The New Nissan Silvia? FR Compact Sports Concept

Nissan’s response to Toyota’s FR compact sports car.

Not to be outdone by Toyota, Nissan is expected to bring the basic concept of the Urge, which was first shown at the 2006 Detroit Show, to reality. Japanese motoring publication ‘Best Car’ are 60% sure we could see a new concept FR sports compact car shown to the public, possibly at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. The car to be shown to the public would take on a more mainstream style compared to the Urge, losing it’s exposed motorcycle inspired design for something more befitting of the Nissan family of cars. A 2.0L powerplant is being considered for the new FR coupe, the details of which are still unknown.

Some might be quick to remark that this is indeed the new Nissan Silvia, although whether or not the Silvia name will be resurrected for this particular model is still up in the air. It wouldn’t be surprising for Nissan to use the Silvia name if Toyota were to announce their own upcoming RWD sports coupe as the ‘Sprinter Trueno’ or ‘Corolla Levin’ to link the new models with their (in)famous predecessors. Length, width and height are rumoured to be 3800 x 1700 x 1250mm with a wheelbase of 2300mm, some 250mm shorter than the (already shortened) upcoming Z34 Fairlady Z. These measurements are regarded as ‘just size’ in Japan, meaning it is only as big as it needs to be for its intended purpose, not a larger – and therefore heavier – version of the old S15 Silvia.

The new FR compact sports coupe is expected to retail for around 2,500,000 yen.

Discuss this article here.

Text: Justin Karow

Photos: Holiday Auto