Back in 1969 when the original Hakosuka Nissan GT-R launched, its power output of 160 horses was mightily impressive, but that likely wouldn’t even worry most regular hatchbacks these days. In 2023, the performance bar has been raised so high that anything short of 1,000 horsepower seems a little lacklustre. So, what does the next generation of the legendary Godzilla look like in this new landscape of EVs and telephone number horsepower figures? The Nissan Hyper Force concept gives us an unhinged glimpse at that future. 

Unveiled this week at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Hyper Force is a 1,341 horsepower all-wheel-drive, all-electric maniac. Yes, we know, the loss of the GT-R’s signature six cylinder engine is a travesty, but times are changing, and if any car’s philosophy was focused on the pursuit of performance and technology, regardless of powertrain, it’s Godzilla. While the R35 was a fantastic driver’s car, it never excelled in terms of driver engagement or its exhaust note, it was just absurdly, brutally fast, and the Hyper Force seems like the natural progression for the badge. 

As is par for the course, the Hyper Force features movable aero, such as an active diffuser and what Nissan calls a ‘Plasma Actuator’ to keep airflow tight to the car’s body at high speeds to generate downforce. Overall, we’re in love with the design, which looks like a cross between a snow plow from hell and the Blue Falcon from F-Zero. Inside, it’s a typical concept car tech overload, and Nissan enlisted the help of Gran Turismo developers Polyphony Digital to design the Hyper Force’s sci-fi display graphics, which show torque distribution, brake temperature and tyre grip information for each wheel.

However, you won’t want to start pestering your local Nissan dealer just yet, because the Hyper Force is said to run on solid-state batteries, a technology Nissan have stated won’t reach their production cars until at least 2028, so there’s still some time to wait for Godzilla’s return!