| KSmurano |
Nissan's killer B:
Automaker takes aim at Scion with Sport Concept
DALE JEWETT | Automotive News
Posted Date: 3/17/05
DETROIT -- Nissan North America is bringing a car smaller than the Sentra to its U.S. lineup within the next two years. Its latest concept for such as car draws a bead on Toyota’s Scion lineup.
Nissan’s Sport Concept hatchback is marked by wide body flares over 20-inch wheels, a rear spoiler and a sloping, angled hood. The concept was shown Thursday night at Nissan’s new design studio in suburban Detroit -- even though the vehicle was created at the automaker’s design studio in Atsugi, Japan. The concept gets wide exposure next week during the New York auto show.
The concept, which has some resemblance to the Nissan Tiida sedan sold in Japan, is based on the automaker’s B-segment platform. Yet Nissan says it was designed to comfortably fit four passengers.
The concept measures 171.3 inches from bumper to bumper. That puts it within a couple of inches of the Scion tC coupe, and 6 inches shorter than the current Sentra. But the concept’s 102.4-inch wheelbase tops the Sentra’s wheelbase by nearly 3 inches.
Inside, each passenger gets their own seat with large side bolsters, raised center section in the seat bottom and integrated, four-point seatbelts. The stereo system includes a large speaker and subwoofer mounted in the rear parcel shelf.
The Sport Concept is the third that Nissan has shown over the past 18 months offering different looks at injecting some style to its small-car lineup. The earlier concepts were the wagon-like Actic and the sporty Azeal coupe. |
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| KSmurano |
| The rear hatch has a resemblence also |
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| GMTURBO43 |
I like it better than the Scion XB. Looks pretty sharp.
I'm sure they'll tone it down a bit before production. |
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| mozman |
It's a mini mo alright!
That looks sweeeeet! :D
The vertical chrome piece between the door and wheel, almost made me think of the BMW Z5... almost.. this is done better. |
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| NVMYGT |
| whoa...freaking sweet. Nissan's styling department impresses me more and more everyday. |
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| Corin |
Nice. Did I read that correctly? 20" wheels? On that small of a car? Holy crap!
I like it. Of course I always like small cars, but this is very nice. Sounds like the rear seat is relatively large for a small car like this as well, but the probably means absolutely no cargo space in the rear. |
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| Gonzo |
| Nice.... I wonder if this is a sneak preview of the 2006 MO. |
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| Eric L. |
| I love it! A tiny Murano! |
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| CVeeT |
| This one makes me YAWN at those hot SCIONS :o |
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| zoo_b |
| Oh man this car better be the next must-have hot hatch! Build it all dressed up in SE-R guise! |
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| pcs15394 |
| I like it!!! But I guess we all would like it because it looks so much like an updated mini Murano. |
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| big_daddy_mpd |
First question my 14 year old daughter asked about my new Sunlit Copper Mo, "Gee dad, do you think I'll get this car when I'm16"...I felt bad, because 5 minutes later, when I had stopped laughing, and wiped the tears from my eyes...she looked pretty "sheepish"...however, if this does compete with the Scion C, and, comes in sunlit copper...and if she gets straight As and worships the ground I walk on for the next 2 years...
Regards,
Big |
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| lilbit_cmm |
Too funny about your daughter Big Daddy. It actually looks like something my 15 yr old nephew would love!!! He's always talking about how cool my Mo is... :)
Lil' Bit |
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| mgthe3 |
The wife says if that comes out any time soon, she will have one.
She is on the tiny car side. She drove our suburban for 3 years and cussed about parking it. She has a sentra now and loves the car. That will go to our soon to be driving, almost 15, son. I have tried to get her interested in a black 2 door something, she would look so hot in a black sports car with her golden red hair. She was eyeing the Z3...but thinks this would be just too cool to have a mini Mo.
:D |
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| Eric L. |
| At the NYIAS Nissan confirmed that the sport concept will be the basis for a production coupe. So, looks like it will be a go. I hope the actual production model doesn't differ too much from the concept (which looks awesome). |
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| hfelknor |
Hmmmnn.
I've really got the hots for a Solstice as a second car. (IN competition with a 64-66 Mustang)
But his would be Veeerrryyyy interesting.
They've got to get it out, nicely equipped, for 23 tho.
