Nissan Says If New Silvia Happens, It Won’t Be A “Spicy Sentra”

Nissan’s new CEO sounds like the type of hardcore car guy most enthusiasts love. He talks about the Silvia the way we do, considers sports cars as the core of the brand, and even goes as far as to say that Nissan shouldn’t cheap out by producing a “spicy Sentra.” Let’s break down what he just laid out and why car lovers everywhere should take a breath before getting too excited.

Speaking in Japan, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa said that if the company wants to build an affordable sporty car, “instead of making a spicy Sentra, I will probably go and make a Silvia — a real affordable sports car.” That statement alone speaks volumes. Plenty of brands, Nissan included, have built exactly that type of half-baked performance trim and considered the job done.

More: Nissan May Resurrect One Of Its Sports Car Icons

According to Edmunds, Espinosa stopped short of confirming the rebirth of the Silvia. “I’m not saying I will do it,” he reiterated. That said, it’s a notable admission because affordable sports cars built Nissan and, to an extent, Infiniti into powerhouses in the 1990s and 2000s. The idea makes perfect sense. Nissan desperately needs something to slot beneath the Z and compete with cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GR86.

The problem is that Nissan has spent the better part of the last decade talking about affordable sports cars without actually building one. Meanwhile, the rest of the market moved on. The current Nissan Z is a perfect example.

It’s genuinely fun, sounds good, looks fantastic, and has far more personality than plenty of newer, faster cars. But underneath, it rides on architecture that traces its roots back nearly two decades. Worse, it’s no longer the bargain it once might have been. At its current price, buyers can cross-shop cars that are newer, faster, and, in most cases, more polished.

More Sports Cars Are Coming

Espinosa also told The Drive that “sports cars are the core of what we are as a company” and promised that “for sure we will see more sports cars coming into the portfolio.” He even hinted that Nissan could revive “multiple nameplates.”

More: Nissan’s New Skyline Borrows Its Most Iconic Detail From The GT-R

That matters because Nissan’s problem is bigger than the lack of a Silvia. The GT-R is gone, leaving a massive hole in the brand’s identity. Infiniti, once home to cars like the G35 and IPL models, has seemingly forgotten performance exists altogether. We haven’t forgotten that at one time they put a 400 hp V8 developed for racing into the FX either. Today, Nissan and Infiniti showrooms offer exactly one sports car across both brands.

There is still reason for hope. Espinosa clearly understands what made Nissan great in the first place, and executives around him seem to share that view. But until Nissan actually puts a lightweight, affordable coupe in dealerships instead of on a PowerPoint slide, enthusiasts have every right to remain cautiously optimistic.