I was misled. When Nissan announced that it would present an answer to the Toyota GT86, the so-called mid-life crisis car, after the presentation of the futuristic, deltoid Nissan BladeGlider tram, half the world assumed, including me, that the radical concept would be the rival (much more ) alternative to the Toyota GT86.
Given the announcement that the BladeGlider will be built and positioned below the Nissan 370Z, it would be an unconventional, even bizarre, response on the part of Nissan to rival and surpass the dynamics and driving experience provided by the GT86.
Ahhh, how wrong we were. Nissan still had a card up its sleeve…
Fortunately, the automotive world is still capable of surprises, and Nissan, this year, has been fertile in surprises! We had to wait for the opening of the Tokyo Motor Show to see the Nissan IDx Freeflow and the Nissan IDx Nismo. These are two rear-wheel drive coupés, promising the entry point for the brand's sports cars. Marked by a retro futuristic aesthetic, the muse in this case is the Datsun 510, above all in the most desired and emblematic variant of all, the BRE (Brock Racing Enterprises), which took hold on American circuits in the 70s.
This retro futuristic interpretation of the Datsun 510 results, interestingly, from a closer collaboration between Nissan and what the brand dubs digital natives, translating, young people born after 1990, already completely immersed in the digital world from an early age and one of the main concerns manufacturers, given the decreasing interest of this generation in the automotive world.
The resulting retro aesthetic turns out to be strange, given the age range of those involved (the 510 was born in the 60s). But let's not forget that we're also dealing with the Playstation generation, which, I imagine, hasn't seen the sunlight for days on end, playing GranTurismo, getting to know and getting in touch, through the game, with a series of iconic machines and historical events.
Noticeable on the 510 on both Nissan IDxs is the classic silhouette of sharply distinct 3 volumes, overall proportions, flat surfaces and sharp, well-marked transitions between the vertical and horizontal planes of the bodywork. The dimensions are quite compact, just 4.1m long, 1.7m wide and just 1.3m high. The treatment given to the elements that spread across the bodywork also evoke the Datsun 510, but are reinterpreted in a truly contemporary way, taking advantage of current technological possibilities and following the latest aesthetic trends, noting in aspects such as the “floating” roof.
The Nissan IDx Freeflow takes a more contained, relaxed, even more elegant approach. It turns out to be the closest visually to the Datsun 510, even in the color chosen for the exterior, definitely very 70s. The "lounge" type interior, more classic and with delicious details such as denim used to cover the seats it blends in perfectly with its more nostalgic character.
The Nissan IDx Nismo is pure aggressiveness…
…with the addition of a series of props that clearly reveal the purpose of the machine. The extra 10cm wide and more generous 19-inch wheels give it a much more GRRRRR pose. The reinterpretation of various elements, differentiating it from IDx Freeflow, such as optics and the addition of other elements, such as the side exit exhausts or the aerodynamic apparatus at the ends of the tougher coupé, clearly invite a “knife to the teeth” attitude when it's time to take him to our favorite piece of asphalt.
The interior is also marked by a distinguished treatment, with red and black being the usual colors, as well as Alcantara and carbon giving the racing touch. The two circular dials, traditionally analog, perfectly integrate the intentions of this concept.
Motivating them are already known engines. The IDx Nismo shares the same 1.6 DIG-T with the Nissan Juke Nismo, which should be equivalent to two hundred horsepower. IDx Freeflow is announced with the possibility of receiving two engines, a 1.2 and a 1.5. In both cases the transmission is done by a CVT box… wait a minute… A CVT?! Seriously? But why, Nissan?!
If the Toyota GT86 is considered by Nissan as a car for midlife crises, the brand hopes to reach with the retro-futuristic IDx a younger target audience, under 30 years old. For this, it provides more affordable prices than those charged by its rival. But it's pure speculation. Nissan for now does not confirm the production of the IDx, just stating that it is evaluating the reaction to it. The industrial viability of these concepts still seems distant, but the same thing was said about the Qazana that would give rise to Juke.
What is certain, is that the two Nissan IDx were the surprises and one of the biggest stars of the Tokyo salon . Let's hope they don't settle for the conceptual character and find their way to the nearest production line. Full of personality, unlike any hypothetical rival, eye-catching, affordable and with the help of rear-wheel drive for a dynamic and addictive driving experience, it's just the kind of creatures on wheels that any enthusiast is looking for and hopefully, it will captivate a new generation of enthusiasts. . Nissan covering a wide spectrum of the sports car market: from the ever-shattering Godzilla GT-R Nismo to the fascinating and bizarre BladeGlider, and now tackling the more accessible side of the matter. The wish that they are produced remains.
But forget about CVT, please!
