Next Godzilla waiting for the board

The future of the Nissan GT-R will not be decided until Nissan makes a corporate choice between hybrid or all-electric technology for the next-generation Godzilla.

The GT-R development team is ready to swing into action but, until the board-level decision about its powertrain is made, the talented team under Hiroshi Tamura in Yokohama, Japan can only sit and wait.

Tamura admits there is plenty of external pressure for a new Nissan GT-R, but internal work on a model to replace the sixth-generation R35, which debuted in 2007 after six years of concepts and R&D, has barely moved past thoughts and ideas.

“I have it in my mind, but not for outside. So nobody knows. I cannot tell you,” Tamura told carsales at the Australian launch of the 50th Anniversary Edition Nissan GT-R and 370Z this week.

“But I can say, imagining for a next-generation [car] is already in a chat. Talking about the solutions.”

The Nissan GT-R has been given a mild tweak for the 2020 model year, including running changes for the powertrain and chassis, but Tamura says it’s not the end of the road for the current model.

He believes the current GT-R program could easily run for 20 years without major changes to the mechanical package for the twin-turbo V6-powered all-wheel drive supercar, and points out that the existing R35 is only coming up for its 12th birthday.

“We are still just at 12 years. This body construction I want to keep for as long as possible.”

Nissan’s first Skyline GT-R was born five decades ago in 1969, but the first to be officially sold in Australia was the third-generation R32 in 1990. It became known as Godzilla after winning the Bathurst 1000 twice and the Australian Touring Car Championship three times.

But as Tamura points out, Godzilla was basically unchanged under the skin through the R32, R33 and R34 generations over 14 years, while the latest R35 was effectively renewed as recently as 2017.

“Yes, R35 is long [in terms of age]. But for model year 2017 it is almost a new body shape. The body is technology.”

Talking technology, Tamura says he is waiting for board-level choices on the powerplant for the next GT-R. He is now 58 and can see compulsory retirement coming at 60, but wants to drive the change through to the next generation.

“I have to wait. I am just the GT-R lead conductor for the orchestra. The company will show me the members of the orchestra. They need to decide who will play the violin and who will play the trumpet.”

There is strong support for the continuation of the GT-R, including from owners and fans in Australia.

“We would certainly be very encouraging of GT-R,” the managing director of Nissan Australia, Stephen Lester, told carsales.

Lester has just completed his first three-year stint in the top Nissan job in Australia and recently had his contract renewed for another year, with more one-year extensions likely to follow.

“There is a very strong heritage here in Australia, specifically, for the GT-R. It delivers an incredible brand halo opportunity for us.”

For his part, Tamura admits he feels pressure from GT-R followers.

“They are requesting for a new GT-R, but this is not easy,” he said, pointing to the tipping-point, which is tied to technology.

“My point is what kind of technology do we need to install? Twenty years is the timing of the breakthroughs in technology.

“It is easy to understand about some current expansion way, but if we need to break through … it is a different story. It depends on the company direction.”

So, since he wants to avoid stirring up speculation, Tamura eventually stops answering questions.

“I cannot tell you,” he smiles. “Basically, I cannot tell you.”

Stand by for our first review of the 50th Anniversary Nissan GT-R and 370Z Coupe this Friday.