Why Nissan NEEDS an Affordable RWD Sports Car

[AZhitman]

Looks like we have our answer....

nissan-idx-concept-t582352.html

Apparently, when Nissan's EVP says, "Watch this space," it really means, "We'll let some obscure Australian site with minimal traffic break the news."

I'm wondering if Mr. Palmer and Co. allowed this to happen intentionally.

If so, bad form, gentlemen. Bad form.

[krash]

Yea I was wondering why we didn't get the heads up....

But they did unveil at Tokyo Motor Show, which is how a couple other outlets caught it.

[frapjap]

Well, the 2015 Mustang can now be optioned to come with a turbo 4 cylinder. With round about 300+ horses. And has IRS. Nissan now has a direct competitor to the Z. With the way Ford has been churning out some solid track inspired suspensions on the previous gen Mustang, Nissan is going to have a good chunk of unsold 370Z cars.
http://jalopnik.com/the-2015-ford-musta ... 1476612775

If you're not someone who was interested in buying a Mustang before, your interest lies with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with "at least 305" horses. While this isn't the first time Ford has tried to turbocharge a Mustang (that honor goes to the '79 Mustang and the quirky Ford Mustang SVO after that), the idea of putting an engine with half the normal amount of cylinders in a car like this may sound like sacrilege to some but it makes perfect sense.P

Don't think of the 2.3-liter four as the little brother to the V6, think of it as Facebook to the V6's MySpace. The EcoBoost option is going to be more expensive than the V6 because it promises to be faster, more efficient and more powerful.

You know what? I don't even care if you don't put a 6 in the Z car anymore!

Godammit, Nissan. Why are you choosing to ignore the heritage that once stole sales from the Mustang?





Wait, I remember. Its because there isn't a market for this type of vehicle, right?

[AZhitman]

Y'know, if you look at the hood, it's even got some 370Z cues to it. Handsome car, Ford.

Way to go, Nissan. I'll bet the brakes on the Mustang don't fade into useless oblivion after a few laps on the track, either.

Some days, this feels like being the spouse of an abusive alcoholic.

"Oh, he's changed... he didn't mean it... look, he even did the dishes! " WHACK!

[float_6969]

It's definitely a good looking car! If I'm getting a musting, it's gotta have a V8 in it, but I guess if it's light enough and the price is right, I could be interested. IDK how I feel about these integrated exhaust manifolds though. I know it's for emissions reasons, but it completely eliminates the possibility of a twin scoll turbo.

[AZhitman]

Not a lot of garage-modding you can do on anything built lately anyway. You want to do that, you're playing with pre-'05 stuff for the most part.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

BMW has the integrated exhaust manifolds on their new turbo 4 banger as well.

I think theirs is only rated at 240hp, but I drove one and holy s***, that's 240 of the most outgoing, coked up horses I have ever felt (especially for a car that size/weight).

[frapjap]

BMW has the integrated exhaust manifolds on their new turbo 4 banger as well.

I think theirs is only rated at 240hp, but I drove one and holy s***, that's 240 of the most outgoing, coked up horses I have ever felt (especially for a car that size/weight).

What car is that in? The 2 series?

[frapjap]

It's definitely a good looking car! If I'm getting a musting, it's gotta have a V8 in it, but I guess if it's light enough and the price is right, I could be interested. IDK how I feel about these integrated exhaust manifolds though. I know it's for emissions reasons, but it completely eliminates the possibility of a twin scoll turbo.

does it?

The new 2.3-liter EcoBoost also benefits from a twin-scroll turbocharger to deliver more power sooner in the rev band, where it's most usable for driving.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

The 3.

[themadscientist]

As long as the suspension and brakes are ****y, ok. The idea of a Mustang that can turn and stop feels wrong.

[float_6969]

LOL!

[Loki]

Not a lot of garage-modding you can do on anything built lately anyway. You want to do that, you're playing with pre-'05 stuff for the most part.

Ain't that the truth. The amount of electronic crap in modern vehicles is really insane, and it's just plain harder to do anything with your car these days. Pleasantly surprised to hear you like the new Mustang, Greg. I've been hearing for months how much better it is to drive, and 6-piston Brembos as part of the performance pack will certainly be nice.

[float_6969]

I say bring on as many affordable RWD coupes as possible. Maybe Nissan will actually get on board and make something competitive.

