Nissan's 'Godfather of GT-R' Aims for Future Models to Be Fueled by Gasoline.

      Larry Chen/Nissan

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      The production of the R35 Nissan GT-R officially concluded this week, marking the end of an 18-year journey, with no successor expected to debut soon. While the Chief Planning Officer for North America at Nissan discussed the tentative “R36” in detail earlier this year—envisioned to be turbocharged and electrified, boasting over 600 horsepower—he projected its arrival between 2028 and 2031. That’s still quite some time away.

      It appears that Nissan has a lot of work ahead to meet that timeline, but that hasn’t deterred Hiroshi Tamura—the Chief Product Specialist for the R35, known as the “Godfather of the GT-R”—from sharing his vision for the future. To give you a hint: he would prefer to retain the internal combustion engine.

      “For any future generation of GT-R, it’s merely my personal preference, but I would still like there to be some hint of a combustion chamber note,” Tamura stated in a recent interview released by Nissan. “Again, this isn’t an indication of the company’s intentions or a hint at any possible direction for Nissan, but simply my personal view.”

      It’s worth mentioning that Tamura has since stepped down from his role in GT-R planning and is now serving as an ambassador for Nissan’s sports cars. This is a fitting role for him, having witnessed the roar of Hakosuka Skylines at Fuji Speedway and having daily driven a 240ZG back in the 1970s.

      On the left, Tamura stands with his 240ZG. On the right, he is alongside the R34 GT-R V-Spec II Nür during its launch. Nissan

      It’s clear that Tamura’s preferences resonate with many. He emphasizes another vital aspect concerning the GT-R's future, which should make the wait for whatever comes next a little easier for fans.

      “The starting point and goal should always be to bring a smile to the customer’s face and deliver genuine driving pleasure,” Tamura remarked. “I urge people to be patient; we had a 17-year gap between the second generation and the R32, but Nissan never lost faith in the GT-R.”

      Tamura and his personal R35 GT-R, finished in Gun Grey Metallic with R34 wheels. Nissan

      The GT-R badge may indeed have been dormant before the R32 debuted in 1989, but it's arguable that the icon reached its golden era in the following decade. Despite its recent challenges and corporate changes, Nissan still views the GT-R as its guiding star, maintaining awareness of its significance to the brand and clearly aiming to preserve that legacy. Until then, feel free to read Tamura’s complete interview. His comments are both nostalgic and inspiring, leaving us hopeful for unwritten chapters in the GT-R’s story.

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