Converting classic cars into electric cars is becoming more and more popular, and even some automakers are considering entering this market.
Recently, we saw Opel release the Manta GSe ElektroMod, and now we hear that Nissan is doing something similar. Mattew Weaver, Nissan's vice president of European design, was asked to electrify a classic car in Nissan's history, and he chose the iconic Silvia CSP311.
Introduced at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show, the car was a rarity that even some of Nissan's most senior employees hadn't seen it. You may ask, why Silvia CSP311?
The CSP311 was the first generation of Silvia, which was born in 1964. Silvia has undergone a total of 7 generations of reform and modification, of which the most familiar to domestic car fans is the fifth generation of S13, the sixth generation of S14, the seventh generation of S15. Many people find Silvia difficult to drive, and since it is easy to oversteer in corners, it has very high requirements for the driving skills of racers. But it is precisely because of Silvia's love of throwing her ass that it has become a generation of drifting gods.
Matthew Weaver believes that Silvia is ahead of its time in a very quiet, low-key way, and it still has its shadow on the road today.
Redesigning the car for an electrified future must be done by paying homage to this tradition. The design team envisions refitting Silvia to an electric car, and as an electric vehicle, the cooling requirements of the electric powertrain are much lower, so there is no need to set up a grille where the traditional radiator is located, and the electrified Silvia will have a cleaner and more atmospheric appearance.
To modernize the classic car, Matthew and his team refined the design to make it purer and the lines cleaner. But the electrification of vehicles allows designers to envision the use of today's innovations while the classic design surface.
The body is surrounded by a line that runs through the entire body, from the front bumper to the rear taillights. Fix your eyes on the front face and you'll notice that underneath the lines its grille surrounds the headlights, which is very special.
The body contour is the most surprising part of the rendering, the A-pillar B-pillar is darkened, and the body style is like the first generation of Cyberpunk Silvia, which largely restores the Silvia CSP311. In addition, the tires of the car are very large, and some of them are even hidden in the fenders.
After experiencing the glory of Japanese sports cars in the 8090s, a generation of classic drifting god cars Silvia also had to come to an end. Silvia represents the sentiments of a generation and the fall of an era. So far, Nissan's Silvia electrification project may not be realized for the time being, but Nissan says the rendering will not be just on paper. Thankfully, the resurrection of electrification to Silvia offers an opportunity for many fans to see hope.
"Reinventing classic cars for a modern electrified world, even if they just start with renderings, proves that the possibilities for the future are endless."