Nissan’s first BEV, the Leaf may have not gripped the minds and hearts of customers when it was launched, but was far ahead of the curve. Nissan now looks to disrupt the electric vehicle market and take on the electrified future with a new range of concept electric cars, called the ‘Hyper’ series.
The Hyper Force is an electric supercar with radical styling. The body design reminds of the GT-R. With an emphasis on beauty and performance, Nissan has worked with the legendary NISMO racing team. The two-tiered aerodynamic structure under the bonnet paired with a dual level rear diffuser controls airflow and ensures total aerodynamic balance. The aggressive front canards, fender flaps and rear wing are active aero elements, while something called a ‘plasma actuator’ suppresses air detachment to maximise grip and reduce inside wheel lift during cornering. There are forged carbon fibre wheels to help aerodynamics and brake cooling.
The car has a solid-state battery pack, which can put out a tyre-shredding 1,000 kW (1359.6 PS) of power. This power is put down to the ground using the e-4ORCE all wheel drive technology. This powertrain is housed in a high-strength carbon body, which offsets the battery’s weight to deliver enhanced chassis rigidity.
The Hyper Force features two driving modes- R (Racing) and GT (Grand Touring). When the driver chooses the R mode, the car’s interior changes colours and the screens move in position to give the driver the most relevant information of vehicle dynamics like tyre pressure and grip, brake temperature, power distribution etc. This means the driver will not have to move their gaze from the track when driving at the limit. The GT mode on the other hand gives a more relaxed driving style and the screens give more data about passenger comfort and other settings focused on comfortable ride settings. The screens combine into a single bigger one and move away too.
The concept sports carbon fibre seats which still offer comfort and rigidity in long drives. The carbon fibre also helps reduce the weight of the car. The occupants are held in place with a pair of four-point harnesses.
The Hyper Force places a large importance on safety as well. Hyper LIDAR (Laser Imaging, Detection and Ranging) and an array of sensors assist in autonomous driving on track and off track.
One of the more interesting features of the car is the integration of Virtual and Augmented Realities. The VR mode in the car is initiated by wearing a helmet with blind visors. This helmet is a VR headset which transports the user into a multiplayer racing game. The user can control their virtual car with the Hyper Force’s real controls. Of course, the car has to be stationary to use the VR features. On the other hand, the AR is used when the driver wears special visors. The users will be able to see and compete against their friends or even against professional drivers on various tracks. They can see the avatars of their competitors at the track through the AR visors and will be able to safely push their car to the limit at real life tracks.
This series of concept cars is designed to meet the lifestyles of customers of the future, with various styles of cars, like the Hyper Tourer – a luxury minivan and the Hyper Adventure – an off-road SUV, among others.
Nissan is preparing to meet the requirements of the future customers who are environment-conscious. The Hyper series of concept cars indicates the company’s commitment to provide high performance which will thrill the drivers, but still be eco-friendly at the same time.
