Is Nissan's New Boss Serious About 'Four or Five' Halo Vehicles Like the GT-R?

Nissan will enter a new chapter next week, as Ivan Espinosa is set to become the youngest CEO in the brand's history. The 46-year old Mexico native has already spent more than a quarter-century with the automaker, and he's wasting no time sharing his early vision for the brand's necessary shakeup. Luckily for enthusiasts, Espinosa seems to have pretty strong feelings about the future of nameplates like the Z, the GT-R, and even the Silvia.
Espinosa has had a busy week on the interview circuit as he prepares to take the helm at everyone's favorite struggling automaker. And while there's been an understandable focus on how he plans to turn the brand's financial situation around, Espinosa hasn't been shy about his feelings on the products themselves.
'Driving excitement will always be at the heart of Nissan, it's what we do,' Espinosa said in an interview with Top Gear. 'I want to have four or five cars at the top of our portfolio that are really brand-oriented cars; cars that really represent what Nissan is about, that show what the heartbeat of Nissan is.'
The executive further noted that he believes models like the Nissan Patrol, Z, GT-R, and even a potential new sports car could be fundamental to reestablishing the brand enthusiasm once carried by Nissan products. He also noted that these products need to be available globally, which is often not how the brand currently operates.
We might already have a clue as to what the cheaper sports car could be called, as Espinosa told Automotive News that the Silvia nameplate is the one he'd most like to revive from the Nissan catalog.
'I have some options about the cars but you can imagine a future Z, if we ever do a more affordable car which is still in my dream as I've told you, maybe the future GT-R, a future Patrol," he said. "These are for me the cars that really describe what Nissan is about. With this, we keep the dream alive of what driving excitement is'
Espinosa also explained that the brand is looking at future options for the GT-R. The incoming CEO was much more direct with the folks from Automotive News, outright confirming that the GT-R nameplate will continue to exist in the future. That said, the executive-to-be wouldn't speak on what such a car could look like. Nissan previously teased us with the Hyper Force concept, which features an electric dual-motor layout providing the requisite all-wheel drive, as well as solid-state batteries for immense performance potential. The concept is reportedly good for over 1340 horsepower.
'We will continue working on sports cars,' Espinosa told Automotive News. This is part of our DNA. I cannot tell you when and how, but of course, the GT-R name will exist into the future.'
Of course, Nissan has other problems to address before it can start cranking out all-new sports cars. Espinosa acknowledged the brand's struggles with forecasting and volume targets, with some misalignment between management ideas and the reality of the brand's strength globally; the brand is also simply spending too much, he said, and needs to find viable reductions to both fixed and variable costs.
That said, hopefully Espinosa will be exactly the sort of force that Nissan needs to pivot away from its current trajectory. Espinosa himself was inspired to get into the auto industry via his obsession with the Nissan 300ZX as a youth. Fingers crossed that he'll be able to give some young folks the inspiration they need with whatever sports cars Nissan develops during his tenure in the big chair.
You Might Also Like
You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox
Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners
The Man Who Signs Every Car

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

5 hours ago

• Yahoo

Oracle Full Year 2025 Earnings: In Line With Expectations

Revenue: US$57.4b (up 8.4% from FY 2024). Net income: US$12.4b (up 19% from FY 2024). Profit margin: 22% (up from 20% in FY 2024). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue. EPS: US$4.46 (up from US$3.82 in FY 2024). AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) was also in line with analyst expectations. The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the Cloud and License segment contributing a total revenue of US$49.2b (86% of total revenue). The largest operating expense was Research & Development (R&D) costs, amounting to US$9.86b (35% of total expenses). Explore how ORCL's revenue and expenses shape its earnings. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 14% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 13% growth forecast for the Software industry in the US. Performance of the American Software industry. The company's shares are down 4.7% from a week ago. Before you take the next step you should know about the 2 warning signs for Oracle that we have uncovered. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 擷取數據時發生錯誤 登入存取你的投資組合 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤

