If you want to know what's happening with the next-generation Nissan GT-R, you may as well ask a random person on the street because Nissan keeps putting out conflicting statements. We still have no idea when the R36 GT-R will arrive but early indications suggest that when it does, it will come with some form of electrification. After driving the Acura NSX, we would not object to a hybrid GT-R but some GT-R diehards won't be so easy to convince.

Now Nissan may be backtracking on its statements about a hybrid GT-R, according to a recent interview. Speaking with Motor1, GT-R specialist Hiroshi Tamura said Nissan is still undecided on whether to invest in a new platform with electrification or simply offer a reskinned version of the current car - which has been on sale since 2008.

When talking about whether people would actually want a hybrid GT-R, Tamura asked, "do [our customers] really, really want a hybrid for the GT-R? Ninety-nine percent of our customers say, 'no, thanks.'" The recently-revealed 2020 GT-R starts at $101,685 for the Pure trim and tops out at $177,235 for the Nismo model but Tamura says adding a hybrid drivetrain would push the car above the $200,000 price point - which he says is too high.

"Mr. Customer, you have a choice," Tamura said. "You cannot have both." Customers will have to choose between having a faster GT-R than the current one with a price approaching a Lamborghini Huracan, or one that remains in the current price range. Tamura even estimated that a hybrid system would add around 200 kilograms (441 pounds) to the curb weight and at least $10,000 to the price.

While the GT-R still has a cult following, Nissan only sold 538 of them in 2018. Even in its best sales year in 2008, Nissan only moved 1,730 units of the GT-R. This is a niche product by definition, meaning it doesn't make a ton of sense for Nissan to dump money into it. No wonder why we still have no idea what the R36 will look like.