Nissan searches for point of difference for next GT-R

The next Nissan GT-R will have all-electric power as previewed by the Hyper Force Concept of 2023. And the GT-R successor was always likely to be an electric speedster but Nissan is after a point of difference. 

Xavier Tesson, Product Planner for Nissan Europe recently told Auto Express that: “GT-R is the toughest product in the line-up. It’s not just about a sports car. GT-R is about bringing something different and this is what we’re working on. Where do we find the edge?”

Making a new GT-R stand out will be tricky given how many absurdly quick EVs there already are. Nissan suits know the GT-R will need to bring something different. 

The company’s regional vice president of marketing and mobility, Arnaud Charpentier, previously said “If it is electric or electrified, it needs to remain a sports car. [But] if you end up with the same performance as an EV SUV, this is an issue… We need to reinvent the notion of a sports car.”

The Hyper Force Concept’s 1000kW (1341bhp) output came from a dual-motor layout, sending power to Nissan’s all-wheel drive ‘e4ORCE’ system. Plenty of other brands already offer similar outputs from dual, tri-motor or quad-motor set-ups. 

Something that could set the GT-R apart is a solid-state battery. Nissan has already said that its first vehicle with the technology will arrive in 2028. Solid-state batteries are able to give EVs a boost in range, charging speeds and power delivery versus current lithium ion battery chemistries. 

We’ll have to wait and see if the GT-R’s return date matches up with Nissan’s introduction of this next-generation EV technology.

It will come out of the Nismo division which is already producing the Ariya Nismo, and a Micra Nismo is in the planning stages. Nissan also says it is looking to make an electric Qashqai soon as an adjunct to its ICE models.