Nissan to Unveil ‘Nuvu’ Mini Car Concept in Paris

Apart from the revised 2009 Note and the all-new, Suzuki Alto based Pixo, Nissan will also bring a new concept car to the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the all-electric Nuvu. Even though the Japanese firm has yet to release any images of the Nuvu, Nissan said that its newest concept car features 2+1 seating car and is built on a unique platform. Powered by an all-electric drivetrain, the Nuvu measures 3 meters in length with a wheelbase of 1980 mm. Notable features include the dozen or so small solar panels on the roof that are shaped like leaves and the organic and recycled materials that are used in the cabin.

Nissan Unveils All-Electric Cube Prototype

Nissan released details of a prototype electric vehicle based on the Japanese market Cube minicar. The prototype features a front-wheel drive layout and uses a newly developed 80kW electric motor that’s powered by a stack of laminated compact lithium-ion batteries installed under the floor without sacrificing passenger or cargo space.

According to Japanese carmaker, the EV’s laminated lithium-ion batteries deliver twice the electric power compared to conventional nickel-metal hydride batteries with a cylindrical configuration. The prototype Cube is used by Nissan as a test bed for the compnay's forthcoming all-electric production vehicle that will be introduced into the market in 2010. The production EV will have a unique bodystyle and won’t be based on any existing Nissan model. -More pics after the jump

Datsun XLink Concept: Compact 4Door-Coupe-Crossover Hybrid Study

In today's automotive world where cross segment models are more the norm rather than the exception, a compact sized car that combines elements from sedans, hatchbacks, coupes and SUVs sounds like a good idea. The problem with cross segment models is that most vehicles of this sort have messed up proportions. Luckily that's not the case with the Datsun XLink study that was developed at Nissan Yulon Design Center by Pforzheim University student Benjamin Nawka.

The German car design student's goal with the XLink was to interpret a possible re-introduction of Nissan's Datsun brand, with the first C-segment four-door coupe crossover. According to Benjamin's thesis, the XLink can seat four passengers, has a 380 liter trunk and is powered by a Two-Mode Diesel Hybrid. The car's design is inspired by aircraft -hence the front and rear winglets- and architecture. Another feature of the XLink is the height adjustable chassis that allows the driver to convert the car into a crossover with a touch of a button. -Continued

If it were to enter production today, Benjamin says that the Datsun XLink would compete against brands like Scion, Mini and Alfa Romeo. While we'd have to disagree with the re-introduction of the Datsun brand into the automotive scene, the XLink sounds like a pretty good idea overall. Maybe someone at Nissan should take a closer look at this concept.

Image Courtesy: Benjamin Nawka , Via: Carbodydesign