450kW Nissan GT-R hybrid rumoured for 2012

By Tim Beissmann | December 22nd, 2009

Godzilla always had a bit of a green tinge to him, right?

If the rumours rising from Japan are correct, the next generation of Nissan’s shrieking beast could go hybrid when it is launched around 2012.

Earlier this month Japan’s Best Car Magazine said the new model would be powered by a 328kW petrol engine and a 119kW electric motor, combining for a total max output of 447kW (or a nice round 600hp).

Despite the absolute commitment of Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn to electric vehicles as the future of his company, March’s Geneva Motor Show played host to the Infiniti Essence – a 441kW 3.7-litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid.

At the time, spokesman for Nissan’s luxury division, Shiro Nakamura, said that the coupe (built on the same platform as the GT-R) was “only a showpiece … for now”.

But the latest reports suggest that a hybrid GT-R is a favoured project among Nissan engineers and could be within three years of a launch.

Edmunds Inside Line says it expects the GT-R to maintain its 3.8-litre V6 but still aim for the 450kW combined output, raising power by close to 100kW over the current 357kW unit.

It says Nissan is aiming for the car to be just as quick despite the weight gains that come with the hybrid system, but believes the all-wheel drive system will not be a victim of a rigorous weight-loss regimen.

When the GT-R was introduced in 2007, the car’s chief engineer, Kazutoshi Mizuno, said it had a long life ahead of it.

“[I expect the] GT-R to maintain a life cycle of six to seven years as it evolves gradually during those years, similar to how Porsche cars evolve,” he said.

But that statement was made in a world before the GFC and when less emphasis was placed on emissions and fuel efficiency.

If he has had a change of heart, expect to see hear Japan’s great green monster howling from as early as 2012.

Shak

Thats good as long as it sounds like a proper GTR should. And if they wouldnt mind chopping some of the lard and making it a bit prettier, that’d be nice.
Tim

Next generation in 2012?! That early? I thought the R35 would run until at least 2015, seeing as Nissan put so much money and development into the R35.

Jester

end of 2007 – end of 2011. 5 years was always what Nissan stated as a life expectancy for the R35, which means 2012 for a major re-do. Makes sense.

JEKYL & HYDE

forget the hybrid,

up the boost,strip the weight down.it’s enough fun now…
Baddass

Hybrid technology seems to be a logical progression for the GTR, considering how focused it is on technology. But I have to say it, the GTR doesn’t excite me in the least anymore. I’ve never driven one and I’m sure the performance is astounding, but I just can’t read a review about it (and there have been hundreds) without becoming bored and distracted. I would happily take the flawed, (in comparison to GTR) but beautiful and involving Alfa 8C, over the reliable and predictable performance of the Nissan GTR. Then again that’s just me.

Shak

I think im in your boat. I saw and rode in one in Liverpool last saturday and i just wasnt excited. It felt as if the cabin and outside were to different worlds. We got a couple of looks, but not the same type that an SLR or even an HSV would get. It just feels to soulless. Id happily take any Alfa(not the MiTO over this). Not saying its a bad car in the least, but i didnt feel part of the experience, in Alfa’s, you do.

Deco

Yes the soul, passion and excitement LOL.

I see where you two are coming from though.

A more curvy GTR looks nice.
ky

Haha, classic dumb line from ‘haters’. If you’ve never driven the car before, how do you know that it’s soulless?
It’s like me saying, “I don’t like the taste of chicken even though I’ve never tried it”
Besides, ‘soul’ is an excuse for cars with flaws.

Jester

Completely agree – and how the hell can people expect to really “feel” how the car feels by being driven around the block in a suburbia. This car is made for the track and the real driving roads, I’m sure you would change your mind if someone that knows how to drive would take you for a hot lap.

Trump

I rented an R35 in Japan last month for 12hours. The lineage has been my idle car for as long as i can remember and i guess i built it up to be more than it could ever deliver, cause i was mildly disappointed.
Took it to Mt Haruna where drifting began and absolutely rung the titanium coating balls off it. It is mind blowingly quick and the launch control is unbelivable, despite all the japanese text that came up on the dashboard.
I did feel bullet proof in it. Hit a few corners a little too fast and felt all the electronics rescue me on a few occassions. Eventually that could be the undoing if i owned it fulltime, there is only so much electronics can do.
Overall impression of it was that it is too big and could never live with the gearbox around town. Nil turbo lag and surprisingly economical, was expecting well over 20 l/100km, returned about 14.
The experience was amazing and will prob save me a fortune cause previously i would have considered buying one. Now i’m not so sure.
ky

Drove a friend’s GTR the other week. Spent about 2 hours pussyfooting around town and another 2 up on the winding hills. Here is my impression.
- If you’re gonna buy the GTR just to pose, there are better cars, Merc, BMW, Ferrari etc.
- Around town, there’s no other supercar that can match it in terms of space and practicality.
- Suspension is a bit hard, but think about this, a Veyron’s is even harder and no one is complaining!
- GTR just won 2009 MOTOR magazine performance car of the year, along with the R8.
- GTR will wipe the floor when it comes to ‘bang for you buck’ test.
– In Australia, what’s the next best car for 160K? – a M3. The base 911 is still above 200K. These 2 cars can’t even hold a candle to the GTR.

Neo Utopia

Nissan build the Infiniti Essence! For virtually the same company that designed the Tida turd the Essence is a revelation! By the way, I saw a GTR in a least likely place south west of Brisbane and couple of months ago, for me it had my eyes magnetized upon it. Or maybe it’s just that I’ve seen more Porsche GT3s before, actually only a couple.
talk then think

Would the electric motor improve the 0-100 time?? if so they may be on a winner as it could be like a larger more comfortable lotus. Love the looks btw.
Wheelnut

This is yet another example that you don’t need a whopping great V10 to make 400+Kw.. like that in the LF-A.. which shows how out of date the LF-A is or soon will be.

