Nissan has unveiled the Navara Dark Sky concept at
the Hannover Motor Show. Jointly developed with the European Space Agency, the one-off concept
is an astronomers’ dream vehicle as it tows an “observatory-class” telescope on
a bespoke off-road trailer. This is where the truck gets its name as the
concept was designed for observations at remote “dark sky” locations which
don’t suffer from light pollution.
Starting with the truck, the model has been equipped
with a unique front bumper which features a plastic brush guard and a winch.
Designers also installed extended fender flares, rock rails and a roof rack
with integrated auxiliary lights. Other highlights include a front skid plate,
a custom rear bumper and 20-inch wheels with off-road tires.
The Navara’s “out-of-this-world” mission is echoed
by its unique livery which features “nebula motifs using parametric
patterning.” The truck also has an
assortment of red exterior lights as they don’t affect vision as much as white
light does as night.
The unique styling continues in the cabin as
designers installed Midnight Blue leather upholstery with orange accents. There
are also some special nighttime touches as the concept has luminescent floor
mats and reflective orange seat piping.
The concept is powered by a 2.3-liter twin-turbo
diesel engine that develops 187 hp and 450 Nm of
torque. It is connected to an automatic transmission which is paired to a
four-wheel drive system.
The rear star of the show is the custom trailer
which houses a PlaneWave telescope under a mechanized roof. The trailer is
refrigerated to ensure the telescope remains calibrated and it allows
astronomers to see “detailed views beyond the rings of Saturn.”
