Nissan debuts new EV sports saloon concept

Nissan has debuted a new concept car at the North American International Auto Show – an electrified sports saloon.

Dubbed the IMs concept, it showcases the Japanese manufacturer’s latest and upcoming technologies, as well as the “Premier Seat” 2 + 1 + 2 set-up, which sees the option of either an extra-large rear central seat or a traditional three-seat back bench.

It also highlights a new vehicle segment, according to Nissan: the elevated electrified sports sedan – saloon in the UK – which has more ground clearance than most cars of a similar shape.

Nissan North America vice-president Denis Le Vot said at the Detroit show: “It makes sense that the first automaker to bring the world a mass-market EV [the Leaf] would bring you the future of the electric high-performance sports sedan.”

The concept is powered by a pair of electric motors – one for each axle – that put out a combined 476bhp and an impressive 800Nm of torque. Nissan says the 115kWh battery will give an estimated range of 380 miles on a single charge.

In autonomous drive mode, the IMs concept’s headlights and rear lights turn blue to alert pedestrians and other motorists of its self-driving status.

The exterior also features holographic rear lights and a four-door body structure minus a B-pillar, with reverse-opening rear doors for easy access. Outside, the concept is finished in a “liquid metal” paint.

The IMs concept’s interior has been designed with autonomy in mind, with all powertrain components tucked under the cabin floor.

Meanwhile, in manual driving mode, the IMs concept’s interior becomes a driver-centric cockpit, with advanced driver-assistance technology and multi-level information displays.

Le Vot also announced that Nissan will launch seven more production electric vehicles by 2022, following on from last week’s debut of the Nissan LEAF e+, suggesting that cars echoing the IMs concept may not be far away from the forecourt.