Last December we reported that Nissan was seriously considering a rear-wheel-drive replacement for the much missed 240SX, a.k.a. the Silvia in Japan. Rumors have continued to surface since then of Nissan's plans, with Winding Road even posting spy shots of a mule this past summer that may have been such a car undergoing testing. Another blog by the name of Rocket Punch Auto Blog claims to know that a new Silvia has gotten the green light and will arrive by 2010 with a price point between ¥2,000,000 and 2,500,000 ($18,435 and 23,044 USD). These renderings (click here to view rear shot) show what a new 240SX and Silvia might look like when it debuts on a modified version of the 350Z's platform. Regardless of how the car looks, the prospect of a new reasonably-priced rear-wheel-drive offering from any automaker is exciting news to us. We await the day in the near future when Nissan's 240SX/Silvia descendant shares a stoplight with a new incarnation of Toyota's famous AE86, which is also rumored to be in development. Throw in a Pontiac Solstice Coupe for good measure and we have ourselves a new bang-for-the-buck performance segment.
[Source: Rocket Punch Auto Blog via Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
tenfifteen @ Nov 26th 2007 1:24PM
*ahem*
Silvia, not Sylvia.
Carlos @ Nov 26th 2007 1:27PM
I’d get onto my shortlist. But I’m nervous about the styling – the old ones always looked good because they were long and low, it was more about the proportions than the details. Nowadays cars are tall and squashed looking, for safety as much as anything else. It’ll be a very different Silvia.
stefan @ Nov 26th 2007 1:29PM
This is a old photo shop bestcar has a new one that look much better.
http://car.biglobe.ne.jp/bestcar/index.html
k.w.a @ Nov 26th 2007 1:48PM
that's a mercedes slk photoshopped with a nissan altima! i hope it doesn't look like that
Marvelous @ Nov 26th 2007 1:35PM
If thats the case it better have a least 300hp to compete with the new Tiburon. If the Tib proves to be a competent driver, there no way anybody would go for a Silvia with less power and same price.
stefan @ Nov 26th 2007 1:44PM
Your not very smart are you? the silvia is a legend and isn't a fat pig like the Tiburon even the 5 year old S15 would kick that RWD Tiburon because it only weighs 1210KG and is vey well balanced.
And it won't have more that 250BHP because it would be in 350Z territory.
purecoda @ Nov 26th 2007 1:56PM
Can't say that I agree. Sure, plenty of HP is nice, but how heavy the car is, how it looks, is it comfortable to drive, do you feel connected to the road, does it handle well, etc., all those questions come into play when looking at a car. At least for me anyway. And the old 240 was not, and wasn't supposed to be, a high HP sports car. If you want one of those there are plenty of options on the market, and more coming out. What there is not really in the market right now are lightweight, decently-powered RWD coupes. Oh, and one more thing - inexpensive. Which is why there were rumors of the Scion TC replacement being roughly 200HP, RWD and around a 20K pricetag. Don't pack the thing with 16 airbags that weigh 500 pounds and electric seats and all other forms of unnecessary crap. Less is more.
John R @ Nov 26th 2007 2:07PM
Well, I won't poo-poo the Hyundai coupe. I'm looking foward to seeing it. But I consider it more in the 350Z's and Mustang GT's class.
I imagine that this new Silvia would be put up against the Solstice coupe, the AE86 successor and the RX-8.
Maybe even the Mazdaspeed 3, WRX, GTI crowd because of price a vs performance value. C/D put a Mini and a Mazdaspeed 3 up a against a Solstice GXP in their lightning lap circus.
nagmashot @ Nov 26th 2007 1:40PM
looks like a rebaged Renault Laguna Coupe Concept..the Laguna Coupe went into production next year...
Nissan is owned by Renault..would be no real wonder if they share cars to reduce development costs...
With the Laguna Coupe Renault starts selling a new generation in all wheel steering ... according to Evo car magazine from the UK who tested it in a normal boring Renault Laguna sedan FWD the all wheel steering developt by Renaultsport push the FWD family car in the handling class of a Porsche Boxster...
They quote that currently Renault holds a dynamic revolution on its hands...
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/210376/renault_steers_from_the_rear.html
voodoobru @ Nov 26th 2007 1:57PM
you mean exactly like the fwd prelude w/4ws circa early 90s.
nagmashot @ Nov 26th 2007 2:01PM
no I Evo car claims that this new system declass everything from the 80´s 90´s
Glancing Aft @ Nov 26th 2007 1:43PM
Other than front vs. rear wheel drive, wouldn't this be in the same market segment as the new altima coupe?
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 26th 2007 1:46PM
Given drifting was 3 years ago, I'm not sure Nissan is very on the ball here.
nissanfreak87 @ Nov 26th 2007 2:11PM
so the only reason for a 240sx is drifting? Ever heard of auto cross or time attack? and anyway, the drifting scene is just as strong as it was a couple of years ago. I think this car will sell like, well, something that sells well, Furbies! there we go, it'll sell like Furbies did when they came out! haha
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 26th 2007 3:54PM
If this car is a great autocrosser, they missed their market (IMHO). They already have an expensive, fast RWD car, they need a lower-end one.
Drifting itself may be doing well (I disagree, but whatever), but the amount of hangers-on is down, and you can't make money only selling the car to actual drifters, you have to sell it to a lot of wannabees too. And I think that boat sailed already.
It'd be interesting if it becomes a 240sx (or even 250sx, presumably using the 2.5 in the Altima), with the way Nissan works lately, it'd more likely have a 4.0L VQ in it, making 14mpg.
stefan @ Nov 26th 2007 1:46PM
No its not the same segment and there is more than just US because the altima coupe isn't sold in japan and europe.
k.w.a @ Nov 26th 2007 1:50PM
oh and i see some nissan z in there too
tankd0g @ Nov 26th 2007 1:50PM
A. There is no RWD Tibi, the Genisis Coupe is a different car.
B. I thought the 240 evolved into the 300, and we already have it's replacement. The 350z.
stefan @ Nov 26th 2007 2:00PM
The 300ZX and 350Z have noting to do with the silvia. the silvia is a smaller model and it was made from 1965-2002.
tankd0g @ Nov 26th 2007 2:07PM
If all these promised new fun RWD cars come in under $30k I'm all for them. That will be the end of the Civic Si though :) Might as well get one kick at the can before gas gets too expensive to waste on anything other than getting to work to earn money to buy more gas...