Hiroshi Tamura open to helping Nissan develop next-gen GT-R

The Godfather of the GT-R shares his thoughts on possible R36

Mention the name Hiroshi Tamura, and JDM enthusiasts would immediately react with glee. That’s because he is referred to by many fans as the “Godfather of the GT-R” or the “Father of the GT-R”.

As a refresher, Tamura first joined Nissan way back in 1984 and was the only brand he ever knocked on the door of. He spent the early years at Autech Japan, helped plan the mid-90s Nissan Maxima/Cefiro, and also worked at Nissan Prince Kanagawa. Then, in 1997, he became involved with the GT-R nameplate after successfully petitioning to be involved with the GT-R and Z models.

The fruits of his labor became reality in 2007 when Nissan launched the much-revered R35 GT-R. Not only did it decimate the competition, but the GT-R also proved it could take on the Europeans with more power for less. But like most things, not everything lasts forever. After 18 years of production and approximately 48,000 units sold, the R35 Nissan GT-R said “sayonara” in 2025.

With the GT-R nameplate on hiatus and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. focusing on restructuring itself while it navigates a financial storm, it might take years before the Japanese automaker comes up with the next-generation GT-R. But what does the Godfather of the GT-R have to say about this?

It’s important to note that Tamura is no longer directly involved with the company and the future direction of the GT-R. He now serves as an ambassador for Nissan’s sports cars and was recently present at the first-ever Nissan Festival in the Philippines.

Despite no longer being directly involved with the brand, Tamura said that he is open to Nissan consulting with him in developing the next-generation GT-R. The retired executive even mentioned that while an all-new GT-R is still far away, he stressed that he would push with something that has passion. This somehow leads us to believe that he wants the next-generation GT-R to still have internal combustion instead of going the electric route, just like the R35 and its predecessors.

Tamura also shared that he is open to Nissan about other sports cars the brand could develop in the not-so-distant future. He may have already left the company, but it’s clear that his passion for vehicles is alive and well despite retiring from Nissan.

Should Nissan consult with Tamura for the development of the next-generation GT-R? Or do you think Nissan might go in another direction entirely? Let us know what you think in the comments.