It also shows that you can can do it and maintain an environmentally-friendly image.

SteveH

Or an outdated, pushrod 7 litre V8 to make even less power…

Shak

Lets not start the pushrod-dino argument. Different people prefer different methods to acheive maximum potential.

SteveH

So you are saying that 370 odd kw from 7 litres is ‘maximum potential’?

Wheelnut

No.. because the 6.2 Litre Pushr0d [supercharged] V8 in the new ZR-1 Corvette produces 638Hp = 475Kw – therefore one would suspect that with similar work the 7.0 Litre form the W-427 should be able to make more than 500Kw

Not only that but the 5.0 Litre V8s in the V8 Supercars make in the range of 620-700Hp = 460Kw

A mechanic mate of mine built a Commodore ute which made approx 700Hp = 520Kw

So why did Lexus use a V10?
Wheelnut

….and NIZPRO have managed to extract 1300HP = 960Kw out of a 4 Litre Ford Falcon Inline 6
SteveH

Lexus used a V10 as it was based on their F1 engines. Also, all of the other engines you have mentioned except for the V8 supercar use forced induction, so you would really hope they would be putting out more power than a normally aspirated engine of less displacement.
Wheelnut

Yes the engines I mentioned do use some sort of forced induction .. but that in itself shows that with a simpler smaller engine its easier to get as much power as a bigger more high tech engine doesn’t it?…. that was my point
Wheelnut

The V6 in the Aurion is derived from Toyota’s F1 “experience” so that really isn’t saying much is it?

It would be different if they actually managed to win a world championship
SteveH

Wheelnut, your ‘point’ that you make about a simpler smaller engine is easier to get more power out of with forced induction is not valid with the examples that you listed. All of the examples that you listed are bigger than the LFA engine, so I don’t know what you are on about. If you had used examples like a Porsche Turbo or the GTR engine, you may have had a point, eventhough I am not sure if they put out more power.

As for the Aurion V6 being derived from Toyota’s F1 experience. Thats just marketing spin. Being a Holden man you should know all about that.

Wheelnut

SteveH: If HSV were going to build a $800K Sports coupe powered by a 7 Litre pushrod V8 that comment might be valid

However; my point was that LF-A is supposed to be Lex-otas hero car the car to TRY and show the world that they are on the cutting edge of technology etc.. so why didn’t they use a smaller engine and why didn;’t they make it a hybrid?

If their smaller cross town rival Nissan can do it why can;t they?

SteveH

Wheelnut, where does Nissan have a production supercar hybrid? Can you please show me.

Also, I didn’t realise that the LFA was now costing $800K. I thought they were only leasing the cars to customers at present.

Wheelnut

Aaahhh….Have a look at the title of the article

Sure it isn’t actually in production ATM – However; as Nissan have shown with the New GT-R; when they say they are planning to build something they usually do.. and the GT-R has lived up to expectations

Unlike Toyota… we are still waiting on the next generation Supra/ Celica – almost a decade later
SteveH

Exactly Wheelnut, have a look at the title and read it S-L-O-W-L-Y. Rumoured. GTR’s tend to have a fair life span before they upgrade, so an overhaul does seem a little unlikely in 2012.

Also with the next gen Supra and Celica, I haven’t seen much press from Toyota sating they are bringing out a new one. Probably just the same people who started the rumour in this article.
Wheelnut

Remember about 10 years ago Toyota came out with a Concept sports car – which looked like a stealth fighter x’ed with a Storm-troopers helmet..

There was a huge call for it to go in to production and become the new Supra

Over the years it has made several appearances at various motor shows which inly increased speculation etc However; we are still waiting.
SteveH

You are right Wheelnut. Every concept car that a manufacturer shows at a car show goes into production, doesn’t it? Still waiting on the Coupe 60 and the reborn Torana to make an appearance then.
Wheelnut

None of the executives or designers at Holden ever said that they were going to make the TT-36 Torana; the Coupe 60; the SS-T; the SS-X; the Sandman or the Efijy..

Whereas Toyota did say that they were working on a next generation Supra. Which means that the Supra isn’t a concept but a project car

Concept cars like the Efijy are usually seen for the first time at the first day of the motor show – and theres no guarantee that they will go into production

Whereas we usually see images/sketches/photos of upcoming production cars like we have with the “Supra” long before we see the actual car.. Since then we have continued to see images of the same car with slight cosmetic changes – but we are still waiting

If a company like Holden can make a Commodore Coupe [Concept]go from production to reality in less than 4 years .. why can’t Toyota?
ky

Toyota is making the next Supra. It’s called the LF-A.
A journalist test drove one and said that it’s engine lacks torque for city driving. It uses a electronic operated manual gearbox which is flawed in city driving. The journalist is puzzled as to why Toyota went that route when the most logical thing to do was to jump on the bandwagon like Ferrari and Porsche and use the dual clutch transmission.
Guess Toyota didn’t want to follow in Nissan’s footsteps.

The Realist

Mate you have no credibility. You still think Czechoslovakia is a country in Europe. Shows exactly what you know about the world.

Rather than post on here perhaps you should go back to grade 2 and learn how to read an atlas.

“james”

they look like oversized mps rims on the gtr lol. A green GTR would be cool, the old and the new, trust the japanese to do it properly though. the GTR is the Ferrari of Japan, they will treat it with respect
http://www.beamalloy.net/store52e8.html Beamalloy Titanium Coating

Will this come in electric?