Nissan UK chief, James Taylor, has told EV Powered that “there is definitely room for electric performance models” in the Japanese brand’s future line-up.
Speaking at the 2025/2026 Formula E season finale in London, Taylor revealed that the Japanese firm is open to introducing an electric Nismo model as part of its EV strategy, which will introduce 19 new electrified models by 2030.
At present, Nissan’s UK EV line-up comprises the third-generation Leaf, the new Micra, and the Ariya SUV. While there are Nismo-branded Leaf and Ariya models, there is no electric equivalent to the beloved, fire-spitting, all-wheel-drive GT-R to take on the upcoming, electric-only Lexus LFA supercar from long-term competitor Toyota.
While an EV restomod version of the iconic R32 Skyline GT-R exists as a one-off passion project created by Nissan engineers, the Yokohama-based manufacturer confirmed that its next-generation GT-R, the R36, will be a turbocharged hybrid.
The LFA made its public debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. In addition to being fitted with Toyota’s next-generation solid-state battery, the all-electric supercar is expected to make anything from 800bhp to 1,000bhp. In the performance EV sector, then, Nissan doesn’t just risk losing ground to one of its oldest rivals; it also risks losing ground to Chinese newcomers such as Denza and Xiaomi.
Owned by Chinese automotive giant BYD, Denza has aimed for the Porsche 911 with its 1,583bhp Z. Meanwhile, Xiaomi – the world’s third-biggest producer of smartphones behind Apple and Samsung – smashed the Nürburgring lap record for the world’s fastest production EV with its SU7 Ultra last year.
Taylor believes demand for a Nismo performance EV has grown based on how attitudes have shifted towards what defines a performance car in today’s multi-energy automotive climate, alongside a new generation of car enthusiasts who have witnessed fully-electric drivetrains merge into the mainstream.
“I think some people kind of feel they’re letting go of their soul by admitting that there’s something better than the petrol car,” he explained. “I think for sure Nismo have got a role to play here. Perhaps as an industry we haven’t done enough to amplify that EVs can be exciting, and I think Nismo can bring that to life.”
According to Taylor, tapping into automotive nostalgia is part of how Nissan can bring around “hardcore” petrolheads and newcomers alike. He refers to the brand reintroducing the Micra as an EV as an example.
“In my personal view, there is always a lot of benefit in reusing historic nameplates, because you’ve already got that customer consideration,” he continued. “If you think of the Micra, which was out of the market for three or four years, that nameplate has now been brought back, and it’s already amongst – I think – the top-four most-searched nameplates for small cars in the UK on Google.”
Despite an all-electric GT-R being firmly off the cards, the pages of Nissan’s history books are littered with names that resonate with the global car community, especially those who grew up as part of the ‘PlayStation Generation’ during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“While I can’t comment on future products to a certain degree, I think in general that there’s definitely a logic to using historic nameplates, and I think there’s definitely room for electric performance models,” Taylor adds.
While all of the above remains speculation, Taylor’s words suggest that an all-electric Z car or a Silvia would be the most logical suggestion for Nissan’s all-electric performance model.
Given the tuning and handling opportunities offered by the next generation of software-defined EVs, he’s outlined a tantalising prospect. Given we already have electric superminis, electric estate cars, and electric performance cars, are we about to see the JDM performance wars of the ‘90s and ‘00s start again?
