2004 Nissan Qashqai Concept

In order to adapt to the adventurous lifestyles of the Qashqai's potential owners, Nissan has equipped the new concept with

The ultra-modern interior's minimalist look centers upon a floating metal center strip which divides the cockpit in two. (Photo: Nissan Canada)

flexibility, adaptability and space. The ultra-modern interior's minimalist look centers upon a floating metal center strip which divides the cockpit in two, forming the center console. Partitioned from the dashboard, it sweeps upward, containing controls for climate and audio, while the information is displayed on an LCD monitor. Driver-focused instrumentation and ergonomics make the Qashqai seem car-like.

Aside from its futuristic appearance, the interior is chalked full of neat little tricks to help accommodate bulky items, often associated with ambitious outdoor lifestyles. The clamshell-like "suicide" doors open up to create a massive aperture, free of a B-pillar which would otherwise obstruct the easy loading of wide objects. In addition to the doors, the Qashqai features unique floating seats that

Suicide doors provide plenty of space thanks to no B-Pillar and a larger aperture. (Photo: Nissan Canada)

hinge onto the center console. The theater-style layout allows them to flip up so that long awkward items, such as a bicycle, can fit inside without being dismantled.

Unlike the two X-named Nissan SUVs, X-Terra and X-Trail, the design crew behind the concept sport utility went out on an artistic limb to give their creation a name that would stand out. The concept was named after a nomadic people, mimicking the model behind Volkswagen's Touareg, however the chosen tribe comes from southern Iran. For the record, the vehicle's name is pronounced "kaesch-kei", but in the modern context of the automotive industry, it sounds frighteningly close to "cash cow" - thumbs up for creativity, but the choice could have been better. Who knows, maybe the name will be a good omen?