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December 17, 2014
2012 Detroit Auto Show Live Report | NISSAN
Nissan
2012 Detroit Motor Show
Two World Premieres!
Nissan, exhibiting at the Detroit Motor Show for the first time in four years, brought two production-intent concepts: the Pathfinder Concept and the e-NV200 Concept.
Text & Photo by SHIMASHITA Yasuhisa
EV Version of Yellow Cab Model
Returning to the Detroit Show after a long absence, Nissan presented two world premieres this time: the Pathfinder Concept, a large SUV with three rows of seats, and the e-NV200 Concept, a commercial EV.
The Pathfinder Concept was presented with a level of refinement that suggested it could go into production almost as-is, and it is expected to be released as the fourth-generation Pathfinder by the end of the year. The e-NV200 Concept, an EV based on the NV200 used for New York's yellow cabs, further advances Nissan's zero-emission strategy and also attracted considerable attention.
Buoyed by strong sales, CEO Carlos Ghosn declared in his speech, "The automotive industry has emerged from the impact of the Lehman shock and entered a phase of growth." Nissan appears poised to embark on an aggressive offensive.
e-NV200
The e-NV200 Concept is based on the EV200 (known in Japan as the NV200 Vanette), a commercial van sold in 40 countries worldwide, and notably selected to become New York's yellow cab starting in 2013.
Its exterior design, including the Aqua Globe body color and the charging port on the front nose, carries over the Leaf's aesthetic. The powertrain is also derived from the Leaf, producing a maximum output of 109 ps and 280 Nm of torque. A key feature is that the interior and cargo space are hardly compromised, thanks to careful consideration of the lithium-ion battery's placement.
The e-NV200 is already undergoing public road trials in Japan and the UK. Given that commercial vehicles are inherently well-suited for EV conversion, its debut is eagerly anticipated.