Yahoo

9 hours ago

• Yahoo

After 15 Years, the 2026 Nissan Leaf Is Finally Cool

PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Nissan is turning over a new Leaf. (Sorry, I had to do it.) The 2026 version is unrecognizable from its predecessor, and it hits US dealers this fall. The 15-year-old hatchback is now more "SUV-like," as Nissan describes it. It has a solid 303-mile range, a Tesla-backed NACS port for Supercharging, dual 14.3-inch displays, and an available panoramic roof. "We have completely reconstructed the values of the next-generation Leaf," says Tase Nobutaka, program design director at Nissan. "We made it simple and clean, yet with a more energetic feeling. We ensured the all-new Leaf has a dynamic shape, testing it time and time again to reach our ambitious aerodynamic targets." It has not one but two charge ports, a unique strategy that gives drivers more options. It has a Level 2 port (J1772) on the driver's side for home charging. A second port on the passenger's side will work at Tesla Superchargers, which are only found in public and charge at a much faster rate. "The combination of J1772 for AC charging and NACS for DC charging provides our customers with access to the largest number of chargers," a Nissan spokesperson tells us. "Because there was not much time between signing Nissan's agreement with [Tesla for] NACS and when Leaf production began, we chose to move forward with dual ports in order to deliver the most abundant charging options possible (within that rather tight timeframe). We will, of course, continue to adjust for future models." The 2026 Leaf is the first Nissan to have sleek, "motorized flush front door handles" and is the first in its class to have a dimmable panoramic roof, Nissan says, though that one will almost certainly require an upgrade. The car comes in a range of "bold color choices" to complete its transformation from an old standby to a fashion-forward option. It's compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, and has four USB-C ports sprinkled throughout. We've been speculating about the death of the Leaf as we know it since 2023, and it's great to see that Nissan revived it instead. The beloved car may have been among the first to popularize EVs, but hasn't kept up with modern design or technology trends. Case in point: It still has an outdated CHAdeMO charge port. But importantly, it's been the only electric car on the market below $30,000. We don't know the price of the new Leaf, but all signs point to it being above $30,000. The goal is to bring it up to modern standards, which includes pricey upgrades like sensors and cameras to enable self-driving assistive software. The new Leaf "represents the best of Nissan EV technology," Nissan says. It'll be hard to upstage the Nissan Ariya, however, which has all the modern technology—even an optional camera feed rear-view mirror. Nissan may have decided that deeper-pocketed customers are more likely to buy an EV, but we'll see how the final price looks in a few months. One nugget in Nissan's announcement hints that a cheaper version is on the way. A smaller battery pack option (52kWh compared to 75kWh) arrives in spring 2026. That's slightly larger than the 40kWh pack on the Leaf today. It will also have less horsepower (175hp compared to 214), giving "EV drivers a choice in the amount of driving range and value they desire," Nissan says.

Forbes

18 hours ago

• Forbes

This Rideable Robot Is A Man-Made Horse Powered By Hydrogen

It had to happen. One day, humans had to attempt to make their own horse. Or a machine as close as can be to a rideable Rottweiler. Boasting the combined attributes of a horse, a mountain lion and a motorcycle, here it is—the Kawasaki Corleo concept. That's right, it'll be a while before you can actually buy one. Check out the video below. According to the company, one day deep in the R&D department, someone dared to ask, 'What if we put legs on an all-terrain vehicle?' So, working outside of their comfort zone, engineers created the Corleo. The resulting vehicle incorporates the company's vision of mobility in 2050, where instinct, technology and the natural environment move in sync. Or at least, that's what Kawasaki Heavy Industries says. Corleo is a 4-legged rideable robot targeting a 2050 future Unveiled recently at the Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, the Corleo is a revolutionary off-road personal mobility vehicle—a rideable robot propelled by four legs and powered by an engine fueled with hydrogen. While Kawasaki did actually unveil this real-life concept, it was the brand's computer-generated video that has generated intense interest online. Making the Corleo look like a hoot to ride, the imagery portrays a rideable four-legged robot that comes across as an advanced version of Boston Dynamics' Spot —the dog-like robot mixed with the fun of Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder cruiser. Having racked up over 1.1 million views so far, the CGI video shows the Corleo galloping through a thick forest, frolicking across a field, leaping across a small gorge and trotting across a snowy outcrop in a landscape mimicking scenes from Lord of the Rings. Corleo employs independently articulating legs As far as actual riding goes, Kawasaki says that the Corleo mimics the responsive feel of an ATV or even a motorcycle, but instead of using wheels, it employs independently articulating legs with swing arms that absorb impact and shocks and adapt to uneven terrain. Each leg is fitted with a hoof made from slip-resistant rubber, split left-to-right to adapt to different surfaces like grass, gravel, and rock. This four-legged construction maintains balance and stability as it keeps the rider's body in an upright forward-looking posture, even when climbing steps. Corleo employs some clever design ideas, including independent legs, a hydrogen engine and steering through weight shifts using sensors in the stirrups and handlebars. The rear leg unit can swing up and down independently from the front leg unit, allowing it to absorb shocks during walking and running. A 150cc hydrogen engine produces electricity to propel the leg-mounted drive units, with rear-mounted hydrogen canisters supplying fuel to deliver low emissions and silent operation. An onboard GPS navigation screen guides riders by mapping a path up or down a hill, while also ensuring the rider's center of gravity, and hydrogen fuel levels. "While preserving the joy of riding, the vehicle continually monitors the rider's movements to achieve a reassuring sense of unity between human and machine," Kawasaki said.