All There Is To Know About The R36 Nissan GT-R: Hybrid Engine, A New Chassis, And More

The Nissan GT-R's fourth generation, the R35, lasted a good long time. The better part of a decade and a half, in fact. By the end of its 13 years, the GT-R was inarguably getting old. The coupe was phased out in 2024, with no clear successor in sight. However, since then, news of the GT-R's replacement has begun to circulate, though not all at once. In an attempt to remedy that and bring some consistency to the facts (and rumors) behind the upcoming model, we've put everything we know in one place.

What Will Power The New Nissan GT-R?

The big question mark in the story of the new GT-R is the car's powertrain. Previously, Nissan was able to use a twin-turbo V6. It remained in the GT-R, largely unchanged, until 2024. In its final form, the VR38DETT made 565 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque in the 2024 GT-R. However, global emissions regulations have changed a lot since that engine was introduced, and it's become abundantly clear that Nissan will need some form of electrification. Nissan's Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for North America, has said the car will be a hybrid, but not fully electrified.

"We do know it's going to need some level of electrification. And it can't just be electrification for the sake of electrification. It still needs to be a capable performer – Nürburgring, multiple laps, hold lap timing records. And that balance is what's actually delaying the introduction of the next generation," he said. The GT-R will need it for two reasons: emissions and performance. The latter is arguably more important, at least if Nissan wants to sell the GT-R anywhere besides the US.

For now, we know a full EV isn't in the cards. Instead, the GT-R will ride on a new platform built around this hybrid V6 engine, likely an evolution of the VR83. However, it's not clear if the platform will be exclusive to the GT-R, or if Nissan will use a scalable one able to be used on other sports cars like the upcoming Z and Skyline. It's likely the car will continue to use an automatic transmission and Nissan's all-wheel drive system as well.

Need New Tires? Save Up To 30% at Tire Rack

Find the perfect tires for your exact vehicle and driving style. Click here to shop all top-tier brands, including Michelin, Bridgestone, and more, directly at Tire Rack.

What Will The New GT-R Look Like?

Nissan probably doesn't want to deviate too much from the GT-R's formula, both under the hood and aesthetically. That should mean a few design trademarks carry through, like the coupe's four sequential tail lights and its large, open grille. Like the Z before it, we expect a bit of retro flair as well. Nissan did this beautifully in the Z, and we wouldn't be surprised if the new GT-R leaned into the retro vibe more than previous generations. It's all anyone seems to be doing with their supercars these days.

Inside, expect another continuation. The GT-R should bring the R35's penchant for screens and next-gen tech to the forefront once again, which means lots of displays, drive modes, and probably customization. There'll probably be a litany of drive modes to play with and, hopefully, a few that allow you to fine-tune the all-wheel drive system.

When Will The Next GT-R Come Out?

The GT-R could be here by 2030. Some Nissan execs have even said to expect concrete news on the new coupe by 2028. However, according to The Drive, political uncertainty is also playing havoc on the GT-R's launch timeframe. Pandikuthira told the outlet that he believes the biggest obstacle the GT-R faces is emissions. The current GT-R, he says, had to be "sunsetted" because it couldn't clear emissions standards. But President Trump has eliminated enforcement for some emissions regulations, opening the door again. That's not what Nissan is worried about. It frets over the inevitable correction.

But the unknown, the big unknown is which way are emissions regulations going to go? We currently have a reprieve with the current administration. They've backed off on a lot of the regulations. And so there's many things we can do today, but we don't know if we can do them maybe post '28 or post '32. And so that's what's actually slowing down the development of what we want this car to be.

All that said, Nissan is still hopeful regarding its current timeline: "So the reason I said 2028 is that's when we'll actually know if there's going to be a change in the administration, and then we'll find out a trajectory of what emissions will look like, and then that'll solidify the plans."

How Much Will The New GT-R Cost?

Pricing for the new GT-R is a total unknown. There's nothing but speculation out there at the moment, but it's not like the outgoing model was cheap. The 2024 GT-R started at $122,885. That's before any options or special editions, to say nothing of the high-dollar, high-performance NISMO model. Expect a similarly high asking price in four to six years when the GT-R does actually hit dealerships.

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM.