TO THE EDITOR:
One of Nissan's problems is wasted image ("Former racing star helps put troubled Nissan back in order," autonews.com, April 5). When Nissan first imported vehicles, it was under the name Datsun. The 510 was the car that put them on the map. The four-cylinder overhead-cam engine and an independent rear suspension made a car that could, with modifications, embarrass a BMW 2002. The Z cars gave contemporary sports cars a run for their money and were dependable at the same time. Bob Sharp started racing them with Paul Newman in the driver's seat, and racing legends were made.
Then in the early 1980s, the name changed to Nissan, and the cars became boring. There were few flashes of sport, except for the Z and the Maxima, after that.
Then they introduced Infiniti. It was a brand that could possibly take on BMW, as Lexus had taken on Mercedes. But as time went on, the brand was dumbed down. The brilliant Q45 and others kept being watered down. Now the lineup has utility vehicles that are leather-lined Nissans. The Q50 sedan is just getting old, and there is no competitor in the upper classes of the luxury field. A well-marketed Infiniti line would provide more profits at a time when it would be needed.
CHARLES WININGHAM, Alton, Ill., The writer is an archivist for Lambda Car Club International's newsletter, Driveshaft.
