There's a strong desire among enthusiasts for more inexpensive, lightweight, fun-to-drive, rear-wheel-drive cars to exist in a world that contrasts sharply with automakers' desire to make money. While we all love the feeling of controlling the back end with the throttle, front-wheel drive is king when it comes to affordable cars. One of the future bright spots in the rear-drive market appeared to come from Nissan with its pair of IDx concepts. The two showcars from the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show took liberal design inspiration from the classic Datsun 510 and mixed it with modern powertrains in very attractive little packages. However, some pretty dark clouds are reportedly now hanging over the project.

Last we heard, a production version was supposedly "in the plan" from the Japanese automaker, but its trajectory may have changed inside the company in the last few months. According to Pierre Loing, vice president of product planning for Nissan Americas, the issue is making the sports coupe profitable. While Nissan has access to rear-wheel drive platforms, they are all meant for more premium vehicles (read: they cost too much). Assuming around 60,000 annual sales, Loing tells Ward's Auto that making a dedicated chassis for the IDx just isn't a moneymaker. If the car still does see production, it'll be after 2016, he says.

The decision whether to build the IDx has been teetering for a while. Nissan spokesperson Dan Bedore previously told Autoblog that the coupe would need a groundswell of support from consumers and enthusiasts if is to actually have a shot at production.

BusyBadger wrote:2016 FRS may be turbocharged and I can't imagine the IDX competing with it in any real way. Nissan was late to the budget rwd party and is suffering because of it, and now they're considering dropping out of it before they even start.

The Nissan iDX affordable coupe remains a “50/50″ chance of making it to production, but we likely won’t know the sports car’s fate until 2015.

Keno Kato, Nissan corporate vice president product planning, told CarAdvice at the launch of the new Navara ute in Thailand that previous reports of the possible demise of the project were premature.

The iDX concept car twins were revealed at the 2013 Tokyo motor show, and since then the brand’s chief, Andy Palmer, has stated the company “will build one of them”. But a fortnight ago, reports surfaced suggesting the iDX project was potentially on ice.

Kato set the record straight.

“It is under preparation and development. [The project is] 50/50 until some milestone to decide ‘go!’”, however he suggested that by ‘go’ he meant that the car would be further assessed in terms of the profits required, the investment needed and securing the manufacturing sight.

“That’s a funny story around iDX. Andy [Palmer] said it’s under way, and Pierre Liong, head of product planning in Nissan North America said it’s not so feasible. But Pierre Liong is under me, and Andy is my boss.”

However, Kato confirmed the biggest issue surrounding the car was the platform it would use. He said it must be front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR), but stated that it would be using the current standalone rear-drive platform used in the 370Z.

Nissan IDx twins

“If it’s FF (front-engine, front-wheel drive), we don’t have to do,” he said.”FR is a must. Less quicker, and heavier, and costly. But customers who love the FR pay more. An FF quick vehicle would be really serious, like a Civic Type-R. That’s normal.

“I’m very passionate about the iDX. [Like on a motorcycle] you have narrow tyres, you can go into a corner without braking,” Kato said.

But despite knowing the buyers will be willing to pay more for a rear-drive coupe, Kato said the model cannot afford to be too expensive.

“Only I can say – it must be affordable. Must be affordable. Simplify, simplify,” he said. “That’s exactly the key for the solution. Because I think [Toyota] 86 prices are already expensive. Not crazy expensive, but expensive enough to reject young people to access.

Kato stated that while Toyota had a strong position for the 86 in some markets – such as Australia, where it starts at $29,990 – the pricing of the 86 in Japan (estimated at about $27,500) relative to what else is sold in that market has made the company rethink how it will position any production model that eventuates.

“In Japan [the 86 has sold] nothing. Zero presence,” he said. “For us, original AE86 and that 86 is a totally different concept. So, AE86 was truly affordable. Truly, truly. And current 86 prices are already in Z price range, so not for normal people.

“I’d like to set a slightly lower price position, and I need to share, or need to utilise existing something,” he said.

Nissan-IDx-Nismo-Concept

The question of delving into the Renault-Nissan Alliance product portfolio and creating a possible spinoff of the Renault Alpine rear-drive sports car was put forward, to which Kato said: “Still under study. That question is exactly the key.”

Kato suggested what will power any production affordable sports coupe was still not confirmed, but made a forthright suggestion about what he thought should be under the bonnet.

“Naturally aspirated power is linear, but the current turbo is also very linear,” he said of the 1.6-litre turbo unit seen in the Nissan Juke and Pulsar models. “So for me, it’s not a big issue, turbo or naturally aspirated.”

“The only issue with the turbo is the exhaust sound. Within legal requirements, there is no issue. But if we put a nice exhaust, turbo is a problem.”

When asked what a production iDX would mean for the 370Z model and any future generation versions of that car, Kato offered a coy response.

“I think the current Z is too expensive. There’s no question about that,” he said.