Nissan's new 2+2 RWD will revive the spirit of the 240SX.

Road and Track have just confirmed reports that Nissan has similar plans, intending to bring its "affordable sports car" to market a year earlier than the Toyota. Nissan's new 2+2 rear-driver will revive the spirit of the 240SX, which has experienced renewed popularity after its discontinuation in 1998, mostly because of the popularity of drifting.

The name of the future 2-door is still unknown, but we're fairly sure it won't be labeled 240SX (nor "Silvia," its Japanese moniker).

It will be about the same size as the 370Z, sharing the same wheelbase of 104.3 in. Overall length is rumored to be 171 in., and will come in 4-seat/2+2 form.

According to insiders, this small engine, equipped with VCR PCS, can produce up to 225 bhp. There's also talk of a hybrid and a full-electric version of this car, but those are just rumors at this point.

Nissan hopes to keep the price right around $20,000 and beat the Toyota/Subaru sports car to the U.S. market. Expect the car to arrive in 2010 as a 2011 model.