Nissan starts electrified Silvia development

ABU DHABI: Over a decade ago, Nissan introduced the IDx concept, teasing a potential new sports car to complement the GT-R and 370Z. While the Z has since replaced the 370Z and the GT-R is slated for an electric return, the company had to cancel IDx due to insufficient demand and high production costs. However, in a recent interview in Abu Dhabi, Nissan hinted at the revival of a third performance model. Ivan Espinosa, the company’s Vice President, confirmed that early development work on a new Silvia sports car is now underway.

Espinosa specified that the new Silvia would be electrified but didn’t clear out if it would be a battery-electric or a hybrid vehicle. He emphasized that a globally viable solution is needed to achieve sufficient scale.

Espinosa said that developing an electrified sports car such as the Silvia requires building assets from scratch and significant investment. While he wants to add a third sports car to the lineup, alongside the Z and GT-R, he admits it's full of challenges. He expects to see the Silvia by decade’s end, though Nissan faces tough competition from some of the Japanese brands that have entered the electrified sports car market.

Nissan wants the revived Silvia to meet global regulations, allowing it to ramp up production for economies of scale. Despite the niche market and high cost, Nissan wants to develop Silvia independently, without any collaboration.

Speaking of the competitors, Mazda is developing its MX-5 convertible’s fifth generation, and Honda is planning to revive the Prelude with a hybrid engine. Despite the huge competition in the electrified sports car segment, Espinosa said that Nissan will go solo on the Silvia project and excel in this area.

Source: www.drive.com.au

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