To say the R35 Nissan GT-R was a big deal when it first came out would be a gross understatement. The front-mid-engine, all-wheel-drive coupe was relatively hefty, yet somehow drove around a track like a much lighter car. The same grippy AWD system and smart traction control programming that made that possible also facilitated the GT-R’s whiplash-inducing acceleration, which at the time was a fairly new thing. With its arsenal of computers and sensors, the GT-R seemingly defied physics. But that was well over a decade ago, and supercars have come a long way since then. Though still impressive, the Nissan GT-R is no longer the giant slayer it once was. When Nissan teased its lineup through 2023, the absence of a GT-R left us wondering if Godzilla’s reign had finally come to an end. But the King of the Monsters lives to roar another day—albeit without the Track Edition trim level.
Nissan announced pricing details for the 2021 GT-R lineup, which carries over virtually unchanged save for the loss of the Track Edition. That model bridged the gap between the “base” GT-R Premium and the range-topping GT-R NISMO, offering the same 600 horsepower as the latter, a more rigid body shell, special wheels, and other upgrades over the base car. It also fell right in the middle of the GT-R pricing spectrum, at just over $147,000. The 2021 Nissan GT-R Premium starts at $115,235, while the 2021 Nissan GT-R NISMO starts at $212,435—a pretty big gulf that’s the same as last year.
But given that Nissan only moved 331 GT-Rs in all of 2019 (down 38.5 percent from the year prior), the decision to streamline its offerings probably made sense. If you still want a GT-R in 2020 and have the means to get a non-base model, you probably want the full-bore GT-R NISMO. On the other hand, the Track Edition might have cut into the NISMO’s sales once its engine was upgraded to the same 600-hp tune as the top-of-the-line model (f0r $50K less). Whatever the reason, the GT-R lineup is now leaner, if not any meaner. Another significant change is the addition of Bayside Blue to the GT-R Premium’s color palette. Known to enthusiasts as “Wangan Blue,” the color was formerly exclusive to the 2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition, and before that was last used on the R34 Skyline GT-R. The special paint is now a $1,000 option on the 2021 GT-R Premium.
Nissan is currently focused on bringing back its other celebrated sports car, the Nissan Z car, but the automaker insists that the GT-R “remains an important part of [its] brand and DNA.” A next-gen GT-R has been rumored for years, but so far no hard evidence has emerged. Until it does, we’ll keep hoping a new one is on the way (possibly after 2023) and continue enjoying the R35 for at least another year.
