Nissan Skyline GT-R R35 Nismo - 2024

The Last Analog Titan: Farewell with the 2024 Nissan GT-R Nismo

The 2024 Nissan GT-R R35 Nismo is not just another model year update; it is the final, definitive statement for a generation. After an unprecedented 18-year production run, the R35 GT-R—a car that redefined supercar performance—takes its final bow with the Nismo as its ultimate expression. When it first launched, the R35 was criticized by some for being a "PlayStation on wheels," a digital powerhouse that used computers to defy physics. Yet, through its remarkable longevity, it has outlasted its peers to become a celebrated champion of analog feedback and mechanical engagement in an era dominated by silent electric propulsion and filtered digital interfaces. This final Nismo is the culmination of nearly two decades of relentless, iterative improvement—a living legend honed to its sharpest-ever point.  

At the heart of this legend is the revered VR38DETT engine, a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 hand-assembled by one of just nine master craftsmen known as Takumi. In the Nismo, this powerplant is elevated with high-capacity turbochargers identical to those on Nissan’s GT3 race car, boosting output to a formidable 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque. This power is channeled through a rear-mounted 6-speed dual-clutch transaxle and the sophisticated ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system, a combination that delivers explosive, physics-defying acceleration with 0-60 mph times reported as low as 2.5 seconds.  

While the powertrain provides the brute force, the 2024 Nismo’s most significant advancements lie in its chassis and dynamics. The single most transformative upgrade is the introduction of a mechanical front limited-slip differential, a first for the R35 Nismo. This proactive component fundamentally alters the car's handling, working to pull the nose toward the apex and allowing the driver to apply power earlier and more precisely through corners. This new differential is complemented by a Nismo-tuned Bilstein® DampTronic® suspension and a chassis made even more rigid through additional adhesive bonding in key spot welds, a technique borrowed from motorsport. Bringing the velocity to a halt are massive Nissan/Brembo® carbon-ceramic brakes, which not only provide immense, fade-resistant stopping power but also reduce unsprung weight to enhance handling and steering response.  

The Nismo’s form is dictated entirely by function. An extensive "carbon fiber diet" is applied to the hood, roof, bumpers, fenders, trunk, and side sills, shedding 68 pounds compared to the standard GT-R and strategically lowering the car's center of gravity for flatter, more stable cornering. The 2024 model features the most significant aerodynamic overhaul in the R35’s history, headlined by a competition-derived swan neck-style rear spoiler with a nearly 10% larger surface area. These revisions dramatically increase downforce, yet miraculously, Nissan’s engineers maintained the GT-R’s sleek 0.26 drag coefficient.  

Inside, the Nismo is a purposeful, driver-focused cockpit, not a luxury lounge. Nismo-exclusive Recaro® seats with exposed carbon-fiber backs and an Alcantara®-wrapped steering wheel signal the car’s intent. However, the cabin is also where the R35’s age is most apparent. The infotainment system is centered on a small 8-inch touchscreen that lacks Android Auto, and the car is almost entirely devoid of modern advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). For many, this is a glaring weakness, but for driving purists, this lack of electronic intervention is a feature, offering a raw, unfiltered connection to the machine that is increasingly rare.  

With an MSRP of $221,090, the GT-R Nismo competes in a fierce market against newer, more technologically advanced rivals like the Porsche 911 Turbo S and Chevrolet Corvette Z06. It may not win every on-paper comparison, but its value lies in its unique character and legacy. As production of the R35 concludes in 2025, Nissan has confirmed this is not a final goodbye to the nameplate, promising to "reimagine" the GT-R for a new generation.  

The 2024 Nissan GT-R Nismo is a machine of profound contradictions: technologically dated yet mechanically brilliant. It is the ultimate, obsessive refinement of a legendary platform, a masterclass in iterative engineering. It stands as a monument to a fading era of analog performance—a car for the connoisseur, the collector, and the purist who values the drive above all else. It is, without question, the last and greatest of its kind.