Virtually every iteration of the Nissan GT-R became an instant game-changer from the moment it launched. Now, a Nissan engineer has revealed that the next-generation ‘R36’ Nissan GT-R will turn the world on its ear once again with an advanced powerplant unlike anything ever seen in a GT-R.
According to GT-R LM Nismo technical director Ben Bowlby, the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit that propels the radical front-wheel-drive GT-R LM Nismo will find itself in a future road-going Nissan GT-R. That said, the power unit produces 1,250 hp in race form. Rumors suggest that the road going version will be closer to 600hp.
“The 3.0-litre V6 is a sort of god-child of the true, road-going GT-R,” said Bowlby in a recent interview with Top Gear. “It’s a direct injection engine, and the combustion technology, and integration of turbo and intake system within the head design, is all very interesting and highly applicable to the road.”
“If it was a crazy engine – super light with a short life – the reality is that it wouldn’t be applicable. But it revs to the same as the road-going car – 6,500rpm – and is truly an early ancestor of what will be a future Nissan GT-R engine,” Bowlby added.
In addition to the twin-turbocharged hybrid power units performance output, Bowlby believes the new heart will also be remarkably efficient.
“I think it’s very important development that we shortcut by going racing. We prove that you can do an incredibly efficient and very powerful engine – we have roughly the same power as the road car (around or just over 550bhp) but burn about a third of the fuel doing it,” said the Nismo director.
Further details regarding the next-generation Nissan GT-R is limited, but expect the design language to heavily borrow from the 2020 Vision GT concept car (pictured above).
Nissan GT-R LM
Nissan 2020 Vision GT
