Nissan's upcoming GT-R will feature a hybrid powertrain, retain the VR38 engine block, and is expected to launch by 2030.
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Godzilla isn't finished; it's simply taking a break and being reimagined as a hybrid.
On Wednesday at the 2026 New York Auto Show, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, shared exclusively with The Drive that “I’d expect some definitive announcements by 2028, and ideally, before the decade concludes, you'll see the R36 GT-R.”
According to Pandikuthira, there is a dedicated group of enthusiasts in Japan working on the next-generation GT-R within Nissan.
He stated that the R36 “has to be” built on a new chassis and “it’s going to be a completely new car.”
Interestingly, he mentioned that “the powertrain is going to be mostly new.” The word mostly is significant.
“If there were to be a hybrid powertrain, the block of that VR38 engine (the one used in the R35 GT-R) is too excellent to discard. Why would you get rid of it? However, the combustion components may need significant changes. The heads might be quite different. The pistons could be altered. So we may need to modify the top end,” Pandikuthira explained.
He pointed out that the R35’s powertrain wouldn’t fulfill emissions standards in various regions, and he “wants this to be a global car.” This implies that the R36 must adhere to and surpass stringent upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations.
“The next-gen GT-R will require some form of electrification,” Pandikuthira noted. However, he added, “Does it need to be a full EV? Probably not, but it must include some level of electrification to ensure it meets future emissions compatibility.”
While the approach will change, the objectives and expectations remain unchanged. Pandikuthira mentioned Nürburgring, the location where the R35 GT-R was refined and tested outside Japan.
In 2025, Pandikuthira informed The Drive that the next-gen GT-R is set to be a hybrid, expected to debut in three to five years. What was initially considered an all-electric successor has transformed into what appears to be a twin-turbo V6 hybrid revival. Enthusiasts of the R35’s VR38 engine can take comfort in the fact that Nissan plans to start with a cherished foundation that is known to handle more power than the factory version delivered.
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Nissan's upcoming GT-R will feature a hybrid powertrain, retain the VR38 engine block, and is expected to launch by 2030.
Nissan America's president exclusively informed The Drive that the powertrain of the Nissan R36 GT-R will be largely new.