2023 Nissan 20-23 Concept

• Celebration of Milestone: Nissan commemorates 20 years of its London-based design center, Nissan Design Europe (NDE).

• Unique Unveiling: The grand reveal of the Nissan Concept 20-23 took place on a floating barge in the scenic Paddington Basin area, an extraordinary location tied to NDE's identity.

• Design Team Inspiration: A team of young designers from NDE created the Nissan Concept 20-23, driven by the vision of crafting a limitless urban electric concept car.

• Name Significance: The name "Concept 20-23" blends NDE's two-decade legacy in London, the numbers 2 (ni) and 3 (san), and the current year.

• Playful Tradition Continues: In line with Nissan's tradition of infusing playfulness into hatchbacks and city cars, the Concept 20-23 adds a modern twist to this heritage.

• Design Philosophy: Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan's Senior Vice President for global design, praises the car's compact hatchback design, influenced by the world of online racing and zero-emission mobility.

• Aerodynamic Mastery: The car's 3-door hatchback body-style showcases remarkable aerodynamics, with deep skirts, vents, and sleek LED headlights that enhance both performance and aesthetics.

• Muscular Side Profile: Extended wheel arches, vented louvres, and angular intersections add a touch of muscularity to the car's side profile while optimizing airflow.

• Rear Sophistication: At the rear, a single-piece spoiler and semi-circular LED lights contribute to aerodynamic efficiency and a distinctive visual appeal.

• Futuristic Interior: Inside, scissor doors, racing-inspired bucket seats, and a minimalist yet functional dashboard create an interior that mirrors the car's sporty exterior, making it a futuristic urban companion.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Nissan Design Europe's establishment in London, Makoto Uchida, Nissan's President and Chief Executive Officer, paid a visit to unveil an innovative urban electric concept car named Nissan Concept 20-23.

The grand unveiling of the Nissan Concept 20-23 took place on a floating barge, strategically positioned outside NDE along the picturesque Paddington Basin stretch of the Grand Union canal. This location, unique to NDE, adds to the charm and inspiration of the event.

Nissan Concept 20-23 A team, including some of the young talents from NDE, undertook the design of the Nissan Concept 20-23. Their mission was clear - design a car without limits that they would love to navigate the city streets with.

The name "Concept 20-23" not only pays homage to NDE's two decades in the heart of London but also incorporates the company's traditional numbers, 2 (ni) and 3 (san), along with the current year. It carries forward Nissan's tradition of infusing playfulness into hatchbacks and city cars, reminiscent of the iconic Pike cars like the Be-1, Pao, Figaro, and S-Cargo, but with a 21st-century twist.

Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan's Senior Vice President for global design, shared his thoughts at the London unveiling: "The young team here at NDE was given a simple brief: design a fun electric city car that you'd like to drive every day in London. The 20-23 Concept that they designed is a compact hatchback which is strongly influenced by the online racing world. I love the story it tells about how the worlds of modern city living, online gaming, and zero emissions mobility intersect."

This modern take on small car playfulness is a nod to the world of online racing and Nissan's involvement in Formula E. The Concept 20-23 boasts a 3-door hatchback body-style with striking aerodynamic enhancements at the front and rear. Deep skirts channel airflow away from the front, efficiently cooling the brakes before exiting through vents just behind the front wheels.

The front of the car features a clean, flat surface that extends upward to form the hood, housing distinctive LED headlights with a unique semi-circular design. The turn signals seamlessly integrate with the headlight unit, giving the front end a friendly appearance amid its aerodynamic sophistication.

The muscularity of the car is evident from the side, thanks to extended wheel arches covering large wheels with low-profile tires. Vented louvres on the wheel arches reduce pressure in the wheel bay, enhancing aerodynamics. Angular intersections frame the air outlets behind the front wheels, providing a visually appealing touch. The extended skirts gracefully hug the lower portion of the car.

Moving to the rear, a large single-piece spoiler seamlessly emerges from the roof rail, contributing to downforce without compromising rear visibility. The rear lights follow the same semi-circular LED design, contrasting with angular lower forms designed for airflow management.

The exterior's textured grey paint finish exudes an industrial feel, perfectly suited for the urban environment it was created for. The number "23" proudly displays on the car's rear, symbolizing the company's identity.

While the Concept 20-23 primarily focuses on exterior design, the interior is equally sporty. Entry is through scissor doors that hinge upwards from the A-pillar base. A protective foam-padded brace bar across the door openings requires passengers to step over it to reach the deep bucket seats. These seats offer excellent support without sacrificing comfort, complemented by a near-white finish and racing-inspired headrests.

Upon settling into the driver's seat, a lengthy steering column leads to a rectangular sports steering wheel equipped with numerous controls and adjustments, including paddles for fine-tuning the electric powertrain performance. A carbon-fiber mount supports the steering column, anchored to the center console, creating an open, spacious feel. Below the brace bars, a fire extinguisher is strategically placed.

The interior design embraces a futuristic interpretation of racing car minimalism. It features only a few screens displaying essential information to minimize distractions, aligning with the setups found in real racing cars, such as Nissan's Formula E entrant, which inspire online racing simulator configurations.

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