Nissan’s recent financial hardship has claimed a casualty, being the new upcoming Nissan Silvia. It is claimed that while Nissan has been working to develop a new rear wheel drive sports car for years, the Silvia project has been put on hold for now until better (financial) times. Whether the hold is permanent or if the project will recommence is unknown
Porsche has accused Nissan of cheating on the Nurburgring – A test race track for sports cars located in Germany. Porsche being beaten in its home ground tends to rub salt into the wounds as the proud German car manufacturer cried foul play. So adamant of their claims, porsche has decided to import a GTR R35 and test the car out themselves around the Nurburging by their test driver and clocked up a time of 7:54, a full 30 seconds more than Nissan’s claimed lap time. The accusation is that Nissan has used high performance race tyres on its test car, despite video proof of the GTR R35 using ultra performance street tyres in the famous youtube video of the Nurburging lap.
Independant sources has tested both cars – the GTR R35 and Porsche 911 with the GTR R35 coming out consistently quicker. Nissan’s response to Porsche accusations was a display of some proof of standard tyres being used then summed it all up by stating that Porsche’s test drive should perhaps enlist is Nissan’s performance driving course. Ouch!
It has been rumoured that Nissan are in the works of producing a new Nissan Silvia after a long absence in the market. Sure, the GTR R35 is great (if we have the money) and the Nissan 350Z is a little out of reach for most younger fans. Nissan has acknowledged there is a missing segment for the younger fans for a more affordable sports car. The Nissan silvia history dates back with the Silvia S10 in 1968 and ceasing production with the Silvia S15 in 2002. 10 years on and Nissan has finally rebirthed the much missed Silvia but is said to be built on the FM platform (same chassis platform as the 350Z and GTR) and will be an affordable, rear wheel drive turbo powered car at approx $20,000-$23,000 USD. The new Silvia will be powered by a 1.8L or 2.0L direct injection powerplant with output of approx 250hp. During several press conferences in 2003 and 2004, when asked about the possibility of a new Nissan silvia, Nissan replied with simply saying “Its a good time to be a Nissan fan. Keep your eyes and ears open around the time the new GTR is being released as you may find a surprise.”
The new Nissan Silvia is said to be due by 2010.
The much anticipated Nissan skyline GTR R35 was released late 2007 in Japan. Keeping much of its protoype looks in the 2001 Tokyo motor show (Nissan claimed production of the Skyline R35 will be based on 90% of the prototype model), it has relit the fire for all Skyline fans. Personally, I felt the Skyline R35 was a step back from its predecessors, but the Skyline GTR R35 is definately a winner in my books. Traditionally, the Skylines have been somewhat overly focused on pure performance with very little creature comforts in for the cabin crew (but hey, why else are you driving a Skyline GTR if you’re not in it for the performance). However, the new Skyline R35 has achieved the best of both worlds. The new 3.8L DOHC VR38DETT engine pumping out a nice 353kW/473hp with pulling power of 588 Nm @ 3200-5200 rpm is set to impress the power hungry driver, but they have also included a few extra luxuries with leather as standard as well as premium Bose speakers as an optional extra. A more powerful V. Spec model is said to be in the works with 410 kW / 550 hp of power (an increase of 57 kW / 77 hp). The Skyline R35 boasts a 0-100km/h times of approx 3.5secs, you’re sure to get from point A to B very, very quickly.
Nurburgring