As part of a broad lineup of concept cars for the Japan Mobility Show, Nissan's Hyper Tourer concept is really going to stand out - for its sheer size, if nothing else.
Ocean liner styling
The Hyper Tourer is an all-electric vision of what a space-efficient future MPV might look like. According to what we can see here, it would look like a space-age ocean liner, with massive, heavily curved, intercut side panels and a shallow superstructure above a white belt line that melts into an LED lighting strip at either end. Whatever else the Hyper Tourer is, it's certainly striking.
According to Nissan, the Hyper Tourer is: "geared toward individuals who appreciate the finer things in life and enjoy the company of friends and associates". It has been designed both for business meetings and road trips. Zoom, or zooming along, we guess.
Solid state battery
Underneath the dramatic styling is a high-capacity battery (Nissan isn't getting into the specifics of capacity nor range yet), which can drive the car or provide power to "homes, stores, and offices" when needed. The battery is, in theory, a high-tech solid-state item expected to be more energy-dense and faster charging than current designs. Nissan aims to bring such batteries to the market by 2028.
Inside, space has been maximised by shrinking down components as much as possible. There aren't rear screens for those sitting in the back, but instead, there are VR headsets which allow passengers to interact with the Hyper Tourer's infotainment system without needing a physical screen.
The floor is an LED screen
Up top, in the ceiling, Nissan says that it has used "traditional Japanese kumiko and koushi patterns that create a sense of luxury" while the floor is made entirely of an LED screen, which can show images such as a flowing river or even the sky, so you feel like you're flying. That could get a bit freaky...
In theory, the Hyper Tourer is fully autonomous, so the front seats can swivel around to face those in the back for face-to-face chats, while there's also an: "innovative AI system can monitor your biometric signs - including brain waves, heart rate, breathing and perspiration - and automatically select complementary music and adjust the lighting to fit your mood." We're thinking that could also get a bit freaky at times.
Does the Hyper Tourer genuinely preview an awesome Nissan electric MPV? Probably not - it's likely more a flight of motor show fancy, and we're probably just going to get more and more SUVs as that's all that people will apparently buy. Still, it's nice to dream, and that's the whole point of a motor show concept after all...