“Driving excitement will always be at the heart of Nissan, it’s what we do,” Nissan’s new chief Ivan Espinosa asserted in a statement that is making shivers run down sports car fans worldwide. For a brand that had established a beacon for performance vehicles, this bold statement is the vindication it requires. Espinosa’s strategy is to launch not one or two but a full line of four or more halo cars that will be engineered to redefine Nissan’s brand in the global auto cosmos.
Espinosa, who officially started April 1, didn’t let any grass grow before unveiling his grand designs. Topping his lists are the return of such legendary nameplates as the GT-R and Silvia, not to mention concepts floating on the fringes like the Hyper Force. The GT-R has or does not have a future, but fear not the fans, the nameplate will never be eliminated, according to Espinosa. “We will continue working on sports cars. This is part of our DNA. I cannot tell you when and how, but of course, the GT-R name will exist into the future,” he said in an interview to Automotive News.
The GT-R, commonly nicknamed “Godzilla,” has long been an icon of Nissan engineering excellence. Its replacement, R36, reportedly picks up electrification, stealing Nissan’s Formula E technology with an attempt at delivering next generation performance. Espinosa cited the advantage of electric powertrains in his statement, “The acceleration out of a corner is far quicker than combustion engined cars, and the level of control is much higher.” It is part of the automaker’s broader push towards electrified cars, a solid state battery technology at some point later in this decade included.
The GT-R is not the only legend on Espinosa’s portfolio. The Silvia nameplate that vanished from the market in 2002 can come back with a vengeance as an affordable sports car. The model was also personally Espinosa’s favorite, as he replied, “The Silvia, no doubt,” when questioned what nameplate he would bring back. Work on the model has already commenced and the manager envisions a re styled Silvia as a mid range competitor beneath the GT-R and Z in Nissan’s hierarchy. “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,” he told an interview with Australian media. The back to Silvia shift coincides with the growing competition faced by the small sports car part of the market.
Toyab GR86, Mazda MX-5, and the newly released Honda Prelude hybrid are competitors, and as such there is a need for Nissan to decide on the optimal middle ground upon which performance, affordability, and general acceptability reign. Espinosa acknowledged that it would be challenging but remains hopeful, stating, “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.” The most revolutionary aspect of Nissan sports car planning may be the Hyper Force concept at the Japan Mobility Show.
Powered by 1,341 horses beneath the bonnet of a 1,000 kW four wheel drive electric drivetrain, Hyper Force shows the pinnacle of Nissan tech ambition. Its carbon fiber chassis and solid state battery pack show the firm’s determination to remain light on its feet and at its finest. Inside, there is reconfigurable display panels changing by drive mode, and a combination of high tech and driver oriented features. Espinosa likened the vision to an “a hyper, super sports car” that could redefine what comes to mind about customers as electric performance cars the moment one hears it. Such ideas are certainly tantalizing but are filled with technical and fiscal aches. As all things are, by definition, cheaper to make than high volume vehicles, Nissan’s recent past wasted market share opportunity and burst bubble of Honda merger—are reminders of what still must be done.
However, hope is evident with the dedication and enthusiasm Espinosa has for performance vehicles. “These cars should go everywhere in the world,” he emphasized, reaffirming his vision to rev up Nissan’s halo vehicles around the world. The path to redemption to its former glory is not an easy one, but its recent comeback to interest in its sports cars is a step in the right direction.
