Nissan Skyline R32 EV: legendary GT-R gets electrified
Nissan has revealed an all-electric version of its iconic Skyline R32 GT-R.
The Nissan Skyline R32 EV was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 in a move which even the brand admitted was likely to cause controversy.
In a decision that is sure to enrage purists, the Japanese brand has ripped out the 2.6-litre inline six motor from one of its most iconic cars and replaced it with a pair of electric motors and the battery from a second-generation Leaf.
In fairness, the Leaf in question is the race-prepped Nismo RC02, and the twin motors now put out 215bhp and 251lb ft each. Nissan hasn’t revealed how that translates to the car’s total output, but it’s guaranteed to be more than the 276bhp/260lb ft the petrol-powered GT-R put out.
While the electric Skyline is 370kg heavier than the petrol version, it delivers the same power-to-weight ratio. The twin motors also mean that the Nissan Skyline R32 EV honours the all-wheel-drive setup of the original car.
Nissan says the focus of the R32 EV is not to exceed but to match the original GT-R in performance and driving experience, taking advantage of modern sensors and electric motors’ ability to respond more quickly than mechanical components. Chassis upgrades include a bespoke Nismo Sports suspension kit with Öhlins dampers, and beefier brakes borrowed from an R35 GT-R.
As part of their efforts to maintain the R32’s driving experience, Nissan’s engineers have taken a leaf out of Hyundai’s book, with simulated gearshifts and a piped-in ‘engine’ note inspired by the original RB26DETT engine.
Among those helping to fine-tune the car are Nissan test driver Hiroyoshi Kato, who was part of the team that prepared the original R32 GT-R ahead of its 1989 launch.
Externally, it’s hard to tell the R32 EV apart from a regular GT-R. Apart from the 18-inch wheels which replace the original 16s, the electric Skyline retains the appearance of the donor car. Inside, the once high-tech cabin has been sympathetically overhauled with new custom Recaro seats and high-resolution screens that replace the original audio, gauges and meter cluster while retaining their original profile.
The one-off conversion is described as a passion project developed by a small team of ‘adventurous’ Nissan engineers. Project leader and former R32 owner Ryozo Hiraku said he wanted to explore the process and implications of electrifying a car he revered.
He commented: “I wondered if 30 years from now — in 2055 or beyond — owners of this incredible machine could still buy gasoline and enjoy driving it. I saw merit in using electrical and digital technology to replicate the appeal of the R32 GT-R so future generations could experience it.”
While there are no plans to commercialize the R32 EV or offer a conversion kit, Nissan says the project is ‘yielding valuable insights’ and will continued to be developed to hone its drivability.
This isn’t the first classic Nissan to be electrified. In 2021, Nissan UK created a battery-powered Bluebird. Similarly, last year Kia created an all-electric version of a 1996 Kia Pride.
