New Nissan GT-R and expanded Nismo range to spearhead brand's renaissance
Times have been tough for Nissan in the last few years, but its plan for revitalisation is now coming together as the brand regroups and focuses on a new generation of models. Core to this plan is the high-performance sub-brand Nismo, which Nissan says will form one of three key nameplates, including Patrol and Juke, that it will rebuild the brand around. Advertisement - Article continues below
Speaking with Auto Express, Nissan's regional vice president of marketing and mobility, Arnaud Charpentier, said: 'I see a future for Nismo. It's very clear. We will put this in the centre of the brand… We have Nismo, Patrol and Juke. Those strong nameplates for the brand are the equity. This is how we thrill our customers, so it will for sure come.'
In regards to new Nismo models, nothing has yet been confirmed, but a new Nissan GT-R is definitely part of the plan. 'There are people working on this,' he told us. 'When, how, honestly, this we don't know. But today, we don't just need to make a sports car, but to do one with a powertrain that we foresee [working] in the coming years.'
Of course, making a new GT-R is much more difficult than it was when the former R35 model was in development. In the EV age, straight-line performance and the augmentation of the drivetrain that were once a hallmark of the GT-R are relatively easy to attain thanks to the flexibility of electric motors. Nissan's top-brass are aware of this, and know the GT-R will need to be something different.
Charpentier continued: 'If it is electric or electrified, it needs to remain a sports car. [But] if you end up with the same performance as an EV SUV, this is an issue... We need to reinvent the notion of a sports car.'
What happens with Nismo is a little clearer, but the question of whether it will be expanded, Toyota GR-style, to include both high-performance versions of existing models and bespoke sports models remains to be seen.
A quick way to offer high-performance models could start with a Nismo version of the new Micra, borrowing the e-motor and chassis upgrades from its Alpine A290 sister car.
Other upgraded models, such as a hot version of the forthcoming Juke EV, could be a possibility, but the high level of variation between different markets could mean tastier models based on the Patrol SUV will be exploited in overseas markets.
Nissan knows that its position as a global automotive super-power is no longer a foregone conclusion, so leaning into the nameplates that have brand equity will be critical in separating itself from competition from Chinese brands.
Click here for our list of the best performance cars ...
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch moment iconic car maker enters space race after successfully launching reusable rocket
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the spectacular moment one of the world's largest car manufacturers successfully launched a reusable rocket. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Honda R&D - the research and development arm of Honda Motor - landed a rocket for the first time on Tuesday - after it reached an altitude of nearly 1,000 feet. 4 The moment Honda's experimental reusable rocket launches Credit: Honda 4 The rocket's ascent Credit: Honda 4 The rocket touches down after nearly a minute in the air Credit: Honda The experimental reusable rocket reached an altitude of 890 feet during its test flight - staying aloft for 56.6 seconds. It landed just 14.6 inches from its target touchdown point at the carmaker's test facility in northern Japan, according to Honda. Weighing in at 2,890 pounds when fully fuelled (1,984 pounds dry), the rocket is 20.7 feet tall and measured 2.8 feet in diameter. Honda's rocket has become the first prototype rocket outside the US and China to pull off a flight like this. The company said the launch and landing test demonstrated "key technologies essential for rocket reusability, such as flight stability during ascent and descent, as well as landing capability". The Japanese car manufacturer first revealed in 2021 that it had been working on a rocket engine for at least two years. After six years of development, this successful test marked a major step in Honda's push into space innovation. But Honda is not alone in the race beyond Earth. Other car makers like Geely, GM, Hyundai-Kia, Toyota and Venturi are partnering with space tech companies. Unlike Honda and Venturi that have developed rockets or space vehicles, Toyota has been involved more in robotics and space exploration tech. Vid shows supersonic test launch in bid for 1hr cross-Atlantic flights in 5yrs Geely, GM and Hyundai-Kia are partnering with aerospace firms or investing in space tech startups - rather than independently developing rockets yet. It comes after talk of a merger between car rivals Nissan and Honda collapsed in February. But the door to collaboration remains wide open. Nissan's CEO Ivan Espinosa said in March that the company is "very open" to partnerships. The company's chief performance officer, Guillaume Cartier, said Nissan had "never stopped" talking with its Japanese rival, confirming that the two continue working towards a potential partnership. Espinosa, who officially took over on April 1, said his company faces up to five simultaneous crises - including a damaged brand, low morale and the execution of a sweeping turnaround. Speaking at a company event, he said: "The way we are seeing partners is broadly, not only thinking about cars but how to push Nissan into the next era of technology." Toshihiro Mibe has been the CEO of Honda Motor Co. since 2021.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Watch moment iconic car maker enters space race after successfully launching reusable rocket
