Skip advert
Advertisement

New Nissan IMQ concept previews the next Qashqai

The Nissan IMQ concept has been revealed at Geneva, giving a thinly disguised look at the new Mk3 Nissan Qashqai

Of all the exotic concept cars on show at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the most significant is probably this, the Nissan IMQ.

Behind the 22-inch wheels, rear-hinged back doors, exotic slatted grille and floating glass roof is the shape that will eventually become very familiar to UK SUV buyers – it’s a thinly disguised look at the third generation of the Nissan Qashqai, the UK’s biggest-selling SUV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

• All the latest from the 2019 Geneva Motor Show

IMQ follows on from the IMx concept revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2017, with IM standing for ‘intelligent mobility’ – in this case the IMQ features a development of Nissan’s hybrid e-Power technology.

However, the Q in IMQ is a clear nod to the next Qashqai, with Matthew Weaver, Executive Design Director of Nissan Design Europe telling us, “I could imagine a lot of this car we could see in the near future.

“We invented the crossover sector and we wanted to move it on – we wanted to take some bold moves.”

At 4,558mm long and 1,940mm wide, IMQ is 164mm longer and 134mm wider than a Qashqai. However, the floating glass roof with its carbon fibre structure and copper details sits 30mm lower and drops dramatically towards the rear with a prominent spoiler giving the concept a real coupe look.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

IMQ also features some intricate surfacing along the flanks of the car in a figure of eight shape, along with a theme running through the car: lamellas – closely grouped lines that feature in the over-sized grille and on the black cladding around the lower edges of the car, including the wheel arches. The lamellas are inspired by the Japanese principle of “Ma”, meaning structural harmony, and are said to improve airflow around the car.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Although the grill is likely be toned down for production, Weaver did tell us that it, along with the slim boomerang LED lights, was “a new way of showing Nissan’s V-motion identity”.

The dark lamella patterning around the bottom of the car is designed to show the parts of the car that “hold the powertrain”. And although the lamellas look hugely intricate, Weaver confirmed that both that patterning and the complex side surfacing “could go into production.”

At the back, the exhausts are hidden behind further lamellas, further hinting at the eco-friendly e-Power powertrain. “It shows that when there’s less going in, there’s less going out,” said Weaver.

The e-Power powertrain has been hugely successful in Japan where it’s used in a version of the Note that was the country’s best-selling car last year. There it uses a 1.2-litre engine as a generator to charge a battery, which provides 100% electric power to a motor.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Similarly in IMQ it’s a 100% electric motor drive system, but using Nissan’s latest 1.5-litre petrol engine acting as the generator. Twin motors, one each powering front and rear axles, provide four-wheel drive with a total power output of 335bhp and 700NM of torque. Nissan isn’t quoting any performance or economy figures.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In spite of the petrol engine on board, emissions are considerably lower than a petrol-only powered SUV, while the driving characteristics are said to be the same as a high-powered EV with instant acceleration.

Nissan is working on a production version of e-Power for Europe so it’s a safe bet that it will find its way into the next generation of Qashqai, but it could also feature in next year’s new Juke, too.

While the exterior is a clear hint at the next Qashqai, the IMQ’s interior is more pie-in-the-sky stuff. The four seats float over a floor that features more lamella designs, while the translucent structural beam running the length of the cabin in between the seats features a similar style.

Some of the tech could feature in a new Qashqai, though, such as the asymmetric dashboard featuring an 840mm-wide screen in front of the driver and softer materials in front of the passenger. A second screen features a Virtual Personal Assistant to control some of the car’s functions such as navigation and climate control, while I2V Invisible-to-visible technology, which claims to help drivers see ‘around corners’ to avoid jams and find parking spaces.

While officially IMQ remains officially just a concept, Nissan is saying that it “signals what the design direction may be for the third-generation of Nissan crossovers in Europe”. We’d expect to see something looking very similar wearing a Qashqai badge on sale in late 2021.

Want to know more about the next Nissan Qashqai? Click here for everything we know so far...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Steve Fowler has previously edited Auto Express, Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs
Best electric car deals - header image

Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs

Making the switch to an EV? These car brands have an offer (or two) for you
Best cars & vans
28 Apr 2025
Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans
Future of Nissan in the UK - header with Phil McNamara

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans

Nissan is about to go from building the Qashqai hybrid to three fresh EVs in the UK over the next three years – all powered by a new gigafactory
Features
19 Apr 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025
Confirmed: Renault Twingo-based Nissan EV incoming
Nissan A-segment EV

Confirmed: Renault Twingo-based Nissan EV incoming

Online investors’ call confirms Nissan will build a “derivative” of the Renault Twingo from 2026
News
31 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025