by The new CEO of Nissan intends to introduce four or more halo supercars in the brand. The upcoming Z and GT-R models might launch globally with new available options for sports cars. Perhaps a modern version of Silvia or a sporty hatchback could be part of Nissan’s future.
Not so long ago, Nissan and Infiniti were among the leading brands for sports car enthusiasts. However, today, it can be said those times are past. The Z model, although good, was less popular last year than . It was effectively discontinued, and even if it wasn’t shut down, it resulted in only 657 sales over the past two years. But if the new Nissan leader gets lucky, that might change.
From April, Ivan Espinosa will head Nissan as the new CEO. After challenging years, missed market opportunities, and failed merger attempts with Honda, Makoto Uchida is retiring. There are visible signs that Espinosa is entirely into automobiles and wants to revive the brand. “Driving emotions will always be at the center of Nissan, that’s what we do,” he recently said.
Rebirth of the supercar dream
In a new interview for , Espinosa plans not one, not two, but four or more major supercars for the brand, to show what they are capable of: “I want to have four or five vehicles in the top portfolio that are really brand-focused; cars that truly reflect the essence of Nissan, that show what the heart of Nissan is. These cars must be introduced worldwide.”
But what kind of cars does Espinosa plan – one might ask. “I have some vehicle options, but you can imagine a future Z, if we ever make a more affordable car, which is still my dream, as I told you, perhaps a future GT-R, future . I believe these cars truly describe what Nissan is about. With this, we keep the dream of driving emotions alive.”
The dream of Power and the “affordable” future
To put it without PR language, he hints at the idea of supercars like , Z, and Patrol, which are not limited to just one or two markets: “In the UK and Europe, we were forced to discontinue offering sports cars due to regulatory restrictions, but the fifth vehicle in the history of our ‘Hyper’ concepts is the vision of what we want to consider for the future of hyper, super-car”
He, of course, refers to the model presented at the Japan Mobility show. If it resembles this monstrous machine with a power of 1,341 hp (1,000 kW), we’re on board.
Additionally, he separately noted a “more affordable vehicle”, which sounds like a modern hot hatchback, similar to Pulsar, or maybe a new . Again, sports car enthusiasts will not be waiting – the only thing Nissan needs to do is produce them and ensure their quality.
