New Nissan GT-R 2023 detailed! R36 supercar due in two years to go hybrid: report

Further details of Nissan’s revival plans and global market repositioning have come to light thanks to a report from industry source Automotive News.

The report, which cites sources from within the US arm of Nissan as well as quotes from brand COO Ashwani Gupta, detailed the future of many nameplates in the brand’s international line-up, not least of which is the heavily speculated ‘R36’ GT-R.

Nissan is confirmed to be working on a replacement, and the GT-R alongside the Z are valued by the brand’s current CEO, Makato Uchida, as necessary for maintaining Nissan’s enthusiast supporters.

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The information published by Automotive News suggests that the next GT-R is headed for a 2023 release, a distant date which would make the current model 16 years old.

If the GT-R50 by Italdesign is anything to go by, the next GT-R will be something to behold.

Not only that, but apparently Nissan is “considering” hybridising the nameplate by introducing a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) as used in its ill-fated Le Mans GT-R LM Nismo prototype of 2015.

The KERS system in Nissan’s GT-R LM car fed energy to a pair of flywheels from the front brakes, and was able to feed that energy to both the front and rear axles via independent driveshafts.

While little other information is known about the GT-R’s replacement yet, don’t be surprised if it continues to utilise some form of the brand’s V6 engine family, as versions of this engine will continue into the future in the Japanese-market Skyline (where a 3.8-litre twin-turbo version produces 298kW/475Nm) as well as upcoming replacements of US-centric models like the Pathfinder and Murano.

Nissan has already teased a replacement for its other performance hero, the 370Z, which is intended to go into battle against the new Toyota Supra and also possibly a hi-po Subaru WRX replacement.

We know a little more about the upcoming 370Z replacement, Nissan has even teased this silhouette.

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The replacement performance cars are part of Nissan’s strategy to reduce the average age of vehicles in its fleet from over five years to just three. The brand pins much of its future hopes on electrification and hybridisation technologies, like the ones seen on its new Arya electric SUV, which the Japanese brand pitches as “the new face of Nissan.”

Don’t expect any special treatment for the Australian market, though, with the brand's post-Carlos Ghosn strategy focusing on Japan, North America and China. Its alliance partner, Renault, will be responsible for the heavy lifting in Europe.