Why Nissan NEEDS an Affordable RWD Sports Car

[LongBeachCoupe]

That commercial is great, the music is awesome lol!
Seems like it should be played during "perfect strangers"

[NolimitZ32]

ON a tangent but not, if anyone has any design info on the Mid4 or knows anything I don't (I don't know much) can you please point me to the info or send it my way. I have 3 years to learn everything I can and get plans together I want to try build a replica, at least on paper at first.

[s14280zx]

Yes, and no.

Yep, that's what I figured. Maybe those guys got hired at Toyota/Subaru .

[Razi]

Well, they were gonna sell it, but it was going to be too expensive.
All the tech from that got used in all their street cars though, so that's cool.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Well, they were gonna sell it, but it was going to be too expensive.

And they're morons for it. NSX, Viper, GT...all projects that could have been written off as "too expensive" and all projects that helped DRAMATICALLY redefine the images of the companies that built them. The Mid4 could have been on that list. Cost was not the issue. Pansy-a** businessmen were. Oh...how appropriate. That's what's stopping Nissan from building an affordable rear-driver today.

[asoomal]

MID4 seems like great idea and all....but just imagine doing timing belts and cam seals on a mid engined V6.

Ya no thanks.

If it had a timing chain, then yus.
Then again, AWD V6 twin turbo mid engine, that would probably be one of the most unreliable vehicles ever.

[leesredgt]

Im super depressed now knowing Nissan could have made the Mid4 and didnt. I want one.

[mechanicalmoron]

Im super depressed now knowing Nissan could have made the Mid4 and didnt. I want one.

You know it was going to be a supercar anyways. Sort of GTR level, only mid-engined and with a more european mindset to it's design.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

^I think he buys that sort of stuff. He had an NSX and now has a Lotus.

He's the type of guy that you don't want to call his bluff.

[mechanicalmoron]

^I think he buys that sort of stuff. He had an NSX and now has a Lotus.

He's the type of guy that you don't want to call his bluff.

Ohh...

Leesredat, we should hang out some time.

[leesredgt]

No, thats some one else. I did have a MK4 Supra if that means anything...lol

[float_6969]

well id that's the case, then we don't want to hang out anymore, lol!

[leesredgt]

[PapaSmurf2k3]

No, thats some one else. I did have a MK4 Supra if that means anything...lol

Oh yeah... oh well. Roll with it!

[float_6969]

Lmfao! This thread is so sidetracked right now.

[Rev_D21]

Yeh really! The Nismo touch is interesting but it doesn't bring us an AFFORDABLE SPORTS CAR. The JUKE is NOT a SPORTS CAR!! 240SX NOW or forever be a relic Nissan! There, it's on the table. I am tired of your dancing around the issue. Kids are so desperate they are turning pickup trucks into sports car. Build the S16 or go take a long walk off a short pier.

[AZhitman]

Well, there's some interesting news coming in from "sources" overseas...

The expectation is that Nissan will unveil a sub-370z-sized 2-door at the Tokyo Auto Show, and that it will be loosely based on the Esflow concept.



Now, we haven't heard from Mr. Palmer as promised, so I'm thinking any day I should be getting an invite to join them in Tokyo. I'll keep checking the mail.



If true, it would make a lot of sense, since it incorporates some of the early Z styling cues, appears to be fairly production-ready, and the chassis / body design lends itself well to a hybrid arrangement.

[float_6969]

I'd rock esflow styling all day long! And I'm even OK with a hybrid, if done properly. (To me that means 2 Leaf motors and RWD)

[AZhitman]

^ THIS.

[addicted4life]

The side profile is quiet appealing. I like how it borrows from it's earlier design with a modern, hybrid flare. Now if we can have a turbo on it we're all set.

Edit: And with Toyota announcing the redesign of the supra Nissan needs to really step it up now, seems the japanese muscle/import race is back on. I love it.

[RicerX]

Well, there's some interesting news coming in from "sources" overseas...

The expectation is that Nissan will unveil a sub-370z-sized 2-door at the Tokyo Auto Show, and that it will be loosely based on the Esflow concept.



Now, we haven't heard from Mr. Palmer as promised, so I'm thinking any day I should be getting an invite to join them in Tokyo. I'll keep checking the mail.



If true, it would make a lot of sense, since it incorporates some of the early Z styling cues, appears to be fairly production-ready, and the chassis / body design lends itself well to a hybrid arrangement.

THERE IS HOPE.

With the recent loss of the Altima Coupe in the lineup, it makes even more sense to bring a car out like this. They have room for it now, even moreso than before. Also, the Altima Coupe was the first 2+2 coupe in Nissan's North America lineup since the *gasp* 1998 240SX.

I will be watching closely. My brother needs a new daily driver. I can almost guarantee that he will buy one of these if you make it. He isn't the only one, either.

[fiznowler]

Does the G35 coupe count? I know it is infiniti but same damn thing lol.

[RicerX]

Does the G35 coupe count? I know it is infiniti but same damn thing lol.

Short answer: No.

[fiznowler]

It is definitly not in the affordable catagory.

[AZhitman]

Mr. Palmer...

I hope you're still following this discussion as Nissan draws nearer to releasing more details of whatever's "up the sleeve."

Just wanted to drop this little tidbit here, as a reminder to those at Corporate, from the product planners and market analysts, to middle-and-upper management, all the way up to Mr. Ghosn.

"A sports car doesn't have to be luxurious. It should be affordable so that anyone can own one, it should be easy to maintain, and it should be something that you can enjoy without having to spend too much money. To attach a price tag of $50,000 to a sports car just seems uncomfortable to me. You can get any price you want if you increase the number and level of features and equipment. But if you don’t add any extra equipment and features and you can still experience great exhilaration when driving, then that’s the best situation as far as I am concerned! After all, all you need to ride a horse is a saddle."

Truer words were never spoken... but who spoke them? Not me.

That is a quote from none other than Yutaka Katayama.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Watch them come out with something bare aluminum and a leather saddle as a seat... and that's it for amenities haha.

[RicerX]

Mr. Palmer...

I hope you're still following this discussion as Nissan draws nearer to releasing more details of whatever's "up the sleeve."

Just wanted to drop this little tidbit here, as a reminder to those at Corporate, from the product planners and market analysts, to middle-and-upper management, all the way up to Mr. Ghosn.

"A sports car doesn't have to be luxurious. It should be affordable so that anyone can own one, it should be easy to maintain, and it should be something that you can enjoy without having to spend too much money. To attach a price tag of $50,000 to a sports car just seems uncomfortable to me. You can get any price you want if you increase the number and level of features and equipment. But if you don’t add any extra equipment and features and you can still experience great exhilaration when driving, then that’s the best situation as far as I am concerned! After all, all you need to ride a horse is a saddle."

Truer words were never spoken... but who spoke them? Not me.

That is a quote from none other than Yutaka Katayama.

Fully epic.

[AZhitman]

By the way, contrary to speculation, the 2016 Z isn't looking like it'll be the BRZ fighter we've been hoping for. Instead, it's looking to be a natural progression of the current model, albeit with a more upright front fascia in order to comply with the completely asinine "pedestrian safety" standards.

If I see a personal injury attorney tomorrow, he/she is getting kicked in the side of the head.

[float_6969]

That's good news to my ears. I want to the Z to stay in it's segment. We need a SEPARATE car from the Z.

[RicerX]

Both good news and not so good news. I don't like them getting rid of the sleek front that they have going with the 350 and 370. It sounds like it'll have 4x4 ride height in the front and an Altima Coupe-ish nose. No thanks.

Pedestrian safety. Psh.