Nissan IMs concept a high-riding electric sedan with 483 horses
The world’s automotive media descended on the chilly Detroit waterfront last week for the first auto show of the year, the North American International Auto Show. David Booth reports on a couple of interesting electric debuts. For our full coverage of the show visit Driving.ca.
What is it? An “elevated sports sedan” concept, as Nissan calls the IMs.
Why does it matter? Taking advantage of the “packaging, platform and powertrain technology developed through Nissan Intelligent Mobility” and the compact-battery technology seen in the recent Leaf Plus, the IMs features a stretched cabin, unique “2+1+2” seating, and pivoting front seats. Even more unusual is the rear seat, which offers either threeacross seating or once the slim rear outboard seats are folded, an indulgent “Premier Seat” in the rear centre.
“Advances in electric-vehicle technology and autonomous driving have allowed our designers to break free of the platform and packaging rules that constrain traditional passenger vehicles, to create a completely new type of car and … explore the limits of sedan design,” said Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice-president for design at Nissan.
Though there is much that is “autonomous” in the design of the IMs, the electric powertrain — dual electric motors front and rear — generates 483 horsepower and 590 Nissan IMs concept features a unique 2+1+2 seating design. pound-feet of torque, so it should be plenty sporty. Meanwhile, a huge 115-kWh battery promises a whopping 611-kilometre range and is compatible with quick chargers.
In manual driving mode, Nissan says the IMs’ interior becomes a driver-centric cockpit with advanced driver-assistance technology and multi-level information displays. In autonomous driving mode, the steering wheel retracts and the front seats pivot inward to face the rear seats.
As well, whenever the IMs is driving itself, the headlights and rear combination light turn blue and the lighting blinks continuously on the centre of the front and rear to notify pedestrians and other drivers of its autonomous status.
When is it coming? Well, it’s another concept car, so never. But it does show Nissan is moving its electric vehicles beyond the little runabout segment — that would be the Leaf — and trying to take advantage of all the unique layouts afforded by an electric powertrain.
Should I buy one? With a 600+ kilometre range and almost 500 horsepower, not to mention fetching design and the ability to drive itself, what’s not to like?