nissan's nv200 concept van turns conventional light commercial design inside out
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. revealed a highly innovative small van concept at Nissan Design Europe (NDE). Called “NV200” and due to be given its worldwide debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, the concept turns conventional light commercial design inside out.
The NV200 was jointly developed by Nissan Design Centre in Japan and NDE, located in Paddington, London. By having no pre-conceived ideas about what form NV200 should take, the team has developed a radical, futuristic, but entirely practical new concept.
“A light commercial vehicle has a specific job to perform, but that’s no reason to design a purely rational vehicle with no warmth. For NV200, function becomes the aesthetic. Our concept is a highly efficient tool but one with a human touch,” says Shiro Nakamura, senior vice president and chief creative officer at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Its most striking feature is a storage pod which extends from the van’s load area when the vehicle is parked. As the pod is deployed, the now empty load bay is transformed into a mobile office. Although NV200 answers the specific needs of a professional underwater photographer with ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ storage zones in the pod for diving and camera equipment, the basic concept could be tailored to suit different customers.
The pod is latched inside the load area when the van is being driven. But upon arrival at its destination, it slides out rearwards to allow easy access to the storage zones. As the pod is withdrawn from the van, the area left behind is transformed into a mobile office. The front passenger seat swivels backwards on a curved rail to face a computer table, which drops down from the side of the van.
“The NV200 continues the excitement of the brand and demonstrates new design directions and potential future technologies. We are refreshing our brand with products that consistently reinforce our commitment to thrilling performance and design. This concept provides an early indication of the bold and thoughtful Nissan light commercial vehicles which will be present in the Middle East”, commented Reza Alavi, Head of Light Commercial Vehicles Business Unit at Nissan Middle East.
