yet. We are in the middle of all those debates.”

Espinosa stated, “To the many fans of the GT-R worldwide, I want to tell you this isn’t a goodbye to the GT-R forever; it’s our goal for the GT-R nameplate to one day make a return. We understand the expectations are high; the GT-R badge is not something that can be applied to just any vehicle. It is reserved for something truly special, and the R35 set the bar high.”

“So, all I can ask is for your patience. While we don’t have a precise plan finalized today, the GT-R will evolve and reemerge in the future.” Nissan are currently doing research in solid state batteries, which promise higher density, faster charging times, improved safety, and performance. A real innovation that could push the boat forward, but whether this should be used within the R36, is yet to be disclosed.

But the question is, should there be an R36 GT-R? It’s all well and good wanting there to be another, but one must ask, why did the R35 GT-R last for 18 years, when it was clearly out of date for 9 of those years? Well, put simply, maybe they’d struck gold and didn’t know how to improve upon it. Maybe the R35 GT-R was so damn brilliant and game-changing, the engineers at Nissan will never know how to build a game-changer ever again.

Nissan’s Magnum Opus: One of the Greatest Cars Ever

Every manufacturer has its Magnum opus car, it’s GOAT, it’s a masterclass, it’s a game-changer. Ferrari had the F40, McLaren had the F1, Lamborghini had the Countach, Bugatti had the Veyron, BMW had the M5, Audi had the Quattro, and Porsche had the 911. And it’s evidently clear from this article that Nissan’s Magnum Opus was the GT-R. But enthusiasts will question, which GT-R?

A lot will say the R32 due to its dominance in Touring Car Racing, some would say the R34 for being the face of JDM. But, honestly, in my opinion, the greatest GT-R is the R35. Unlike any GT-R before, it wasn’t just an improved Skyline, it was its own car, purpose built as a full on speed machine. And as mentioned above, the R35 completely changed the automotive landscape for the better.

So many innovations we’re so used to on supercars were brought about by this masterpiece. The GT-R ran so many other manufacturers could fly. And it did it for a fraction of the price of all of its competitors. It’s more than just Nissan’s Magnum Opus, it’s the greatest car to come out of Japan. And more than that, it’s arguably one of the greatest cars ever made. The R35 GT-R might be over, but its legendary legacy is forever.

F1rstMotors Facts and Figures

Manufacturer	Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
Model	GT-R
Code	R35 T-Spec
Year of Release	2025
Engine	3.8l Twin-Turbo V6
Horsepower	565 hp
Torque	467 lb–ft
0–62mph (100km/h)	2.8 seconds
Top Speed	196 mph (315 km/h)
Weight	1,760kg (1.8 tonnes)
Power to Weight	321 hp per tonne
Gearbox	6-speed dual clutch
Driven Wheels	All Wheel Drive

Source: TopGear