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]