Automotive product development teams spend a lot of time working in the virtual world these days. Indeed, plenty of concepts never get past the digital realm. So, there’s good reason to get excited if you’re a fan of the Nissan Max-Out concept.
Initially revealed in virtual form, the edgy, all-electric convertible has been translated into real sheet metal in time for the Nissan Futures showcase set to begin this coming weekend at the automaker’s headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.
The Nissan Max-Out adopts a retro-futuristic design celebrating some of the automaker’s more notable past designs while also giving a hint at what’s to come as it moves forward with its $18 billion, five-year electrification strategy.
Son of Tron?
Fans of the classis sci-fi adventure, Tron, might recognize some of the design cues of the Max-Out, starting with the way the convertible uses lighting on the nose, tail and even the wheels and headrests.
For the moment, Nissan doesn’t have much to say about the Max-Out concept, this being the totality of its new statement:
“Created on the fundamental concept of being one with the car, the Nissan Max-Out two-seater convertible is designed to provide a liberating sense of openness while offering an enhanced, dynamic driving experience. The Max-Out displays Nissan’s innovation to develop a diverse range of advanced and striking vehicles, with a clear vision of how they can benefit both individuals and society.”
But we can ascertain a little bit more about the Max-Out, or whatever production vehicle follows by digging a little deeper.
A wave of new EVs in the works
Nissan was the first manufacturer to offer a mass-market battery-electric vehicle, the original 2011 Leaf hatchback. It belatedly updated the EV two years ago and has just launched its second model, the longer-range Ariya SUV.
It has been slow to follow up with new products, however, in part due to the scandal surrounding the arrest of — and subsequent escape by — former CEO Carlos Ghosn. The Ariya is the first in what the automaker says will be 15 all-electric models coming to market by 2030, along with a mix of eight more hybridized vehicles. The goal is to have them account for 50% of the sales of both the Nissan and Infiniti brands by then.
Like key competitors, Nissan is expected to replace of familiar product lines with all-electric ones. And that could include sports cars like the newly updated Z and the even higher-performance GT-R. The good news is that, unlike the original Leaf, future Nissan EVs are expected to put much more of a premium on performance.
A fantasy in chrome?
There’s plenty on the Max-Out concept to suggest this is nothing more than a fantasy in chrome, a design exercise meant to get the juices flowing within Nissan’s product development team.
That said, there’s also speculation that Max-Out could give a hint of what’s to come. As the Verge noted, Nissan motorsports chief Takao Katagiri recently said a new sports car is specifically being developed for the North American and European markets, and this very well could offer a hint of what’s in store.
When it was introduced in November 2021, Max-Out was one of four concepts that also included the Chill-Out, Surf-Out and Hang-Out. Whether we’ll see those designs reemerge is uncertain.
Nissan Futures
For now, Max-Out is the star of the Nissan Futures event which begins Feb. 4 and runs through March 4 in Yokohama.
The event will highlight a variety of topics, including the shift to battery power, battery recycling, connected vehicle technology and sustainability, Nissan announced.
