Photo: Nissan
Following the reveal of the IMx Concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan more or less confirmed that it’s planning to put the electric crossover into production. The next generation of the Qashqai will be influenced by the IMx from the standpoint of design, but on the other hand, what does the Japanese manufacturer plan to do with IMQ and IMS?
Filed with the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office on December 10th, these trademarks could be indicator that Nissan is preparing a larger-than-thought EV offensive. AutoGuide reports that IMS might stand for Intelligent Mobility Sport, but we’re not quite sure how IMQ will pan out. Maybe Q is for Quantum Physics?
Turning out attention back to the IMx Concept, the one-off show car promises 600 kilometers (372 miles) on a charge from an unknown capacity of the lithium-ion battery and a two-motor setup. The combined output of 429 horsepower and 517 pound-feet is nothing to scoff at, not when Nissan plans to level up the Leaf with the E-Plus in 2019.
The Leaf E-Plus will swap the 40-kWh pack for a 60-kWh battery, as well as a more powerful electric drive unit integrated into the front axle. As ever, however, the rear axle will use a torsion-beam suspension instead of the more comfortable multi-link setup.
AutoGuide speculates “there are numerous places where Nissan could be planning to debut a concept EV, including the 2019 Detroit Auto Show next month and the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March.” Considering that Nissan likes to present concepts more often than its competitors, at least one of those trademarks could make it as a concept in 2019.
On a more sensible note, don’t expect the IMx or IMx Kuro to look so wild in series-production specification. Nissan has a history of toning down its concepts on the day of reckoning, and there’s nothing we can do about it. On the other hand, a jacked-up Leaf wouldn’t come as a bad proposition, more so if you remember that Hyundai and Kia are riding on the success of the Kona Electric and e-Niro.
Turning out attention back to the IMx Concept, the one-off show car promises 600 kilometers (372 miles) on a charge from an unknown capacity of the lithium-ion battery and a two-motor setup. The combined output of 429 horsepower and 517 pound-feet is nothing to scoff at, not when Nissan plans to level up the Leaf with the E-Plus in 2019.
The Leaf E-Plus will swap the 40-kWh pack for a 60-kWh battery, as well as a more powerful electric drive unit integrated into the front axle. As ever, however, the rear axle will use a torsion-beam suspension instead of the more comfortable multi-link setup.
AutoGuide speculates “there are numerous places where Nissan could be planning to debut a concept EV, including the 2019 Detroit Auto Show next month and the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March.” Considering that Nissan likes to present concepts more often than its competitors, at least one of those trademarks could make it as a concept in 2019.
On a more sensible note, don’t expect the IMx or IMx Kuro to look so wild in series-production specification. Nissan has a history of toning down its concepts on the day of reckoning, and there’s nothing we can do about it. On the other hand, a jacked-up Leaf wouldn’t come as a bad proposition, more so if you remember that Hyundai and Kia are riding on the success of the Kona Electric and e-Niro.
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