[krash]

Probably not. Palmer and Ghosn will have a discussion like, "Wow, so many people are buying these cheap RWD coupes. I know exactly why, its because there aren't enough crossovers on the market that they like! Okay Andy, bring in the designs for the Juke Nismo Cabriolet!"

[dre1507]

Krash, it's a shame that that's a really accurate depiction.

[float_6969]

"Wait, I've got it! Let's bring back the 510 and f*** it up with a CVT and a screwy C pillar!"

[sx moneypit]

"Wait, I've got it! Let's bring back the 510 and f*** it up with a CVT and a screwy C pillar!"

[Jesda]

Probably not. Palmer and Ghosn will have a discussion like, "Wow, so many people are buying these cheap RWD coupes. I know exactly why, its because there aren't enough crossovers on the market that they like! Okay Andy, bring in the designs for the Juke Nismo Cabriolet!"

See this post? ^^^^^^^

It jokingly suggests a theoretical discussion but it strongly resembles the truth.

-------------------------------

Nissan is a privately owned corporation free to build and sell whatever it wants. It only has to answer to its largest and most vocal shareholders, not us, the auto enthusiasts who SING THE PRAISES of our favorite cars and DIRECTLY INFLUENCE the purchases of our friends, family, and colleagues.

Forget about the enthusiasts who mass market consumers look to for advice and input. Forget about the fans who help define a brand's soul and identity. Just keep building those jacked up five-door purse holders, you creatively-crippled jerkwads.

I grew up a Nissan kid, perched as a toddler in the 80s on the front bench of a white Datsun pickup, then the back seat of a Datsun B210, then the King Cab of a hardbody pickup, then a Sentra (my first car), and then two Q45s and a Maxima. I recently convinced my mom to buy a brand new QX56.


Unfortunately, Nissan has lost me for good. If they want to appeal to low standards of the unwashed masses, fine. Make a bundle doing it, just like Chevrolet did in the 70s and 80s. I'm done. NAIAS is proof of Nissan's disdain for the driving enthusiast.

[RicerX]

I'm waiting to buy my Supra, bish. I can deal with its beak nose because Toyota has been busy ACTUALLY LISTENING to its enthusiasts, all while simultaneously beating you at your own vanilla game AND building a competent pickup truck that actually sells (you get a pass on the Frontier, and that's because it accounts for 50% of the choices in its segment). On top of that, they have a luxury arm that people actually buy from and they actually care about trying to outsell the Germans while you're busy trying to get people to decide between a Maxima and a G37.

I'm also waiting for the Koreans to eat what's left of your lunch. You might want to look into building subway cars too. It's the only useful electric vehicle you could build since you have exhausted nearly every crossover option.



"Electric crossover? Challenge accepted!" - Paddles McGee at the NAIAS.

[krash]

[Razi]

[nissangirl74]

I'm pretty sold on the fact that I REALLY don't like this car and I really hate the path the execs are taking. It could have been the revival Nissan needed. Instead, it seems more representative of the nail in the coffin. Who in the hell is going to take them seriously after this?

[Bubba1]

. Who in the hell is going to take them seriously after this?

Uninformed transportation appliance buyers. I'm sure Mssrs Palmer and Ghosn are patting themselves on the back because US sales are good right now. What they don't want to admit is that groundwork for their success was actually laid over the last 20 years by folks that bought their older more fun, sporty themed models, became unpaid brand ambassadors/repeat buyers. The problem is Mr. Palmer and his whizbang marketing gurus (the ones still delusional that CVT is sporty) fail to see that important ship has just sailed, so they're on borrowed time. Toyota eventually woke up from this same fog, finally remembering the enthusiast matters and made corrections (like the FRS/BRZ). The big questions for Nissan now are (1) When or if Andy will recognize he's taking Nissan in the wrong direction & (2) is he capable of making the necessary corrections before they hit the iceberg that we see ahead.

[frapjap]

Just leaving this here...

[RicerX]

Just leaving this here...

Solid gold!!!

[Hijacker]

Just leaving this here...

Post that to Andy Palmer's facebook page. Or at least NNA's

[themadscientist]

At this point, Nissan, I feel like the alien in Independence Day.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rw5MosKRm4[/youtube]

[float_6969]

Just leaving this here...

Post that to Andy Palmer's facebook page. Or at least NNA's

DONE! LMFAO!!!

[frapjap]

They must not be allowing it to be posted or have removed it. Darn.