Right back to its creation in the 1980s by design guru Jerry Hirshberg, Nissan’s San Diego styling studios have been responsible for some ground-breaking designs – creation of the Nissan Pathfinder which launched the mid-size SUV craze just for starters.
Now the team in San Diego has collaborated with designers from Nissan in Brazil to create the EXTREM sports car concept unveiled this week at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show.
Nissan calls the EXTREM a rugged urban compact sports car and its vibrant ‘Solar Cortex’ colour scheme was selected to appeal to young buyers. In fact, based on the same platform as the Nissan Micra, it could be the gestation of a new breed of compact 2+2 sports cars.
“We call is Baby Beast,” explained Robert Bauer the senior design manager at Nissan Design America in San Diego. “We see it as an urban rally car, a tough little street fighter that can handle the urban jungle with agility and confidence.”
The Nissan EXTREM sure looks tough – the raised ground clearance, 19-inch six-spoke alloy wheels and prominent aluminium skid plate point to strength, while the steeply sloping roofline and wraparound glass provide a sporty influence and open, airy feel inside.
Out back is a clever two-tier luggage compartment.
Under the bonnet is Nissan’s new direct injection, turbocharged 1.6-litre engine developed for the Nissan DeltaWing Le Mans racer. Nissan envisages the EXTREM being offered in either all-wheel-drive or two-wheel-drive with Torque Vectoring for sporty ride and handling.
