ems

The Nissan Sport Concept, which will make its public world debut at the 2005 New York International Auto Show, is the latest in a series of dynamic performance/youth concept vehicles following the Nissan Actic and Nissan AZEAL concepts.

The Sport Concept is a dynamic three-door hatchback with a dramatic four-seat interior. It offers the look and feel of a sports tuner car, yet is conceived as an affordable, attainable vehicle for buyers entering the new car market for the first time.

"The story behind the development of the Sport Concept, AZEAL and Actic is that Nissan is thinking big about the small car segment," said Jack Collins, vice president, product planning, Nissan North America, Inc. "With these three design explorations, we're focusing on how we can bring Nissan's heritage of innovation, sportiness and driving pleasure to a category of vehicles that traditionally lack design excitement and strong visual appeal."

"The Nissan Sport Concept, like the AZEAL and Actic before it, is first and foremost a showcase of future thinking, yet it is also a car that would be right at home in Nissan showrooms in the not-too-distant future," said Collins. "Nissan has a strong global lineup of compact enthusiast vehicles, including the March, Cube, Tiida, Note and Sentra SE-R, and, in the Nissan 350Z, one of the world's most desirable sports cars. The new Nissan Sport Concept fuses the best of both worlds."

The exterior of the Nissan Sport Concept combines

shapes and forms that are both geometrical and mechanical in feel, creating a sense of acceleration and kinetic energy. The dynamic fender forms give the special Pearl White-painted body a look of pure, almost animal performance. Its athletic roofline is marked by a large rear roof-mounted spoiler, while its bold surface composition, robust fender character lines, deep front spoiler and side sills, and large wheels and tires provide an animated, video game-like stance.

The body construction utilizes both metal and carbon-fiber composite components. The 20-inch six-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels feature a machined and lustrous paint finish surface treatment. The Sport Concept's headlights and rear combination lights utilize small lamps with multi-layered reflectors.

"The Nissan Sport Concept may be small dimensionally but it is large in its dynamic energy - aggressive, highly functional and definitely street-wise," said Collins.

The interior of the Sport Concept is designed to fit four adults comfortably, yet with an emphasis on the front two seats - with every element of the cockpit existing to enhance the vehicle's engaging driving experience.

The deep, body-wrapping front bucket seats are covered in Wolf Gray leather with double-layered pearl suede inserts and feature formed head restraints and integrated 4-point seat belts. The instrument panel includes integrated tachometer and gauges and a distinctive center cluster. The Sport Concept interior also offers a three-spoke steering wheel and solid-appearance center console with the emergency brake lever integrated into the console lid.

Independent rear seats, also covered in a combination of leather and suede, offer true four-place seating with integrated 4-point seat belts. Other rear passenger features include center console-mounted support grips and a large blue-cone speaker and woofer located in the rear parcel shelf.

"The Nissan Sport Concept is as close to performance art for the street as you can get - modern, cool, ready to run," said Collins. "When it comes to the next wave of small car design, a SHIFT_ is about to be made. And Nissan is making it."


















My personal opinion, I love it. I'm a huuuge fan of sport hatchbacks, and i think this thing is a real winner. Obviously Nissan will never produce this car as it is in the pictures, but if they try and produce it somewhat similarly, i'd definitely be interested.

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sixate

I really hate when car companies make an awesome looking concept, then build a lame ass pice of shit that looks like everything else on the road. I'd bet my life that a bunch of 20 something males would buy that up like crazy, myself included.

Rdr4evr

yup, that's why it's a concept, always looks conceptually badass, and near crap upon completion. i would also buy that in a flash could i afford it if it actually resembles this when released.

ems

Exactly. I'd definitely be in the market for this car if it were to hit dealerships as is. In fact, even if they do subtle changes, I'd still be in the market...

Truth be told, Nissan has been very good with producing cars that resemble the concept, so thats a plus for people like us who like this car

Also, conceptually, there isnt much that will not pass US saftey and emission standards. For example, the few things I can think of that wont make it to production are the following:

1. will not have a 4-point seatbelt harness
2. the carbon fiber diffuser and splitter in the front and rear will be greatly reduced. producing all that carbon fiber for the front, rear, and hood scoop will cost nissan way too much money
3. i doubt the white leather will be available, unless its an expensive extra-option
4. item #3 applies also to those sweet 20 inch wheels
5. i doubt the front seats pass saftey/positioning standards
and finally
6. the side view mirrors: looks way too expensive for nissan to mass produce, unless they shitty-fy the quality big time

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twilightfoix

indeed, it's a nice car and i wouldn't mind having it in my garage

username

This is a really neat looking car, but when it comes out I predict it will look like a mazda 3 2 door wagon.

RaDiAn

Looks really cool to me, I like it. I'm wondering what it looks like.

Halx

Ok.. they're trying too hard. Tone it down a bit and I'd be interested.

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dirtyrascal7

i don't like it. there are definitely some cool design cues, but overall i think it looks awkward. and the front seats simply look uncomfortable... i don't get why they put that ridge down the center of the seat, yuck.

Scorps

I would drive that.....the chicks love them ricers these days.

TheOtherDave™

I prefer the AZEAL coupé.
It's a cleaner, simpler form that won't "date" as easily.
This hatchback is too over-the-top.

(I do like the way they integrated the door handles into the trailing edge of the door.)

IanSturgill

That car looks like hell. They need to quit messing around and ship every one a 1995 GT-r, and call it a day.

GetRdone

kind of a cool concept, but if it ever comes close to production they will tone the lines down alot, concepts never seem to come to market the way they are first introduced.

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