Anyone forsee a New Silvia / 240sx to come ?

[buckets]

maybe like that.

[old greg]

Originally Posted by Snoopyalien24

Plus it has a nice ring to it lol

Kawasaki certainly thinks so.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Mr.Jay

From what I remember that pic is for a future Z

This is their concept for a Datsun 240z

Terrible IMO

Front end is ugly and the car sits *way* too high and on way too tall 18" wheels, but that concept was the right idea: a 2-seat version of a small/lightweight rwd platform (240SX).

As I recall, Nissan's California design studio did this with zero support from Japan. It generated enough interest that Japan decided to do their own "new Z", only they botched the proportions (rear wheels shoved way aft, making it look like a fwd coupe and preventing 50/50 weight distribution)and built it on a luxury sedan instead of the SX/Silvia. So we got a de-contented 2-seat version of a luxury sedan instead of a return to 240Z ideals (which was promised). DOH!

[Mr.Jay]

Originally Posted by ZDan

. So we got a de-contented 2-seat version of a luxury sedan instead of a return to 240Z ideals (which was promised). DOH!

Just pray for that with the success of the 86 a sports compact era is revived


Nissan is watching this closely

[Lonewolf]

Nissan is the only Japanese automaker with the balls to step up with a GT86/FRS competitor. (Honda is dead to me right now, and Mazda doesn't seem to be in a hurry to bring back the RX7 or unveil a Miata coupe).

Nissan has already proved their commitment to performance cars with the GTR and Z, but I think they need a legitimate business case from the FRS in order to offer a RWD car that the teenagers/20 somethings can afford. In other words, they will watch and see how the FRS market is...and then make a move.

With that said, it won't be for a couple of years.

[WingsofWar]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

Nissan has already proved their commitment to performance cars with the GTR and Z, but I think they need a legitimate business case from the FRS in order to offer a RWD car that the teenagers/20 somethings can afford. In other words, they will watch and see how the FRS market is...and then make a move.

With that said, it won't be for a couple of years.

+1

we had a discussion about this around this time last year. Nissan business officials did say they will be watching this car (86) closely.

The big problem was that the market analysis supported that for 10 years the sports car segment in the auto industry was a death trap. And Japanese automakers were turned off after the late 90s fiasco. Especially with Nissan, Mazda, and Toyota getting hit hard by economical times.

This is why the Japanese auto industry is hesitant about making anything at the low price point sports car. Only Nissan had the balls for us to return the Z and GT-R back on the streets because of their new CEO owner of Renault.

This is another reason why the 86 is big, because its the first to come back after a long hiatus of cheap affordable performance cars out of japan. If 86 can be successful, this will not stop Nissan to answer with a low price point sports car also..likely to be tagged Silvia.

Mazda (more importantly Ikudo Maeda lead designer incharge of the next gen rx7) is not waiting for the market or the 86 to get better. They are waiting for their own research and technology to get to a satisfying point before they are comfortable releasing another rotary car. Their forumla for their cars are much different from the rest of the Japanese auto industry. I could say Subaru and Mazda are very quite alike in those terms.

[vaporiz]

All in all, if 86/BRZ sells well, then other companies will join in until the profit is eaten away. Simple as that.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by buckets

maybe like that.

That looks hot. Datsun with a body kit?

[C4RBON]

Originally Posted by WingsofWar

...

This is another reason why the 86 is big, because its the first to come back after a long hiatus of cheap affordable performance cars out of japan. If 86 can be successful, this will not stop Nissan to answer with a low price point sports car also..likely to be tagged Silvia.

...

Being 'first back' means the 86 should be in high demand right from the start (which we are definitely seeing). The big question is, how big is the market? If everyone who wants a cheap, light, fun rwd car buys an 86, there might not be much demand to sustain multiple cars in the segment.

That being said, it seems many manufacturers are realizing smaller, higher mpg sportscars might be the way forward. For example:

Chevy 130R concept
Next gen Mustang will (supposedly) be lighter, small, and (finally) have independent rear suspension
VW has been talking about a small RWD sportscar in conjunction with Porshce for a few years now
Possible Nissan Silvia successor

I think almost every manufacturer is interested in the success of the 86. I can only hope demand remains strong and the market will support lots of new 86 competitors. I'm bored with hot-hatches already!

[_hollywood]

Nope toyota is the only company with the balls to take a risk everybody else just makes econoboxes or over complicated supercars...

The integra type r was the last true dedicated affordable car made for enthusiasts....with driving input being its main focus...

[ayau]

Originally Posted by _hollywood

Nope toyota is the only company with the balls to take a risk everybody else just makes econoboxes or over complicated supercars...

The integra type r was the last true dedicated affordable car made for enthusiasts....with driving input being its main focus...

What's ironic is that most people would think Toyota would be the last company to make a car like the 86.

[Snoopyalien24]

Originally Posted by WingsofWar

+1

we had a discussion about this around this time last year. Nissan business officials did say they will be watching this car (86) closely.

The big problem was that the market analysis supported that for 10 years the sports car segment in the auto industry was a death trap. And Japanese automakers were turned off after the late 90s fiasco. Especially with Nissan, Mazda, and Toyota getting hit hard by economical times.

This is why the Japanese auto industry is hesitant about making anything at the low price point sports car. Only Nissan had the balls for us to return the Z and GT-R back on the streets because of their new CEO owner of Renault.

This is another reason why the 86 is big, because its the first to come back after a long hiatus of cheap affordable performance cars out of japan. If 86 can be successful, this will not stop Nissan to answer with a low price point sports car also..likely to be tagged Silvia.

Mazda (more importantly Ikudo Maeda lead designer incharge of the next gen rx7) is not waiting for the market or the 86 to get better. They are waiting for their own research and technology to get to a satisfying point before they are comfortable releasing another rotary car. Their forumla for their cars are much different from the rest of the Japanese auto industry. I could say Subaru and Mazda are very quite alike in those terms.

Also, Toyota has (or had) a boatload of money to spend on the 86 project from all the corolla/camry sales

Originally Posted by ayau

What's ironic is that most people would think Toyota would be the last company to make a car like the 86.

True dat

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by WingsofWar

The big problem was that the market analysis supported that for 10 years the sports car segment in the auto industry was a death trap. And Japanese automakers were turned off after the late 90s fiasco. Especially with Nissan, Mazda, and Toyota getting hit hard by economical times.

Sports coupes have traditionally sold well their first year of production, and then fallen off quite rapidly. I am concerned about how poorly the 370z has sold since it was introduced. In past times it seemed car companies were more willing to give performance/halo cars a chance, but now with even tighter margins, insane CAFE requirements, and economic instability, they just aren't willing to take a shot for the sake of advancing their brand (like what Honda did with first NSX and Mazda did with the first Miata).

I know that the economy has ruined everything for enthusiasts, but car companies need to remember what selling cars is about...passion, excitement, enjoyment.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

Sports coupes have traditionally sold well their first year of production, and then fallen off quite rapidly. I am concerned about how poorly the 370z has sold since it was introduced. In past times it seemed car companies were more willing to give performance/halo cars a chance, but now with even tighter margins, insane CAFE requirements, and economic instability, they just aren't willing to take a shot for the sake of advancing their brand (like what Honda did with first NSX and Mazda did with the first Miata).

I know that the economy has ruined everything for enthusiasts, but car companies need to remember what selling cars is about...passion, excitement, enjoyment.

i think the bigger part of the problem is that sports cars are a luxury. the people buying them dont care what the economy looks like. they all buy the car that they want but then after a couple years, everyone who would actually buy one, already has one