The end of an era: Nissan GT-R bows out after nearly two decades

For nearly 20 years, the Nissan GT-R has been a dominant force in the world of performance cars, earning the nickname “Godzilla” for its relentless power and track prowess. However, its reign is coming to an end. A notice on Nissan’s official Japanese website confirms that order books for the legendary supercar are now closed. While it remains unclear how many units are still in production, one thing is certain—the GT-R is officially sold out, marking the end of an iconic chapter in Nissan’s history.

The GT-R’s exit has been years in the making. The first major blow came in July 2021, when new European noise regulations forced Nissan to withdraw the car from the market. In November of that same year, Australia followed suit due to stricter side-impact safety standards. More recently, production for North American models ceased in October 2024, leaving Japan as the car’s final stronghold. Now, with the last of the available units spoken for, the GT-R has effectively disappeared from Nissan’s lineup worldwide.

When the R35 GT-R first debuted in 2007, it instantly became Japan’s answer to the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911—a high-performance machine that could embarrass far more expensive supercars on the track. Powered by Nissan’s 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6, the GT-R originally launched with 471 horsepower, and through years of refinement, the final GT-R Nismo edition pushed that figure to an impressive 600 hp.

Despite its long production run, Nissan kept the GT-R relevant through continuous updates and two significant facelifts. While its design remained largely unchanged, the focus was always on improving the driving experience. The GT-R’s advanced all-wheel-drive system and cutting-edge technology cemented its status as one of the most capable performance cars ever built.

Although Nissan has yet to announce an immediate successor, the company’s design director has hinted that a new GT-R could arrive before 2030. Whether it will continue with internal combustion or transition to hybrid or electric power remains to be seen. One thing is for sure—the next GT-R has big shoes to fill.

For now, enthusiasts will have to say goodbye to the R35, a car that redefined what was possible in its segment. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Godzilla never truly dies—he just waits for the perfect moment to rise again.