The Nissan Ellure concept's design cues will likely reappear, design chief Nakamura says, on the maker's next-generation sedan family.
The face of the future or just a fantasy in chrome? That’s the question Nissan left unanswered following its Wednesday news conference at the L.A. Auto Show.
The strikingly distinctive four-door Ellure was one of three debuts on the Japanese maker’s stand. But where the 2011 Quest and Murano CrossCabriolet will be rolling into showrooms in the months to come, U.S. Chief Executive Carlos Tavares insisted the Nissan Ellure is “a pure concept.”
Well, maybe, maybe not, he conceded when pressed by TheDetroitBureau.com. Go ask Nissan chief designer Shiro Nakamura, the CEO suggested.
The Nissan Ellure is Nakamura’s latest pet project, and with those of the past, the diminutive stylist has found a distinctive balance between traditional Japanese design forms – particularly noticeable in the headlights – as well as both retro and futuristic elements.
The overall look reveals a new “super-sculpted” design language distinguished by the Nissan Ellure’s broad shoulders and slightly down-swept character line. One of the heritage elements is the use of rear “suicide” doors.
“Some of the design cues” will clearly reappear, Nakamura acknowledged, clearly pleased by the attention his new concept generated during the Nissan news conference.
The nose of the Nissan Ellure concept reveals a mix of classic Japanese cues and more edgy design elements.
Where? “In the next-generation Nissan sedan family,” the executive revealed.
Beyond that, Nakamura demurred, but there are several possible places where that could first happen, possibly with the launch of the new Altima and Sentra models, which are due to market next year.
Some of the more successful recent offerings by both Nissan and Infiniti have been directly influenced, in recent years by Nakamura’s ongoing stream of concept studies.