It may be one of the last things Nissan does. The brand, which may be bankrupt next year, has built an electric Skyline R32 GT-R.
Nissan has built an electric version of the Skyline R32 GT-R.
The project, which began in March 2023, marks a new direction for the iconic sports car. Instead of the original RB26DETT straight-six, the car is now equipped with a fully electric powertrain. The electric Skyline R32 GT-R will be officially presented at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2025.
According to Nissan, the goal of the project is to combine the classic qualities of the BNR32, which is the model's internal factory code, with more modern technology.
The car was already shown at the end of last month in connection with the R's Meeting at Fuji Speedway in Japan. The design is largely unchanged from the original. However, a few details have been adapted. The fog lights have been removed, and the brake calipers are now painted orange.
Nissan has not yet released any technical details, but it is likely that the car will still have all-wheel drive, possibly with two electric motors – one at each axle.
If we compare with the Ariya Nismo, which has an output of 430 hp and 600 Nm, the electric Skyline R32 will easily surpass the original version, which produced 276 hp and 367 Nm.
Officially, that is. Because in fact, the relatively small inline-six delivered much more than Nissan wanted to admit when the car was new in 1989. A so-called 'gentlemen's agreement' between the Japanese car brands meant that they all stayed under 300 horsepower. On paper..
However, several completely original cars have repeatedly proven on a track that they have well over 300 horsepower from the factory. Modified, the RB26 can get up to 2,000 horsepower to do well with.
Although Nissan describes the electric R32 project as a 'one-off', there are many indications that the next GT-R in the series will be fully electric – if Nissan even gets that far.
The brand has such serious financial problems that even the managing director estimates that the whole thing could go bankrupt within a year. Read more about it here.
If Nissan survives, the Japanese can build on a concept car called Hyper Force, which is said to be good for an output of one megawatt. Or the same as 1,341 horsepower.
The combustion engine is already gone. Nissan has long since announced that it will not waste money on technology. On the other hand, the Japanese expect to have the first solid-state batteries ready in 2028. A battery type that has been heralded for years as the real revolution in electric cars.
Until then, the electric Skyline R32 will be on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon from January 10-12. The current R35 GT-R will also be present in a Nismo Special Edition that will only be available in Japan.
