Report: Next Nissan GT-R to Use Hybrid Power
High-end supercars are moving toward hybrid power, and it's possible that the next Nissan GT-R will latch onto the trend. According to a report from Peter Lyon and our colleagues atMotor Trend, hybrid power will push Godzilla's output to an eyebrow-raising 784 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque.
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The Nissan GT-R hybrid race car expected to compete in next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans will supposedly be the best indicator of what we'll see moving forward on the R36 model.
Motor Trendsuggests that while the next Nissan GT-R will witness its twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-6 boost horsepower to around 650 hp, the additional electric motor said to be positioned aft of the engine will add 134 hp. As it stands now, the current R35 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo makes 600 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque—the maximum Nissan's six-speed dual-clutch gearbox can handle. The GT-R will possibly swap in an eight-speed transmission capable of bearing the extra muscle.
Nissan engineers are reportedly having a hard time cooling the hybrid GT-R's batteries, but the next car's revised styling could aid in that matter.Motor Trend's source said that "the styling of the new GT-R will have to be…radically different. It'll have to be penned to enable much more efficient cooling for the hybrid system as well as gain more efficient aerodynamics."
In addition to its improved efficiencies, the next Nissan GT-R is said to adopt much more expressive and sporty styling. The best indicator of what we'll see is a milder version of the wild Nissan Concept 2020 Vision GT (pictured).
We'll have to wait and see if these plans actually come to fruition, because things could definitely change given the leadership shakeups at Nissan. The departure of former vice president Andy Palmer, one of the car's biggest supporters, could mean the Nissan GT-R takes a different approach depending on CEO Carlos Ghosn's vision.
