We live in the golden age of automotive lighting. It’s an exciting time with technologies like LEDs and new manufacturing techniques enabling shapes, styles and functions never before possible in the dark (okay, dark) ages of two-form sealed beams and plastic frames. Nissan – in partnership with Dong Feng – just showed off four concept cars at the Beijing Auto Show, which I was supposed to attend but, thanks to some unfortunate delays in getting my visa, I didn’t. Maybe I’m a little bitter. Geely said they’ll be taking me out there soon to see all the good stuff, so hopefully I’ll have all kinds of exciting Chinese car news from the eyewitnesses soon. Until then, I’ll just have to tell you about the things the PR people want to show me. Like these four Nissan concept cars.
The cars are Epoch, Epic, Era and Evo, which ironically was the original name of the Pep Boys, until Era ran off to become the actor we now know as Nathan Lane, and the rest of the brothers changed their names to Manny, Mo and Jack . True story, check it out if you don’t believe me. Anyway, they’re all EV concepts, with the Epoch and Epic being a battery EV sedan and SUV, respectively, and the Era and Evo being plug-in hybrids, this time an SUV and a sedan, respectively.
It’s interesting to note that Nissan, like Toyota, sees the immediate value of plug-in hybrids. Also, that the sedan is still a viable body style in this SUV-saturated world.
Here’s a nice video Nissan created for the event:
There aren’t many specs or anything here – these are concept cars after all, so I wouldn’t believe any numbers they say now, although I’ll relay what Nissan says about each car in their press release:
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The Nissan Epoch Concept is an EV sedan for urban and suburban enthusiasts who want to enhance their lifestyles with design and technology. The concept has an AI-enhanced Internet of Things, and its virtual personal assistant makes life easier and more convenient through communication that recognizes emotions.
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The Nissan Epic Concept is an EV SUV perfectly suited for adventurous urban couples exploring on weekends, with autonomous driving both in the city and on highways. The vehicle can function as a mobile power source, with electricity to power equipment, campsites or parties. Meanwhile, its built-in technologies maintain and create a relaxing atmosphere.
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The Nissan Era Concept is a plug-in hybrid SUV that supports the urban lifestyle and is well suited for young business people who treat their vehicle as a second home. With an interconnected entertainment system and zero-gravity seats, its advanced e-4ORCE all-wheel control and active air suspension ensure a comfortable and confident drive.
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The Nissan Evo Concept plug-in hybrid sedan is ideal for weekend getaways and creating special moments for the whole family. In addition to advanced driver support and safety features, its artificial intelligence-enhanced virtual personal assistant helps execute the planned drive and trip properly.
So, you know, the usual PR crap about exploration and lifestyle and cars as second homes and creating special moments and all that crap that, frankly, you could just as easily accomplish in a 1994 Mercury Villager. And for much less money.
But what I can definitively talk about now is the very interesting lighting design we see on these concepts, and how that lighting design informs what Nissan’s new corporate face could be. Here’s a look at Epic:
Slashes! Tilt light! With different thicknesses! And look how they wrap around the corners of the body:
This is exciting stuff, and it’s nice to know that prospective owners can do pretty good renditions of the face of their cars in one line of normal text, like what the folks at VW can do (O\_!_/O) or jeeps can do [O|||||||O]so these new Nissans can be \\\\\\\\\O/////////. This is very cool.
The chopped goodness continues in the back:
The other SUV, the Epoch, has a similar light signature:
I like how the slashes tilt and turn into the side marker lights in the corners, especially there. I don’t see evidence of a reverse light or where the indicators would be (China requires amber ones), but I think we can chalk that up to the freedom of the concept car.
Sedans have a slightly more toned down variation of the sloping front design. Here’s the Evo:
Fewer slashes, wider spacing between slashes, which means the email signature version might look like this: \ \ \ \ \——o——/ / / / /. It looks like the backend is ditching the slash altogether:
That’s a very Volvo-esque rear if you ask me. Epoch’s lighting design is similar, with even softer slants in favor of a strip of light above and hockey stick-like slants below:
The taillight treatment is quite different here, with a full-width light bar and those little sketchy bowl shapes below.
All of these lighting concepts I think are distinctive and work well, and if Nissan wants to tie them in with heritage design, I think they can, thanks to this fantastic old Nissan:
yes Pulsar NX! The OG taillight slash! It was an extremely clever and innovative car and a worthy source of inspiration. So, I hope this thing was on some mood boards in the styling department when they were coming up with these.
Nissan is in desperate need of an injection of novelty and interest to its lineup, so these concepts and their associated design language seem like a good start. Let’s see if they can actually make them a reality.
