The Nissan GT-R’s second generation is in the works and has been reported to be a hybrid supercar. Fondly known as the Godzilla, GT-R is Nissan’s performance pinnacle ever since it barged into the industry in 2007 and redefined the perception of the supercar division for good.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Nissan’s Chief Creative Officer, Shiro Nakamura, who is instrumental in the design of the Japanese supercar, said the concept of electrification is paramount for any category of vehicle.
Nissan engineers are working on the dimensions to improve the aero efficiency and driving dynamics of the GT-R said Nakamura. Mechanically, further optimising the twin-turbocharged V6 engine’s fuel efficiency is another area the focus has been emphasised on for the next generation model. The GT-R enthusiasts shouldn’t be taken aback when the supercar gets electric powertrain explained the chief designer.
While admitting that it’s a very tough task to redesign the aerodynamically obsessed GT-R, the development stages have been kicked off. The timeframe on the arrival of the redesigned model was not disclosed by him and therefore the 2017 Nissan GT-R revealed at this year’s New York Auto Show in March will go on for a couple of years presumably.
“It’s very tough to redesign this car, but we are starting now,” said Nakamura.
He added: “Electrification is almost inevitable for any car,” he reasons. “If the next-generation GT-R has some electrification, nobody would be surprised at that time.”
It was the significant upgrade the GT-R has received since 2007 with revisions done to bonnet and body kit alongside a redesigned matte-finished ‘V-motion’ front grille and lowly positioned dashboard for better driving visibility.
As the GT-R’s design was brought from the ground-up, Nakamura believes the almost decade old car hasn’t got older yet. The engine and layout will be influenced by the type of drivetrain adopted according to Nakamura. It goes on to say that Nissan hasn’t got to a conclusion in choosing an electrified mechanical package.
The revised 2017 Nissan GT-R was applied with some mechanical tweak as the 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbocharged motor was tuned to deliver more power output and torque. It gets coupled with a refined six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission to deliver 565 hp peak power at 6,800 rpm and just over 633 Nm of peak torque.
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