The Geneva Motor Show is always an exciting time for learning about new car releases, and this time it was Nissan’s IMQ concept car that stole people’s attention. Unveiled for the first time at the annual trade event, the Nissan IMQ concept car is a work of advanced technology and design that hints at a new direction for the car manufacturer’s future crossover cars.
The IMQ concept adds another car to the brand’s growing line-up of electrified vehicles. This time, it is powered by the next generation of e-POWER, which has been developed from the current e-POWER technology. The current e-POWER technology is found in the Nissan Note and Nissan Serena models, two of the best-selling Nissans cars in Japan. The new generation of e-POWER takes this technology a step further, providing a 100% electric motor drive system that delivers instant, linear acceleration.
The new electric motor drive system in the Nissan IMQ concept cars delivers a high output. It has a total output of 250 kilowatts and 700Nm of torque, which is channeled through a new multi-motor all-wheel-drive system. This new AWD system, combined with the new generation e-POWER, offers independent control of each wheel with precision. It’s an ideal combination for low-grip conditions, such as snowy roads - like those found around Geneva - and other slippery surfaces.
A Virtual Personal Assistant, found on a secondary screen above the centre console, ensures an even smoother driving experience.
As you’d expect of a concept car, the Nissan IMQ offers several insights into Nissan’s technology vision for its future products. Most notably, the IMQ comes with an advanced version of Nissan’s ProPILOT. This driving assistance system equips the vehicle with enhanced autonomous driving capability in preparation for a self-driving future.
The IMQ concept car also comes equipped with Nissan’s recently unveiled Invisible-to-Visible (I2V) technology. A feature that made its debut at CES 2019, I2V uses virtual reality, in-vehicle sensors and connected car technologies to create a virtual world around the driver’s visible world and enhance driver awareness.
It would be impossible to talk about a concept car without looking at the design. Nissan has merged interior and exterior to create a fluid and effortless package in the IMQ, with clean lines that give the impression of a single surface. Nissan’s senior vice president for design, Alfonso Albaisa, has signalled that this seamless style could signal the future direction for the manufacturer’s third generation of crossovers in Europe.
It is a bold design move for Nissan. With dimensions that place it at the centre of the European C-crossover market, the Nissan IMQ merges Japanese design themes with future technologies to create a striking vehicle. The extensive use of three-dimensional ridges and the laser cut geometric designs found throughout the car’s fabrics, instrument panel, door trim, parcel shelf and seat backs feel refreshingly modern while giving a nod to the manufacturer’s heritage.