Nissan IDx concepts in Tokyo pay tribute to the old Datsun 510
The future of automobile development will involve greater participation from consumers in a process which will be called ‘co-creation’, according to Nissan. Unlike today’s ‘behind closed doors’ methodology, Nissan is looking at a new development framework in which the company could engage with young digital natives in developing their future vehicles. In such a scenario, Nissan envisions that the excitement created by like-minded personalities working towards a common goal and help fuel innovation.
For the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan is exhibiting two show cars, IDx NISMO and IDx Freeflow, as examples of the kind of output one could look forward to in an actual co-creation scenario incorporating the values of digital natives. Both concept cars on display use the same basic body construction, but appear to be completely different due to the divergent creative themes and the originality inculcated by the participating members of the respective co-creation communities assigned to the respective vehicles.
Feedback from the communities involved in the project indicated a desire of going back to basics creating a simple and uncomplicated three-box vehicle. Both resultant vehicles seek to project different design themes and are differentiated by their fascias, but they share the same underpinnings and basic proportions, the latter of which are unmistakably reminiscent of the much-loved Datsun 510 classic from the 1970s.
The cars stretch 4.1 metres from stem to stern with overall height measuring 1.3 metres. The IDx NISMO is nevertheless wider than its Freeflow counterpart, spanning 1.8 metres across its bow versus 1.7 metres of the Freeflow. Nissan describes a range of 1.2- to 1.5-litre petrol engines mated to a CVT for the IDx Freeflow and a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection engine with the option of a 6-speed manual and CVT for the IDx NISMO. These body measurements and engine options suggest the possibility that the IDx may be underpinned by the Almera’s V-platform.
Other notable displays at the Nissan booth in the Tokyo Motor Show include the updated 2014 GT-R accompanied by a factory-tuned high-performance special from NISMO capable of lapping the Nurburgring at a claimed 7:08.679, record time for a volume production car. Enhanced with new high-flow large capacity twin turbochargers, the 3.8-litre V6 of the GT-R pushes out 591hp and 652Nm in this souped-up NISMO guise, and its added performance is complemented by a set of adaptive dampers from Bilstein offering three driving modes – Comfort, Normal, and R (for racing).
Meanwhile, the man on the street will want to take note of the new Teana and X-Trail, both being showcased in their latest third generation models for the first time in Japan ahead of their market debuts. As widely reported earlier, the latest Teana ditches its trademark 2.5-litre V6 engine in favour of a four-cylinder motor of similar capacity, once again paired with an X-Tronic CVT as standard.
