There won't be any electric cars. At least not when it comes to the next Nissan GT-R in the line. Instead, it will keep its V6 engine.
Following the R35's exit, Nissan boss Ponz Pandikuthira reveals that the new GT-R R36 will be a hybrid sports car with a V6 engine and a battery pack.
Nissan has confirmed the future of the next GT-R. The new R36 GT-R will be a hybrid. The plans come from Ponz Pandikuthira, head of planning at Nissan North America.
He reveals that Nissan is dropping a pure electric version of the R36.
Production of the R35 generation stopped after 18 years in February 2025. However, this happened without Nissan having a replacement ready in the wings.
Nissan has shown concepts and talked about future plans several times, but the brand has been tight-lipped about details.
Now Ponz Pandikuthira is lifting the veil on the direction. This is happening in an interview with The Drive .
The upcoming R36 GT-R will combine a battery pack with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, a significant change from previous speculation.
Many believed that the next GT-R would be a pure electric car.
Nissan even showed off a concept version of such a car called the Hyper Force. In fact, the concept at the time hinted at an all-electric future for the legendary model.
It will be a hybrid – not a pure ort
Ponz Pandikuthira explained the problems with electric sports cars. They require frequent recharging. Especially if they are used hard. This does not fit in with what the GT-R stands for in the Japanese model range.
"It's like it could do one lap of the Nürburgring, and then you have to recharge the car," says Pandikuthira.
– And that charging takes time, and it's just not authentically GT-R-like.
That's why the decision is now a hybrid solution. It combines the performance of a V6 engine with the benefits of electrification. Something that – at least in theory – makes for a more usable car.
However, Nissan has not yet decided on the hybrid type. Both a conventional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid solution are apparently still on the table.
However, Pandikuthira said that the car should be able to run on electricity alone. He would like to see around 113 kilometers on pure electricity. According to him, this would require a battery of around 30 kWh.
Nissan GT-R R36: Launch and Future
All the details are still in the planning stages, but they provide the clearest picture yet of Nissan's plans. The next GT-R is taking shape.
The new R36 GT-R is expected to be launched within the next three to five years, meaning a debut before the end of the decade.
The timing is interesting. It falls close to the 20th anniversary of the R35 model's launch at the end of 2007.
The GT-R is an important image car for Nissan. The new hybrid will not just be another car in the series. It will be a car that will carry on a very important legacy.
While we wait for the new R36, we here at Boosted are trying to get the Danish importer to answer how the hopes for a GT-R with a V6 engine that can be sold worldwide are connected.
In Europe, Nissan has decided to only sell electric cars from 2030. The article will be updated…
