Fans Don’t Need To Worry About The Next-Gen Nissan GT-R

After this year, the Nissan GT-R, as we know it, is officially dead. Much is uncertain about the GT-R’s future, although the Japanese automaker has already confirmed that the nameplate will live on in the era of electrification. Yes, an electric GT-R, but Nissan’s vice president for design in Europe, Matthew Weaver, has assured fans that the next version will have “Godzilla” elements.

In an interview with Top Gear, Weaver said that as much as they want to evolve things, iconic nameplates like the GT-R will pull cues from the outgoing model, particularly in terms of aero, speed, and performance. He added that it’s never about creating a beautifully designed car – much to the chagrin of the critics of the Hyper Force, the wildly designed concept car pegged to be the next GT-R. Weaver further shared that Nissan “will add certain ‘Godzilla’ elements in where we can.”

What Makes The GT-R The Godzilla?

While Weaver’s statement about adding certain Godzilla elements sounds vague, it’s important to know how the Nissan GT-R got its cool moniker. A gander at the nameplate’s history points us to Nissan’s performance in motorsports in the ’90s when the then Skyline GT-R R32 won every competition it entered, including the Australian Touring Car Championships, Japanese Touring Car Championship, and Bathurst 1000.

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This sheer dominance led to the media calling the Skyline GT-R the Godzilla, referring to the fictional, gigantic creature that conquered Hollywood and toy stores worldwide. Godzilla’s “King of the Monsters” status befitted the car’s supremacy at the time, which led to the nickname sticking even with the next iterations of the nameplate.

What Can We Expect Then?

Does this mean the next GT-R will be ready for professional racing when it arrives? We certainly hope so, but Weaver added in the interview that Nissan’s rich racing heritage is something the automaker can tap into in the future. Plus, Nissan’s several years in Formula E, the electric equivalent of Formula 1, should give it a leg up if this pushes through.

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What Should Nissan Do With The Next GT-R?

The R35 Nissan GT-R is officially ending production. What should replace it?

For now, we’re pretty much working with conjecture and every slightest hint Nissan has provided so far. Nothing’s certain except for electrification (thanks to emission regulations), but Weaver confirmed that even so, the next GT-R “should still have an emotional attachment to it.” We certainly hope so.

Source:
Top Gear