GT-R

The R35 GT-R

The R35 GT-R went on sale in Japan in December 2007, after its Tokyo Motor Show debut, and was built for almost 18 years: the last of about 48,000 cars left Nissan's Tochigi plant on 26 August 2025. It was the first GT-R sold apart from the Skyline, a 2+2 coupe on its own Premium Midship platform. The VR38DETT, a 3,799 cc twin-turbo V6 hand-built at Yokohama by takumi craftsmen, drives all four wheels through ATTESA E-TS Pro and a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox mounted at the back as a transaxle.

Nissan kept developing the one model. Power rose from 480 PS at launch to 530 PS for the 2011 model year and 570 PS with the 2016 facelift, which also strengthened the bonnet, enlarged the grille and moved the gearshift paddles onto the steering wheel. The NISMO version, shown in 2013, makes 600 PS. The 2024 model year, revealed in January 2023, brought new front and rear bumpers.

What R35 owners upgrade

Cooling comes first. The gearbox oil is cooled through the engine's water, and a long track session can heat it enough to trigger the car's fail-safe mode, so transmission and LSD coolers from the cooling range are the most common single buy. For power, owners add surge tanks and piping from the intake range, a full exhaust system, and the electronics to manage boost and fuelling.

Many change the look too: rear wings, aero kits and bonnets from the exterior range, steering wheels and trim inside, and lighter wheels with new wheel nuts. Top Secret, HKS, GReddy, Mines, Nismo and RAYS are among the names R35 owners choose.

Genuine parts

The dual-clutch gearbox is the part to watch: judder when parking or pulling away in first is a known complaint, worst on early cars. The bellhousing between the engine and the transaxle carries a bearing that can fail and rattle. Brake discs can crack under long, heavy track use, and the tyres tend to wear on their inner edges. Our genuine Nissan parts catalogue lists the R35's parts.

Wheels

The R35 left the factory on staggered 20-inch wheels, in 20x9.5 +45, 20x10 +41 and 20x10.5 +25 sizes, on a 5x114.3 bolt pattern with M12 x 1.25 nuts. The full list is on the wheels that fit the R35 GT-R.