The Silvia, also known as the 200SX and 240SX in some markets, has possibly disappeared from the Nissan lineup since 2002, but there’s a smart chance that the nameplate will return. The company’s global head of products stated that relaunching the Silvia would be a challenge, but he believes it can also work.
Iván Espinosa, vice president of Nissan’s global product strategy and product manufacturing plans division, spoke of the “far-fetched” concept of a new Silvia located under the GT-R. He predicts it will offer “sufficient strength at a fair price. ” that consumers find attractive. Espinosa expressed his love for the resurgence of the Silvia, adding that the plaque has many followers.
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These comments were made in a recent interview with Top Gear, which motivated our colleagues to ask Espinosa about the option of a new generation. The senior official spoke about the demanding situations but was optimistic:
“The possibilities are there, but at the end of the day, it’s a business, so I have to find tactics to make this kind of proposition attractive to the company. Sometimes cars like this have a hard time because the audience is so big, but it can work if we locate the right concept that can be used anywhere in the world.
Espinosa clarified: “We cannot produce these products regionally or ad hoc, because it simply does not make sense. But there is a possibility. It will be a challenge, but my task is to find tactics to do things like that because I think it will be wonderful for consumers and the brand, and if I can find the right formula, we can make it work.
Reading between the lines, a new Silvia could join the Nissan Z as a more affordable (and likely electrified) sports car. This could position it as a direct competitor to the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ and Mazda MX-5. , as well as the upcoming Honda Prelude hybrid.
Nissan has committed to introducing 30 new models by 2026, adding 16 electric and hybrid vehicles, as a component of “The Arc” business plan. Although the exact timing of Silvia’s return is uncertain, it will most likely occur later, allowing enough time to progress and be market ready.
Nissan’s purpose with high-performance vehicles
In addition to Silvia, the protagonist of the interview, Espinoza touched on other topics, adding the functionality and driving dynamics of Nissan’s long-lasting electric vehicles.
Nissan’s global head of product manufacturing plans has revealed that tuning data from the company’s e-4ORCE electric all-wheel drive formula learned from the legendary GT-R. A scaled-down edition of this generation powers the Nissan Ariya Nismo, which generates a powerful 429 horsepower (320 kW / 435 hp) from its two electric motors.
Espinoza highlighted Nissan’s focus on balancing traction and driving dynamics, prioritizing cornering prowess over natural acceleration for its electric vehicles. He noted that battery generation is one element in the progression of an electric hypercar, with an emphasis on advances in packaging, density and power. and weight reduction.
The executive also warned that “some kind of hyper-EV” could emerge when solid-state batteries debut in 2028, potentially referring to the Nissan GT-R R36.