Electric Donk: Nissan Teases IMQ Crossover Ahead of Geneva Debut
Hot on the heels of the IMS, which debuted at the North American International Auto Show in January, Nissan is prepping another trade show darling. The Japanese automaker recently announced plans to unveil its new IMQ Concept at next week’s Geneva Motor Show.
Unfortunately, the teaser image accompanying the release is of the dreaded Hot Wheels variety.
While automotive mockups frequently possess what this author politely calls “dramatic flair,” the monster-truck sized tires on the IMQ are little more than a distraction. The body is clearly in line with most of the concepts we’ve seen coming out of Nissan recently — edgy, angular, and gray.
Unless the company secretly hopes to hit it big with donk enthusiasts, it’s also very clearly a crossover. We’re betting this is the high-riding version of the IMS (obnoxiously styled as “IMs” by the manufacturer). Expect Nissan to say the IMQ has a 115-kWh battery pack, quite a bit of power, all-wheel drive, and an unrealistic — but not impossible — maximum range. Unlike the rendering, the physical car should also have a taller roof and wheels with a circumference smaller than the moon.
The automaker claims the IMQ is a glimpse into “the future of Nissan Intelligent Mobility,” so it should also come with the IMS’ multi-tiered infotainment displays and some promise of autonomy. Assuming that happens, it’s better not to dwell on it. The real story here is design, and how the shape of the brand’s latest batch of concepts will inform future product — possibly an entire EV sub-brand.
If you’re a morning person, you can watch the unveiling on March 5th at 6:15 a.m. (ET) on Nissan’s Global YouTube channel. Otherwise the IMQ should be on display to the public at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show on March 7th.
[Image: Nissan]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Let's make some gross generalizations about the particular individual who did this digital rendering: - They consider themselves a technological expert because they consistently keep their phone charged most days - They have never been beyond the lobby of a vehicle assembly plant - They do not own a screwdriver - Their skin has never made contact with motor oil - They have never parallel parked any vehicle, ever - They have not touched an infant car seat, since they were in an infant car seat - They have no acquaintances over the age of 50 But most importantly: - Not one pixel of their rendering will be subject to review or feedback, by anyone else at the company Someday, somewhere an automotive company will stumble upon the iterative design process... maybe.
This just makes me hate the future more than I already do.