Is Nissan’s GT-R the next supercar slated for a hybrid powertrain transplant?

By Stephen Edelstein September 30, 2013

Image used with permission by copyright holder

From the Ferrari LaFerrari to the McLaren P1, supercars are going green. Could the Nissan GT-R be next?

A future GT-R could get a power boost from a flywheel hybrid system developed by the Williams Formula One team, Australia’s Car Sales reports.

The current GT-R sports a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6, with 540 horsepower and 463 pound-feet of torque. It can do 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 mph. With a starting price of $99,950, that makes the GT-R one of the biggest bargains in automobiledom; the competition costs significantly more and wears badges with prancing horses.

Thanks to its all-wheel drive system, the GT-R is also ideal for setting speed records on a frozen Russian lake. So where will Nissan go from there?

Williams and Nismo, Nissan’s performance and racing division, announced a partnership in June. You may remember Williams’ last road car project, the aborted 850 hp Jaguar C-X75 hybrid.

A hybrid GT-R wouldn’t be too surprising, given that many of the car’s competitors are going the same way.

The Acura NSX will return next year as a hybrid, and if Nissan wants to retake its Nurburgring lap record from the Porsche 918 Spyder, it may have to significantly boost the GT-R’s power output. Hybrid power would be one way to do that.

So this story has many plausible elements, but so do the best conspiracy theories and tall tales. What we know for sure is that the GT-R is due for a redesign – probably for the 2016 model year – and major changes of some kind can be expected.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.