To say that the Nissan GT-R’s future remains quite uncertain is a massive understatement. This Japanese sports car has been on sale since 2009, receiving two facelifts throughout the years. As a result, the GT-R is technically one of the oldest brand-new sports cars money can buy. Regardless, recent rumors have suggested that an electrified powertrain could come into play.

A rumor reported by Best Car covered by Motor1 suggests that a mild hybrid system could increase this sports car’s total output by quite a bit. If this report pans out, we should see this electrified model relatively soon. However, there is one major asterisk to all of this.

Will the Nissan GT-R receive a hybrid system?

Before we dive into this latest Nissan GT-R rumor, it is worth reiterating that Best Car has a somewhat inconsistent track record with rumors. Regardless, this move might make sense given the car’s uncertain future.

Under the Nissan GT-R’s hood currently lives a twin-turbocharged V6 engine developing between 565 and 600 hp depending on the spec. The rumored mild hybrid system will see the addition of a 48-volt starter-generator, says Motor1.

This electrified powertrain will serve two main purposes. For starters, it should allow this Japanese sports car to meet stricter emissions regulations worldwide. The second and less important objective is to add extra power. According to Best Car, this system will add around 27 hp. However, as Motor1 points out, it is unclear if this will affect the 565 or 600 hp versions.

While this might seem like the last hoorah before the Nissan GT-R officially goes out of production, there is one more unique version on the way.

This final edition could produce 710 hp

In September of last year, Top Speed reported that the Japanese carmaker planned to build a final edition of the Nisan GT-R. According to this earlier rumor, the final edition will utilize the GT-R50 by Italdesign’s powertrain. While it is based on the same 3.8-liter engine as the standard car, it develops 710 hp.

According to Top Speed, Nissan plans to build just 20 examples of this ultra-fast final edition. Whether or not this is to mark the GT-R going out of production, we don’t know just yet. What we do know is that the planned final edition never mentioned a hybrid system involved.

As a result, the question remains surrounding which of these two versions will actually make it into production and when they’ll potentially arrive.

When will this electrified sports car arrive?

If this Nissan GT-R rumor pans out, we should see this electrified version relatively soon. According to Motor1, this new model should arrive sometime in 2022 before going out of production in 2024. That’s where the massive grain of salt surrounding this story comes in.

It makes little sense for Nissan to splurge on an updated powertrain for a low-volume seller if it’s only going to live for two years. Regardless, we won’t have to wait long to see what happens to the GT-R.