Next-Gen Nissan GT-R R36 Will Be A Hybrid

Electrification has taken the automotive industry by storm, but as market trends change, it seems like almost every conversation about high-performance vehicles ends with a mention of batteries. While Nissan’s next GT-R will likely embrace some degree of electrification, the company has made it clear that there’s a line it’s not ready to cross yet.

The Japanese currently see the greatest potential in hybrid powertrains, and Nissan is ready to pursue that with the future R36 model, a decision likely also related to the situation in America, where numerous manufacturers are giving up or scaling back their plans for electric vehicles.

The now-defunct R35 Nissan GT-R was in production from 2007 until August of last year, so it’s no surprise that after production ended, the question of what its successor would look like immediately arose. Earlier this year, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa made it clear that the GT-R remains one of the company’s top priorities. Calling it one of Nissan’s strongest brands, he confirmed that a successor is definitely coming.

We now know that the new model will not be a fully electric vehicle, although Nissan tested the waters in 2023 with the Hyper Force concept and announced a possible electric future for the GT-R.

Speaking to EVO magazine, Richard Candler, Nissan’s global head of product strategy, said: “What we’ve seen so far is that electric sports cars haven’t become hugely popular. I believe that will happen as battery technology takes the next step, but the current lithium chemistry is not capable of delivering what is expected from a product like the GT-R. We’re not going to go all-electric in the next generation. No way.”

His comments come at a time when many prominent electric hypercars, such as the Rimac Nevera and Lotus Evia, have apparently struggled to attract buyers despite their impressive performance, something Nissan is apparently closely monitoring.

However, this strong statement from Nissan comes with one caveat. Candler went on to explain that the GT-R “will have to be electrified to some extent due to emissions regulations.” “Common sense dictates that it will have some form of electrification, but the battery remains the limiting factor.” In other words, whenever the new GT-R arrives, we should expect a hybrid powertrain. It will most likely get some kind of hybrid V6 engine, since Nissan is already working on such a powertrain.

Given the time frame, such a configuration could prove to be a better fit for Nissan than what other manufacturers have had. While the brand is no doubt already working on a plan for the GT-R, it has time to learn from the successes and failures of other hybrid sports cars. Let’s hope it can find the right formula.

• Read More: Nissan Murano May Get A Hybrid Variant After Failing The First Time