Nissan electrifies the R32 Skyline GT-R

Nissan has unveiled an all electric R32 Skyline GT-R restomod at the Tokyo Auto Salon. 

Gone is the twin-turbo straight-six RB26 engine, replaced with a pair of 160kW/340Nm electric motors, one each for axle. That gives this Godzilla a combined 320kW and 780Nm.

That’s quite a bit more than the 206kW and 353Nm of torque the BNR32 GT-R had on its debut back in 1989. 

But the electric GT-R weighs a bit more than the old car too, tipping in at 1787kg, or some 357kg more than the original’s 1430kg kerb weight. That makes it even heavier than the modern R35 GT-R (1750kg). 

Said to be designed by ‘a small team of passionate engineers’ Nissan says “The R32 EV probes the potential of electrification to deliver a driving experience every bit as engaging and rewarding as the R32 GT-R’s.”

Read more – 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo classic story.

“The team’s aim is to not to exceed but rather match the performance of the original GT-R, which produced 280PS (206kW) and 353Nm of torque.”

The electric R32 uses a 62kWh battery from the Nismo RC-02, while the charging port sits behind the fuel filler flap.

The all-electric R32 Skyline GT-R has been given a brake upgrade with the hardware from an R35 bolted on. It rolls on 18-inch alloys which are in the style of the R32’s 16-inch wheels. And it wears tyres that are a little wider than the original equipment too (235/45R 18 versus 225/50R16).  

The electric GT-R gains a NISMO sports suspension kit with Öhlins dampers. 

Nissan called on one of its master test drivers, 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.” 

Naturally the five-speed manual transmission has been removed, the motors running the usual single-speed reduction box of an EV. However, the electric R32 gets a sound system which replicates the sound of the RB26. It also adopts a fake gear shift program, triggered by paddles on the back of the steering wheel.

The interior has undergone a makeover, the rear seats removed (a necessity due to the battery placement) and it has a pair of custom Recaros up front.

Where the old stereo and climate controls would have been, there is a new digital screen. Another screen resides behind the steering wheel, replacing the analogue dials 

Nissan has “no plans to commercialise the R32 EV or offer a conversion kit”. Instead the project was intended to provide valuable insights to the team which has worked on it since March 2023.