This styling sketch of a cute-looking two seater-roadster could for the basis for a future Nissan rival to Mazda's MX-5. The Urge is a rear-wheel-drive sports car concept, set to be shown at next month's Detroit motor show.

Designers at Nissan's Californian studio were said to be inspired by motorbike styling for the Urge. They've followed the theme through with the choice of engine for the concept. Details are still scarce but the Urge will feature a motorbike-style, high-revving small-capacity engine, driving through a six-speed gearbox. There's no word yet of what platform the Urge is built on, but the 350Z's underpinnings are the most likely base.

The diminutive body is built from colour-infused aluminium panels and sits on brushed aluminium-alloy wheels. The snug driver-oriented cockpit is likely to have a host of innovative features and even includes an integrated Xbox 360 video gaming system.

A Nissan insider suggested that a production version of the Urge has not been given the green light. But the company has admitted that it is keen to launch a small rear-wheel-drive roadster, although any production car is not likely to appear before 2008. It also raises the intriguing possibility that a Renault version could also be under consideration.

Riding a wave of strong vehicle introductions, Nissan unveils at Detroit a semi-frivolous three-seater dubbed Urge. This bare-bones car has a “motorcycle-inspired” design and scissors-style doors with cutaway panels. It remains to be seen whether an urge will strike sufficiently to justify its creation. A see-through glass hood reveals a small-displacement engine tied to a six-speed sequential gearbox. The front-engine, rear-drive car carries 19-inch wheels up front with 20-inchers out back, all stopped by Brembo brakes.

The interior boasts mesh-and-leather bucket seats, a billet-aluminum center console, and docking stations for an MP3 player and cell phone; the phone acts as an Intelligent Key to start the car. Targeted at those who can’t afford a car on their own, Urge has an integrated Xbox 360 gaming system to further distract its owner.

Urge, by the numbers:
Engine: Quick, high-revving, small-displacement engine

Transmission: Six-speed sequential manual gearbox

Drive configuration: Front-engine/rear-wheel drive

Wheels/tires/brakes: 19-inch front, 20-inch rear nine-spoke spun-aluminum-alloy/ 195/45R front, 225/35R rear Michelins/350Z-style Brembo four-wheel discs

Wheelbase: 104.3 inches

Length: 156.6 inches

Width: 71.8 inches

Height: 49.6 inches

Target weight: 2400 pounds

Seating capacity: Three passengers

Select exterior features: Motorcycle-inspired styling, see-through glass hood, cutaway door panels, aluminum center structure, aluminum and carbon fiber construction, four-bar-hinge scissors-style doors, spun- aluminum roof cage structure, collapsible quick-close, manual (storable) canvas top, “Mirror Crystal” exterior color

Select interior features: Driver-oriented interior with compact, responsive F1-style steering wheel, racing-style lightweight mesh-and-leather bucket seats, billet- aluminum center console, cellphone and MP3 player docking stations (cellphone acts as Intelligent Key to start vehicle), customizable driver info screens (including HVAC, navigation, audio and suspension/performance tuning), integrated gaming system powered by Xbox 360

Nissan Concepts Xbox 360
Play PGR3 in your car with a real steering wheel.
by Patrick Klepek, 12/28/2005


Were you one of those kids who made race car noises while pretending to drive your dad's car back in the day? If you're tired of hurting your throat, you'll want to direct your attention to Nissan. No longer will you have to imagine an adjacent parked car as your competitor; the minds of Nissan and Microsoft have developed a concept car called the Urge, a minimalist sports car designed for the gaming generation, and they showed it off at a recent event in New York City.

It's difficult to ignore the Urge's bright yellow interior and funky looking exterior. Its windshield is noticeably slanted more than the average car, extending all the way down and cutting the hood to half the typical size. The bottom windshield exposes parts of the engine, and with the push of a button, a backseat automatically folds, making room for another passenger. This third seat is placed in the center between two visible speakers, preventing the secondary passenger from feeling isolated. Placed on the bottom of both car doors are windows for the driver and passenger to look at the moving road, only further expanding the illusion of a fast car.


"[The car] is heavily motorcycle inspired," said Anke Mazzei, head designer of Urge, "A survey was taken and the results came back with people favoring performance and technology. The Urge is built around that concept. It is very raw and very refined."

Located around the steering wheel are ports for drivers to jack in their MP3 player and cell phone. When plugged in, the devices personalize the car; it can recognize the driver through the cell phone while displaying music info. and playing car mixes from the music player. The most defining and attractive feature, however, is its bundled Xbox 360. When the driver puts the car in park and pulls the steering wheel slightly back the console automatically turns on. The rear view window then folds down to expose a disappointing seven inch widescreen monitor where the game is displayed. The steering wheel, along with the gas and brake pedals, is then used to play Project Gotham Racing 3. The console itself rests on a small pedestal in the already tiny trunk, but currently there's no structured slot or pocket to secure the Xbox 360's position or safety.

From the demonstration at the Nissan event, the controls were very responsive; it feels like driving a car without, well, actually driving. The feeling of driving a fast import is accurately mimicked, thanks to the game and controls, but the driver needs to uncomfortably lean towards the small screen in order to get a good view. PGR is also slightly recoded to only permit automatic, meaning those who rock it manual transmission-style will be disappointed.

Other Xbox 360 games can theoretically be played with a wireless Xbox controller, though the intention of the car is to play PGR 3 and future racing games. Xbox Live will also be enabled so drivers can race opponents online from the comfort of the car, and downloadable content will be offered to further enhance the fun. Players can then download new cars, and the Nissan Urge itself will be available for players.

As it stands, the Nissan Urge is still a concept car. It has yet to undergo a systematic process of government safety regulations and laws before hitting the market. The final model of the Urge is subject to changes before hitting production, but Mazzei and other designers say they won't lose focus of the original concept.


http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3146599