RIP GT-R: Nissan’s Godzilla is DEAD (…in Europe)

We can’t believe the day is actually here. The days of the mighty Nissan GT-R are numbered. Later this month, Nissan will end production of Godzilla.

Well, if you live in Europe. If you’re a Godzilla fan dwelling in the Americas or Asia then don’t worry. The R35 will carry on bullying Porsche 911 Turbos for some time to come. Sales already ceased in Australia late last year.

Why the early retirement in Europe? It’s due to new noise regulations which the elderly GT-R can’t comply with without expensive re-engineering.

A Nissan spokesman told TopGear.com: “13 years after its European introduction as the icon of accessible automotive high performance, we can confirm that European GT-R production will end in March 2022 due to the new EU & UK drive-by noise regulations starting 1st of July 2021.”

Yep, you read that correctly. In an age where a car's lifespan rarely extends past seven years, and is ripe for a facelift at barely three years old, the GT-R has been with us for 13 laps of the sun. Thirteen! It’s a veteran of two-and-a-half generations of Porsche 911. It’s seen the birth, life and death of the Ferrari 458, 488 and F8. It’s earned the right to put its feet up. In a pair of slippers.

The final UK-bound cars will land on our shores in early summer. How long the GT-R will soldier on in other markets isn’t yet clear, but if you’ve always fancied owning one of Nissan’s supercars from new, you’d best be quick, Europeans. They don’t make ‘em like this any more.