Nissan
Gripz Concept
Crossover
pioneer Nissan has revealed a new concept car which points to an innovative new
future for the marque. Conceived by designers in Europe and Japan, the Nissan
Gripz Concept blends the ability and practicality of a compact crossover with
the excitement and performance of a sports car.
Infused
with an exciting and adventurous feel, thanks to its radical design and
advanced powertrain concept - the Nissan Gripz Concept is Nissan's next move as
a game changer, and is a glimpse of how a future compact crossover from the
pioneer of the segment might look.
The
Nissan Gripz Concept is designed as a car with a dual personality; a vehicle
that can handle the day-to-day commute and deliver a genuine adventure at the
weekend.
In
the same way a cyclist will use a bike to get to work and then head out on that
same machine for an adrenaline fuelled ride when the working day is over, so
too can the driver of the Nissan Gripz Concept tackle the city streets during
the week before enjoying a drive over a mountain pass on a day off.
The
Nissan Gripz Concept is equipped with an EV technology based Series hybrid
system 'Pure Drive' e-Power. An efficient petrol engine is used to power the electric
motor found in the Nissan LEAF.
The
powertrain combines Nissan's various control technologies from its years of
experience developing EVs. This configuration delivers smooth, swift and linear
acceleration in near-silence, with supreme efficiency. As a result, the Nissan
Gripz Concept offers a smooth, refined and exhilarating driving experience with
outstanding fuel efficiency.
While
the exterior was created in Europe, a dedicated team based in Japan designed
the interior. Like the exterior, functional simplicity is the key to the
design.
Again
featuring a mix of matt-grey and the deep red-orange colours, the interior
underlines the car's Tour de France inspiration with exposed tubes, moulded
bucket seats and layered features echoing the cladding effect found on the
exterior.
The
seats and centre console are directly inspired by bicycles, as are the door
pulls that are shaped like saddles from a racing bike. The three-spoke steering
wheel, meanwhile, replicates the car's road wheels, right down to the special
graphics found on the tyre sidewalls.
Like
the Nissan Sway Concept and recent production cars, the Nissan Gripz Concept
has a 'Gliding Wing' instrument panel. This elegantly thin design combines
strength with simplicity and perfectly echoes the ethos of the concept.
