Nissan's Godzilla Will Return To Destroying Porsches And Corvettes With More Power And More Tech

Godzilla, leaving destruction in its wake, satisfied with the damage done, has retreated back into the ocean from whence it came. For now, humanity is safe from the fire-breathing monster, but we know that it will once again rear its ugly head and dominate the roadways and race tracks of the world. Nissan North America's Senior VP and Chief Planning Officer, Ponz Pandikuthira, told The Drive during this week's New York auto show, that the R36-generation GT-R is coming, and sooner than you might think. "I'd say by 2028 you'll see some concrete announcements," commented Pandikuthira, "and hopefully before the decade turns you'll see an R36 GT-R."

He wasn't too cagey on the details, either, letting The Drive know that the car will debut on an all-new chassis with a powertrain that is "mostly new." Hints flew that the car needs to be a global car, which means meeting Euro 7 emissions regulations, which is a major reason why the R35 met its demise. Updating the V38 engine with a more efficient rotating assembly and updated better-flowing heads will help, but it seems Nissan will need hybrid power to get the GT-R over the emissions hump. 

Nissan teased an electric future for the GT-R with 2023's Hyper Force Concept, but it seems with the recent walking back of EV ambitions worldwide, the company's super sports machine will slide right back into its gasoline-burning ways with some help from an electric motor or two. Perhaps Nissan can get back to the GT-R's budget Porsche-beater status with this next generation, but now it'll have to go toe to toe with Chevrolet's hybrid hypercar Corvette ZR1-X. If you're looking for a whole lot of speed in the low six-figure price bracket, there's a whole lot to get excited about in 2026. 

"The next generation GTR will need some level of electrification," Pandikuthira mentioned to The Drive. "So, does it need to be a full EV? Probably not, but it does need to have some level of electrification to meet, to future proof, emissions compatibility."

It sounds to me like he's hinting at a revival of the twin-turbocharged V6 engine that has powered the GT-R since the R35 generation began way back in 2007. Nissan has an opportunity to blow the whole industry away again, like it did when the R35 made its debut. Can Nissan take the party to Porsche and Corvette, giving incredible straight line speed and track prowess to the masses for considerably less than either brand? The GT-R has long been known for its techno-wizardry, so if Nissan can develop some new system that helps an average driver run a faster lap time, this is the car to use it for. 

With 2030 just a handful of years away, Nissan is for sure working on this right now, and has a chance to get enthusiasts talking about the company again. I'd like to see something in the realm of four-figure system horsepower, ludicrous braking, control that optimizes mid-corner speed, and rocketship acceleration. There is precedent for this from Nissan, and I think we're all rooting for the company to return to what it does best. The future of Nissan's place in the enthusiast zeitgeist is on the line here, please don't mess it up.