Nissan’s pure-electric R32 conversion has raised the ire of enthusiasts and online commenters (Image: Nissan)
Nissan has unveiled what could go down as one of its most controversial creations, with a small team of engineers at the company turning an R32 Skyline GT-R into a fully electric vehicle.
Revealed at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon, the ‘R32 EV’ was created as somewhat of a development mule for the brand to hone its electric powertrain setups, along with looking at what the future may hold for classic performance cars like this GT-R.
“I wondered if 30 years from now — in 2055 or beyond — owners of this incredible machine could still buy gasoline and enjoy driving it,” head engineer Ryozo Hiraku, a former R32 owner, explained.
The R32’s EV conversion has been tucked away behind factory-fresh bodywork, while its enlarged 18-inch wheels wear the original design (Image: Nissan)
“I saw merit in using electrical and digital technology to replicate the appeal of the R32 GT-R so future generations could experience it.”
However, enthusiasts have been quick to slam the move. Responses to British institution Top Gear sharing the news on social media platform X included one punter saying “I would rather walk to be honest”, while another simply declared “Burn it”.
Not all responses were negative, though, with some proclaiming their love for it and saying new EVs that resemble timeless classics should be welcomed.
I would rather walk to be honest
— MrTweet (@i4on_t7g5) January 15, 2025
The EV conversion has been cloaked behind factory-fresh bodywork, with only the enlarged 18-inch wheels giving a hint as there being more than meets the eye here, even if they’re still the same design as the original 16s.
In place of the legendary 2.6-litre ‘RB26’ twin-turbocharged straight-six and ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system, Nissan’s engineers have fitted an electric axle to each motor which produce a combined 320kW and 780Nm.
While that’s quite the increase over the original’s 206kW and 353Nm, this R32 EV does weigh around 370kg more, tipping the scales at 1787kg, although the torque-to-weight ratio has been tuned to match a petrol-powered example.
Much of that weight can be attributed to the 62kWh battery pack which occupies the space the rear seats once took up, while new Recaro seats have been fitted up front.
The cockpit looks similar enough at first glance, but the manual gearbox has been replaced by a simulated paddle shift transmission while the original radio has been upgraded with Bluetooth compatibility (Image: Nissan)
A bespoke Nismo suspension setup with Öhlins dampers and upgraded brakes from the R35 GT-R have also been fitted to handle the extra weight.
Perhaps most intriguingly, though, Nissan has tried to replicate the sensation of manual gear shifts by programming the sensation of what it calls ‘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”.
Nissan has no plans to offer a conversion kit to existing R32 Skyline owners, nor to commercialise the ‘R32 EV’ in any way, which will perhaps be a relief for enthusiasts of the original. Regardless, the team behind it will continue to focus on tuning and dynamic development.
