A fully electric Nissan GT-R?

It must seem like sacrilege, a shock to GT-R fans all over the world – a fully electric Nissan GT-R. And it’s not a project of some GT-R owner who’s also an eco-evangelist but has been  developed by a small group of adventurous  engineers at Nissan.

Not a future GT-R
Displayed on the Nissan stand at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon this week, the R32 EV Conversion is not any indication of the next GT-R, the automaker is quick to say. It’s a project which probes the potential of electrification to deliver a driving experience as engaging and rewarding as the R32 GT-R that was produced between 1989 and 1994.

The project team was led by Ryozo Hiraku, a veteran Nissan EV powertrain engineer who has also been responsible for the development of systems like e-4ORCE, the advanced four-wheel drive system featured in the Ariya. Far from being just a detached engineer working on a project cat, Hiraku is a fan of the R32 GT-R and has owned a R32 Skyline before.

How the project started
Recalling how the idea for such a project started, Hiraku said it was during testing of the e-FORCE system for the X-Trail at Nissan’s Tochigi testtrack. “We were proud of our achievement which delivered a high-performance EV. However, parked nearby was the Skyline – over 30 years old – and driving it brought an entirely different kind of excitement. It made us wonder if this perception was tied to our knowledge of older cars.”

Several younger members drove the Skyline, and their response was unanimous: “This was more fun!” That feedback sparked the question: how can we preserve that sense of excitement in the age of electrification?

“I wondered if 30 years from now — in 2055 or beyond — owners of this incredible machine could still buy petrol and enjoy driving it. I saw merit in using electrical and digital technology to replicate the appeal of the R32 GT-R so future generations could experience it,” Hiraku explained.

At first glance, the R32 EV looks like a one of the 43,927 units of the R32 GT-R that were produced. Finished in Gun Grey Metallic, it has a factory-fresh appearance like what it would have looked in the showroom in the 1990s.

Two electric motors instead of RB26DETT
Under the bonnet, it also looks as crowded as the original 6-cylinder RB26DETT 2.6-litre twin-turbo engine. Aiming to reproduce the performance of the legendary car, the engineers installed two electric motors, each generating 160 kW and capable of delivering up to 340 Nm of torque.

Electricity to power the motors would come from a 62 kWh battery pack that has been used in the LEAF NISMO RC02 which was a fully electric racing car developed by Nissan’s high-performance arm in 2018. It was not used in actual competition and served as a demonstrator when Nissan became involved in the Formula E all-electric single seater series.

While the tuning and development of the R32 EV is ongoing, the team’s aim is to not to exceed but rather match the performance of the original GT-R, which produced 280 ps/353 Nm. Although the R32 EV is around 370 kgs heavier than the original car due to the battery pack and electrical components, the engineers have tuned its output and torque to match the R32 GT-R’s torque-to-weight ratio.

As was the case with the R32 GT-R, the team working on the R32 EV aims to create a true driver’s car rather than chase outright power and straight-line performance. And likewise, the key to achieving the desired dynamic qualities is with an advanced all-wheel drive system.

When it debuted 35 years ago, Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system gave the R32 GT-R impressive all-weather traction and stability. With a hydraulically-actuated clutch system, it could distribute torque up to 50:50 between the front and rear wheels.

Tuning to match original benchmark character
As the team progresses in developing the R32 EV, they are working to tune the twin electric motors to match the benchmark set by the original vehicle. With an array of modern sensors and an absence of mechanical components like clutches, the dual electric motors can respond faster and distribute torque between the front and rear wheels with even greater precision than the mechanical system they replace.

The R32 EV features a NISMO Sports suspension kit with Ohlins dampers for optimal handling and limited body roll despite the additional weight of the EV components.

While most mass-produced EVs today aim to provide a whisper-quiet cabin experience, the R32 EV team sought to replicate the sensory engagement of the R32 GT-R, ie the roar of the combustion engine. For this, the R32 EV has been given paddle shift functionality and a cabin speaker pipes in sounds inspired by the original RB26DETT engine.

To replicate the sensation of manual gear shifts, the team even programmed the sensation of shift shock into the paddle shift logic, simulating the brief jolt a driver experiences when engaging the clutch and shifting up or down through a mechanical gearbox.

Taking into account the increased vehicle weight, the engineers have installed larger rotors and larger monoblock calipers taken from the R35 GT-R. To accommodate the larger discs and calipers, the team developed a factory-inspired 18-inch wheel that closely resembles the 16-inch alloys fitted to the R32 GT-R.

Hardware challenges
The hardware challenges were far greater than anticipated. The car’s smaller size and older construction methods made integrating modern electric components difficult. Installing the motor was one hurdle, but the biggest challenge was the battery pack.

“Unlike modern cars with flat floors designed for battery placement, the R32 has no such space. We had to remove the rear seats and fit the battery there. Even then, physically getting the battery into the car required creative problem-solving, like removing doors and manoeuvring it at angles,” said Hiraku.

Original interior feel
Inside the cabin (which had the rear seats remove for the battery pack), the aim was to keep things as original as possible while upgrading key items to enhance the driver’s experience. The factory seats were changed to custom Recaros, while the double DIN audio, gauges and meter cluster received high-resolution digital screens that provide key driver information while retaining their original profile — a touch R32 GT-R aficionados will no doubt appreciate.

Once all the components were painstakingly installed, the team turned to Nissan master test driver Hiroyoshi Kato to assess the driving experience. Kato is not only one of Nissan’s most experienced drivers but was a member of the evaluation group that fine-tuned the R32 GT-R ahead of its 1989 launch. His feedback has been invaluable to the team.

With the fabrication and assembly stages complete, Hiraku and the team can now focus on tuning and dynamic development. While there are no plans to commercialize the R32 EV or offer a conversion kit, the project is providing many valuable insights for the team’s members.

Preserving today’s driving pleasures
“Automotive technology will continue to evolve, and as it does, some aspects of driving may inevitably be lost, while others deserve to endure. I firmly believe that the driving pleasure of iconic cars like the R32 GT-R is a legacy worth safeguarding for future generations. Moving forward, I hope to explore how we can retain them in the face of advances technology,” said Hiraku.

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