Nissan has released details and images of a unique sports car concept ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show. A concept sports EV that’s nothing like the Toybaru BR86 rival we all thought it was going to be. Nissan executive vice president, Andy Palmer, earlier called the Toybaru BR86 twins – cars for 50-year olds having a midlife crisis, but no one could expect this car was what Palmer envisioned as the alternative.
The unique car in question is the Nissan BladeGlider Concept and you can think of it as a road-going EV-inspired car by the experimental DeltaWing racer from Le Mans a year ago. Nissan assures us the BladeGlider ‘embodies a fearless vision of the EV future’ and not only is it bound for the Tokyo but production-readiness as well as potentially using Nissan ZEOD RC electric racecar tech to power it.
While that may sound very noble and innovative, we’re not entirely sure how, why or when such a sporty EV like the Nissan BladeGlider will fit a credible business model for the Japanese manufacturer, especially after the less-than-blazing reception to the conventional Nissan Leaf EV.
For now, what we can tell you is that the Nissan BladeGlider, as a concept, is powered by individual in-wheel electric motors, joined together by a body made of lightweight carbon fibre and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic body panels. The front end gets a 1.0m wide track, reducing drag and enhancing manoeuvrability. 70% of the concept’s weight is distributed to the rear to aid with sporty handling and lessen the load on the skinny front tyres.
Nissan didn’t release power and performance figures, but did say, ‘When BladeGlider matures into a production car, it would be Nissan’s first to use in-wheel motors.’ Check out this brief Nissan BladeGlider video to see the innovative open air cockpit with a McLaren F1-style three person seating arrangement and aircraft-like steering wheel in closer detail.
