Another brand announces that they are considering a new generation of their compact sports car.
With the rise of the Japanese auto industry, established brands there became increasingly headstrong. As a result, every brand from Nissan to Subaru and Toyota to Honda created an arsenal of seriously big sports models. It all got more and more serious, until the boiling point at the end of the 90s when the economic bubble burst. That forced Japanese brands to abandon almost every non-volume model, even if it was a model line that had been going for forty years.
Nissan Silvia
Nissan had to take their Silvia out of production from 2002. The then seventh generation (S15) was again technically a fine car, but it did not bring in any money. Moreover, it no longer fitted in the modern line-up where the GT-R and the 350Z were already in great demand for the brand. This put an end to the ‘S-Chassis’, a reference to the chassis numbers starting with S for the Silvia models (and 180SX as Japan called them).
Return
Now that Japanese brands are back on the throne, most brands are looking at how they can bring back their historic sports cars. Toyota is building the Supra again and there are still rumours for a new Celica, Honda wants to come out with a new Prelude, etc. Nissan has never really gone away with their sports cars, because the Z and the GT-R are still being built. Is there still room for a new Silvia?
Yes, according to Nissan Vice-President Global Product Strategy Ivan Espinosa. Below the Z and GT-R, thanks to their V6, there is certainly room for a more compact sports model with a smaller engine. The Silvia’s four-cylinder layout made it the ideal budget sports car in Japan.
Children’s shoes
Don’t put too much stock in Espinosa’s words, though, because he says there’s not much to report yet. The project is still in its infancy. According to Espinosa, it still counts that you have to have a significant case for each model, so ‘electrification should definitely be included’. That, combined with wanting to innovate, means that you shouldn’t rule out a new Nissan Silvia being fully electric. Hybrid is also a solution.
According to Espinosa, the project – if approved – would not see the light of day until the end of this decade. By then, Mazda would have come up with an electrified MX-5 and Honda would have put their hybrid Prelude in production. The Silvia fits in nicely there. Incidentally, Nissan does not want any help: a Silvia must be unique to them and not a Prelude rebadge. Or a shared platform with an external company like Toyota does with the Supra (BMW Z4).
Espinosa says he would like to create a new Silvia, but unfortunately he is not the only one who has to make the choices. The purple pants want to see money, so to speak. Nothing confirmed yet, unfortunately. (via Drive)
