What is it?
Nissan Ellure Concept
What's special about it?
Nissan's Ellure Concept is a front-drive sedan that utilizes a next-generation hybrid powertrain and is styled as an expression of the company's new sedan design language. Ellure is not intended as a preview of any upcoming model but it confirms Nissan's intent to remain a strong player in the sedan segment according to Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's senior vice president and chief creative officer.
Perhaps the biggest news with the Ellure is its powertrain — a supercharged 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine assisted by a 25-kilowatt (about 35 horsepower) electric motor. Together the two power plants produce about 275 hp. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) puts power to the ground.
Ellure rides on a 114.2-inch wheelbase, which puts it closer in size to BMW's 5 Series (116.9 inches) than the 3 Series (108.7 inches). It's also 5 inches longer than the current Maxima's wheelbase (109.3 inches).
Inside, Nissan has gone to great lengths to make the interior attractive to the Ellure's proposed customer base, which Nissan identifies as "women in their 30s or 40s with a sense of sophistication and rebellion." Uh, OK.
Regardless, there's an instrument panel that flows from door to door, eventually wrapping into the loungelike three-person rear seat. The seats are covered in black "eco suede," which is made from post-industrial microfiber. The front seats offer a low shoulder height to increase rear passenger visibility and the carpet is made from water-repellent wool felt.
The Ellure's wheels are massive 21-inch five-spokers with transparent wheel covers and low-rolling-resistance tires. The sedan's back doors are rear-hinged and Nissan claims the Ellure has an extremely low coefficient of drag, but admits it hasn't actually measured its Cd.
Inside Line says: It's hard to get too excited about a concept that is, admittedly, only that. There are some interesting ideas at work in the Ellure, but ultimately there's not a lot of substance here. — Josh Jacquot, Senior Editor
Add A Comment »
s70_t5 says:
08:59 AM, 11/27/2010
I agree colorado1974. It seems that automotive designers are no longer creating cars with distinctive style.
kidplatinum says:
11:57 PM, 11/22/2010
Rear wheel drive coupe with the exact looks of this concept (minus the rear doors of course) would be a winner! Maybe something to take the place of the 240...just a thought.
bruceleroy81 says:
06:41 PM, 11/22/2010
OH WOW!!! I'm totally Impressed with this car. I LOVE IT!!! I would sooo trade in my Altima V-6 for this. The Nissan website said that this car will put out 273 Horsepower on a Hybrid, direct-injected, supercharged, 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine.
I love the back seat. I love the color. I love the design. I love everything about it. It looks SICK!!!
vkmaxima says:
08:29 PM, 11/18/2010
I LOVE IT!!! I know its a concept, but damn this thing is hot!
sclassbenz4me says:
11:57 PM, 11/17/2010
I LOVE IT!!! they really knwo how to design a great care. ilove the lights the doors and everything. i wish it were bigger. can they just make the q45 look like that. i would be soo happy. great job nissan. i love where you are going with this idea.
mce63 says:
07:45 PM, 11/17/2010
As concept cars go, this is ok. I just do not like the harsh, angular headlight and tail light designs that come out of the Japanese auto makers' design studios. The whole front looks too pinched. And those transparent wheel covers will all to quickly become (brake) powder coated wheel covers.
Other than that, you could change the front and rear facia and remove the emblems to make this identical to nearly every Popular Mechanics cover worthy concept car of the future for the past three decades.
Unique doors - check
Huge greenhouse with tiny hood and trunk - check
Thin floating front seats and matching floating center console to create a sense of spaciousness - check
Smooth glass cockpit look - check
Marketing Masturbation Material - check
This car is not bad, just unoriginal.
steelpenguin says:
06:59 PM, 11/17/2010
I definitely like it. I see a lot of the Hyundai i-Flow in this design. And the i-Flow is good.
kingdorsey says:
05:29 PM, 11/17/2010
I love this car, Nissan has proven-en to the world that they are always ahead of the game.
cmike2780 says:
02:26 PM, 11/17/2010
I think 50% of this will def end up in the next Maxima or Altima. More likely the Altima, which hasn't had a huge design change in some time. This design is more deserving to the Maxima though.
fushigi says:
02:05 PM, 11/17/2010
21" wheels .. won't make it to market.
No outside mirrors .. won't make it to market.
Suicide doors .. look like they'll need a lot of side clearance to open wide enough for rear passenger entry.
No pic of the trunk/hatch. Makes me wonder how much space there is & how it's shaped.
Shiny chrome bits on the interior .. if they make it to market, well, look @ the LT Fleet comments on shiny interior bits.
IP/center stack with what looks like little to no tactile feedback .. if that makes it to market it'll be interesting to see if people acept it.
Supercharged 2.5L + hybrid to get 275HP when Hyundai gets about that much from a turbo 2L. Powertrain technology fails unless the MPG are stupendous.
Speaking of hybrids, Nissan hasn't exactly done well in the US with their hybrid program. There's only one vehicle and it isn't available in over 80% of the country.
BTW, autonut2, one point of the Volt was to look like a car, not a design exercise. The thinking is about EVs & EREVs getting mainstream acceptance by looking mainstream.