Complex Blog » Nissan http://www.complex.com/blogs Buy. Collect. Obsess. The original buyer's guide for men. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:35:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Datsun Rises From The Dead With The XLink Concept http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/07/31/datsun-rises-from-the-dead-with-the-xlink-concept/ http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/07/31/datsun-rises-from-the-dead-with-the-xlink-concept/#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:40:56 +0000 dscott http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/07/31/datsun-rises-from-the-dead-with-the-xlink-concept/ datsun_opener.jpg
Consumers love revivals. Nothing whips ‘em into a ducat dropping frenzy like the words “throwback” or “retro.” Every company from Nike and Reebok to Chevy and Mercedes bring back popular marquees and models in hopes that the nostalgia will make them flock to stores. Recently, German design student Benjamin Nawka proposed his Datsun XLink concept in hopes of doing the same for the old Nissan brand…

Designed as a four-seater coupe, Nawka’s XLink'inspired by aircrafts (hence the winglets) and architecture'was envisioned to be a competitor for brands such as Scion and Mini. Despite it’s low slung look, it features a height adjustable chassis to allow drivers to ride over rough terrain, making it possible to sell it all over the world. On the technology front, it features the XLink Experience, a system which would allow you to talk to other XLinks. At the moment, Nissan doesn’t really need another brand, but if they were to bring Datsun back after 22 years, this would be a good place to start.

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[Car Body Design via AutoBlog]

]]> http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/07/31/datsun-rises-from-the-dead-with-the-xlink-concept/feed/ 0 Nissan’s Cube Goes To Art School http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/05/13/nissans-cube-goes-to-art-school/ http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/05/13/nissans-cube-goes-to-art-school/#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 19:43:37 +0000 bfred http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/05/13/nissans-cube-goes-to-art-school/ nissancube_main.jpg
Car companies are forever chasing the cool. Each one attempts to attract hip, young buyers to their showrooms by designing rides with crazy, inventive looks and features more tuned into their lifestyle. Toyota’s Scion did it the best when they shipped over their city (and fuel) friendly xA and xB models from Japan and offered their buyers the ability to customize everything from the wheels to the shift knob.

Following suit is Nissan with the Cube. Also a Japanese import, the Cube is a moderately powered, fuel sippin' (you guessed it) cube on wheels. And though the Cube will probably be just as big a hit with the kids as the Scion was, Nissan wanted to prove just how cool they really were by giving two Cubes to eight Pratt Institute grad students to go nuts on. And the results were pretty dope. Check out the two customized models after the jump.

MODEL #1: NIELUS
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The Nielus, designed by Kaspar Heinrici, Minos Tzouflas, Diana Thomas and Susan Hasselbrook, “fuses two different stylistic color schemes into one harmonious composition through the aesthetic considerations of hierarchy, proportion, scale, direction and movement.” It took a total of four months to complete. One of the designers even likened the look of the Nielus to the design of a sneaker, with all the different complimentary colors that needed to be used.
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MODEL #2: QUAZE
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The Quaze, designed by Emily Potter, Tawny Hixson, Yeon Jee, and John Renaud, is the more fashion forward of the two models and is supposed to use the 3D random grid pattern to represent the uneven and complicated streets of Brooklyn. This model took about two months to complete. They laced the interior with a satin like material and funky looking full torso seatbelt vests that they claim are really comfortable.
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