- The next-gen Nissan GT-R will prioritize the emotional connection with drivers.
- The company’s former GT-R product planner said the brand listens to its customers.
- No launch date has been confirmed, and Nissan’s financial issues could delay the car.
The idea of a hybrid GT-R has been floating around so long, it’s basically part of Nissan folklore at this point. Back in 2014, the rumor mill started churning with talk of an electrified R36-generation Nissan GT-R. Fast forward more than a decade, and while plenty has changed, the R35 somehow clung to life like a vinyl record in the Spotify era. At some point, it’ll finally hand over the keys to a successor, and yes, that car might just be a hybrid after all.
Nissan’s approach to the GT-R has always centered on delivering performance that punches above its weight, often embarrassing pricier exotics in the process. If the company sticks to that mindset for the R36, a full EV might seem like the logical next step. But don’t count on it just yet. Former R35 product planner Hiroshi Tamura, who has become known as the father of the modern GT-R, hinted that Nissan could take a different route based on what fans actually want.
Read: Someone Flipped A New Nissan GT-R T-Spec For A Quick $35K Profit
In an interview with Top Gear, Tamura made it clear that electrification isn’t a foregone conclusion. “I’m not sure it will be 100 per cent EV,” he said. “I believe Nissan will get customer opinions on the next GT-R. And if the customer doesn’t want a full, 100 per cent electric car, we shouldn’t [build one]. But if customers accepted a hybrid, it probably might happen.”
While Tamura-san is no longer in charge of the GT-R program, he is confident that Nissan will do justice to the fabled nameplate. According to him, the most important thing with the GT-R is to provide “happiness” and is about “creating something new, creating a new trend.”
“I believe it’s something more fundamental; some spiritual connection internally and externally. One of the ways [to make this connection] is to have an emotional car,” he added. “The GT-R is like Gundam tech. It embodies very strong power, controlled by technology. You are the commander. The car is the extension. The GT-R is about having strong leadership. That’s its connection into our company.”
If Nissan does want to ensure the R36 provides a strong emotional connection with owners, going down the electric route might not be the best option. Nissan would likely be far better off trying to create a high-performance hybrid, perhaps offering performance akin to that of the Lamborghini Revuelto, albeit for much less money.
Admittedly, there’s no official word on when a new GT-R could launch, and given the precarious financial position Nissan is currently in, an R36 is probably near the bottom of its priority list.
