Now the Nissan BladeGlider, while still a prototype, is a fully functional vehicle, one that will drive passengers around the streets of Brazil this month.
Advertisement
Power is 100 percent electric and both the engine and the lithium-ion battery have been developed by Nissan’s project partner, British firm Williams Advanced Engineering.
However, at the 2015 Geneva motor show Klein told Autocar the BladeGlider was “not among the immediate priorities” of the firm. There may have been considerable production-friendly tweaks to the original concept design, by Randy Rodriguez at Nissan’s United States studio, then developed under the leadership of Saturo Tai at the global design centre in Atsugi.
“These prototypes epitomize Nissan’s drive to expand its Intelligent Mobility strategy, where driving pleasure combines with environmental responsibility”. As thousands of Olympic athletes are looking to score gold, Nissan is also looking to score … with potential consumers with its BladeGlider prototype. The vehicle is 4300mm L x 1850mm W x 1300mm H with a 2800mm wheelbase. Power is transmitted to the tarmac through the rear wheels, which are driven individually by 130kW electric motors. Output is rated at 268 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque, shared across approximately 2,870 pounds.
Britain has played its part in the BladeGlider, too, with Williams Advanced Engineering providing the powertrain.
Maximum speed of the demonstration models is in excess of 190km/h*, with 0-100km/h taking less than 5 seconds*. Setup options for this include an “Agile” setting, presumably for optimal handling, and even a Ford Focus RS-inspired “Drift” mode – which will no doubt do wonders for the range of this electric sports auto.
Nissan says the torque vectoring is not created to “govern” the driving experience but to enhance it. “So extreme handling and extreme fun and a whole new experience, a totally different driving experience”, he said.
The styling has evolved from that of the original concept, with improved aerodynamics and greater production viability clearly in mind. The doors are rear hinged and it has integrated roll over protection. The Nissan DeltaWing race auto had a similar layout. One is just for show, and the other will be available for media ridealongs. Each of the three occupants get four-point harnesses, with “a tough and grippy” resin coating for the seats that “has the effect of comfortably adhering occupants securely in place”.
Advertisement
The interior features two screens with the images of rear-view cameras mounted just behind the front wheels to reduce drag for better efficiency.
