It’s hard to believe that the current generation Nissan GT-R is over 16 years old. Despite the model getting its fair share of refreshes and updates over the years, the core essentials are largely unchanged from when it debuted in 2007. Nissan knows that this tired soundtrack is starting to get warped like your favorite 8-track tape, and tightening fuel regulations will eventually force the company to do something drastic with the model. While we get to wait a few more years to get a clearer view of the GT-R’s future, Nissan has revealed one potential avenue at the Japan Mobility Show, The Hyper Force Concept.
Hyper Force Styling Doubles Down On Function, Will Divide Opinions
The exterior styling of the Hyper Force will undoubtedly divide opinions; some will like it, and some won’t, with the Hyper Force’s body focusing on the functional details versus the elegance of a stylist’s pen. Large canards and electronically operated vents highlight the boldly styled front end. The side profile has large doors, and the rear of the concept has a massive rear wing and taillights that are tasteful reminders of the current model.
The tires are attached to massive forged carbon wheels, with the exotic hoops helping to shed unsprung weight. It’s not known if Nissan will be producing a next-gen GT-R, but if it does, look for the production version to have styling that won’t be as extreme as we see here, with some customers potentially being turned off by the garish elements of the design if it carried through intact (an unfortunate fate that dogged other production spec exercises from different companies over the years.)
The interior of the Hyper Force is a curious mixture of racing and futuristic gamer elements, with the typically round steering wheel being replaced by a squared-off one while a large infotainment screen and LED accents are added in as well for a futuristic flair. The carbon-adorned racing seats help provide plenty of support for the driver and the passenger and accompany the broader theme of squarish angles and plenty of red-hued accents.
Solid State Batteries Help HYPER Force Break 1000 hp Barrier
While the exterior and interior styling will undoubtedly turn heads, Nissan is out to show the world that it’s not fooling around with the performance hardware that lurks under the skin. The company claims the concept is equipped with solid-state batteries and dual electric motors producing 1,341 hp. That’s an impressive amount of performance, and it’s a noticeable upgrade over the current gen model, which makes between 565 and 600 hp depending on trim level. The two electric motors also form the core of the “e-4ORCE” all-wheel drive system, which undoubtedly allows the concept to make light work of the 0 to 60 sprint.
Time will tell when we hear more about the next-generation R36 model. While the Hyper Force is a thinly veiled preview of that model, the timetable from show car to production is a mystery. The current generation model largely followed the same script when it was first revealed in concept form back in 2001, with the production version not being revealed until 2007.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.