Nissan R32 EV on show in Tokyo

NISSAN has displayed a one-off R32 Skyline GT-R EV conversion at this week’s Tokyo Auto Salon, the vehicle created as a “passion project” by a small group of engineers who sought to “probe the potential” of delivering a driving experience “every bit as engaging as” the petrol-powered original.

The project, which was headed up by long-time Nissan EV powertrain engineer and R32 Skyline GT-R owner Ryozo Hiraku, aimed to ensure the car could be driven for decades to come, while matching the iconic model’s legendary driving performance.

“I wondered if 30 years from now, in 2055 or beyond, owners of this incredible machine could still buy gasoline and enjoy driving it,” he said.

“I saw merit in using electrical and digital technology to replicate the appeal of the R32 GT-R so future generations could experience it.”

At first glance, the R32 EV could almost pass as a standard R32 GT-R. Finished in Gun Grey metallic paint, the vehicle’s factory-fresh appearance disguises its heart transplant.

Aiming to reproduce the performance offered by the original 206kW/353Nm 2.6-litre twin-turbo engine, Mr Hiraku and his team installed a pair of 160kW electric motors, each capable of delivering up to 340Nm of torque. They removed the rear seat and, in its place, installed a 62kWh battery borrowed from the Leaf Nismo RC02.

The vehicle aims to match the performance of the power-to-weight ratio of the original despite being some 370kg heavier by carefully adjusting the output of the electric motors.

Hiraku and his team also ensured the electrified model would offer similar dynamics to its derivative, utilising an array of sensors to accurately control power delivery between the front and rear axles. The result is said to ensure the R32 EV offers faster torque distribution than the original’s ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system.

In managing the R32 EV’s additional mass (1797kg versus 1430kg), a Nismo Sports suspensions kit with Ohlins dampers is said to optimise handling and limit body roll.

Larger R35 series GT-R monobloc callipers and larger brake rotors feature behind “factory inspired” 18-inch alloy wheels providing the R32 EV with the stopping power needed.

But perhaps the most intriguing development made within the R32 EV is the replication of both the engine note of the original RB26DETT engine and its manual gearbox.

To replicate the sensation of manual gear shifts, Hiraku’s team 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”.

Other nods to the petrol-powered original include custom Recaro seats, a double DIN audio system, and even digitised instrumentation.

Nissan says it has no plans to commercialise the R32 EV or to offer a conversion kit, the project instead intended to yield “valuable insights” for those involved.