TOKYO — Nissan aims for multiple sweet spots with its edgy IMx crossover concept.
It's an electric vehicle endowed with artificial intelligence and connectivity that enables autonomous driving mode. It also gets the crossover packaging that's all the rage and four-wheel drive.
And it just might accelerate faster than the Nissan GT-R sports car.
With its chiseled face and plethora of slits, the IMx looks futuristic.
But Nissan Motor Co. says the technologies it previews aren't so far away. They will start making it to market as early as 2020, beginning with the new dedicated EV platform.
The fully autonomous driving functions would arrive two years later, executives say.
The IMx concept, unveiled last week at the auto show here, tantalizes on two fronts where the Japanese carmaker's flagship Leaf electric hatchback falls short.
The first is range. The IMx promises much better performance than the just-released second-generation Leaf. The second is serving up something electric in the popular crossover segment.
The architecture underpinning the IMx will support EVs across numerous segments, from compact hatchbacks to sedans and SUVs, in a layout that delivers a flat vehicle floor with ample room for battery packs. It will be shared with alliance partners Renault and Mitsubishi.
