Nissan Could Be Reviving Its Iconic Silvia Sports Car—But Is It Real This Time?

Recently, Nissan Motor Company's CEO Ivan Espinosa stated that a modern version of the Silvia could potentially attract younger buyers and revitalize the brand's image. He noted that the Silvia S15 remains one of Nissan's most enjoyable driver's cars. When asked directly whether he would like to see the Silvia revived, Espinosa frankly admitted that he "would very much like to bring it back."

A growing number of Japanese automakers are looking back into their histories, reviving some of the most iconic models from their archives. Toyota reignited sports car enthusiasm with the Supra, and Nissan's CEO has hinted that he too would like to see the Silvia reborn. However, this vision of revival has been a recurring topic, with Nissan executives repeatedly "lighting up and then extinguishing" rumors about the car's return—so far, it remains merely a topic of discussion.

Nissan is currently in the midst of a deep financial restructuring, involving global layoffs and plant closures. Although the current focus remains on high-volume mainstream models, brand executive Ivan Espinosa acknowledged that a sporty model similar to the IDx concept unveiled in 2013 could find a place in the brand's strategy. "I believe a car like the IDx could achieve multiple goals. It could help express the personality of the Nissan brand," he said. "Secondly, it has the potential to attract a younger consumer base. For an automaker, continuously appealing to younger customers is crucial. It's not just about price—although that is a factor—but more importantly, having an appeal that makes young people want to follow the brand."

Espinosa is not without precedents to consider. Toyota's GR performance division has injected new life into the brand. Not long ago, Toyota was seen as "sensible to the point of being boring," but the return of the Supra reignited passion among Toyota fans. Although Nissan currently has the Z-series sports car on the market, it doesn’t seem to have fully captured the hearts of enthusiasts—which is exactly why Espinosa is looking forward to a potential revival of the Silvia.

When asked directly if he would like to see the Silvia make a comeback, Espinosa stated unequivocally that he "would very much like to bring it back." However, he added that reviving the Silvia is "still just an idea in my head at this stage," acknowledging that any new version would have to be as lightweight as the original while meeting modern safety standards.

"The high-output 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the Silvia S15 makes it one of my favorite Nissan models," he added. "In my view, it was one of the best lightweight sports cars we ever built. The combination of chassis and powertrain was incredibly fun—extremely light and finely tuned, delivering pure driving pleasure. We genuinely hope to build a car like that again."

At present, plans for the model's return remain unclear. However, for its fans, the remarks from Nissan's executive have undoubtedly given them new hope.