New Nissan Hyper Force Concept unveiled: is the GT-R going electric?

It looks like ‘Godzilla’ might be making a comeback, as Nissan’s new Hyper Force Concept unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show provides us with our first glimpse of what could become the next-generation Nissan GT-R.  

The last (R35-generation) GT-R was renowned for its remarkable acceleration and all-wheel drive traction, but Nissan’s “vision for a next-generation all-electric high-performance supercar EV” turns things up to 11. The Hyper Force Concept produces up to 1,341bhp – double that of a GT-R Nismo – and features an advanced version of the Japanese brand’s e-4ORCE all-wheel control technology.

Nissan’s Ariya SUV is available with e-4ORCE AWD, in the form of a dual-motor powertrain, although we expect the Hyper Force could be packing three motors, or potentially even quad-motor setup with the amount of power it’s got on tap. 

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The Hyper Force Concept also features an all-solid-state battery (ASSB), which are lighter, more energy dense and can be charged faster than their lithium-ion counterparts. Nissan hopes to launch its first EV with this technology by 2028.

The last Nissan GT-R was not a particularly subtle car, but the Hyper Force Concept throws caution to the wind with a front splitter that looks like it could double as a snowplough, and razor sharp bodylines around the rear haunches. The steeply raked windscreen and roofline are very similar to the previous GT-R’s, as are the circular tail-lights. The gigantic rear spoiler and diffuser are unique, however.

The outrageous looks are good for more than grabbing people’s attention. The design was developed with the help of Nissan’s Nismo racing team to generate high downforce. And to offset the heft of the electric powertrain, Nissan has used high-strength carbon for the bodywork and wheels.

The interior is just as extravagant as the exterior, featuring an F1-style steering wheel surrounded by four satellite displays, huge swathes of ambient lighting and carbon fibre bucket seats with four-point seat belts that supposedly allow for “comfortable long-distance driving”.

The Hyper Force features two drive modes: R for ‘racing’ and GT for ‘grand touring’, each of which changes the interior lighting, as well as position and information on the displays around the steering wheel. In GT modes the screens are paired together and can be used to adjust the air conditioning, media and suspension settings, while switching to R mode sees the displays separate and move closer to the wheel so the driver can see information like tyre temperature, air pressure, brake rotor temperature and power distribution more easily. The car’s graphics have been designed by Polyphony Digital Inc – the makers of the PlayStation game Gran Turismo.

The Hyper Force is one of five EV concepts Nissan has revealed over the past few weeks in the build up to the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show. The others include the Hyper Punk and Hyper Urban crossovers, Hyper Adventure SUV and the Hyper Tourer MPV.

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