Nissan’s iconic Drift King sports coupe was designed for our times with an electrified twist
April 13, 2024 at 2:19 p.m
- Nissan’s global product planning chief is a fan of developing an affordable electric sports car to compete with the Toyota GR86 and the upcoming Honda Prelude.
- A possible revival of the Silvia could feature a sleek design inspired by the original and Nissan’s 2021 concept sketches.
- The electric Silvia may feature rear-wheel drive with two motors and offer a base output of 302 hp and a possible Nismo variant with 389 hp.
The desire for an affordable sports car is far from over, as reports suggest Nissan could revive the Silvia/200SX/240SX sports car series to compete with Honda’s new Prelude and the Toyota GT86. Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s senior vice president of global product planning, discussed this possibility with Top Gear, outlining a dream plan to create an affordable entry-level sports car positioned below the Z Coupe and the legendary GT-R.
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After all, the Japanese automaker has always had something racy in its lineup depending on the region: Pulsar GTI-R, Primera GT, 300ZX, Skyline 2000GT-R, 280Z, Stagea 260RS Autech – the list of hot Nissans is endless. This raises the question of what powertrains the Silvia might use if it were revived, and what should it look like? Let’s explore further.
A sideways glance
Inspired by the 1965 original (also called the Datsun 1600 Coupe) and internal concept sketches the company released in 2021, this study looks to the past to move forward. The view from the front is ultra-modern, with hints of Nissan’s 2013 IDx Concept and a heavily recessed LED lighting panel and DRL light bar framing the underside of the folding hood.
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Like Nissan’s own Silvia design sketches, the side profile is clean, with a prominent shoulder line extending around the front and rear. The sleek glasshouse features black A-pillars for a floating roof effect, and the C-pillar is reminiscent of the R32 GT-R. At the back, the slim taillights are aligned horizontally and an eye-catching diffuser underlines the speedy look.
Power to the people
The Silvia was (and still is) extremely desirable because of its SR20DET, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But in a significant departure from its predecessors, Nissan’s expected foray into electric sports cars will undoubtedly polarize many while appealing to a new generation of enthusiasts.
Ideally, it would be equipped with rear-wheel drive and two motors that would produce 225 kW (302 hp) in basic trim, while the more powerful Nismo would produce 290 kW (389 hp) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque.
More: Nissan is bringing the original Silvia into the future with a retro design
As part of Nissan’s future strategy, home-developed solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are a safe bet. These are being hailed as a “game-changing technology” that will double energy density and potentially reduce charging times by a third. They also address a big problem with all electric vehicles: weight. No matter how good the vehicle’s grip and chassis management are, the weight of today’s lithium-ion batteries is equivalent to the weight of concrete-filled Nike shoes in a marathon.
The move to solid-state electric power is also in line with Nissan’s intention to introduce ASSBs across its vehicle range, including high-performance models such as the next-generation GT-R.
Alternatives to canyon carving
Direct competitors would be sports cars such as Toyota’s GR86, Toyota Supra (2.0-liter turbo), Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5 and Honda’s upcoming new Prelude. A Nismo variant would likely compete against MG’s new Cyberster and, in the distant future, Tesla’s mythical Roadster.
Pricing would be an interesting sticking point. After all, the larger Z costs between $42,210 and $64,990, and anything with a battery – lithium or solid-state – would be a tall order to keep the price under.
Should the Silvia return as an electric vehicle or is ICE the right choice? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Note: This story contains illustrations that are not endorsed by or associated with Nissan.
