--- title: "The R35 Nissan GT-R Was Partly Developed by Isuzu Truck Engineers" date: "2025-01-03" modified: "2025-01-03" authors: - name: "Ronan Glon" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/ronan-glon" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-r35-nissan-gt-r-was-partly-developed-by-isuzu-truck-engineers" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" tags: - "Nissan" - "Nissan GT-R" --- # The R35 Nissan GT-R Was Partly Developed by Isuzu Truck Engineers ![]() *\Nissan\* At first glance, [the R35-generation Nissan GT-R]() and the cab-forward Isuzu NPR truck are pegged on completely different ends of the Japanese automotive spectrum. And yet, there's an unexpected link between the two: Nissan recruited former Isuzu truck employees to design the stalwart supercar. The R35 GT-R entered production in late 2007, and it took a full 17 years for the link between it and Isuzu's truck division to come to light. [Posting on X](), a user that goes by @trucknakanohito claimed 80% of the development team came from Isuzu's passenger-car division. These employees were mostly in charge of the transmission and the suspension. Without a source, we'd take this information with a Chevrolet Suburban-sized grain of salt. But it didn't take long for someone to clarify *@*trucknakanohito's information, and the someone in question knows exactly what he's talking about. It's Kazutoshi Mizuno, who proudly worked as the R35's chief engineer. ![2024 Nissan GT-R]() *Nissan* ![2024 Nissan GT-R]() *Nissan* "They started out in the truck division, not in the car division, so they were practically novices when it came to developing supercars," Mizuno wrote in [a translated post](). "However, through strong teamwork, a strong determination to achieve their goals, and training and practice based on the results of the comprehensive vehicle measurement system, the team members were transformed into world-class engineers in about 1.5 years." Was there a shortage of engineers in Nissan's ranks? And why were folks plucked from—of all places—Isuzu's truck division? Both questions remain unanswered. What's certain is that they did a hell of a job. The GT-R was widely praised at launch for its handling and quick-shifting gearbox, both of which are still impressive all these years later. And as for the 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 that has powered the R35 since 2007, it famously made headlines for being assembled in a hermetically sealed lab. What the future holds for the GT-R nameplate isn't entirely clear. Some sources hint at an electric drivetrain, while others suggest the R36 will use a hybrid system. Nothing is official yet, and there's no indication of when the R36 will land. However, if Nissan needs engineers for the project, Isuzu still makes trucks. ![2024 Nissan GT-R]() *Nissan* ![2024 Nissan GT-R]() *Nissan* *Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Ronan is a contributing writer for The Drive. He draws on over 15 years of experience to cover breaking industry news, cool one-off builds, and anything in between. He began writing for The Drive in 2021 and stepped into his current role in 2024. His obsession with cars started when a relative gave him a Majorette die-cast shortly after his first birthday. It hasn't flickered since. Ronan lives in France; He swapped Utah's Rocky Mountains, where he grew up, for the Alps. He's an avid hiker, mountain biker, and musician. He also restores classic European cars and mopeds, including a 1978 Citroen 2CV that he's rebuilding from the ground up. ### Author social links [Twitter]()