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2006 Nissan URGE Concept

Is Nissan Looking to Bring a Low-Priced Roadster to Market?

Do you remember when Nissan introduced an interesting little conceptual sports car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last year? The Azeal created a great deal of media buzz, some, like me, even speculating that a sporty subcompact coupe would soon join a new subcompact hatchback based off the next-generation Micra, and that both were headed for North America.

While the hatchback has been confirmed as the Versa, making its North American debut at this years Detroit show, no confirmation has been made regarding a sport model. Could the new URGE, also shown in Detroit, but alongside the Versa only a couple of months ago be it? While nothing concrete has been said, there may be reason for fans of the new concept to get excited.

According to Nissan (and Renault) CEO Carlos Ghosn, the Japanese brand needs an affordable sports car. As reported in Automotive News, Ghosn said, "When you bring a concept to a show like

The Azeal created a great deal of media buzz when introduced last year, some even speculating that the sporty subcompact coupe would be built. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

this, its never a coincidence," so, this taken literally, theres hope for last years Azeal too. "Are we interested in a relatively affordable sports car for Nissan?" Ghosn continued. "Yes. Is this the car? I think its too early to tell. We have to wait for reaction."

Ghosn considers the compact sports car segment very "legitimate", and if it wants its sales to continue rising in line with its 180 sales targets, entering new market segments is important.

Currently, Nissan only has one sports car, the 350Z, and its high price puts it out of reach of potential low-end sports car buyers, currently purchase Mazdas MX-5 and Pontiacs

According to Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the Japanese brand needs an affordable sports car. (Photo: Nissan North America)

Solstice; a segment that will be further boosted by GMs second entry-level roadster, the aptly named Saturn Sky. The latter new Solstices sales have shown that there is indeed room for new low end roadsters, and no doubt Nissan would like to take advantage of such opportunity.

But is the URGE the vehicle to do it? It certainly is exciting to look at, approaching the segment in a much more modern way than the classically proportioned Solstice and MX-5. Rather than swoopy curves and long, lean muscles, Nissans concept features abrupt angles, motorcycle-style fenders and rear turn signals, which protrude outward from the body-sides for optimal visibility, cool vertical headlamp clusters up front, and a unique T-top roll-hoop that acts as a safety cage in case of accident.
One of the URGEs most distinctive design elements is its see-through doors, featuring cutouts in the lower panels with glass inserts. (Photo: Nissan North America) />One of the URGEs most distinctive design elements is its see-through doors, featuring cutouts in the lower panels with glass inserts, giving the interior an exposed feel and no doubt making its speed seem faster than it would without the tarmac zipping by beneath.

A carbon fiber black hood is cut in half by a glass cover shedding light on the engine compartment, highlighted by a silver trimmed engine vent that aids in aerodynamics. The shiny black them continues rearward, as the trunk lid curves downward near the base of the car, where it meats up with a narrow fascia sporting tiny circular backup lights that mirror similarly sized chrome exhaust tips just underneath.
While lime green spills over from the cabin to accent the cars exterior, the URGEs silver slab-like side panels are also unorthodox, interrupted

made sure that its objectives were clear when integrating its Xbox 360 gaming system, featuring a fold-down display as part of the rearview mirror. (Photo: Nissan North America)

only by the aforementioned door panel cutouts and sharply protruding fender flares, plus wedge-like sideview mirrors - probably too small to pass regulations.

That interior is truly expressive, and after taking a seat inside during its debut in Detroit, reasonably comfortable considering its sparsely padded, webbed back racing-style buckets; well comfortable other than the glare on the eyes. Some potential buyers will find its electric blue colored F1-style steering wheel, pod-style motorcycle inspired digital instrument cluster, perforated metal mesh-covered silicone foam instrument panel material, visible passenger-side airbag, racing-style durable rubber flooring, and yellowish green, green everywhere exciting, however, and the crowd that soon gathered around after its introduction certainly were smiling.

Over the hill auto journalists arent the demographic Nissan is targeting with the URGE,

Youth-oriented drivers should appreciate the quintuplet of customizable info screens set up around the driver.? (Photo: Nissan North America)

however, the same types that went gaga for the Solstice when it debuted. No, the Japanese automaker made sure that its objectives were clear when integrating its Xbox 360 gaming system, featuring a fold-down display as part of the rearview mirror, the use of the steering wheel and pedals for game controls, obviously not while driving, and gaming audio through the vehicles speaker system. Project Gotham Racing 3 (the special Nissan edition is included) never got so realistic, and the system could even save lives if its potential owners managed to get their yah-yahs out virtually instead of on the road.

"In keeping with the rapidly changing technology demands of our target buyers, URGE allows the driver to be in charge and to bring to the vehicle a high degree of personalization.  The navigation system is located in front of the driver, not the passenger, the drivers cell phone acts as Intelligent Key to start the vehicle.  We provide the audio speakers, the owner provides the audio drivers," said Bruce Campbell, vice

It shouldnt take much power to motivate the 2,400 lb URGE, aided in the corners by 19-inch front and 20-inch rear 9-spoke spun aluminum-alloy rims. (Photo: Nissan North America)

president, design, Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA), La Jolla, California, where the concept was conceived.
Youth-oriented drivers should appreciate the quintuplet of customizable info screens set up around the driver, which allow the driver to personalize where the HVAC, navigation and audio functions, among other features, are positioned with respect to priorities, in a similar fashion to how a computers desktop or a website can be optimized for personal preferences. Cool.

The URGE also features MP3 player and cellphone docks, while the OEM cellphone can replace the remote as an Intelligent Key to enter the car and start the engine. Like the Chrysler Pacifica, of all non-related vehicles, the navigation screen sits in front of the driver, not on the narrow floating billet-aluminum center stack cum console, which only features a digital exterior temperature gauge and three pod-like ancillary dials, for checking engine temperature, engine pressure and deciphering telemetries, above the minimalist gearbox controller, which incidentally connects through to a paddle-shift actuated

From a performance perspective, the URGE is a modern-day Lotus 7, the perfect partner for all three of its occupants. (Photo: Nissan North America)

six-speed sequential shifter.

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