Don’t worry, Godzilla fans—Nissan isn’t retiring its legendary beast yet. The R36-generation GT-R is in the works, and while it won’t be an all-electric monster, it will get a powerful hybrid upgrade.
At the 2025 New York Auto Show, Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan’s chief planning officer for North America, confirmed to The Drive that the next GT-R will be hybrid-powered and arrive within the next three to five years. This marks a shift from previous speculation that the future GT-R would be fully electric.
Not Fully Electric—And for Good Reason
Nissan did pursue the development of an electric vehicle, producing several prototypes of an electric GT-R. However, the performance of the electric GT-R concerning battery endurance during track time constituted the turnaround. “Basically, it would do one lap of the Nürburgring, and then you would need to charge it,” he said. That recharge time, he noted, simply isn’t in line with what GT-R enthusiasts expect.
Even the promise of solid-state batteries wasn’t enough to keep the EV dream alive. “It wouldn’t feel like a real GT-R,” Pandikuthira added.
Hybrid to Plug-in Hybrid?
Well, at the present moment, Nissan is considering the options for using a hybrid powertrain in the much-awaited R36. Whether it will be a common hybrid or a plug-in hybrid remains under wraps, yet. To all kinds of applications, from thermal management to energy density, these technologies are dependent on so many considerations that apply sorely in this case. Though chairman Pandikuthira himself is inclined toward the plug-in-hybrid path, he also admits that a normal hybrid might serve better in delivering to the extreme track-performance demands the GT-R is used to.
On the Turbos for the Future
Turbocharging is highly likely in the next GT-R. One can deduce that this hybrid would probably work in conjunction with a new variant of Nissan’s in-house-developed 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6, allegedly for use under the hood of the Armada. That intersects with a platform already complying with emissions regimes running till 2032, so Nissan gets a bit of wiggle room.
Co-development with the Acura NSX
Almost as if by conspiracy theory, it seems Nissan may not go it alone. Reports have surfaced that Honda and Nissan may cooperate on some future performance platforms, notwithstanding the failed merger talks in the past. In this way, the next-generation NSX shares the architecture of the new R36 GT-R, with Aston Martin sharing powertrains with Mercedes-Benz but creating separate identity vehicles.
And So It Begins
While officially the R35 GT-R is gone, Nissan fans can at least take comfort in the fact that the R36 was officially confirmed. The new Godzilla—the R36—is said to be ideally set for a launch somewhere between 3 and 5 years from now. It is thus about time to celebrate the reincarnation of Godzilla again, faster now, greener this time, and just as fierce.
Conclusion
The unique Nissan GT-R is looking to smother its signature turbocharged performance notes with hybrid technology. Sure, it wouldn’t feature an all-electric GT-R on its shores anytime the forthcoming R36 promises to satisfy the appetite for thrilling power plus advancing technology with the lore of sustainability, including its racing DNA. And with potential collaboration with Honda, which takes about three to five years to fully develop, the next-gen GT-R has built up a case for making it a few years’ wait for hybrid supercar status. Sure, Godzilla isn’t going anywhere; it’s evolving.
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