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Nissan’s Game-Changing GT-R Supercar Headed For Reinvention

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Are the GT-R’s days numbered? Could this be the Nissan supercar’s swan song performance? We consulted our crystal ball, but all the signs point to a resounding “yes.” After 17 years, and numerous iterations and special editions, the mighty Nissan GT-R—affectionately known in motoring circles as ‘Godzilla’—appears to be heading for retirement. And from what we’re hearing, it’ll be replaced by a fully electric 1,341-hp reincarnation within a few years. More on that a little later.

Nissan has not officially announced the gasoline-powered GT-R's demise, but it did, as expected, unveil the revised 2025 GT-R Premium Edition T-Spec and the GT-R Track Edition by Nismo for the Japanese market last week.

The new models have not changed much apart from a gorgeous Blue Heaven interior upholstery on the Premium Edition, plus a few other tweaks, which we expect will be on the base vehicle in the U.S. The current model year version is priced at $122,000 so we can expect a slight uptick on sticker price for the new model.

The GT-R of course still employs the prodigious, handmade 3.8-liter V6 twin turbo, AWD drivetrain pumping out 565-hp and 467 lb-ft of torque and mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. According to Car and Driver, the game-changing GT-R can sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds, putting it in true supercar territory. And by using the car’s brilliant launch control, pretty much anyone with a license and a clear piece of tarmac can achieve this feat. I’ve done it numerous times.

Other modifications for this “final” version include weight-balanced piston rings, connecting rods, and crankshafts that were previously only available on the NISMO Special Edition for the T-Spec and Track Edition, which is engineered by NISMO for snappier rev response and faster turbo spooling. In the engine bay, these models also include gold-colored number plates and aluminium certification plates.

The timing of Nissan's statement is consistent with the story from Japanese publication Best Car stating the this version “appears final,” even if the company doesn't explicitly state that this is the last GT-R. Additionally, while Nissan is not clear with final production numbers—announcing just that “production is limited,” specialist scoop magazine Mag X says that its research hints at a maximum of 1500 ‘Final’ GT-Rs will be produced in 2025.

The 2025 Nissan GT-R is already on sale in Japan with the first deliveries expected in June. Prices have been increased marginally compared to last year, starting from ¥14,443,000 ($95,000) for the entry-level GT-R Pure Edition and climbing to ¥30,613,000 ($202,000) for the most expensive extreme GT-R Nismo Special Edition.

One major hint that this version is the end of the road for a gasoline-powered GT-R came late last year with the surprise unveiling of the fully electric 1,340-hp four-wheel-drive Hyper Force concept—that looked like an edgy ‘Transformers’ version of the current GT-R at the Japan Mobility Show. Check out that story below.

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