Nissan has effectively shelved its plans to add a third sports car to its lineup. That third model would’ve gone head to head with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota 86, and Subaru BRZ. In an interview with Auto Express at the 2016 New York auto show, Nissan executives said that the GT-R and the Z will remain in the lineup due to customer loyalty, but a more affordable sports car is no longer in the cards. We originally reported that the production version of Nissan’s IDx concepts was in question due to the potential costs of producing a rear-drive platform for a low-volume model. Now, Nissan’s senior vice president and chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura has confirmed that hurdle has shelved the project.
Nakamura said that Nissan’s small sports car has been shelved because of the high costs associated with such a vehicle. “You need a proper platform because it has to be light and small and also affordable,” Nakamura said. “In reality that is not easy to find. It also has to be rear-wheel drive – if we make it front-wheel drive it would be cheating. It is expensive and we are struggling.” Nakamura also said that if the automaker can find a good solution for an affordable lightweight sports car, the project can be brought back.
When asked about the possibility of using the upcoming Renault Alpine platform, Nakamura dismissed the idea, stating that Nissan isn’t a mid-engine car company and that they don’t have the same heritage as Alpine. The GT-R and 370Z, on the other hand, will remain in the lineup according to Keno Kato, Nissan’s corporate vice president and product strategy. Kato told Auto Express that Nissan needs halo sports cars like the GT-R and the 370Z despite its focus on being the leader in electric vehicle technology.
Source: Auto Express
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