Nissan has revealed four new concept cars for the Chinese market at the Beijing motor show this week. Two plug-in hybrids and two electric vehicles have been unmasked as part of a joint venture with Chinese manufacturer Dong Feng. According to Nissan, the cars preview models that “will better address the future mobility needs of customers in China,” so we aren’t expecting them to come to the UK.
Famous names
Nissan’s four concepts all have names beginning with the letter ‘e’ and are what Nissan calls “new energy vehicle” concepts. In essence, that means they all come with a plug of some description, although only two of the four concepts are all-electric - the others also have a combustion engine to create a plug-in hybrid system.
The electric saloon model is called the Epoch, and it’s designed to appeal to “urban and suburban go-getters who wish to enhance their lifestyles with design and technologies.” Nissan says the concept comes with AI-expanded connectivity technology and a virtual assistant, which offers “communication that recognizes emotions.”
Perhaps more intriguingly for customers of a certain age, the other saloon is known as the Evo, and it’s a plug-in hybrid designed for “weekend getaways.” Despite the sporty connotations of the name, which was previously seen on high-performance versions of Nissan’s alliance partner brand Mitsubishi’s Lancer saloons, Nissan says the Evo focuses on driver support and safety functions.
Second home
The other plug-in hybrid concept is the Era SUV, which is built to support “urban lifestyles and… young businesspeople who treat their car as a second home.” The car is fitted with what Nissan calls ‘zero-gravity’ seating for maximum comfort, and there’s an “interconnected entertainment system.” Active air suspension is also fitted to smooth out the ride, and Nissan’s e-4orce all-wheel-drive system is fitted for traction and stability.
Finally, the Epoch, Evo and Era concepts are joined by the Epic, which is an electric SUV. According to Nissan, the car is “perfectly suited for adventurous city couples who explore on weekends,” and it comes with autonomous driving technology for both city streets and motorways. The vehicle also has vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology allowing it to operate as a mobile power source, feeding power to gadgets from its traction battery via a domestic plug socket.
Sustainable growth
According to Nissan’s president and CEO, Makota Uchida, the four concepts are intended to showcase Nissan’s commitment to the Chinese market, where it aims to provide “a more exciting mobility experience.”
“To achieve sustainable growth in the rapidly changing Chinese market, Nissan is committed to a China-tailored strategy as we announced in our new business plan, ‘The Arc’,” said Uchida. “Starting with new energy vehicles to be based on the concepts unveiled today, Nissan will build a balanced product portfolio of diverse and competitive new models.”