Nissan Sport Sedan Concept | PR + WG

DETROIT – Nissan today provided an advanced look at its future design direction with the world debut of the Nissan Sport Sedan Concept during a press conference at the 2014 North American International Auto Show. The stunning Sport Sedan Concept embodies a number of next-generation Nissan design signatures, including V-Motion front aspect, distinctive "floating" roof and boomerang-shaped lamps.

The bright "Strad Amber"-colored 4-door sports sedan design study was revealed by Nissan Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura and Nissan Executive Vice President and Chief Planning Officer Andy Palmer. "Our new design direction mirrors the strength, power and capabilities of the engineering and innovation that serves as the foundation of every Nissan vehicle," said Nakamura.

"The Sport Sedan Concept shows a new, highly emotional and energetic design direction that takes Nissan's legendary approach of applying sports car principles to a sedan to the next level," added Palmer. "The Sport Sedan Concept captures that essence with authentic sports car design and proportions."

The Sport Sedan Concept's interior also offers cues to future production designs. Premium materials are found throughout, with the use of diamond-shaped graphics on the quilted seats, stitching and panels enhancing the sense of dynamic motion.

The Sport Sedan Concept shared the spotlight with the first North American appearance of the Nissan IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO concepts. The two IDx compact concept designs offer radically different characteristics, each with their own unique identity.

The IDx Freeflow reflects a casual/lifestyle-focused vision, while the IDx NISMO previews an ultra-sporty model of the future that looks as if it came directly from a driving simulator. Both were developed using a new "co-creation" product development approach that integrates input from consumers early in the process. The process is designed to appeal to "digital natives," the generation born after 1990. Nissan designers believe this approach could have real applications in the near future.

"IDx NISMO and IDx Freeflow show how Nissan is using new and innovative product development methods to meet the needs of younger customers who have novel, exciting ideas, and engage with them to build the cars they want," said Nakamura.

Also making its first North American auto show appearance in Detroit is the Nissan Autonomous LEAF prototype. Based on the all-electric Nissan LEAF, the vehicle is equipped with cameras, laser scanners and radar – which identify nearby pedestrians, traffic lights, traffic signs and other objects. The data is processed by an onboard computer that makes decisions that are implemented with automatically operated controls for the vehicle's acceleration, handling, braking and more.

The Nissan Sport Sedan Concept, IDx Freeflow, IDx NISMO, Autonomous LEAF and the complete lineup of 2014 Nissan cars, crossovers, trucks and SUVs will be shown at the Nissan display at Detroit's Cobo Center during the run of the 2014 North American International Auto Show, January 18 through 26.