Kayaks on the roof, oversized Patagonia coats, and coffee outside in a tent under a rough ridgeline are all appealing parts of a busy lifestyle. Think about how the well-known Outback and Crosstrek names, which used to be associated with daring driving, have given rise to even more outdoor-focused versions like the Wilderness. As an electric SUV, the Nissan Hyper Adventure Concept wants to be more like the Great Outdoors than the brand’s current EV, the Ariya. Nissan doesn’t miss a shot that could sell a lot of cars. An electric vehicle (EV) built on the Hyper Adventure Concept could, at the very least, do it. It’s not a stretch to think that future Nissan EVs will look like SUVs, given the push for battery-electric vehicles and the popularity of SUVs in general. For example, consider the small SUV that will replace the Nissan Rogue. Will it try to copy all-terrain adventures to set itself apart from the more expensive Ariya? Probably not. The Hyper Adventure Concept, which looks more like the future Kia EV5, makes it look like Nissan is thinking of another way to make an electric SUV. The ideas that Nissan is considering are exciting but might need to be made in large numbers. Designers made the trussed, open-backed seats and the geometric shapes on the dashboard out of thin air. On the other hand, dreams might give you ideas for new things, so let them stew. Besides, this one looks more like a natural product than Nissan’s previous batch of crazy EV ideas, which had weird names and even stranger features. There are also some creative, if speculative, ideas here, like the angled shape and the bulging “chin,” an extension of the Ariya’s basic form and may hint at a future Nissan EV signature. The wheels and tires don’t have metal nails; instead, they have “crampons,” grooves that go from the wheel face to the tires and seem to bite into snow. The back seat can be turned vertically to face from front to back. This lets you sit back and enjoy the view of the mountains with a cup of coffee. The big traction battery can also be used as a home battery to charge electric toys or power camping lights in a car. (EVs often have a utility mode like this, but it’s a critical function; it would be even stranger if a Nissan designed for outdoor activities didn’t have it.) The Nissan Hyper Adventure concept is currently being shown at the Tokyo Motor Show. If you want to see Nissan’s vision for the future in person, you can bet it will also be offered at a future North American car show.
