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Detroit 2019: The Nissan IMs Concept, or the future of electric according to Nissan

Nissan IMs concept
Photo: Nissan
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Daniel Rufiange
The IMs has a range of over 600 kilometres

As we’ve seen over the past two days, the last wintertime Detroit auto show before it moves to June next year has featured a wide range of muscular sports models and rugged trucks. But electric models have been on hand in the Motor City as well, if only to remind everyone of the direction the industry is inexorably taking.

That Nissan chose to debut an electric sedan (and not an SUV) raised some eyebrows at the NAIAS. Of course, the Nissan IMs also drew attention for its spectacular styling as well as its unique interior, which features a central “Premier Seat” in the back. In the rear, in fact, the exterior parts of the three seats can be folded down to make room for a larger centre sofa offering more comfort.

The electric configuration of the model cleared the way for Nissan’s designers to let their imagination run wild in creating the IMs’ interior space. A futuristic dashboard featuring immense screens thus sits facing the driver.

The car also is freed of B pillars, instead featuring suicide-type doors for optimal ease of entry and exit. The IMs also appears to be sitting quite high off the ground, and in fact Nissan is presenting it as a high-riding sedan.

Photo: Nissan

For its mechanics the concept gets two electric motors that together provide 483 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque; that power is distributed to all four wheels. An imposing 115 kWh battery helps give the IMs a range of 380 miles, or 612 km.

Conceptually, the Nissan IMs is also designed to be self-driving. When driven by a human, the cabin can be configured conventionally; in automated mode, the seats can pivot to allow all seats to face each other, for example for a meeting. The driver could even go and relax in that premium sofa in the back.

Clearly this is not a vehicle we’ll be seeing on our roads any time soon. More likely is that a number of elements related to its technologies could make their way into Nissan vehicles, perhaps by 2022. Why then? Because that is the target Nissan has set to have seven electric vehicles in its lineup.

Article by Auto123.com

Photos:Nissan
Photos du prototype Nissan IMs
Daniel Rufiange
Daniel Rufiange
Automotive expert
  • Over 17 years' experience as an automotive journalist
  • More than 75 test drives in the past year
  • Participation in over 250 new vehicle launches in the presence of the brand's technical specialists