The current generation Nissan GT-R (R35) has been around since 2007, and with every year that passes, we are more eager for a new model. Rumors about the new R36 are getting stronger by the day, and when Nissan decided not to sell the 2022 model year GT-R in the U.S., everyone expected the next model year to bring the new GT-R. But that didn't happen, and the 2023 model year ended up being the same, unchanged GT-R. Still, in a recent interview with British magazine Autocar, Nissan CEO Takao Katagiri, confirmed that a new flagship Nissan performance car is on the way. It will be sold under the Nismo brand, and it will be electrified. Whether that means hybrid or electric remains to be seen, but the GT-R successor is coming. And we hope it looks this good.
The All-Electric GT-R Will Retain The Essence Of The Name, But Will Be Modernized
Since nobody knows anything about the future GT-R, we decided to speculate and imagine how a possible all-electric GT-R would look like. One short look and you will easily recognize it as a GT-R, but look closer, and you will see that, despite keeping the essence of the name, the next GT-R could be a lot different. First, there is no grille and no exhaust system since this is an all-electric car. It also has extra vents that should offer better cooling for the brakes, and we opted for the branded, slimmer boomerang-style headlights with a triple DRL setup. We brought the car closer to the ground, but this doesn’t mean the final product will do the same. When viewed from the side, it is obvious you are looking at a GT-R, but we decided to go for a more angular and edgier design. Our artist even decided to go with those small mirrors you've seen in the 2019 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. As mentioned, there is no exhaust pipes in the back, but you can easily spot the traditional quad halo tail lamps that made the GT-R so famous. Last, but not least, the all-electric GT-R will also have a sharp rear wing that will deliver more downforce.
The Future Nissan GT-R Will Be Electrified
When the new GT-R will arrive is still a mystery, but Katagiri confirmed it would arrive sometime this decade. However, it is not that hard to guess when the official launch will happen. Nissan said many times that its focus on EV performance is being built around solid-state technology - something that, according to current plans, should arrive in 2028. That puts the all-electric GT-R's launch sometime in 2029 or 2030. And, since that's a long time away, Nissan could start by offering a hybrid version first.
No matter what the decision will be, the next GT-R needs to be highly competitive if it wants to remain significant. When launched in 2007, its main competitor was the Porsche 911 Turbo – a model that was delivering 480 horsepower at the time. Things have evolved a lot lately, and the current Turbo S delivers a total of 640 horsepower – which makes it more powerful than both the GT-R Premium (565 horsepower) and GT-R Nismo (600 horsepower). Not to mention that the Turbo S is also a lot faster than the GT-R Nismo – 2.6 vs 2.9 seconds to 60 mph. So, no matter what the future brings for the GT-R, it needs to evolve in terms of performance too. Be it a dual, tri, or quad motor setup, the future all-electric GT-R needs to deliver at least 1,000 horsepower, especially when you consider that current premium electric cars do it with no effort. Nissan will also have to work on keeping the car light in order for it to be at least just as fast as the current model. One thing is for sure: no matter what the future brings, Nissan will be very busy in the next few years.