Nissan Hyper Force Concept, this is how the brand envisions the future electric GT-R

At the Japan Mobility Show, Nissan was one of the brands that drew the most attention with the presentation of a series of prototypes that preview the future of Nissan, which seems to be moving toward a total electrification of its entire range. Earlier they presented the Hyper Punk, the Hyper Tourer MPV, the futuristic off-roader Hyper Adventure, the sophisticated city dweller Hyper Urban, and now it’s the turn of the most radical and sporty one: the Hyper Force Concept.

You may agree or not, but in my humble opinion brands no longer build sports cars with character, cars that stand out in one area and make up for the shortcomings of the rest; today’s cars are “flat”, practically suitable for any driver, where it seems the only thing that matters is how many little screens it has and whether they’re as big as one at the cinema. I’m not yet forty, so I think I’m young, but I don’t hide it: you can call me old-fashioned for my way of thinking, because I won’t back down from my position.

But what really burns me up is seeing how brands tarnish the legacy of their most historic models, whether they’re still in production or not. To give just two examples, neither the new Renault 5 nor the Opel Manta GSe ElectroMOD are, or ever will be, a quarter of what their predecessors were. They’ll call them restomods with all the grace in the world and they’ll be left looking very pleased with themselves. And why won’t they be the same? Because they won’t be able to convey the feelings or the passion the original models managed to inspire; they won’t make young people dream about them, and they’ll be bland cars, although, yes, with acceleration that will make your eyes roll back. And that’s it.

The same goes for the Hyper Force Concept that Nissan has just presented, which is nothing more than a futuristic representation of its acclaimed GT-R. The nickname “Godzilla” they’ve certainly taken to heart, because this prototype is presented at a considerable size to consistently show off its marked lines and edges reminiscent of a Cybertruck, where they’ve also incorporated, with futuristic touches, the characteristic two-tone GT-R logo on the front and the oversized rear end together with the double rear light cluster. Add to that the use of carbon fibre for certain elements and active aerodynamics for the front fins, the front wheel arches and the ends of the rear spoiler.

The interior is still that of a prototype, that is, something far removed from reality but which shows how it could become thanks to technology. The driver of the Hyper Force Concept could choose between two driving modes, which completely change the atmosphere of the cabin:

• R Mode: The cabin turns red (which always adds horsepower, sorry, extra kW) and is set up so the driver can stay focused on sporty driving, surrounded by four screens (of course there have to be screens) showing the specific information.
• GT Mode: Here the Nissan Hyper Force Concept becomes gentle thanks to the blue colour that fills the cabin, the screens recede, the suspension softens and the climate control adjusts so that, together with the entertainment interface, you have a pleasant, relaxed journey in the carbon-fibre seats that come with the autonomous driving technology. In other words, you spend money on an electric supercar so it can drive you… the joke tells itself.

Mechanically it will obviously be electric, with a powertrain capable of generating, according to Nissan, a power of 1,000 kW, which will deliver, of course, blistering yet controlled acceleration thanks to the e-4ORCE four-wheel control technology from Nissan. An undoubtedly interesting aspect is that the powertrain would work together with a solid-state battery, which means taking the next step in terms of durability and range for such an important component.