A senior Nissan executive has finally confirmed what we’ve already known for some time; that the next-generation GT-R, an R36 to all the fans, will feature a hybrid powertrain. Speaking with Autocar, Nissan executive vice president Andy Palmer said hybrid technology was beneficial for sports cars and he expected some of hybridization on the next generation of the GT-R.
“There is an inevitability about electrification of all cars in the future, and there is the very real prospect of enhancements coming from it on a sports car like the Nissan GT-R,” Palmer explained. “The electric systems can fill in the gaps in the torque curve and offer genuine performance gains, as well as lowering emissions.”
Nissan’s R36 GT-R is expected to be introduced as early as the 2016 model year and will see its development handled by NISMO for the first time. Heading the development is a man named Kinishi Tanuma, who wants to see production volumes increased for the car as well as quality and value improved.
It’s not clear what form of hybridisation the R36 GT-R will feature, although there are claims Formula One offshoot Williams Advanced Engineering, an official partner of NISMO, will help develop the system. Williams is already helping develop aero and lightweight construction features for the 2015 GT-R NISMO, which is set to be revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month and is believed to be the final variation of the current R35 GT-R.
When quizzed about the GT-R NISMO, Palmer said Nissan had employed multiple drivers to help set a new Nürburgring lap time and hinted that former F1 driver Sebastien Buemi had set the fastest time. Palmer also revealed Nissan would continue to use Nürburgring lap times as a benchmark for the performance progress of the GT-R, suggesting that the annual updates to the car are set to continue even into the new generation.
