Nissan first teased the retro-styled IDx concept over ten years ago, hinting at a new sports car alongside the 370Z and GT-R. While the 370Z has since been replaced by the new Z, and the GT-R is on hold for now, the IDx never made it to production due to high costs and low demand. However, Nissan has been hinting at launching a third performance car and reviving the iconic Silvia name. Now it’s official—the Silvia is making a comeback.
In a recent interview with Australia’s Drive magazine, Nissan Vice President Ivan Espinosa confirmed that a new sports car is in development, saying they’ve already begun exploring possible designs and concepts for the vehicle.
An “upstream exercise” refers to the early stages of planning in business. Espinosa wants Nissan to launch its electrified sports car by the end of the decade. While some may prefer a gas-only version, strict global emissions rules, especially in Europe, make that option less viable.
Nissan aims to make the new Silvia available in as many countries as possible by ensuring it follows global regulations. Despite the high cost of developing a sports car and the limited market, Nissan plans to build the Silvia on its own, rather than collaborating with other automakers, like some competitors have done.
Espinosa believes the company can handle the engineering process alone but acknowledges that the project requires significant investment, which is challenging. He hopes Nissan will develop the new Silvia independently, without teaming up with another brand.
Sports cars don’t always sell well, which explains Nissan’s cautious approach. They took their time replacing the 370Z with the Z, which isn’t even a brand-new model. Nissan already has the Z and is also working on the GT-R, so it makes sense not to heavily invest in another niche car. The GT-R’s pause over the years further shows why Nissan isn’t in a hurry to replace the R35.
Adding a third sports car is a tough challenge for Nissan, especially with the push to electrify their range. Given the Silvia’s strong fan base and the shortage of budget-friendly sports cars, we hope it succeeds. Honda’s return of the Prelude shows that there’s still hope for sports cars in today’s SUV-focused market.
Source: Drive
