Nissan could revive fan-favourite sports car as ‘cheaper’ options for younger petrolheads
NISSAN has hinted that it could revive a fan-favourite sports car as a “cheaper” option for young petrolheads.
The firm said that “the chances are there” for the model to return if certain conditions are met.
The Nissan Silvia gained a cult following in the ’80s and ’90s for its exceptionl bang-for-your-buck value.
It gained a reputation as a tail-happy, nifty sportster that was even the car of choice for competitors in pro drfiting tournaments.
Interestingly, the model has been reborn once before, with an initial production run only lasting from 1965-68.
The Silvia was brought back in 1975 and enjoyed heightened popularity up to its discontinuation in 2002.
Now, though, the car could be set for a second comeback according to Nissan’s head of global product strategy, Ivan Espinosa.
This is my dream
Ivan Espinosa
Speaking to Top Gear, he was asked whether the brand could produce a cheaper sports car as a “stepping stone” for younger drivers towards it’s high-powered GT-R.
In response, he said: “A far-fetched idea would be something like a new Silvia positioned [beneath the GT-R] with good enough power at the right price that customers find attractive.
“And there’s a lot of Silvia fans everywhere.
“As soon as I say the name, people start nodding.
“This is my dream.
“The chances are there, but in the end, it’s a business, so I need to find ways to make this sort of proposal interesting to the company.”
Mr Espinosa ruled out the release of a new Silvia “regionally or as a one off” as it would not make financial sense for the company.
However, he indicated that, if the model was commercially viable, it could be in line for a third production run.
He added: “Sometimes cars like this do struggle a bit because the audience isn’t that big, but it can work if we find the right idea that can be run everywhere in the world.
“It’ll be a challenge, but it’s my job to find ways to do stuff like this because I think it’ll be great for customers and the brand, and if I can put the right formula in place we could make it work.”