On August 25, production of the Nissan GT-R ended after 18 years. A small ceremony was held in Nissan’s Tochigi factory, surrounded by line workers who assembled the car and takumi craftsmen who hand-built 48,000 twin-turbo V6s over the years. The GT-R leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that likely won’t be matched again. It’s been around so long that it’s easy to forget what the automotive landscape was like when it debuted in 2007, but it arrived with perfect timing during a bleak time in Japan’s auto industry.
I’ve seen a lot of people online worried that Nissan is gonna bring it back as an SUV. I don’t think Nissan is THAT stupid. Yes, there’s a Skyline crossover, but the GT-R departed from the Skyline name over 20 years ago, and the Skyline is practically the Japanese Mustang, as unanimous over there as the Mustang is stateside. Plus it’s not like has completely dropped the ball – I mean, look at the new Z. I mean, yes, it’s underpinned by a 17-year old chassis, it’s overpriced, and it’s pudgy as can be, (but I mean, what isn’t nowadays,) but, in my eyes, it’s proof that Nissan wants to try. They still want to make sports cars. They understand the value of these nameplates, and what they mean to the brand’s identity, and they’re not going to waste it on some undercooked crossover that no enthusiast would want and that crossover buyers won’t recognize the name of. I really hope Nissan backs me up here. I have faith that they will.
Fly high, GT-R. Thank you for 18 years. We can’t wait for your return.
+1.
I think Nissan is in the beginning stages of its re-organization. Their CEO looks to have laid out a plan as well as strong leadership to bring the company back to its former glory. It was time to end GT-R production, that sucker was evolutionized to the point that you couldn’t really update anymore. But even to this day, I hear folks say “GT-R” as their dream car, and respect to that.
I wonder what Nissan will do to fill the GT-R void, maybe put that effort into further refining the Z? Or start sprinkling that DNA into their future manual-transmissioned four-door sedan!
Very nice sendoff piece.
Nissan: please don’t make the next one an EV. Or a hybrid.
I remember when the GT-R came out and all of the things you mentioned about the weight, the lack of manual trans, and the looks were all a huge deal! Now in 2025 those things are far more normal and accepted and 3900 pounds isn’t even considered all that heavy. I still don’t love the GT-R, but you have to admire the life of this car and all of its achievements.
As I get older I like it more and think about how the GT-R would be a nice contrast in the garage to something more raw.