Eliana Nunes Published: Invalid Date, THIS is the spectacular moment one of the world's largest car manufacturers successfully launched a reusable rocket. Honda R&D - the research and development arm of Honda Motor - landed a rocket for the first time on Tuesday - after it reached an altitude of nearly 1,000 feet. 4 The experimental reusable rocket reached an altitude of 890 feet during its test flight - staying aloft for 56.6 seconds. It landed just 14.6 inches from its target touchdown point at the carmaker's test facility in northern Japan, according to Honda. Weighing in at 2,890 pounds when fully fuelled (1,984 pounds dry), the rocket is 20.7 feet tall and measured 2.8 feet in diameter. Honda's rocket has become the first prototype rocket outside the US and China to pull off a flight like this. The company said the launch and landing test demonstrated "key technologies essential for rocket reusability, such as flight stability during ascent and descent, as well as landing capability". The Japanese car manufacturer first revealed in 2021 that it had been working on a rocket engine for at least two years. After six years of development, this successful test marked a major step in Honda's push into space innovation. But Honda is not alone in the race beyond Earth. Other car makers like Geely, GM, Hyundai-Kia, Toyota and Venturi are partnering with space tech companies. Unlike Honda and Venturi that have developed rockets or space vehicles, Toyota has been involved more in robotics and space exploration tech. Vid shows supersonic test launch in bid for 1hr cross-Atlantic flights in 5yrs Geely, GM and Hyundai-Kia are partnering with aerospace firms or investing in space tech startups - rather than independently developing rockets yet. It comes after talk of a merger between car rivals Nissan and Honda collapsed in February. But the door to collaboration remains wide open. Nissan's CEO Ivan Espinosa said in March that the company is "very open" to partnerships. The company's chief performance officer, Guillaume Cartier, said Nissan had "never stopped" talking with its Japanese rival, confirming that the two continue working towards a potential partnership. Espinosa, who officially took over on April 1, said his company faces up to five simultaneous crises - including a damaged brand, low morale and the execution of a sweeping turnaround. Speaking at a company event, he said: "The way we are seeing partners is broadly, not only thinking about cars but how to push Nissan into the next era of technology." Toshihiro Mibe has been the CEO of Honda Motor Co. since 2021.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Huge carmaker ‘may sell iconic luxury motor brand' as sales dive and new CEO takes charge
ONE of the world's largest car manufacturers looks set to sell an iconic sports car brand as sales plummet. Discussions over the future of Maserati remain ongoing as industry giant Stellantis prepares to welcome its new CEO in the coming days. 5 5 The French-Italian company could be forced to sell the luxury car brand on the back of poor sales over the past year. New CEO Antonio Filosa - who starts on Monday after being appointed last month - faces huge financial decisions as a result of President Trump's brutal trade tariffs. Stellantis - which owns 14 brands across the globe - was reported to have hired management consulting firm McKinsey and Co to review the situation. McKinsey was called in April this year to advise on struggling brands Maserati and Alfa Romeo, with both experiencing a dire 2024. Last year, the number of Maserati units sold plunged from 26,600 to just 11,300. Stellanis told Motor1: "McKinsey has been asked to provide its considerations regarding the recently announced U.S. tariffs for Alfa Romeo and Maserati." Trump's new legislation means tariffs of at least 25 percent on anything imported into the US. Maserati has no new model launches scheduled as it waits for a new business plan, with the last one having been put on hold by Stellantis in 2024. The plan is expected to be presented soon after Filosa starts his new role. But as things stand, it is understood that all options remain on the table for the world-renowned Italian brand. It came after the global firm pulled the plug on a £1.3billion investment in Maserati earlier this year. Plans for the hotly anticipated electric MC20 Folgore were also binned due to low demand. WHO ARE STELLANTIS? The EV, which translates to 'lightning' in Italian, was intended to be the brand's electric alternative to the stunning MC20 sports car. It promised a power output and performance characteristics similar to the existing V6-engined MC20. The Folgore was set to be one of six Maserati EVs set for launch over the next year or so. But Stellantis chief financial officer Doug Ostermann said they had pulled the plug on Maserati projects, claiming they wanted to review the pace in which sports car owners move over to EVs. He said: "We have to recognise the dynamics in that business, particularly in the Chinese market, and our expectations in terms of how quickly that luxury market would transition to electrification." What is Stellantis? Stellantis is the company behind iconic motor brands such as Fiat, Vauxhall and Peugot. The conglomerate, which is the second-largest maker of cars in Europe, owns 14 badges, including Chrysler, Citroen, Jeep and Maserati. The company itself is the product of a merger between Fiat-Chrysler and France's PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen, in 2021. But the motoring giant has encountered increasingly stuttering financial success. And an initial manufacturing break at Stellantis has now been extended as bosses report a collapse in demand for electric cars. Other projects, including EV replacements for the Levante and Quattroporte models, are in danger of being cancelled too. The vehicles were set to be released in 2027 and 2028 respectively. It is understood the three models would have been Maserati's electric line-up as the firm looked to adapt to the EV revolution. Before he left the firm last year, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares claimed the low sales at Maserati were due to advertising issues. He told Top Gear: "Maserati is in the red. The reason is marketing. "The Maserati brand is not clearly positioned and the storytelling is not how it should be. "The brand is not just about sports cars, it's about gran turismo, it's about quality of life, dolce vita and technology." 5 5
