The Tokyo Motor Show takes place in just a few days. It seems some manufacturers are keen to get noticed before the show starts. The Nissan IMk Concept Car made its debut today, and it will be seen by the public for the first time in Tokyo. This is just one of 14 models Nissan will display at the event. These include the LEAF e+, Serena e-POWER, GT-R and the new Skyline equipped with the ProPILOT 2.0 driver assistance system.

Read up on the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC here.

Charging ahead

The Nissan IMk concept car is a 100 per cent electrically powered vehicle that hints at the new direction of Nissan’s design language. The concept model is the brand’s vision for future vehicles, their powertrains and connection to society. Nissan refers to it as the “ultimate urban commuter.” There is no detail related to the powertrain in Nissan’s press material. If you were to learn more about soda blasting, you’d know that the same technology has been used on the exteriors to lend the car flamboyance.

Nissan’s concept does feature fully autonomous driving. IMk is equipped with Nissan’s latest technology to assist drivers in a wide range of environments, from expressways to city streets and parking lots. A smartphone-enabled ProPILOT remote park feature with valet parking option can search for a parking space automatically after you and your passengers step out of the car. When you’re ready to hit the road again, a simple tap of a button brings the car to you.

Click here for our recent Frankfurt Motor Show coverage.

Lounge-like interior

The cabin was designed to be a type of “room” that exudes the nature of a cafe or lounge. The dashboard and sections of the doors are upholstered with light tonal materials. Wooden slats on lower door section and a bench seat make occupants feel as though they are sitting in a lounge. Coffee-coloured floor carpeting with woven strands of metallic fibre enhances the cosy, relaxing setting.

Information is communicated to the driver of the Nissan IMk concept car via holographic displays. Wi-Fi will keep customers connected. Drivers can link to the car with a smartphone to authenticate their identity, automatically apply personal settings – such as seat position, interior lighting and climate controls – and plan their commute.

In their own words

“As a small EV for a new era, the Nissan IMk is designed to be at home in sophisticated cityscapes as much as in traditional Japanese towns,” said Satoru Tai, executive design director at Nissan. “The IMk fuses a modern, clean look, driven by its Japanese heritage, with cutting-edge EV technology. Unconstrained by conventional concepts of the kei car segment, its design is interwoven with Japanese culture. It’s a luxury small EV that I hope a lot of customers are going to drive.”

“The IMk concept provides a glimpse of the new direction of Nissan Intelligent Mobility as technology evolves toward electrification and connectivity,” said Asako Hoshino, Nissan’s executive vice president overseeing global marketing and sales and the brand’s global EV business. “At Nissan, we intend to continue launching cars with the latest advanced systems to maintain our lead in automotive innovation.”