nissan's IMs concept takes design cues from the japanese kimono

following the debut of its newer, longer range 2019 leaf e+ at CES last week, nissan has unveiled plans for its newest all-electricconcept model. shown at the detroit auto show on monday, the nissan IMS is defined by an abundance of japanese design cues and characterized by its pure EV identity, with the battery located under the body of the car and elevated cabin height.

images courtesy of nissan

the IMs concept’s exterior transforms the styling of a traditional sedan into a vehicle with provocative proportions and excellent aerodynamics. unique to nissan, it also seamlessly marries futuristic high-tech qualities with timeless japanese accents. finished with a special ‘liquid metal’ paint, the exterior of nissan‘s IMs concept is intended to suggest an imaginary mineral on the moon. inspired by the japanese kimono, the qualities of this color enhance the IMs concept’s unique sculptural form with shifts in gradation.

the exterior also features holographic rear tail lamps and a B-pillar-less 4-door body structure with reverse-opening rear doors for easy interior access. further emphasizing its japanese character, a traditional japanese asanoha geometric graphic pattern has been applied in gold over the IMs concept’s smoked glass roof surface. the pattern is used throughout the vehicle, including on the wheels and inside the cabin.

the concept’s revolutionary new proportions include a unique ‘premier seat’ 2 + 1 + 2 seating architecture. dominating the rear space is the innovative ‘premier seat,’ an oversized center seat that appears out of the three-across rear seat after the slim outboard positions are folded. in autonomous drive mode, the IMs concept can transform from an engaging driver’s car to a fully autonomous vehicle, allowing the driver to engage in conversation with passengers, catch up on work or just enjoy the numerous entertainment options. 

the IMs concept’s headlights and rear combination light turn blue and the lighting travels continuously from front-to-rear to notify pedestrians and other drivers of its autonomous status. in manual driving mode, the IMs concept’s interior becomes a driver-centric cockpit with advanced driver-assistance technology and multi-level information displays, giving full vehicle control to the driver.

the vehicle’s electric powertrain consists of dual electric motors (front and rear) generates 483 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, paired with advanced air suspension. a 115-kWh battery provides an estimated range of 380 miles on a single charge. the result, according to nissan, is an ideal front/rear weight balance with exceptional traction over slick driving surfaces, excellent cornering performance, and an overall silky, smooth ride quality.