Nissan Boss Says Next R36 GT-R Could Get A New Platform And Electrified Hybrid V6

After many, sometimes contradicting, reports, it seems that the replacement to the R35-generation Nissan GT-R will likely be electrified.

Nissan has been building the GT-R since December 2007 and while it has been upgraded over the years, it is fundamentally an old car by industry standards. A replacement has been in the works for a number of years and during a recent interview with Autocar, Nissan chief executive Makoto Uchida said it could adopt electrification.

“We are looking at how we can do it electrified,” he said. “It’s something that’s a really professional sports vehicle with no compromise. The Z is for someone like me who enjoys sports cars. The GT-R is a professional machine and we need to work it out for the future.”

Read Also: What Should Nissan Do Next With the GT-R?

Given how capable the VR38DETT 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine of the R35 GT-R still is, it’s entirely possible the new car will feature an evolution of the same engine, albeit supplemented by an electric motor. The limited-run GT-R50 by Italdesign shows that this engine can comfortably and reliably produce over 700 hp.

Were Nissan to pair an upgraded engine with an electric motor, the R36 could produce in excess of 900 hp, allowing it to rival the Ferrari SF90 Stradale and the electrified successor to the Lamborghini Aventador, although it wouldn’t surprise us if it went for a milder tune.

The Nissan 2020 Vision Gran Turismo concept from 2015, was originally created for the Sony Playstation Gran Turismo racing game, but at the time, Nissan had said that it also gave us a look at what a future performance model could look like

Beyond its powertrain, an all-new design is to be expected for the R36 model, although it will retain a familiar shape, according to Nissan design boss Alfonso Albaisa.

“It doesn’t care what every other supercar in the world is doing,” he said. “It simply says: ‘I’m a GT-R, I’m a brick, catch me.’ It’s the world’s fastest brick, really. And when I review sketches for the new car, I say that a lot: ‘Less wing, more brick.’”

Opening photo and gallery: Nissan 2020 Vision Gran Turismo Concept from 2015