There was speculation that Nissan might electrify its sports cars with their upcoming generations, and now a company official has dropped some bombs on the whole issue. By 2022, 40-percent of Nissan’s vehicles will be electrified, and that includes the Nissan Z and Nissan GT-R as well.

These Statements Mean That The End Is Near

Speaking to Top Gear, The Japanese automaker’s marketing chief, Jean-Pierre Diernaz said, “I don’t see electrification and sports cars as technologies that are conflicting. Maybe it’s the other way around, sports cars can benefit lots from electrification”.

Partnership Has Its Boundaries

Well, one can blame it all on the WLTP regulations which has already killed many internal combustion engines already. Nissan is working towards its electrification plans by using Formula E technologies and its alliance with Renault, Mercedes-Benz, and Mitsubishi. The partnership involves sharing of some technologies and powertrains as well, but that doesn’t mean that GT-R and AMGs will never be seen together. Throwing light on this, Diernaz said, “GT-R is GT-R. That’s Nissan. It has to stay specifically Nissan.”

What’s The Status?

With a lot of automakers showing interest in the sports car segment and the 370Z's successor nowhere in sight, news started surfacing whether the 370Z will be the last Z car? Not everything is confirmed in terms of dates. "Sports cars are part of who we are, so one way or another they have to be there,” he said.

Our Take

On one hand, we have Porsche; an automaker trying to keep the wishes of driving enthusiasts’ alive, by doing things like having a manual transmission setup in their lineup, no Level 5 autonomy, retaining internal combustion engines till the very end, etc.

The electric cars are exciting, but why kill something right away rather than letting it take its natural course of death? In your opinion, should Nissan continue providing internal combustion engines, or should it completely switch to electric powertrains, or make an eventual shift by having both in their lineup until the combustion engine succumbs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further reading

Read our full speculative review on the next-generation Nissan GT-R.

Read our full speculative review on the next Nissan Z.

Read our full review on the 2017 Nissan 370Z.

Read our full review on the 2018 Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign.

Read our full review on the 2017 Nissan GT-R.