Fusing Technology With Artistry

DRAMATIC THREE-ROW SUV CONCEPT SIGNALS A NISSAN DESIGN DIRECTION FOR 2020 AND BEYOND

Building on Nissan’s long history of cutting-edge crossovers and SUVs, including the recently introduced Nissan Kicks and Rogue Sport, the new Nissan Xmotion concept is a design exploration for another potentially groundbreaking compact SUV.

Unveiled at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, the Xmotion concept features strong hints of a traditional SUV – the high stance, high-utility proportions and bulked-up fenders, stuffed with all-terrain-ready wheels and tires. Yet as the name implies, the Xmotion (pronounced “cross motion”) concept fuses Japanese culture and traditional craftsmanship with American-style utility and new-generation Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology.

“The Xmotion concept is a study in how seemingly disparate elements can gain power and strength through coexistence,” said Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president of global design at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “It draws inspiration from the Japanese aesthetics and techniques that have been passed down through generation after generation. At the same time, it achieves the modern purposefulness required for drivers in the near-future era of connected, autonomous crossover vehicles.”

THE ORIGIN STORY 

SUVs are essentially an American invention, originally created to take families where ordinary sedans couldn’t go. They still have, to a large degree, a “Western” influence and utilitarian flavor – which tend to create a look of uniformity and lack of refinement.

The Nissan global design team behind the Xmotion concept wanted to bring something fresh to the segment by infusing Nissan’s Japanese heritage and aesthetics – while also preparing for a new automotive world driven by autonomous technologies.