Nissan’s Terra forms new zero SUV concept

The Nissan TeRRA SUV concept, to be unveiled on 27th September at the Paris Motor Show, combines two outstanding Nissan strengths – SUVs and EVs – in a vehicle that is equally in its element off-road or gliding silently through the city. With an innovative 4×4 fuel-cell electric powertrain and an athletic exterior that has presence beyond its compact dimensions, TeRRA takes sustainable motoring into exciting new territory. Building on Nissan’s success with crossovers like the Juke and Qashqai, and its EV success with the LEAF, the TeRRA shows that Nissan’s zero-emission expertise encompasses fuel cells too. It is designed as a functional and flexible choice for tomorrow’s youthful, “always on” consumers, bringing with it eco-friendliness along with a secure driving feel under any road conditions. “Our challenge was to take Nissan’s strength in SUVs and crossovers forward into the zero-emissions era, fuel cells being our new frontier in zero emission mobility,” said Francois Bancon, Nissan’s division general manager of product strategy and planning. “Not big and tough for the desert, the aim was a new approach to SUVs that’s relevant to urban life. The unique diagonal seating layout that offers an exciting driving experience thanks to exceptional visibility that creates a sense of being in control under any conditions.” Tough exterior, warm interior “We took our inspiration from the lifestyles of youthful customers in Northern Europe,” said Shiro Nakamura, Nissan senior vice president and chief creative officer. “We heard their aspiration for sustainable mobility that can take them anywhere they want to go. Exploring our imagination of that natural space with the exterior, we have redefined the power of the SUV heritage in a much more athletic way, one that expresses our vision of the zero emissions future,” Nakamura said. “You have the big tyres, high belt-line, thick pillars and thin side windows of the SUV vocabulary. But with a slender waist and a sculptured bonnet, we’ve created an ‘Implied Structure’ of musculature under the skin. Sharp corners, short overhangs and sculptured lamps contribute to a clean, confident stance. An aerodynamically flat body pan in an eye-catching colour, protecting the full length of the underside, completes the image of what we call ‘Modern Toughness’.” Open the door and exterior toughness gives way to a surprisingly warm and welcoming interior. The door panel is a sculpted fusion of blond wood trim and coloured acrylic, layered in an intriguing pattern. Ringing the cabin at shoulder height is a metal frame that gives TeRRA’s occupants a feeling of security. The wood/metal contrast continues across the dashboard, a beechwood-acrylic fusion that exudes a soft warmth. On the driver’s side, the steering and instrument console gently tapers out toward the driver, barely interrupting the clean lines of the dash. From motorin news