Earlier this year we drove the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo, and for the most part, every member of the Top Speed staff loved it. That doesn’t mean that the big elephant in the room, the fact that it’s essentially 13 years old, wasn’t painfully obvious. The car has aged better than most cars than have had such a long lifespan, but it’s beyond time for a new generation. For a while, it seemed like this would happen, but then in April 2020, Nissan argued that it won’t update the GT-R because it wants to keep it affordable, and a month later, we learned that Nissan’s cost-cutting plans could spell the end for the GT-R and it’s little brother the 370Z. Fortunately, that’s not the case, and in early August, we learned that the GT-R is due to be replaced in 2023, along with a happy little surprise.

The 2023 Nissan GT-R Will Be Hybrid, And That’s a Good Thing

Will the next-gen Nissan GT-R be a hybrid? This is the same technology found in Nissan’s Le Mans race car and the GT-R LM Nismo, so we’re talking about some serious performance potential.

What this news boils down to is that Nissan can update the current GT-R’s chassis, reduce weight, and retune the current engine if it so desires, all without having to go overboard. The chassis can be updated to provide better handling, a lower center of gravity, and a smoother ride while the engine can go through mild updates to bring it more in-line with emissions regulations. The KERS system, will likely be where the upgraded power comes from with enough energy recuperated during normal driving and track performance to add a decent chunk of improved acceleration when its demanded.

As a reminder, the current GT-R gets its power from a rather amazing 3.8-liter, twin-turbo, V-6 that pumps out 565 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque in base form while the Nismo comes with enough tuning to push that very same engine up to 600 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque. With a KERS system in the mix, the base model could see output move closer to the 600-horsepower mark while the Nismo could troll a little deeper into mild supercar territory with as much as 630 horsepower. Unfortunately, some kind of price increase will likely be involved, but if Nissan’s doing this right with tech it already has on hand, the price increase should be somewhat minimal.

FAQ

Q: Will the next-gen Nissan GT-R be a hybrid?

In a recent interview between Automotive News and Nissan’s COO, Ashwani Gupta, it was confirmed that a new GT-R is in the works and that the company is considering a performance-oriented hybrid drivetrain setup.