The release of the next Nissan GT-R is being delayed due to political factors in America.

      Nissan

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      Godzilla is making a comeback. The Nissan GT-R is not extinct; it's merely in hibernation, but efforts are already underway to revive it. However, it seems there are external challenges affecting this process.

      In Yokohama, Japan, during the most recent episode of The Drivecast, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, exclusively informed The Drive that the current uncertainty in U.S. politics is delaying the development of the next-generation GT-R.

      You can listen to the full conversation starting from the point where Pandikuthira explains how political factors are introducing uncertainty into the future of the next GT-R.

      Pandikuthira stated, “The main issue with the current GT-R is that it failed to meet emissions standards. There were too many modifications required for the car that would essentially stifle the powertrain to comply with the latest emission regulations. Therefore, it was certainly time to phase out that model. Our goal is to ensure the next-generation GT-R is future-proof, allowing it to have a long lifespan and to continuously evolve. However, the major uncertainty is the direction emissions regulations will take. We currently have some leeway with this administration, which has relaxed many regulations. We can implement several things now, but we're uncertain about what will be possible post-2028 or 2032. This uncertainty is indeed hindering the development of the car we envision.”

      He added, “That said, there’s a dedicated group of individuals, as Ivan has confirmed, who are enthusiastically working in Japan to bring the GT-R back. They are truly passionate about this vehicle.”

      In 2025, Pandikuthira revealed that the next-generation GT-R would be a hybrid and is expected to debut in 3 to 5 years. Earlier this month, it was disclosed that it will retain the R35’s VR38 engine block. Newly appointed Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa, who has been in his position for just over a year, confirmed to The Drive that “we are already working on the GT-R,” as noted by Pandikuthira.

      The 3- to 5-year timeline is influenced by political factors. Pandikuthira explained, “The reason I mentioned 2028 is that’s when we will have clarity on whether there will be a change in administration, which will inform the direction of emissions regulations, thus solidifying our plans. However, you can’t just start in 2028. Much of the preliminary work will need to be conducted beforehand. Nevertheless, with Ivan as CEO now, I believe it will take precedence and we should be able to provide clear announcements by 2028 regarding when we can expect to see the new GT-R in dealerships.”

      A lot is set to unfold at Nissan before the next GT-R is launched. Espinosa has just unveiled a substantial turnaround strategy that will streamline the model lineup while retaining the most valued offerings. A series of frame-based vehicles will be introduced in the U.S. beginning in 2028, starting with the new Xterra.

      While Nissan aims to sell a significant number of Rogue crossover SUVs, its enthusiast CEO indicated to The Drive that “sports cars are at the heart of our identity as a company.” He is not alone in this sentiment; the executive team is composed of true automotive enthusiasts. Richard Candler, who oversees Nissan’s global corporate product strategy, shared with The Drive, “We are thoroughly reassessing our sports car lineup. We want to create some exciting vehicles.”

      While awaiting the return of the GT-R, Pandikuthira recommends, “Try driving on the Hakone Skyline Road. I highly suggest renting a car and cruising along the Ashinoko-Skyline Hakone Toll Road, which is where the GT-R was developed. When I lived in Japan, I owned an R35 GT-R, and that road is perfect for it. The team working on the GT-R is out there every weekend, enjoying their cars. They are dedicated to finding the best way to bring back the GT-R, ensuring that when the time is right, the car will be exceptional.”

      One thing is clear: Nissan’s GT-R vision will materialize, and the next-generation model will indeed be gasoline-powered.

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