Nissan has confirmed that every new car it launches in Europe will be powered by electricity alone, with company boss Makoto Uchida calling it "the right thing to do." By 2030, Uchida says the brand plans to sell only electric vehicles in Europe.
As a statement of intent - and a celebration of 20 years of design at the company's central London studio - the Japanese company simultaneously revealed a new concept car designed to showcase what the brand can do and where it's heading.
Sporty electric car concept
The Concept 20-23 is billed as a sporty electric car designed by the London studio as the ideal electric vehicle for city streets. A three-door hatchback with more than a passing resemblance to the Ora Funky Cat in places, the Concept 20-23 is designed to be "cute" yet muscular, with lots of aerodynamic additions to the otherwise approachable body.
At the front, there are slim lights reminiscent of those on the latest Fiat 500, while the bumper design creates a kind of smile in the front bumper. But that sits in contrast to the extended wheel arches and big side skirts and the vented louvres in those arch designs.
Meanwhile, there's a large single-piece rear spoiler at the back that rises from the roof, while the end plates curve over the C-pillar to avoid reducing rear visibility.
Dramatic cabin
Unseen initially, the Concept 20-23 has scissor doors that rise to show off the "extremely sporty" cabin. However, the view - and access - is somewhat limited by a 'brace bar' that runs across the aperture for extra body stiffness. However, Nissan has padded the bar to prevent drivers and passengers from bruising their elbows during enthusiastic driving.
Once inside, the driver and passenger sit in deep bucket seats designed to be comfortable and supportive, while the large headrests are designed to conjure images of race cars. The same goes for the steering wheel, which is more of a yoke and is covered in switchgear, much like a modern race car wheel.
Between the seats, meanwhile, there's a large open aperture that makes up the centre console, while two metal beams, bolted to the 'spine' of the car, keep the console in place. Beneath those bars, there's a fire extinguisher.
In keeping with the pared-back nature of the cabin, Nissan has only included two screens in the Concept 20-23, with both displaying vital information for "minimal distractions."
Electric future
But though the Concept 20-23's cabin may not be especially high-tech, the brand's approach to new car sales is much more advanced. While the company will continue to sell existing petrol-powered vehicles in Europe for now, it has confirmed that no new models will be designed with internal combustion power. By 2030, the company says it will not sell any more combustion-powered cars at all in Europe.
"Electric vehicles are the ultimate mobility solution," said Makoto Uchida, Nissan's president and CEO. "More than a million customers have already joined our journey and experienced the fun of a Nissan electric vehicle, and there is no turning back now.
"EVs powered by renewables are key to us achieving carbon neutrality, which is central to our Ambition 2030 vision. Nissan will make the switch to full electric by 2030 in Europe - we believe it is the right thing to do for our business, our customers and for the planet."