Nissan Innovates with More Electric Vehicles

Photo Source: NISSAN

Nissan Design Europe (NDE) commemorated its 20th anniversary in London (2023) with a milestone celebration. Makoto Uchida, president and chief executive officer of Nissan, visited Nissan Design Europe to reveal the striking new Nissan Concept 20-23, an innovative urban electric concept car. The unveiling of Nissan Concept 20-23 took place on a floating barge positioned just outside Nissan Design Europe along the picturesque Paddington Basin stretch of the Grand Union Canal. This location forms an integral part of Nissan Design Europe’s inspiring and unique landscape.

The Inception of a Futuristic Automobile

Speaking about the Concept 20-23 at its debut in London, Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for global design, announced: “The young team here at NDE was given a simple brief: design a fun electric city car that you’d like to drive every day in London. The 20-23 Concept that they designed is a compact hatchback which is strongly influenced by the online racing world. I love the story it tells about how the worlds of modern city living, online gaming and zero emissions mobility intersect.”

The creative minds behind Nissan Concept 20-23, including some of Nissan Design Europe’s younger talents, embarked on the challenge of designing a car without constraints tailored to their vision for city driving. The name “Concept 20-23” pays homage to the 20 years of Nissan Design Europe’s presence in London, incorporating the Japanese numerals “ni” (2) and “san” (3) as well as the current year. It upholds Nissan’s tradition of infusing playful design into the realm of city cars and hatchbacks, reminiscent of legendary Pike cars like the Be-1, Pao, Figaro, and S-Cargo, while adding a contemporary twist.

Styling Cues

The car’s profile is accentuated by extended wheel arches that encase large wheels with low-profile tires. Nissan Concept 20-23 marries the playful design with modern elements inspired by online racing and Nissan’s involvement in Formula E. The compact three-door hatchback boasts extreme aerodynamic enhancements at the front and rear, featuring deep skirts to efficiently cool the brakes, redirect airflow, and channel air through vents behind the front wheels.

The car’s flat front surface elegantly houses the distinctive LED headlights, characterized by thin upper and lower semicircles, with LED technology delivering sharp beams and turn signal functionality. These eye-catching headlights provide a friendly contrast to the complex aerodynamic shapes.

The muscular profile of Nissan Concept 20-23 is accentuated by extended wheel arches that encase large wheels with low-profile tires. Vented louvers atop the front and rear wheel arches reduce pressure, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. Angular intersections frame the air outlets behind the front wheel and, on the rear wheel arches, angular slits facilitate rear brake cooling. The extended skirts complement the lower body.

A prominent single-piece spoiler emerges seamlessly from the roof rail, with endplates that generate downforce while ensuring rear visibility remains uncompromised. At the rear, the thin upper and lower semicircle LED lights contrast with functional shapes designed to manage airflow and maximize downforce as air escapes beneath the car. A horizontal bar accentuates the car’s width below the rear hatchback.

A Glimpse of the Cabin

Even though Concept 20-23 is primarily an exterior model, its interior is a testament to sportiness and functionality. Entry is facilitated by two scissor doors hinged from the base of the A-pillar. A brace bar across the door openings, cushioned with foam padding, adds to the racing-inspired ambiance, requiring occupants to step over it to access their seats.

The interior reflects a futuristic interpretation of a racing car’s functional design, featuring minimal screens showcasing essential information to minimize distractions, mirroring the setup seen in real racing cars, including Nissan’s Formula E entrants, which inspire online racing simulator setups.

Nissan knows its home market, but it is also familiar with international buyers. If you would like to see what the company can provide, please come visit Nissan of Fort Pierce. Are you in need of a refresh on your vehicle to bring it back to life? Our amazing service team can handle that with ease by scheduling an online service appointment with our service center. Please sit back and relax as our professional technicians take care of your vehicle.