You can tell immediately that it is a concept: It has suicide doors. Nissan will show the fuel-cell propelled TeRRA SUV concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show that opens on September 27.
“Our challenge was to take Nissan’s strength in SUVs and crossovers forward into the zero-emissions era, fuel cells being our new frontier in zero emission mobility” said Francois Bancon, Nissan’s division general manager of product strategy and planning. “Not big and tough for the desert, the aim was a new approach to SUVs that’s relevant to urban life.”
“We took our inspiration from the lifestyles of youthful customers in Northern Europe,” said Shiro Nakamura, Nissan senior vice president and chief creative officer. Apparently, he referred to polar bears.
The instrument cluster is an electronic tablet that serves as an “intelligent key.” The driver docks it when entering the car and removes it when leaving. When docked in TeRRA, the tablet’s default view displays speed and other key performance indicators. But the driver can easily toggle to entertainment, communications, navigation and other views. Outside the car it provides all the functions we expect from a tablet, plus it stays continually in touch with the vehicle.
According to Nissan, the proposed 4×4 fuel cell electric powertrain “is far from imaginary.”
The front wheel propulsion system is from the LEAF. In each back wheel is an in-wheel electric motor, based on the PIVO concepts. The juice comes from Nissan’s proprietary hydrogen fuel cell stack. According to Nissan, the company “is ready to mass-produce fuel cell electric vehicles whenever hydrogen becomes widely available.” By that time, the car should have proper doors.
Do they have ANY kind of performance, range, etc. data available?
Maybe those aren’t “urban-relevant”.
Urban relevant means “tall enough to jump kerbs”.
Ready whenever hydrogen becomes widely available? So about a billion years from now, when the sun’s bloated surface stretches out to Mars?
Suicide doors are a good idiot test. Anyone leaving this car before it has come to a complete stop will be hit by the door.
Well now, this has about as much chance of going into production as a diesel manual Impala wagon with a glass floor.
But considering its name, I suspect when (if?) they revamp the aged XTerra, it will borrow a few design cues from this.
“…diesel manual Impala wagon with a glass floor”
As long as it’s also a hybrid with AWD, I’ll take mine in metallic brown.
It looks like a cross between a Juke, a Leaf, and the square roof style seen on on Ifinitys large SUV.
Does the “intelligent key” get WiFi? So many things wrong with that concept. The designers were being too clever by half.
I’d rather see more development of hydrocarbon-compatible solid oxide fuel cells. If anyone’s panties get in a bunch about CO2, then recycle it with water and energy (renewable and/or nucular).
“Urban-relevant” SUV? PFFFFFFHAHAHAHAH no.
I’m no city slicker, but I imagine a SUV is probably a terrible idea in the city. Then again I’m admittedly very biased against SUVs, so maybe they magically make perfect sense in the city.
Ride height, bulk, beat the tar out of it, and bring it mofo, my grill will leave nice imprints on your face are handy things to have in urban settings. The last to be used only in extreme circumstances.
Urban + Relevant = FAIL
Just using those two words makes me want to ram my ’95 Pathfinder into one of these things.
Looks like Renault styling has infected its partner, Nissan. It’s that upright, wrap-around rear window, and the little butt below it. Only Renault. Until now.