This, says Nissan, is its first concept car designed specifically for Brazil, a country with a vibrant and colourful automotive industry.
The radical Extrem, front and centre on the Nissan stand at the Sao Paulo motor show, is an urban compact sports car concept, intended to be exotic yet attainable, like Toyota's stunningly successful GT 86.
Designed by Nissan Design America in San Diego, California, in collaboration with Brazilian designers, and built in Brazil, the concept previews a new breed of car, blending versatility and toughness with the agility of a compact 2+2.
FAR FROM CONSERVATIVE
Chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura explained: “Brazil is a country of great natural beauty and it has a passionate, rich culture - but that's not always reflected in the cars on its streets, especially the more affordable, locally produced vehicles, which tend to be conservative in design, colour and specification.
“The Extrem, however, is far from conservative. It was created to appeal to the country's growing band of city-based young professionals who are passionate about design and want to make a personal statement.”
Although strictly a concept car with no immediate plans for production, the Extrem's styling provides a look at future Nissan products, for Brazil and around the world.
Does that mean the next Qashqai will inherit some of its attitude? We hope so.
Right from the early stages of its development, the design team behind the Extrem was clear about the direction the concept should take.
Robert Bauer, Senior design manager for the project at NDA, said:
“We see it as an urban rally car, a tough little street fighter that can handle the urban jungle with agility and confidence.”
The result is an exotic and distinctive concept for a new genre of compact sports vehicle; the lower half of the body and raised ground clearance express toughness, while the sharply sloping roof line suggests sportiness, with wraparound glass, floating roof rails and detached C pillars enhancing the feeling of an open, airy cabin.
But it's also practical: the roof rails have cleats for load carrying, and the see-through A pillar structure provides enhanced outward visibility.
SECURE STOWAGE
A two-tier cargo bay provides secure storage, where items can be hidden from prying eyes under a removable cargo bin which is accessed via the rear hatch. The bin is designed for day-to-day items and fits neatly underneath a structural cross brace that adds extra stiffness to the shell and accentuates the sporting nature of the car.
The concept is 3850mm long, 1765mm wide and 1530mmm high on a 2450mm wheelbase, and Nakamura sees it being powered by a 1.6-litre version of Nissan's DIG-T direct-injection turbopetrol four, which shares its technology with the DeltaWing Le Mans race car.
He says it could be offered with a choice of front or four-wheel drive with torque vectoring to improve its handling.
“The Extrem suggests that exotic and exciting design need not just be reserved for expensive cars; it shows that innovative, sophisticated design can be made in a clever, attainable way.”