Tokyo show preview: Nissan
Newswheel staff :: 10 October 2005 :: Filed under Coupe, Hatchback, Mini MPV / People carrier, MPV / People carrier, Nissan, Nissan Amenio, Nissan Foria, Nissan Moco, Nissan Note, Nissan Pivo, Nissan Skyline GTR, Europe & UK, US
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Looking ahead to the 2005 Tokyo show
Nissan GTR PROTO
This is the daddy - a likely star of the Tokyo show. It’s not clear whether this new showcar will be a pure concept or a thinly disguised version of the bone fide production car, due out in 2007. What is known, however, is that both this concept and the production vehicle that follows represent the first GT-R designed from the ground up as a two-door coupe, rather than using Nissan’s four-door Skyline model as a starting point. No official info has been released regarding the power plant, but the latest rumours indicate a 450bhp twin turbo V6. And there’s one more item of tittle tattle doing the rounds: Lotus will tune the chassis. Nice.
Nissan Foria
In Europe, mid-sized coupes are going out of fashion faster than David Davis at the Tory party conference (if you’re not British, don’t ask). So, if this experimental premium sports coupe makes it into production, here’s hoping Nissan sees fit to bring it to the Olde Worlde. The faintly retro 70s styling looks a little like a chunky Lancia Fulvia, but there’s also a hint of Mazda RX-8 thanks to the pillarless design and the rearward-opening suicide doors. While Nissan hasn’t divulged any specifics on the engine, the front-mounted lump is set well back in the chassis, no doubt allowing for the sort of accomplished rear-drive dynamics that should be a basic human right, not to mention tidy overhangs. For the record, there’s active four-wheel steer, too.
Nissan Amenio
This full-sized MPV concept probably previews another shared platform from Renault and Nissan and could give technological and drivetrain hints for the next Espace. The showcar itself sports a fat 18-inch navigation display boasting seriously essential secondary functions such as an Earth Browsing mode, which renders satellite images of cars travelling on the Earth’s surface, and Space Browsing, which displays star constellations in the direction of travel. The Amenio also packs the usual array of indulgent showcar gizmos, including fully-electric lounge-chair style seats with pop-out leg rests.
Nissan Note
Sponsored by Adidas, the Note concept is based on Nissan’s new small family car for Japan. The “interesting” bit is a range of interchangable interior and exterior materials inspired by various sporting equipment, including net storage in the dash, a glovebox opened with a zip, a removable storage container in the centre console and even the surface treatment of the car’s bumpers. And it’s not in the least bit gimmicky or cynical in a product placement sort of way, umm-kay?
Nissan Moco
A Japanese market micro-MPV with a low emission powerplant. ‘Nuff said.
Nissan Pivo
An electric car with a 180 degree rotating cabin and panoramic views enabled by a large glasshouse. Obviously, that should be cause enough for much rejoicing, but Nissan also points out that the swivel-top capability means there’s no longer any need for a reverse gear. Instead, during that three point turn in a pencil-thin Tokyo alley, drivers will simply spin the entire cabin around and presto! you’re always going forward. Sad. If this is the future of motoring, Newswheel needs another hobby. Fortunately, it looks like the sort of utterly batshit concept car which has no grounding in reality and which, frankly, we thought the big players didn’t bother with anymore.
Posted 28 April 2006, by ben
well good i have sum i dears too