Nissan R36 GT‑R reportedly hybrid V6

Nissan’s next GT-R is being described by multiple auto outlets as a hybrid V6 car rather than the fully electric successor some fans had expected. Carscoops reported on May 21 that Nissan executives have ruled out a battery-only GT-R for the next generation, citing current battery limits and weak market response to electric hypercars. The latest reporting builds on comments from Nissan North America planning chief Ponz Pandikuthira in April, when he said the next GT-R would be an “all-new car” and would need “some level of electrification.” Carscoops, citing Pandikuthira’s interview with The Drive at the New York Auto Show, said Nissan could keep the basic VR38 twin-turbo V6 architecture from the R35 with major revisions for hybrid use. (carscoops.com) ### Why is Nissan backing away from a fully electric GT-R? Richard Candler, Nissan’s global head of product strategy, told Evo magazine that current lithium battery chemistry cannot yet deliver what Nissan wants from a GT-R, according to Carscoops. Carscoops quoted Candler as saying electric sports cars “haven’t been hugely popular” and that “the current lithium chemistries are not capable of producing a GT‑R-type product.” (carscoops.com) Carscoops also said Candler was explicit about the next step: “We’re not going to go with batteries in the next generation. No way.” In the same report, he said the car would still need electrification “because of emissions regulations at some level,” pointing Nissan toward a hybrid layout instead of a pure internal-combustion or battery-electric setup. (carscoops.com) ### What engine is Nissan reportedly considering? Ponz Pandikuthira said in April that the R36 could retain the block of the R35’s VR38 engine if Nissan adopts a hybrid powertrain, according to Carscoops’ earlier report. He said the block was “so great” that Nissan would not necessarily discard it, while also indicating the heads, pistons and upper-end hardware could change substantially. (carscoops.com) That would keep a twin-turbo V6 at the center of the car, even if the chassis and emissions hardware change. Robb Report, summarizing the same interview, said the next GT-R is expected before 2030 and is likely to use the familiar V6 with internal updates and hybrid assistance. ### When is Nissan expected to show more? (carscoops.com) Pandikuthira said Nissan should have “solid concrete announcements” by 2028 and hopes to have an R36 GT-R on the market before the end of the decade, according to Carscoops and Robb Report. Those comments remain the clearest timing marker attached to the program in public reporting so far. (robbreport.com) The R35 GT-R ended production in 2025 after an 18-year run, Carscoops said, which has intensified attention on what replaces it and when Nissan is ready to show it. ### How does the Skyline fit into Nissan’s performance plans? Motor1 reported on May 20 that Nissan is also preparing a new Skyline, a model it said could sit between the Nissan Z and GT-R. (carscoops.com) In the U.S., Motor1 said that car could appear as an Infiniti-badged rear-wheel-drive sedan rather than as a Nissan Skyline. (carscoops.com) Motor1’s reporting suggests Nissan’s performance lineup may be rebuilt in layers rather than around a single halo coupe. For now, the next fixed milestone in public is the 2028 window Pandikuthira gave for concrete GT-R announcements, with the Skyline revival being tracked separately by Motor1. (carscoops.com) (motor1.com)