There has been no end to the rumors of what the Nissan GT-R will become next, but the most credible rumor circulating in Japan right now is that a Nissan GT-R Hybrid is in development. The hybrid Godzilla would be part of the R36 generation of the GT-R. Sources close to the project tell us would likely debut in 2012 as a 2013 model with a pricetag around $100K.
The drivetrain for the 2013 Nissan GT-R Hybrid is expected to be a version of the hybrid system in the upcoming Nissan M35 Hybrid, but with a dramatic power increase and an all-wheel-drive layout. However, instead of a normally aspirated V6, the GT-R Hybrid would use a twin-turbocharged V6 just as the R35-derived Infiniti Essence concept did. It would be the same twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 (VR38DETT) the GT-R uses today.
The target would be 440 horsepower for the hybrid application (versus 485 on today's GT-R), with an additional 160 hp coming from the electric motor -- the same one used on the Essence.
With 600 hp to go around, the hybrid GT-R would be just as quick as today's production GT-R, sources tell us. We also hear, though, that serious weight will need to be cut out of the car to offset the addition of the battery pack. And even with that dieting, the GT-R Hybrid is still expected to be heavier than today's car (3,800 pounds).
Fuel economy, though, is expected to be 25-30 mpg, which of course is the very point of building a Nissan GT-R Hybrid. If achievable in the real world, Nissan would have a convenient rebuttal to pundits who argue that supercars (and more generally, fun cars) will lose their relevance in the coming green era. -- Mak Tokuyama, reporting from Japan
cr_driver says:
03:40 PM, 12/21/09
Thats the problem so far for so many hybrid propositions....
More weight, just a bit better fuel economy, and huge price tag premium.
Waiting for the new 5 series hybrid info.....with an inline six seems like it will be balanced.
kscbruin says:
07:02 PM, 12/21/09
hmm... I like Hybrids.. but not sure something like a GTR that is ALREADY at 3,836lbs... to add more weight! :(
majin_ssj_eric says:
09:09 PM, 12/21/09
"If achievable in the real world, Nissan would have a convenient rebuttal to pundits who argue that supercars (and more generally, fun cars) will lose their relevance in the coming green era."
Hopefully sanity and common sense will eventually prevail and we can finally put all of this "green" eco-BS behind us. Global warming is a fraud and there will be no shortage of oil on this planet anytime soon. Please bring an end to this assault on the (fun) automobile.
lexusaddict says:
11:44 PM, 12/21/09
what is with all these idiots and "going green, hybrids, saving earth" blah blah blah...this is all a nice heaping load of bull-spit. and the rendering just makes the GT-R look...fat. like its gone on a butter and ice cream diet. it reminds me of seeing those morbidly overweight folks at the gym on the treadmill...not to offend but it looks out of place. keep the current body and tail lights, put on those headlights and that's a perfect GT-R.
dougtheeng says:
06:16 AM, 12/22/09
I like the look of that concept GT-R.
crowb says:
07:02 AM, 12/22/09
I like the look of that concept as well, but for some reason it seems hyundai-esque to me. Is that strange? I'm used to Hyundai copying everyone else, but now this Nissan rendering reminds me of Hyundai....what a world.
sabastian says:
07:41 AM, 12/22/09
$100k? The whole "value" part of the GT-R argument starts looking a little thin at that point.
deagle13 says:
09:46 AM, 12/22/09
There's nothing strange about your analysis, crowb. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the picture was a late model Hyundai Tiburon...
jederino says:
10:20 AM, 12/22/09
^^ I like the design language here a lot, and I also find the Hyndai Tiburon to be smartly styled.