Nissan Hints at Entry-Level Electric Sports Car to Take on Rivals

Is Nissan Set to Rekindle the Spirit of Its IDx Concept with an Affordable Electric Sports Car?

It’s astonishing to think that a full decade has passed since Nissan took the wraps off the IDx concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, teasing the prospect of an entry-level sports car, including a Nismo version. A decade later, enthusiasts are still waiting for a production version to materialize. While the dream of a sub-Z model remains elusive, there’s a glimmer of hope, as indicated by Nissan’s product planning chief, Ivan Espinosa, in an interview with Top Gear magazine.

Espinosa remarked, “Depending on which point in time you take, we’ve always had the GT-R, we’ve always had Z, and we’ve always had an entry-level car – either a hot hatch like Pulsar or something else at that price and performance point. And this is something we kind of miss today, at that price and performance point.”

 

 

While the exact form of this new model remains a topic of speculation, Espinosa suggested that it wouldn’t be a traditional hot hatchback, resembling the Pulsars of the past. Instead, he proposed that it should be a “smaller electric sports car” designed to be “a bit more affordable” and aimed at attracting customers in their early 20s. To captivate this young audience, Espinosa emphasized that the car must be “exciting and engaging to drive” and should offer a Nismo variant.

It appears that Nissan is considering creating an electric competitor for models like the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, and Mazda MX-5 Miata. However, this endeavor is easier said than done, as launching an entry-level sports car would necessitate a price point lower than the most affordable Z model, which is currently available in the United States starting at $43,305. Achieving a sub-$40,000 electric sports car could be a formidable challenge, especially considering the current market landscape, where even the most budget-friendly GR86 costs nearly $30,000.

 

 

Domestic competitors are also contemplating the realm of hybrid and electric performance vehicles, as demonstrated at the Japan Mobility Show, where Honda, Mazda, and Toyota unveiled their own exciting concepts. Nissan, too, showcased its impressive concept, the Hyper Force, offering a glimpse into the electric future of the GT-R.

In September 2021, Vice President of Nissan Design Europe, Matthew Weaver, tantalized enthusiasts with his conceptual work on a potential Silvia revival. This was shortly followed by a tantalizing rumor from Japan’s Best Car magazine, speculating the revival of the Silvia as an electric model as early as 2025. While these prospects are enticing, they are met with a healthy dose of skepticism within the automotive community.