As Nissan ends production of the legendary GT-R R35, the spirit of Japan’s most iconic performance car lives on—this time, in the form of a custom-built GT-R-inspired wagon from New Zealand that’s turning heads across the global tuning community.
Tofu Auto Works, a specialty tuning shop based in New Zealand, has completed a high-profile project that grafts the front end of a Nissan GT-R R35 onto a Nissan Stagea Autech Axis, a family-oriented station wagon. Far from a simple cosmetic upgrade, the transformation took two years and required extensive bodywork and fabrication. The entire process was documented in 38 YouTube videos and has quickly gained traction among enthusiasts.
Complex Engineering Behind a Seamless GT-R Wagon Conversion
While front-end swaps are not uncommon in tuning circles, transplanting the entire face of a performance coupe onto a station wagon platform is no small feat. Unlike facelifting a vehicle within the same model family, converting a Stagea to accommodate the GT-R R35’s front-end design required fully reconfiguring the hood, bumper, fenders, and A-pillar parting lines.
The result? A fully integrated and visually convincing GT-R-style wagon—something Nissan never officially produced but now realizes through aftermarket ingenuity.
Power Meets Practicality: The Autech Axis Base
The project’s donor vehicle was a 2007 Nissan Stagea Autech Axis, a unique variant equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 276 horsepower paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. With its boxy-yet-sleek wagon silhouette and the R35’s aggressive front design, the final product balances performance aesthetics with everyday practicality.
Parallel Trends in Japan: R34 Front Swaps Still Popular
This type of modification culture has long had roots in Japan. One well-known trend involves grafting the front end of the Skyline GT-R R34 onto the Stagea, which shares the same RB-series engines. Given the shared mechanical DNA, the R34-to-Stagea conversion is relatively common and viewed by many as a natural extension of the Skyline lineage.
However, the R35 conversion is far more ambitious, given the platform differences. Tofu Auto Works’ result has been praised for its factory-grade attention to detail and finish.
Conversion Kits Go Global: GT-R Styling for the Masses
Due to overwhelming interest from the car community, Tofu Auto Works has announced the launch of an official GT-R front-end conversion kit for the Nissan Stagea. The kit includes 11 individual parts priced at 6,500 NZD (approximately 3,731 USD). It is available for international shipping, making the GT-R wagon aesthetic accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.
While Nissan has never produced a GT-R wagon, this project underscores the GT-R brand’s enduring global appeal and the aftermarket scene’s creative potential. As the R35 exits production, fan-led innovations like this may signal a new wave in custom GT-R culture—where legacy meets lifestyle, and form finally joins function in wagon form.
