R35 GT-R Production Ends As Nissan Drops A Teaser For What’s Coming Next
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Nissan’s GT-R earned a reputation as Japan’s “affordable” supercar killer before EVs came along and changed the game.
But the GT-R wasn’t only impressive on the straights. Despite its chunky, heavyweight proportions, stock AWD drivetrain, and auto gearbox, the GT-R and its epic VR38DETT engine quickly became legendary in the drifting scene as well.
Where The R35 GT-R’s Legacy Began
After an eight-year hiatus following the discontinuation of the Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R, the R35 was unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.
It featured a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 assembled by a team of four ‘Takumi’ master craftsmen. At its launch, it was a game-changer, producing 473 horsepower in stock form.
It quickly earned a “budget supercar killer” reputation, clocking 0–60 mph in under 3.5 seconds and out-accelerating plenty of exotic cars at the time, including the $350k Lamborghini Murciélago.
However, the tuning potential became clear, and builds exceeding 1,000 horsepower soon became the norm, as they started dominating track and drag racing scenes worldwide.
Over its 18-year production run, the R35 GT-R remained largely unchanged from its original formula. While it received continual upgrades (some arguably too minor to justify), it fundamentally stayed the same.
However, Nissan officially announced that the final R35 GT-R has now left the factory.
The GT-R’s Later Evolution
Many of the later updates became the talk of internet gossip, offering such minor, insignificant changes that even hardcore enthusiasts could barely spot the difference.
However, the twin-turbo VR38DETT’s 473-horsepower output at the start saw huge increases over the years.
By 2010, it was pushing 530 hp, then 545 hp for 2013, and eventually 565 hp in its later years.
The most impressive was the NISMO variant, which not only included styling changes but also boasted a wild 600 horsepower, achieving a 0-60 time of 2.7 seconds in stock form.
Pair that with a 6-year, 60,000-mile warranty and everyday practicality, and it’s easy to see why it was so popular. Many GT-Rs are for sale with no issues and well over 100,000 miles on the clock.
It Soon Became A Gamechanger For Drifting
Although born as a heavyweight AWD grip monster, the R35 GT-R soon made its mark in the drifting world.
While lighter RWD platforms, like the Silvia S-chassis, are usually the drifting staples, the unconventional ‘Godzilla’ arrived with a statement.
Masato Kawabata was the first to unveil a GT-R drift car in Japan’s D1GP series in 2014. See how snappy the transitions are despite its size:
His build went on to help him achieve a Guinness World Record for the fastest drift ever recorded in a GT-R, with a tuned VR38DETT pushing out 1,361 hp.
That specific car, backed by Nissan and Trust/GReddy, designed for the world record attempt, hit a wild 304.96 km/h (189.5 mph) on a UAE runway.
GT-R builds also began appearing in other competitions, such as Simon Perry’s Team Lassa GT-R in the British Drift Championship.
Daigo Saito also joined the party (of course!), strapping the HKS GT1000 twin-turbo kit onto the VR38DETT for his 1,000 hp build.
The VR38DETT Is One Of The Greatest Engines Ever, Too
Beyond the bulky R35 chassis, drifters began to take advantage of the all-aluminum VR38 in lighter RWD packages.
Three-time Formula DRIFT champion Chris Forsberg ditched V8s in favor of the VR38DETT. His latest FD build, the 2023 Nissan Z, uses a 1,300 hp, 1,300 lb·ft VR38.
The Jerry Yang Racing Team runs the VR38DETT, and Hiroya Minowa, driving his Toyota GT86, continues to cause upsets in FD. While it wasn’t the return his teammate Daigo Saito hoped for, Wataru Masuyama recently had a strong debut in the same car following Saito’s visa drama.
Meanwhile, drag racers pushed more than 3,000 whp out of the VR38DETT. It’s safe to say that it probably invalidated the warranty!
Farewell, For Now, GT-R
The GT-R leaves one of the most impressive legacies in motorsport and on the road.
It proved that huge power and reliability didn’t need insane price tags and continued to make its point for nearly 20 years.
Despite its original intention, it became the fastest drift car ever, and still dominates global drag racing strips.
“Godzilla” earned its name, and it’ll stay a legend. The VR38DETT will undoubtedly continue to thrive in the drift scene.
It’s not necessarily the end. Nissan’s new boss, Ivan Espinosa, made this official statement:
“After 18 remarkable years, the R35 GT-R has left an enduring mark on automotive history. Its legacy is a testament to the passion of our team and the loyalty of our customers around the globe. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. To the many fans of the GT-R worldwide, I want to tell you this isn’t a goodbye to the GT-R forever, it’s our goal for the GT-R nameplate to one day make a return.”
“We understand the expectations are high, the GT-R badge is not something that can be applied to just any vehicle; it is reserved for something truly special and the R35 set the bar high. So, all I can ask is for your patience. While we don’t have a precise plan finalised today, the GT-R will evolve and reemerge in the future.”
We can’t wait to see what’s next!
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
