Nissan’s Next GT-R: Electric with Solid-State Batteries




According to the product chief, current technology cannot manage daily supercar performance.

 

With the Hyper Force, Nissan showcased their “vision for a next-generation all-electric high-performance supercar” at the Japan Mobility Show, which is akin to a futuristic GT-R concept. This was a carbon fiber-bodied, battery-electric coupe that used the automaker’s e-4orce all-wheel drive to generate over 1,300 horsepower. To us, it sounds exactly GT-R. Nissan stated that solid-state batteries provided the energy for the motors, but it did not say how many motors were used to produce that power. When speaking with Top Gear, Ivan Espinoza, the product manager for automaker Nissan, stated unequivocally that a production-ready GT-R will have to wait for solid-state batteries to become available on the market.

 

Nissan has made it known that by 2024, a factory will be creating solid-state battery prototypes, and by 2029, mass production for retail products will begin. That’s when an R36 GT-R could possibly be approved hot, assuming everything goes according to plan.

 

“We’re committed to having a sports car offering in the future, this is for sure,” Espinoza stated, suggesting that the GT-R’s existence isn’t in doubt, simply its timeframe. But before we can leave, the sports car must “wait until the ASSB [‘all solid state battery’] is out, it’s stable, and it’s ready.” We can provide significantly better packaging with the density enhancement, which keeps the 2+2 layout while enhancing the car’s aerodynamics and overall behavior.”

 

There seem to be two camps behind this recurrent refrain, which we have heard from other automakers with comparable goods. A select handful of dedicated sports car manufacturers, like Lotus, Pininfarina, Rimac, and GM with its upcoming all-electric Corvette, are releasing vehicles using modern battery technology. Another group, which includes Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, and Porsche with its electric 911, is holding off on making a decision until after one or two technological advancements.

 

Nissan has bigger plans than just revitalizing a halo that will turn 20 in 2029. According to Top Gear, the future plan calls for building two GT-Rs: a track monster that is “entirely tuned in for the track” and a “friendly” daily car. The Z would follow, followed by “a new, more affordable entry-level sports car” with a Nismo variant below that. And all of these goods would be electrified by the time the next GT-R arrives.

 

What takes place in the interim? We’re clueless. Given how significant the vehicle is to the culture and enthusiasts, we assume Nissan executives want to continue producing it. Dealers have sold 312 units in the United States through the first three quarters of the year. Stupid, but that amount is only 19 units short of 2019’s total and already surpasses the three previous years’ full-year sales. Somewhere, the GT-R’s age has caused it to disappear from areas that were historically significant, including the UK and Australia, where adjusting to rules would cost more than is acceptable. Whatever transpires, we believe Nissan will offer us a lot to think about, as the carmaker is still only beginning its global comeback following more than ten years of dire circumstances. We could get by with a production version of the Safari Rally Z Tribute until the world gets its hands on a new monster.