A concept of an all-electric vehicle has been unveiled by Nissan Motor Corporation. Called IMk, the EV concept vehicle features Nissan Intelligent Mobility, a vision for “changing how vehicles are powered, driven and connected to society.”
With the narrow streets of Tokyo, Japan comes vehicles that are compact and maneuverable. To meet the characteristics in demand and going beyond by setting out to create a city car that would “stand apart from any other car in the segment”, Nissan’s IMk is compatible with a variety of lifestyles and functions.
“More than a strictly functional city car, it’s a chic vehicle that reduces driver stress while offering excitement and confidence on an all-new EV platform,” said Nissan
“As a small EV for a new era, the Nissan IMk is designed to be at home in sophisticated cityscapes as much as in traditional Japanese towns,” said Satoru Tai, executive design director at Nissan. “The IMk fuses a modern, clean look, driven by its Japanese heritage, with cutting-edge EV technology. Unconstrained by conventional concepts of the kei car segment, its design is interwoven with Japanese culture. It’s a luxury small EV that I hope a lot of customers are going to drive.”
Sharp and chic, the IMk is designed with a design philosophy inspired by a minimalistic aesthetic called Timeless Japanese Futurism.
The exterior flows with lines and is painted in a copper and red colour.
“We incorporated `Japanese DNA’ into the design of the IMk,” said Tai. “For example, the bumper, wheels, tires, windows, tail lamps, roof and high mount spoiler treatment borrow from the flowing patterns of mizuhiki, a thin twine made of Japanese rice paper. Just as mizuhiki flows naturally by design, on the IMk this flowing pattern blends the front, sides, and rear of the concept together for a completely new presence, outside and inside. The shield, which replaces the grille in gasoline-powered vehicles, represents a new signature element in our redefined design language. It follows function with style, giving the vehicle visual strength and inspiration while also providing protection and advanced technology underneath, including sensors and electronics.”
Described by Nissan as being similar to a cafe or lounge, the interior is cozy and comfortable. Fitted with a bench-style seat with dimpled textures that “gives the impression of sitting on a floating cloud”, the doors alongside the dashboard are upholstered with materials that are light in tonal.
Utilizing a Japanese wood joinery technique called kigumi to create wood slates in the lower door sections, dark brown carpeting with woven strands of metallic fibre adds to the relaxing atmosphere.
The dash is composed of a holographic display made from a bezel-less prism.
With ProPILOT, the LMk can assist drivers on highways and streets. Using the smartphone-enabled ProPILOT Remote Park feature, the vehicle can autonomously find a parking spot and park it like a valet after the driver has stepped out. Drivers will also be able to summon their LMk.
“The IMk concept provides a glimpse of the new direction of Nissan Intelligent Mobility as technology evolves toward electrification and connectivity,” said Asako Hoshino, Nissan’s executive vice president overseeing global marketing and sales and the brand’s global EV business. “At Nissan, we intend to continue launching cars with the latest advanced systems to maintain our lead in automotive innovation.”
