2020 Nissan Silvia S16 – Review and Specs

The Silvia has been the name Nissan gave to some of their two door sports car for more than two decades. Sadly the manufacturer discontinued the car back in 2002 when the S15’s production ceased. However, it now looks like a successor may be finally on its way. The details are still unknown but the new car should hit the market with the future 2023 Nissan Silvia S16. For now there is very little available information on it but it looks like the S16 may just be the worthy successor everyone was looking for. The car is expected to be rear wheel drive, boast a couple powerful engines and offer the perfect driving experience.

In detail

Sadly Nissan doesn’t really have a suitable platform to underpin the new Silvia. Some suggested they may turn to their old S-chassis but this is highly unlikely. Instead, we actually expect Nissan to develop a bespoke platform for the Silvia which may have some parts in common with the 370Z.

This new platform would still be rear wheel drive and it would still be relatively lightweight. The end result should be a sports car with a 50:50, or close, weight distribution. The running gear is likely going to be tweaked in such way the new S16 will offer a great driving experience without sacrificing much comfort.

2020 Nissan Silvia S16 Price and Release date

Considering the last model was made back in 2002, it is safe to assume the 2023 Nissan Silvia S16 is not that far away. Most rumors seem to suggest the manufacturer will reveal the vehicle by the end of 2018 while the car should actually go on sale in the early 2019. Its price is likely going to hover around $35,000 for a base model which is right where the Z-series has been. This change would make the S16 the mid-range model and it would allow Nissan to offer a smaller and sportier Z-car.

The design

At this point most seem to think the 2023 Nissan Silvia S16 will borrow quite a few design cues from the Infiniti sports coupe. While this would make sense, we truly think Nissan is going to base their car on the older S-chassis cars.We can expect an evolution of Nissan’s V-Motion design with the added benefit of taking cues from the S13, 14 and 15. The end result should be rather impressive and quite aggressive too. Also, as the car will have roughly the proportions of the Q60, it means it will be considerably larger than the original which is an interesting turn of events.

The interior of Nissan Silvia S16

Here the 2023 Nissan Silvia S16 is more than likely going to share quite a few design cues with the GT-R. While this may seem like it doesn’t make much sense, it would actually allow Nissan to create a car range which is also the case with their rivals. Like with its predecessors, the S16 is likely going to continue to be a 2+2 sports car.

However, this time around the rear seats will likely offer slightly more room than they used to. The end result should be a more comfortable car than before while not ruining the way it looks or feels. Considering its price point, we do hope Nissan is not going to cut any obvious corners in order to keep the car relevant in the upcoming years.

Specs

So far all versions of the S-cars came with an inline-four engine. Because of that, we doubt much is going to change with the 2023 Nissan Silvia S16. Some suggested the car may receive a new generation 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-four engine that would deliver in excess of 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. Even though, we find it very unlikely for the Silvia not to receive a lesser engine. A smaller 1.5 to 1.8 liter unit offering around 200 horsepower should be a real possibility.

Both of these are likely going to be available with either a 6 speed manual or a dual-clutch automatic. As before, the car is going to remain rear wheel drive while some versions are also going to receive a limited slip differential. Thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution and relatively low weight, the S16 should actually become a real driver’s car and who knows, maybe a best seller too.