Nissan IMs concept debuts at the Detroit Motor Show
Nissan creates the “elevated sports sedan” segment with its new electric all-wheel-drive, crossover-inspired IMs saloon concept
Nissan has revealed the IMs concept at this year’s Detroit Motor Show. Designed as an all-electric “elevated sports sedan,” it blends luxury saloon packaging with crossover styling.
Powered by two electric motors, the all-wheel-drive IMs concept produces a claimed 476bhp and 800Nm of torque. The motors are fed by a 115kWh battery pack, which Nissan says will provide a range of 380 miles on a single charge.
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Nissan claims the IMs’s exterior is inspired by the design of its Z-car range. The Japanese firm’s trademark “floating roof” has been ditched in favour of conventional A-, B- and C-pillars, while the IMs’s splitter, undertray and rear wing offer functional aerodynamics. It rides on 22-inch alloys and adaptable air-suspension.
However, the majority of Nissan’s efforts is expended on the IMs’s interior. To maximise interior space, Nissan tucked its drivetrain components under the chassis, creating a completely flat cabin floor. The front two seats can also swivel to face the rear bench, due to the absent centre console.
Seating is laid out in a “2+1+2” configuration. The rear bench offers space for either three or one, bearing two stowable outboard seats and one central “premier seat.” With the smaller seats folded, the rear bench transforms into an executive-travel-style armchair, with room for a single passenger only.
Up front the dash houses four infotainment screens, controlling everything from the sat-nav to the climate control. Naturally, autonomous driving is a feature and, when active, the steering wheel retracts into the dash.
Other tech includes Nissan’s “interior sensing platform,” consisting of an array of cameras and sensors which monitor the driver’s facial expressions and posture to determine whether they’re fit to drive. Should the system recognise the driver is overly fatigued, it will stop the vehicle.
Nissan also aims to blend the physical and virtual worlds with its “Invisible-to-Visible” system, allowing drivers to see around corners and receive real-time information about traffic flow by connecting with other Nissan IMs. Supposedly, drivers can also enjoy the company of a virtual “passenger.”
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