Electric Nissan GT-R Likely To Use New Solid-State Batteries In 2028
Key Takeaways
- Nissan plans to introduce solid-state batteries by 2028 and could debut them in the all-electric R36 GT-R.
- The automaker is committed to developing appealing sports cars within the EV space and will not create a “half-baked” GT-R.
- Nissan will leverage lessons learned in Formula E to improve electric road cars.
The next generation of the GT-R sports car could be the first Nissan to utilize solid-state battery technology, reports Australia’s Drive. While the current crop of Nissan EVs, such as the Ariya, use lithium-ion packs, the automaker plans to roll out solid-state batteries by 2028. This year, however, the Japanese marque will commence a trial operation for the new tech.
Solid-state batteries are touted as the solution to electric vehicle drawbacks. Not only are they lighter and more compact, but they also provide more range and shorter recharging times. And instead of rolling this technology out in an EV for the masses, there’s a chance that solid-state batteries could debut in the new GT-R. Rival brand Toyota plans to introduce solid-state tech a year earlier but only intends to make enough for “several tens of thousands of vehicles.”
2024 Nissan GT-R
- Base MSRP
- $121,090
- Engine
- 3.8L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
- Horsepower
- 565 hp
- Drivetrain
- AWD
- Fuel Economy
- 16/22/18 mpg
Electric Nissan Sports Cars Are Coming
Nissan’s Francois Bailly, SVP and Chief Planning officer for Africa, the Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania, said that the automaker will continue to build sports cars in the electric era. “I mean, we’re doing Formula E, right? Track-to-road learning. None of us… I didn’t join Nissan to do a minivan; my first car was a Nissan Z,” he commented.
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“So yes, the short answer is yes [we will continue to build sports cars]. The question is, when can those cars move to EV? And that goes back to the technology.” Bailly added that Nissan needs to “develop the blocks” now so that future cars are appealing. It’s worth noting that the Nismo sub-brand will also embrace electrification and build performance EVs. So what about the GT-R? Surely, the automaker’s most celebrated motorcar will lose appeal when it switches to batteries? Bailly is adamant that Nissan will never introduce a lackluster GT-R.
A New GT-R In 2028?
“We will not do a half-baked GT-R; that’s not the intention,” he said. “So, the when is the difficult question.” As mentioned, Nissan only plans to introduce a production car with solid-state batteries in 2028, which means Godzilla fans may face a four-year wait before the R36 generation is even unveiled. That also means the current R35 could live on for a few more years, meaning an incredibly long production run of two decades. The GT-R recently received an update, so it would make little sense for Nissan to kill it off after a refresh.
Every Plausible Rumor About The Next-Gen Nissan GT-R
There are many rumors about the next-generation Nissan GT-R, so we decided to wade through them all to find the most plausible.
We wouldn’t be surprised if the current GT-R lives on. While it lags behind the competition in several aspects, it’s still an incredibly sharp vehicle to drive and offers performance that is on par with newer rivals – remember, it was ahead of its time when it debuted all those years ago. Those holding out hope for a gas-powered R36 will be saddened to know that Nissan has said it will no longer invest in ICE technology. However, the new model could be truly exciting. The Hyper Force concept previews the next-generation GT-R, and it looks promising. Not only does it boast an incredible design, but with 1341 horsepower on tap, it should be quite the performer.
Source:
Drive
