Nissan reveals BladeGlider electric high-performance concept car

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled a working prototype car that looks futuristic with its edgy design, central driving position, and missing side mirrors. Dubbed as the BladeGlider, it promises zero-emissions and sport car-like performance on the road.

The Nissan BladeGlider was loosely based from the concept cars that first shown at the 2013 Tokyo Auto Show. Carlos Ghosn, president and chief executive officer, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. said that these prototypes symbolizes their company’s drive to expand its Intelligent Mobility philosophy, where driving pleasure combines with environmental responsibility.

Nissan believes that enthusiasts should look forward to a zero emission future and Nissan BladeGlider is a perfect demonstration of that. It's the electric vehicle for car lovers," he added.

Their commitment to develop zero-emission vehicles and new technologies such as autonomous driving and connectivity is further solidified by the addition of the BladeGlider. The car “glides” as they made it as quiet as possible, thanks to its electric engine and aggressive aerodynamic shape.

The BladeGlider has an advanced chassis configuration. The rear track is wider than the front, which gives better handling stability. The doors are rear-hinged, high-waisted, and dihedral, which provide a different feel to the entry and exit from the cabin. It’s 4300mm long, 1850mm wide, 1,300mm high, and with a wheelbase length of 2,800mm.

You might also notice its lack of roof but nevertheless, its safety wasn’t compromised with an integrated roll-over protection structure.

As mentioned, this prototype has no side mirrors (we’re not kidding). This actually adds to the aerodynamic form of the car. Instead, it has two screens in central display that shows the images from the rear-view cameras that are positioned beside the front wheels. Moreover, this advanced display also shows driving information such as speed, state of battery charge, regeneration mode, and torque map.

The driver, on the other hand, is at the center. This gives the passengers at the back more legroom and a wider view of the front, credit that to the seamless panoramic windscreen. Moreover, the driver and passengers will be safe and comfortable with its sporty seat trims that come standard with a four-point safety harnesses for each occupant. Meanwhile, the seats are covered with highly tactile blend of fabric and epoxy resin coating.

The Nissan BladeGlider is 100% electric, with the engine powered by a high performance, 5-module lithium ion 220kW battery. Both motors and batteries are installed with bespoke cooling systems.

With 268 hp and 707 Nm of torque, the electric engine delivers an exceptional performance. It has a maximum speed of 190 km/h and can go from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds. This was all recorded by Nissan’s technical partner, Williams Advanced Engineering.

Another amazing thing about this prototype is its torque vectoring system. The rear wheels are each driven by a 130kW electric motor. This way, the power delivered to each wheel can be controlled, which greatly improves its handling. It has three modes: off, agile, and drift mode.

This leaves us with one question: when will Nissan Philippines Inc. bring these kinds of electric vehicle to our shores? They have positive environmental impact and their size is perfect for our congested streets. I guess we just have to wait in the years to come.

To see more of the Nissan BladeGlider, watch this video below.