Nissan’s concept cars take inspiration from traditional Japanese culture
Recent technological advancements are spurring the greatest evolutionary leap for automobiles since the car was invented. Electrification and vehicle intelligence are having a big impact on how cars are designed, engineered and thought of, and may change the very idea of driving.
With the arrival of fully autonomous vehicles, our designers are envisioning how to benefit from the enhanced space without sacrificing privacy. To achieve this, they endeavored to design a space that links up the interior and the exterior of the vehicle, expressing wa (harmony).
Nissan's recent concept vehicles have several design cues that are inspired by the aesthetic values and sensibilities of traditional Japanese culture – from famous Japanese landscapes like Mount Fuji to the kumiko patterns of interlocking wood puzzles and motifs found in meticulously raked Japanese rock gardens.
Nissan IMx
Welcoming openness: enhanced space and connecting the inside and outside
The first things you notice inside the Nissan IMx are the four "floating" seats and the ripple pattern on the flat floor, which allows your gaze to naturally adapt from the outside scenery.
Sit in the driver's seat, and you'll see the panoramic display that connects the instrument panel to the side doors, as well as the wood-grain ornamentation that wraps around the entire cabin.
The panoramic display shows the view outside the vehicle, while the display in the wood grain-patterned panels gives occupants a sense of their surroundings.
Nissan IMs
Formal modernity: Traditional elements combine with high-tech design
The confident, modern interior design of the Nissan IMs projects a sporty, premium image.
Supporting the vision of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the interior functions flawlessly in either manual or autonomous driving mode, enabling seamless switching between the two modes at the driver's whim.
Highlighting the interior is an advanced, driver-centric cockpit. In manual driving mode, the driver has full control of the vehicle from the comfort of the Zero Gravity seat.
The kumiko structure on the instrument panel, created by 3D printing technology, takes up little space and is extremely lightweight, helping keep the car's curb weight to a minimum. The driver display features a floating clear screen with dual layers.
Nissan Xmotion
Coexistence: fusing advanced technologies and Japanese artistry
Like the Nissan Xmotion concept’s exterior, the starting point for the dramatic interior was the coexistence of traditional Japanese elements with more futuristic technological lifestyle cues. The designers turned to traditional construction techniques, craftsmanship and materials but applied them with a modern design aesthetic.
The headrest design for the seats of the Xmotion concept was inspired by the detail and warmth of Japanese kumiko woodwork and puzzles. It not only provides necessary support but also creates a sense of togetherness inside the vehicle. With the see-through headrest design, rear-seat passengers can enjoy layers of various patterns as they look at the headrest from different angles. Scarlet red paint, developed with Japan lacquer in mind, is applied.
The interior features the imagery of a Japanese landscape. The floor represents a river, with the center console acting as a bridge that connects the front and rear passenger areas.
The seats represent ships that float and go slowly with the flow of the water. A pattern on the floor reminds the passengers of waves. There's even a hidden landscape at the third row – when the door is opened, Mount Fuji appears dramatically and understatedly.
Nissan IMQ
Seamless design: Exterior and interior merge as one
The Nissan IMQ concept seamlessly blends Japanese heritage with state-of-the-art, human-centric technology.
Worked on for almost a year by the team at the London studios of Nissan Design Europe, the IMQ concept follows the Japanese principle of ma that allows the exterior and interior to become as one.
Stepping inside, the sculpted seats, the instrument panel and the door trim are finished in two-tone 3D fabric, laser-cut in a geometric design inspired by kumiko. The pattern is replicated on the instrument panel, door trim and parcel shelf, as well as the rich metallic finish of the seat back.