Nissan hints at upgraded R35 GT-R

Nissan has hinted at more potential upgrades for the current-generation GT-R.

The company introduced a mild midcycle update for the 2016 model year, bumping output up by five ponies to 550 horsepower for the standard variant. The Nismo package keeps its 600-horsepower tune, thanks to larger turbochargers, however one executive suggests there is still room for improvement.

“You know, it’s a never ending quest,” Nissan product-planning head Phillipe Klein told Top Gear. “There is still development potential there, always.”

Most GT-R rumors have shifted focus to the next-generation model. Reports suggest the company is considering borrowing hybrid technology from the GT-R LM Nismo Le Mans racer, potentially with a combined output around 1,250 horsepower. Earlier reports point to a less radical modification, adding a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) to the existing 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 to surpass 800 horsepower.

The company is believed to be targeting a zero-to-62 mph time of 2.7 seconds, a 10-second quarter mile and a top speed above 211 mph for the R36. For styling, it will likely mimic design cues from the 2020 Vision Gran Turismo concept.

Any upgrades for the R35 should arrive in the not-too-distant future, as the R36 is rumored to be on track around 2018.