As part of the Nissan Futures event’s Japanese launch, commencing this week, Nissan Motor Company has debuted a physical EV convertible prototype, the Max-Out, inspired by a digital rendering first teased in 2021. The Japanese manufacturer’s announcement of an electric convertible highlights their commitment to sustainability, but one can’t help wondering why they didn’t pioneer such a concept ten years ago when the Leaf was already on the market.
Nissan Motor Co., Inc. (NSANY), a stalwart since the 1930s in Japan, has earned recognition for pioneering electric vehicles with its iconic Nissan LEAF, launched as far back as 2010.
When the Japanese automaker finally brought its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV), the Ariya, to the US market in autumn, it marked a significant milestone; however, it may take another 12 years for the company to introduce its next BEV to the American public. While Nissan is preparing to embark on an extraordinary journey with its customized Ariya electric vehicle, traveling 17,000 miles from the North to the South Pole next month, the company is also considering the potential launch of a new mid-sized electric pickup truck.
The automaker’s unwavering commitment to electrification is rooted in its “Ambition 2030” strategy, unveiled in 2021. The company plans to invest $17 billion in electric vehicle growth and related technologies, including solid-state batteries, over a five-year period, with the launch of 15 fully-electric models by 2030.
Nissan unveiled its “Ambition 2030” strategy by showcasing four electric vehicle concepts and a convertible dubbed the Max-Out. Innovative concepts such as Chill-Out, Surf-Out, and Dangle-Out were explored.
Despite our efforts, we have yet to discover whether any of these electric vehicle concepts will come to fruition, and currently, the prospects seem bleak. Nissan has brought one of its concepts to life with the introduction of the Max-Out EV convertible, which made its debut today amidst a flurry of excitement from the audience.
Nissan unveiled a concept for an electric vehicle convertible, offering no concrete details.
The Nissan automaker is hosting a month-long event, dubbed “Nissan Futures”, at its global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. There, it will showcase interactive experiences, host dynamic dialogue panels, and unveil its cutting-edge electrical innovations. As long as none of these improvements are driven by new electric vehicle fashion trends deliberately designed for precise production.
To launch the physical and virtual event, Nissan premiered a real-life version of its Max-Out EV convertible concept, which will be displayed throughout the exhibition period. Per the discharge:
Conceived as an extension of the driver and the car, the Nissan Max-Out two-seater convertible embodies the essence of freedom, seamlessly merging the outdoors with the thrill of driving, while delivering a pulse-pounding, exhilarating experience behind the wheel. Nissan’s Max-Out initiative exemplifies the company’s commitment to innovation, showcasing a diverse range of exceptional vehicles designed to benefit both individuals and society.
Following our initial glimpse of the Nissan convertible, someone aptly described it as an avant-garde concept conceived in the ’70s, predicated on people’s vision of what a car might look like in 2010. A notable observer drew parallels between the entrance’s aesthetic and that of a Dodge Challenger – another iconic brand committing to an all-electric future, mirroring the trend towards environmental sustainability.
It seems that the designers of the Nissan convertible drew inspiration from the iconic KITT from Knight Rider, giving it a playful and youthful twist reminiscent of a Hot Wheels toy, with its angular lines and bold colors. While promising, this concept seems impractically ambitious and unlikely to materialize in its current form. How drastically has Nissan’s focus on electrification veered away from its pioneering work with the LEAF, a trailblazing mass-produced electric vehicle.
Nissan seemingly missed the mark by staging a month-long celebration at its headquarters, touting an all-electric future without unveiling a single new production model, especially given that it has only seven years left to deliver on its promise of 15 battery-electric vehicles.
The Nissan Futures event, featuring the innovative Max-Out convertible electric vehicle, is set to take place at Yokohama from February 4 to March 1.