Homer |
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| SugarRushMurano |
quote:
I have tried to get her interested in a black 2 door something, she would look so hot in a black sports car with her golden red hair. She was eyeing the Z3...but thinks this would be just too cool to have a mini Mo.
How about the new mx-5 miata? Or the saturn sky? |
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| mgthe3 |
I'm thinkin I would rather her drive a Nissan. It will either be this or an Altima.
Believe me, it IS her choice, but she trusts me in car choices.
We spent so much time under vehicles working on them when we first got married (refused to take any problem to a mechanic) that our neighbors called us the 4 legs---cause that's all they saw.
We just say NO to repairs now, we really don't have the time. |
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| mhuckaby |
| It's a MiniMo... I love it... |
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| KSmurano |
Another article......
From NissanPerformanceMag.com
Nissan Sport Concept
New York International Auto Show Debut
The Sport Concept is a car that immediately grabs your attention with its aggressive street stance and razor sharp lines. This is Nissan's idea with the Sport:
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 Sport Concept is designed to bring Nissan's heritage of innovation, sportiness and driving pleasure to a category of vehicles that traditionally lack excitement and strong visual appeal.
Exterior
· Aggressive, athletic roofline with large rear spoiler
· Bold surface composition and robust fender character lines
· Large, muscular front bumper air intake with large wings
· Rear bumper outlet with strong negative surface and bold composition
· Projector-style headlights and rear combination lamps with multi-layered reflectors
· 20-inch aluminum-alloy six-spoke wheels with machined and painted surface treatment
· Extensive use of carbon-fiber composite parts
· Pearl White metallic paint
· Wheelbase – 102.4 inches
· Overall length 171.3 inches
· Overall height 59.1 inches
· Overall width 71. 1 inches
Interior
· Driver-oriented cockpit designed to enhance the driving experience
· 2+2 seating with emphasis on the deep, body-wrapping front seats with built-in 4-point seat belts
· Front seats covered in Wolf Gray leather with double-layered pearl suede inserts
· Sporty instrument panel with integrated tachometer and gauges
· Distinctive center console with emergency brake lever integrated into the console lid, distinctive sport-throw shifter lever
· Leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel
· Individual rear seats with built-in 4-point seat belts, leather and suede coverings
· Rear console-mounted support grips
· Large blue-cone speaker and woofer located in rear parcel shelf
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.
Here's an overview from Jack Collins, Vice President, product planning, Nissan North America, Inc.
"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.
In the rear of the cabin, independent rear seat cushions, also covered in a combination of leather and suede, offer true four-place seating.
Like in front, the 4-point seat belts are integrated into the seats. Other 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."
It's hard to tell what will make it to production from a concept vehicle. While the Sport may be targeted towards an affordable price point for younger buyers, this concept seems to have real performance aspirations. It's possible that Nissan will have a hot tuner version as indicated by the boost gauge integrated into the tachometer. The speedo also goes up to 160mph (20 mph past the Sentra Spec-V). The center display appeared to have sport gauges with water temp, oil pressure, battery voltage and boost pressure as swappable and selectable choices.
Got Boost? maybe........
While the sport appears small on the outside it actually has quite a bit of room. With the Sport Nissan really pushed the wheels to the bumpers as it has almost three more inches in wheelbase while having an overall length that's 6" shorter than the Sentra. The Sport is also taller and wider than the current Sentra. This translates into a car that will ride better than your typical compact and provide ample headroom for those who have to sit in the rear.
Stay Tuned for more updates! |
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| pcs15394 |
I read this on Autoblog the other day and found it interesting that the Nissan Sport Concept car that was at the NYIAS this year was really just a dressed up TIIDA that has been on sale in Japan. Article link follows:
Autoblog article on Nissan "Sport" production |
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| pcs15394 |
| Here is another image I found of the Tiida Mini Mo |
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| Murano_driver |
| Hmm. looks sweet for sure. Looks like a toy car. Mini Mo…hehe. It’s just too “mini” for my taste. I got to sit on the back sit to drive it.:p |
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| chita1987usa |
Looks like a Mini Mo alright but it has an angle like the Nissan Van too.
I'm done with dinky cars...... just have to be perch a little higher to get a better view of where I'm going.
It's cute though. |
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| oscillot |
| heh, too bad this hot hatch toned itself down and became the nissan versa |
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