Nissan took its “imaginative and prescient for a next-generation all-electric high-performance supercar” — the equal of a futuristic GT-R idea — to the Japan Mobility Present within the type of the Hyper Drive. This was a battery-electric, carbon-fiber-bodied coupe harnessing greater than 1,300 horsepower by way of the automaker’s e-4orce all-wheel drive. Sounds precisely GT-R to us. Nissan did not specify what number of motors went into making that output, nevertheless it did specify that solid-state batteries equipped the vitality to these motors. Prime Gear spoke to carmaker Nissan product boss Ivan Espinoza, who made it clear {that a} manufacturing model of a future GT-R might want to look ahead to solid-state batteries to be market-ready.
Nissan has publicized plans to have a facility producing pilot variations of solid-state batteries subsequent 12 months, 2024, with mass manufacturing for retail merchandise underneath manner by 2029. Assuming all goes to plan, that is when an R36 GT-R might theoretically be cleared sizzling.
It seems the GT-R’s existence is not in query, solely the timeline, Espinoza saying, “We’re dedicated to having a sports activities automotive providing sooner or later, that is for positive.” Nevertheless, that sports activities automotive wants “to attend till the ASSB [‘all solid state battery’] is out, it’s secure and it’s prepared, so we are able to go. With the density enchancment, we are able to ship a a lot better packaging that improves the aero and the general habits of the automotive whereas sustaining the two+2 format.”
It is a chorus we have heard from different carmakers with related merchandise, and there appear to be two camps. One group of hardcore sports activities automotive makers is rolling out merchandise with present battery expertise: Lotus, Pininfarina, Rimac, and GM with its all-electric Corvette on the best way. One other group is ready for one or two evolutions in expertise earlier than committing: Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche with its electrical 911.
Nissan has extra in thoughts than merely the rejuvenation of a halo that will likely be 20 years previous come 2029. Prime Gear characterised the long run imaginative and prescient as creating two GT-Rs, a “pleasant” day by day driver and a monitor monster “totally dialed in for the monitor.” Under that will come the Z, and beneath that will come “a brand new, extra inexpensive entry-level sports activities automotive” that will get it personal Nismo model. And by the point the following GT-R will get right here, all of those merchandise could be electrical.
What occurs between at times? We don’t know. We think about Nissan execs need to preserve constructing it as a result of it is such a vital automotive to the tradition and fanatics. Within the U.S., by way of the primary three quarters of the 12 months, sellers have bought 312 models. Paltry, however that sum already beats full-year gross sales for the previous three years and is simply 19 models behind all of 2019. Elsewhere, the GT-R’s age has seen it fade from areas the place adapting to rules would value greater than is affordable, together with traditionally vital markets just like the UK and Australia. It doesn’t matter what occurs, we suspect Nissan will give us a lot to chew on, the automaker nonetheless simply digging into its world restoration after greater than a decade of the doldrums. Whereas the world waits on a brand new monster, we might make do with a manufacturing model of the Safari Rally Z Tribute to carry us over for a spell.