Predicting what motorists of tomorrow will want in their cars, and how they would like them to look and feel is a big challenge for the designers in car companies. They have to constantly monitor trends and even more difficult, understand things like cultural differences in the various countries since the cars they design will be sold worldwide.
The Intima concept, a larger car than the Teana, gives a glimpse of what Nissan designers think tomorrow’s sedan will be like and focuses on the interior which has the theme of ‘Modern Living Concept’. This theme for car interiors combines attractive design, hospitality, relaxation and high quality with high levels of functionality and advanced technology.
To date, the Modern Living Concept has been successfully featured in Nissan models such as the Teana and Latio; with the Intima concept, the theme moves into a new dimension with an interior that invites passengers into a stimulating world of artistic forms, materials and illumination.
The Intima, which will be displayed at the Tokyo Motorshow this week, is equipped with a number of safety systems based on Nissan's Safety Shield concept, including ‘Around View’ Monitor and Distance Control Assist System (DCAS). Needless to say, devices such as ABS and Traction Control will be standard, along with more advanced airbag systems.
The Intima, which could be the basis for a future high-end sedan model, is targeted towards consumers with a sophisticated, discerning eye for beauty - who enjoy spending time in refined elegance and comfort, whether traveling alone or with a partner.
"We designed the Intima as a car that expresses the interior attractiveness Nissan proposes in the Modern Living Concept," explained Product Chief Designer Kinichi Saito of the Product Design Department. "The inspiration came from imagining a situation where a person who has accumulated many life experiences and successes now wants to spend his or her own time - or time together as a couple - in an elegant environment."
For example, the instrument panel padding appears to "float" in between the woodgrain panels, the centre console incorporates a "wave pattern" and large door armrests and assist grips combine to give passengers a feeling of comfort and peace of mind.
Illumination is another significant element in orchestrating a sense of soothing relaxation for the Intima interior. Cabin illumination is provided by the indirect lighting incorporated in the instrument panel, centre console, door trim and ceiling, and the door assist grips feature a blue-green acrylic material that gives off a soft light.
The elegant mood is furthered by a lighted, convenient storage space for keeping a handbag or other small items, located on the inside of the front passenger's door.
The Intima also features a four-zone, intelligent air conditioning system that provides a comfortable atmosphere for all passengers by independently controlling the individual temperature of each seating position through the use of infrared sensors. This advanced air conditioning system also keeps the interior of the vehicle clean by adopting a natural grape seed polyphenol filter that neutralizes pollen and other allergens.
In addition, a cool storage compartment is located in the rear centre console to keep beverages or snacks at an enjoyable temperature.
Traditionally, the expression of relaxation in a vehicle's design focuses purely on function, such as in terms of seat comfort. The Intima goes a step beyond that tradition to incorporate art extensively into the interior, thus taking the sensation of relaxation to an even higher plane.
A clever idea is the front passenger's seat swivelling approximately 80 degrees to the outside as if to welcome and escort a passenger into the car. There’s ample legroom provided in both the front and rear seats for passenger comfort. There is a large glass roof which appears to flow continuously from the car's windscreen, enabling all passengers to enjoy a wide outward view, enhancing the feeling of a comfortable, relaxing drive.
The concept car’s exterior styling matches the interior's artistic image, with a design that combines sharp-edged lines and organic panel surfaces. "The balance of these two elements creates a refined mood based on the ideas of 'relaxation' and 'comfort,'" explained Mr Saito.
Rich elegance is conveyed though Intima's arching side character line, while the crystal-like appearance of the front and rear lamps, grille and wheels project an image of superior quality and refinement reminiscent of jewelry. The subdued luster of the chrome finish also contributes to the impression of refined quality imparted by all of the exterior embellishments.
"The Intima demonstrates that art and functionality are not mutually exclusive," said Mr Saito. "There is a strong role of visual attractiveness in creating a comfortable, relaxing interior that is often overlooked. The Intima, and Nissan's Modern Living Concept, are leading the way in the advancement of visually stimulating interior design."
For now, the powertrain remains conceptual but in line with Nissan’s concern for protection of the environment, it presently has a proposed environmentally-friendly V6 turbodiesel engine which is especially clean. Designed to be in harmony with the Intima's relaxing, high quality interior, the new-generation clean diesel is said to offer quiet operation, as well as enhanced fuel efficiency.
INTIMA DIMENSIONSOverall Length: 4980 mm
Overall Width: 1840 mm
Overall Height: 1450 mm
Wheelbase: 2825 mm
