All-new 2028 Nissan Silvia/240SX preview.

As we all know, Nissan has been in trouble for a while… However, they have been introducing many new models in an effort to turn things around and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Including the new Nissan Leaf, Nissan Murano, and Nissan Sentra. And more are on the way, signaling a broader product offensive. Just a few days ago, we saw the new 2027 Nissan Rogue and Nissan Juke EV. There have also been previews about a brand new Skyline/Infiniti Q50 and even a new Nissan Xterra, suggesting Nissan is trying to revive both its mainstream and enthusiast appeal at the same time.

Nissan’s big man, Ivan Espinosa,  has been mentioning multiple times a new sports car that would be more affordable than the Z. He even recently said he would love to see a new version of the good old Silvia coupe. Something that would now compete against the new Honda Prelude, which adopted a more modern, electrified approach. This shows Nissan is at least aware of the growing interest in smaller, more accessible performance cars.

The Nissan Z price also means there is plenty of room for a cheaper 2-door model like the one Mr. Espinoza has been mentioning. In the US, it would be a rebirth of the old 240SX we had around for decades. That car built a loyal following thanks to its simplicity, rear-wheel-drive layout, and tuning potential. Qualities that are still valued today by enthusiasts and younger buyers entering the hobby.

It also looks like Toyota is ready to launch a new Toyota Celica pretty soon, adding more pressure and validation to the segment. If multiple automakers return to affordable coupes at the same time, it could signal a modest revival of a category many thought was gone for good.

The first Nissan 200SX came out in 1979. Replaced by the 240SX in the US in 1988. Although it was still just called “Silvia” in Japan. The 240SX saw another generation and disappeared from our market in 1998, largely due to declining sales and shifting consumer preferences toward more practical vehicles.

Maybe there is still a small market for these affordable coupes? It certainly wouldn’t be a high-volume segment, but even a niche success could help rebuild Nissan’s image. In today’s market, emotional appeal and brand identity can be just as important as raw sales numbers, especially for a company trying to reconnect with its enthusiast roots.

The illustration above shows what a new Silvia/240SX could look like. Adopting a design language vaguely similar to the Origami look of the new 2027 Nissan Jule EV.