Development has begun on a third sports car, though a production version has yet to be approved
Over a decade ago, Nissan unveiled the retro-inspired IDx concept, teasing the possibility of a third sports car to join the 370Z and GT-R lineup. While the 370Z has since been replaced by the new Z, the GT-R has been discontinued for now. The IDx was ultimately shelved due to high production costs and limited demand, as well as concerns it might cannibalize 370Z sales.
Recently, however, Nissan has been hinting at the launch of a third performance model. The company has repeatedly expressed interest in reviving the iconic Silvia nameplate, and now it’s official: the Silvia is making a comeback.
An “upstream exercise” refers to the early stages of planning and development in a business process. Espinosa aims for Nissan to have the new sports car ready by the end of the decade, featuring an electrified powertrain. While this may disappoint purists, a gas-only model wouldn’t meet global regulations, especially in Europe, where emissions standards are becoming increasingly strict.
Nissan plans for the revived Silvia to comply with regulations in as many markets as possible to scale production and achieve cost efficiency. Despite the high cost of developing a sports car for a niche market, Nissan won’t partner with another automaker. Unlike collaborations such as the Z4/Supra, GR86/BRZ, or Miata/124 Spider, the new Silvia will be entirely Nissan-made.
Espinosa is confident that Nissan can handle the engineering process independently but acknowledges the project requires “a serious level of investment,” making it a “difficult” commitment. The new Silvia would be built entirely from scratch, and his preference is for Nissan to avoid partnering with another brand.
The reality is that sports cars don’t sell in high numbers. Nissan took its time replacing the 370Z with the Z, which isn’t even a completely new model. It’s understandable why the company is hesitant to invest heavily in another niche product, especially when it already has the Z and is working on the next GT-R. The fact that the GT-R is on a multi-year hiatus highlights Nissan’s lack of urgency in replacing the R35.
Introducing a third sports car adds complexity, especially as Nissan focuses on electrifying its lineup during challenging times. Still, with the Silvia’s cult following and the limited number of affordable sports cars, there’s hope it makes the cut. Honda’s revival of the Prelude offers optimism for the survival of this segment in a market dominated by SUVs.
