Is Godzilla Gone? Sources Say Nissan's GT-R May Be On The Chopping Block!

A source close to the project tells Inside Line that the next Nissan GT-R has not yet been approved for production. Company CEO Carlos Ghosn, we're told, has not given the go-ahead to design and engineer the car. And he may never give it the green light.

In other words, it's possible that the Nissan GT-R in its modern form is a one-hit wonder.

Five years ago, the GT-R created a global phenomenon due to its combination of extreme performance, high technology and low price. Since then, Nissan's engineers have been slowly refining the R35 with subtle changes to its styling, suspension and engine output.

But all that time we assumed an all-new, fully redesigned model was in the works, possibly for the 2014 model year. There has even been speculation that the next-generation GT-R would get a hybrid drivetrain to keep it on the good side of the efficiency scale.

Now, it's increasingly looking like that's not going to happen.

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dlin - 7/27/2012 3:16:08 PM

+4 Boost

It doesn't need to, since the 3 German rivals haven't been able to catch up. :)

pcar4evr - 7/27/2012 5:52:24 PM

-2 Boost

The GT-R is a price/performance icon, but only desirable to a very small segment of people that can actually afford a $100K car. But, Nissan made a mistake in creating a car that is both unappealing visually and rather boring to drive on the street. It simply does not have what it takes to compete in the $100K+ segment from a desirability perspective, and the sales number reflect this. But, it will be a shame to lose this unique vehicle - hopefully the article is wrong.

AlleVier - 7/27/2012 4:07:24 PM

+2 Boost

Some time back, after Nissan had improved the already insane 0-60 sprint on the GT-R and all the admirers of its performance for value were foaming at the mouth, I had the nerve to post that I'd be more impressed if I got the sense that the price was honest. In other words, I didn't think they weren't making money on it and were merely employing the time-honored (but not fool-proof) tactic of introducing a product at a low price and hoping that the subsequent price increases didn't get noticed before it could be profitable.

I'm not sure the tactic prevailed. The price of the GT-R has gone up nearly 40% in 5 years, which is a lot for something that essentially offered mostly track-based performance bragging rights, a hint of cult-status hipness, and little in the way of style, luxury, or prestige (no matter how subjective or full-of-shit it may all be). Sales have tapered lately and it may suggest that there was a limit to what someone would pay for a Nissan-badged automobile.

Given the management shuffle at Infiniti, I wouldn't be surprised if the GT-R were going to be re-branded as an Infiniti at some point. It has about as much relevance to Nissan branding as Corvette to Chevrolet and could certainly make a good halo car for Infiniti.

AlleVier - 7/27/2012 4:11:15 PM

+1 Boost

I didn't think they [WERE] making money on it, that is.

Designer1 - 7/27/2012 4:48:34 PM

+2 Boost

It would be horrible for Nissan to stop producing this car. It's like what happened to their product line when Nissan and Toyota killed their Z and Supra, then the Z came back with the cheapest build quality ever.

To be competitive, you need to always strive and continue your work, and not just shine for few years then retire. That's called surrender.

AlleVier - 7/27/2012 7:08:01 PM

+1 Boost

To be competitive you need to adapt to market realities. Strong yen valuation and the cost advantages of emerging-market manufacturers are threatening the Japanese overdependence on bargain-pricing appeal in the automotive sector. They need to start making cars that are desirable for emotional (non-functional) reasons and get people used to pay a high price for it. (Remember, for rich people, high price is a feature.)

Take the LFA, for example. In the end, I don't know how it's going to work out for Lexus, but I admire it for its performance, panache, and WTF-pricing. They may have gone a bit overboard and not leveraged it very well as a branding tool, but the idea that they produced the best car they could, price-be-damned, suggests that they may get how vulnerable they are.

If the Japanese manufacturers can't create a brand that makes cars that are globally desirable, they'll end up like the US manufacturers--once-great players trying to find a niche in the global market. The Korean and Chinese manufacturers are going to beat the Japanese at the bargain-luxury game, without question. What will the response be? Hopefully not a $90K, technically-impressive adolescent-dream car.

curriescorner - 7/27/2012 7:46:30 PM

+1 Boost

All Speculation but Nissan faces a couple of dilemmas nonetheless. The GTR is the foundation so:

1) How does one build an Infiniti Super Coupe that has a better design inside and out, has 80% of the GTR's performance at the very least(most of you probably want more), and is priced below 150k without cannibalizing the GTR or compromising its own opportunity to sell in decent volume?

and/or

2) How does Infinti build an M3 competitor that is priced around 55k (60k being the ceiling) without that vehicle hurting GTR sales?

If Infiniti pursues the above or anything remotely close, the GTR, already a low volume seller is going to suffer.

Inifinti lacks the brand awareness to carry three super coupes and among the three, the GTR would be the odd man out.