This version of Godzilla may have reached the end of the road.

No, we’re not talking about movie monster—which just won its first Oscar—we’re talking about the Nissan GT-R. The Japanese automaker unveiled the 2025 edition of its flagship sports car on Thursday. And rumor is running rampant that it will be the final R35.

Japan has released its fair share of sports cars over the decades, but there are two that sit atop the mountain—the Toyota Supra and GT-R, which is the spiritual successor to the legendary Skyline GT-R. The current generation of the latter, the R35, launched in 2009, and, earlier this month, Japanese publication Mag-X reported (via Car and Driver) that it would be discontinued following the 2025 model year and that the final version would be produced in limited numbers.

As has been the case for the majority of the R35’s lifespan, the latest GT-R is more of a refinement than an upgrade. Photos accompanying the announcement show a muscular coupé with a heavily sculpted body that looks nearly identical to last year’s refresh. There will be eight different trim levels available: Pure Edition, Black Edition, Premium Edition, Premium Edition T-Spec, Track Edition, Track Edition T-Spec, Nismo, and Nismo Special Edition, according to a press release. The two Premium variants come with a stylish new interior color called Blue Heaven. All models will feature aluminum certification plates and a gold-colored number plate in the engine bay.

Thursday’s announcement was light on specs, but the automaker did reveal that powertrains in the Premium Edition T-spec and GT-R Track Editions have been upgraded with high-precision weight-balanced piston rings, connecting rods, and crankshafts. Each version of last year’s GT-R was powered by a hand-assembled, twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6. The mill produced 565 hp and 467 ft lbs of torque in the non-Nismo variants and 600 hp and 487 ft lbs of torque in the Nismo cars. As has been the case since the R35 launched, each version of the new GT-R features all-wheel drive.

Nissan has yet to confirm or deny Mag-X’s story about the future of the R35 (and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Robb Report). The company did say that production of the 2025 car would be limited—even if it didn’t explicitly state a number—so that part of the reporting was correct. The company has yet to announce details about the U.S.-spec GT-R, including if it’s even coming, so it’s possible that confirmation about the R35’s fate could arrive soon.

Maybe then we’ll find out if its successor, which will supposedly arrive in 2030, will really be electric?

By: Bryan Hood

PUBLISHED MAR 15, 2024 ON YAHOO FINANCE UK

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