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Motor 1
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Nissan: We Have People Working On a New GT-R
Nissan is undertaking a massive cost-cutting agenda after losing billions in recent years due to sales falling short of investments. While the new product roadmap centers on the usual suspects, crossovers and SUVs, there's still hope for fun cars. The Z is soldiering on and could one day be joined by a new Silvia . Better yet, a next-generation GT-R is also in development. Yes, Godzilla will return, eventually. Speaking with Motor1 last month at the New York Auto Show, Nissan USA's chief product planner confirmed, 'The GT-R will be back, without a doubt.' Now, another high-ranking official is reinforcing that statement. Arnaud Charpentier, VP of Product Marketing Strategy, told Auto Express that the company is actively working on a new supercar: 2023 Nissan Hyper Force concept 'There are people working on this. When, how, honestly, this we don't know. But today, we don't just need to make a sports car, but to do one with a powertrain that we foresee [working] in the coming years. If it is electric or electrified, it needs to remain a sports car. [But] if you end up with the same performance as an EV SUV, this is an issue.' Whatever direction Nissan takes with the R36, Charpentier says the flagship must 'reinvent the notion of a sports car.' It's been about a year and a half since the company hinted that the next GT-R might be fully electric. The Hyper Force concept , an ultra-angular supercar with 1,341 horsepower, was described by Nissan Europe's VP of design, Giovanny Arroba, as 'a tangible dream to achieve by the end of the decade.' As you can see, various Nissan executives are eager to talk about a new GT-R, even if its release remains far off. They're not alone. Nissan North America's Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer, Ponz Pandikuthira, has suggested the R36 could be twinned with a third-generation Acura NSX . The next GT-R may also go electric since an 'NSX-type' EV has already been confirmed to arrive later this decade. Nissan's new boss, Ivan Espinosa, is an enthusiast who drives his Z to work every day . His predecessor, Makoto Uchida, described him as a 'real car guy.' Espinosa is also keen to bring back the Silvia, giving us reason to hope for either a new GT-R or a more accessible sports car. Nissan Hyper Force concept 44 Still, we need to stay realistic. Nissan is cutting 20,000 jobs, closing seven factories, eliminating six vehicle platforms, rebadging several Renault models , pausing development on some products, and reducing parts complexity by 70 percent. How does a niche product like a sports car fit in in this grim context? It's not as though the Z is a major commercial success that would encourage executives to greenlight another performance model. The struggling Japanese automaker clearly has bigger priorities and isn't likely to favor a GT-R or a Silvia at the expense of a high-volume SUV. Nissan is also developing a new Sentra sedan, among other mainstream models, that must come first. Sure, a new supercar would boost Nissan's image and draw more people into showrooms, but the bean counters are more inclined to play it safe with volume-driven vehicles. The Latest From Nissan: The New Nissan Micra Is Actually a Reskinned Renault 5 Nissan's New Boss Candidly Admits What Went Wrong Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Auto Express Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan boss hints at new GT-R and Z in halo car pledge
Hyper Force concept shown in 2023 hinted at the next iteration of the GT-R Incoming Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa has vowed that 'driving excitement will always be at the heart' of the firm, hinting that halo cars such as the Z and GT-R will remain a key part of the brand's future – and be offered worldwide. The current R35-generation GT-R will finally be discontinued shortly, having been in production since 2007. However, it hasn't been offered in Europe for several years, due to emission regulations. Nor has the Z. Asked about the importance of performance cars to Nissan, Espinosa said: 'Driving excitement will always be at the heart of Nissan. This is what we do. "There are many, many ways of explaining and showing to the world what this means, starting from the Z, which is affordable and fun to drive, to the GT-R, or even the Patrol [SUV]. 'These will remain, for sure. I want to have four or five cars at the top of our portfolio that are really brand-oriented, cars that really represent what Nissan is about and show what the heartbeat of Nissan is. And these cars should go everywhere in the world. "We keep the dream alive of what driving excitement is for. We will invest in signature Nissan models to deliver strong nameplates. Vehicles are the heartbeat of Nissan – and that includes sports cars, where we have very exciting plans.' In 2023, Nissan revealed the Hyper Force concept, which previewed an electric GT-R successor, but Espinosa previously told Autocar that such a car had to wait until electric car technology was ready. Asked if the firm has made any progress on that, Espinosa said the current electrification transition makes things 'difficult' but 'in a couple years, as the regulations start converging into more electrified powertrains, it might be easier to do this. This is what I will dream of doing.' ]]>
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is Nissan's New Boss Serious About 'Four or Five' Halo Vehicles Like the GT-R?
Nissan will enter a new chapter next week, as Ivan Espinosa is set to become the youngest CEO in the brand's history. The 46-year old Mexico native has already spent more than a quarter-century with the automaker, and he's wasting no time sharing his early vision for the brand's necessary shakeup. Luckily for enthusiasts, Espinosa seems to have pretty strong feelings about the future of nameplates like the Z, the GT-R, and even the Silvia. Espinosa has had a busy week on the interview circuit as he prepares to take the helm at everyone's favorite struggling automaker. And while there's been an understandable focus on how he plans to turn the brand's financial situation around, Espinosa hasn't been shy about his feelings on the products themselves. 'Driving excitement will always be at the heart of Nissan, it's what we do,' Espinosa said in an interview with Top Gear. 'I want to have four or five cars at the top of our portfolio that are really brand-oriented cars; cars that really represent what Nissan is about, that show what the heartbeat of Nissan is.' The executive further noted that he believes models like the Nissan Patrol, Z, GT-R, and even a potential new sports car could be fundamental to reestablishing the brand enthusiasm once carried by Nissan products. He also noted that these products need to be available globally, which is often not how the brand currently operates. We might already have a clue as to what the cheaper sports car could be called, as Espinosa told Automotive News that the Silvia nameplate is the one he'd most like to revive from the Nissan catalog. 'I have some options about the cars but you can imagine a future Z, if we ever do a more affordable car which is still in my dream as I've told you, maybe the future GT-R, a future Patrol," he said. "These are for me the cars that really describe what Nissan is about. With this, we keep the dream alive of what driving excitement is' Espinosa also explained that the brand is looking at future options for the GT-R. The incoming CEO was much more direct with the folks from Automotive News, outright confirming that the GT-R nameplate will continue to exist in the future. That said, the executive-to-be wouldn't speak on what such a car could look like. Nissan previously teased us with the Hyper Force concept, which features an electric dual-motor layout providing the requisite all-wheel drive, as well as solid-state batteries for immense performance potential. The concept is reportedly good for over 1340 horsepower. 'We will continue working on sports cars,' Espinosa told Automotive News. This is part of our DNA. I cannot tell you when and how, but of course, the GT-R name will exist into the future.' Of course, Nissan has other problems to address before it can start cranking out all-new sports cars. Espinosa acknowledged the brand's struggles with forecasting and volume targets, with some misalignment between management ideas and the reality of the brand's strength globally; the brand is also simply spending too much, he said, and needs to find viable reductions to both fixed and variable costs. That said, hopefully Espinosa will be exactly the sort of force that Nissan needs to pivot away from its current trajectory. Espinosa himself was inspired to get into the auto industry via his obsession with the Nissan 300ZX as a youth. Fingers crossed that he'll be able to give some young folks the inspiration they need with whatever sports cars Nissan develops during his tenure in the big chair. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
