The Japanese performance benchmark that is at one point or another every car-oriented child’s bedroom poster has been slain by emissions regulations in Europe. Do not despair, the outgoing model is still available in select markets and we may have a replacement in the near future.
Nissan Australia recently made the decision to remove the GT-R from their order list as there were concerns if the ageing model could overcome more stringent crash regulations imposed in the Land Down Under. Considering the underpinnings of the chassis and powertrain were launched in 2007, it is hard to believe it has even lasted this long but now its time in Europe will also end as strict emissions regulations mean that the fossil-fuel burning twin-turbocharged V6 is no longer welcome in certain countries within the region.
There is no doubt that despite its age, it still holds its own against modern supercars which abide by the latest emissions standards and will take them into the near future. Nonetheless, Nissan’s dealers in Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and other countries are no longer accepting orders for the capable supercar. Godzilla has disappointingly been slain by the stricter emissions standards imposed in European countries to the dismay of many petrolheads.
The high performance model is still available From Nissan South Africa starting from R2,526,900 for the Premium Edition while a 50th Anniversary Edition will set buyers back R2,701,900. We can’t foresee the endearing nameplate will remain for too much longer on the global market amidst stricter standards although the entire range might be replaced by a GT-R R36 in the near future.
While nothing has been confirmed, if we cast our minds back to the early 2000s the pop-culture icon RB powered R34 ceased production in 2002, five years before its successor was released to slay high end performance cars for a fraction of the money. We wait with bated breath for an official statement from Nissan confirming a successor but prospects look promising!
