Next-gen Nissan GT-R readies for hybrid power

The Toyota Prius remains the butt of enthusiasts' jokes. And rightly so. Its passionless aim is to eke out every last mpg, at the expense of braking, steering feel, handling, power or practically anything someone who cares about cars would be interested in. There's nothing wrong with that. Just be primed to face the wisecracks.

However, times are changing. Hybrids have spread from small cars to the luxury and sports car world, with McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche using electric motors to fill a gap in the torque curve. It's now a performance gain. Better fuel economy? That's the lagniappe.

And where the supercars go, the Nissan GT-R will soon follow.

Nissan has now confirmed to Autocar that the next-generation GT-R, the brand's highly capable and cost effective supercar, will get its pair of electric underwear. Exactly how the hybrid technology will be applied -- Porsche went plug-in with its 918 while Ferrari and McLaren utilized an F1-style KERS system -- is currently unknown. This shouldn't come as a shock; Nissan has invested heavily in electric and hybrid technology, sporting a new battery plant in Tennessee. From a business perspective, this makes sense.