From an opinion made by an American writer about Lotus' plan to market it's new car in a big way in the US, I gather that America does not need another sports car. Even if it does, it'd mean a convertible. The hot seller in the US are apparently the Boxter, Corvette and the Miata all of which are convertibles. Apparantly it would be hard to breach this American attitude towards sports cars. Can the R35 than sell in the US regardless of the engine type? Assuming it will come with new V8 or whatever other concoction Nissan may come up with, will it really sell to justify the cost outlay? Will there be a ready reception for the R35 from the Americans (other than members of this forum)? The way I see it, if things are so uncertain in the US about the R35 GTR, Nissan should not spend millions to pander to the US market at the same time increasing the cost and affecting it's niche market in Asia and to a certain extent, Europe. In short, why must I change my dressing and attitude to please other girls who may or may not like me when I already have a handful of girls who are ga ga about me already and who may not like the new me?
There is only one way to do it. Nissan should firstly sell the GTR image in the US. Make it known and appreciated as they are and not as what they will be in the future. Endear it to the American public. Make it an object of desire. Look at the EVOs and WRXs. Their frolic in the WRC make them well known and desired so much so the public await their arrival with bated breath. So, the GTR ought to be enterd in popular races in the US - Daytona, for example. Do it for 5 years on the row. Whup the asses of the Vettes/Vipers/Porsches and what have you in that period. After all, the GTR became desired in Asia because of it's performance in the JGTCC and Bathurst, which have a large followings in Asia. In the Far East and Australia, the GTR, due to those races, have this image of a beast which would eat up anything with 4 wheels and move on the road! I remeber way back in 1989 and the early 90s I used to imagine a car which is bigger than life...the GTR. A living legend way above par. And when they banned it from Bathurst, the GTR became a ghost which is seldom seen but is always around! So much so that when I first saw a GTR in person in 1994, lurking behind my car, I trembled in my pants that I even forgot to downshift ( I was then driving a Mazda turbo) while the GTR whizzed passed me and dissapeared within nano seconds! Now that I own a GTR, I could see the same reaction from other mere mortals! Even Modena's owners tremble in their pants when they saw my GTR and other GTRs on te track! That's the image which Nissan should achieve in the US. Than they can talk about selling it in the US by the numbers. Until then, Nissan has a lot to do. And it's not about engine,chassis,look or any such crap! Thay can build a 2000 hp GTR, but until the image is implanted in the US, they can forget about selling it in the US! That's my 2 American cent's opinion.