- Nissan has unveiled an R32 Skyline GT-R converted to run on battery power
- The 62-kwh battery was taken from a former Leaf RC race automotive concept
- The goal of the project was to deliver an identical driving sensation to the unique gas-powered automotive
Whether Nissan launches its next-generation R36 GT-R with an electrical powertrain stays to be seen, however the automaker has already built no less than one electric GT-R.
It is a conversion based on the R32-generation Skyline GT-R of the early Nineteen Nineties, and it was just unveiled over the weekend on the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon.
The project, initiated in early 2023, was driven by a team of volunteer engineers at Nissan. It originated from powertrain engineer Ryozo Hiraku’s aspiration to boost the R32 GT-R by incorporating electrification, aiming to preserve the automotive’s allure for future generations through the combination of EV technology. Hiraku was also liable for Nissan’s recent e-4ORCE system, the electrical all-wheel-drive technology featured within the Ariya crossover.
In keeping with Nissan, the electrical GT-R should deliver a driving experience much like the unique automotive and its twin-turbocharged 2.6-liter inline-6 engine. For the powertrain, an electric motor rated at 215 hp was installed at each axle. While the combined power exceeds the unique automotive’s 276 hp (unofficially around 330 hp), the additional weight of the battery ends in a comparable power-to-weight ratio, Nissan stated.
R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R EV conversion
The battery, a 62-kwh unit taken from Nissan’s former Leaf RC race automotive concept, was installed where the rear seats normally sit. Nissan explained that installing the battery was the largest challenge, because the R32 GT-R’s structure is comparatively compact and lacks large flat areas to accommodate it. The electrical GT-R weighs about 809 kilos greater than the stock version, bringing its weight to three,962 kilos.
Other modifications included the installation of larger 18-inch wheels to accommodate an upgraded brake system borrowed from the present R35 GT-R, together with Öhlins dampers. For the tuning of the all-wheel-drive system, Nissan enlisted Hiroyoshi Kato, one in every of the unique test drivers for the R32 GT-R, to help with the duty.
R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R EV conversion
Digital screens were also added to enrich the brand new powertrain, and the standard 5-speed manual transmission was replaced with paddle shifters connected to an electronic system. This technique was programmed to duplicate the feeling of the transient jolt drivers normally experience when engaging the clutch of a manual transmission during gear shifts. Moreover, speakers were installed within the cabin to mimic the sound of the unique inline-6 engine.
Nissan’s Nismo division has, in recent times, been offering alternative parts for traditional GT-Rs to assist keep the cars on the road. It’s possible Nissan could eventually offer an EV conversion for the R32 GT-R and its successors, especially as emissions regulations make it more difficult to keep up gas-powered cars, including classics.
Ryozo Hiraku
“Automotive technology will proceed to evolve, and because it does, some facets of driving may inevitably be lost, while others should endure,” Hiraku said in an announcement. “I firmly imagine that the driving pleasure of iconic cars just like the R32 GT-R is a legacy price safeguarding for future generations.”
Nissan also used Tokyo’s annual tuner fest to showcase the most recent projects by students from its in-house technical college in Japan. The highlight was a Z station wagon based on Nissan’s Stagea performance wagon of the 2000s.
This Article First Appeared At www.motorauthority.com
