Nissan Shows Off the Gripz Concept Crossover at Frankfurt Motor Show

Oct 19, 2015

Nissan Crossover Concept

Nissan customers around the world have come to expect the unexpected when it comes to innovation. Those who visited the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year were treated to just how far Nissan’s R&D team are willing to go in the world of crossover vehicles with the introduction of their “Gripz” concept SUV.

Already recognized as the true innovators or “modern day pioneers” if you will of the crossover genre, this 2+2 four door SUV was often described by those who chanced to see it as a “coupe on stilts”. This may be in part due to the numerous design concepts borrowed from Nissan’s other SUV models and the latest rendition of the legendary Z cars.

Not a Replacement Vehicle

One thing that Nissan insiders want buyers to know, is that the Gripz is not intended to be a replacement for any of the current models. However, it does seem as though some of the concepts put forth in this amazing vehicle could well be seen filtering down into Nissan’s smaller crossover vehicles that are coming up for replacement in the near future.

The angled, V-shaped grille and boomerang styled lights at both ends are definite indicators of Nissan’s latest forays into what their designers call “emotional geometry”. This can also be seen in the floating roof and the “kinked C-pillar, yet more designs we can expect to see filtering into the designs of the other vehicles over the course of the next couple of years.

The Gripz also sports a huge quantity of carbon fiber components to help reduce weight significantly. As a four design, the front doors are dihedral in nature, while the rear doors are “suicide” style to make getting in the rear seats easier. It also sports a set of massive 23 inch rims and cameras in the headlight pods designed to stream live video that lets the world see where you are going on your next adventure.

What the Design Chief Had to Say

Nissan Chief Creative Officer, Shiro Nakamura said, “Nissan pioneered the idea of the compact crossover, and this is reflected in the enormous popularity of the Juke and the resulting growth of the market segment as other manufacturers play catch-up. While the Nissan Gripz concept is not seen as a direct replacement for either of those two iconic vehicles, it does show the extremes to which the compact crossover can be pushed.”

At the same time he admitted that this concept vehicle is all about exploring how the next generation of crossovers might possibly evolve. In many ways the Gripz is thought to harken back to the 1970s when the 240 was winning Safari Rallies. Back then the 240Z was seen as a pumped up form of rally car and a novel concept. This proves that the idea of blending the boundaries between segments is not a new concept at all.

Will the Gripz Become the Next Z Car?

This depends on who you talk to, many of those on the street believe this to be the case. Part of this could be blamed on the careful use of the letter “Z” in the name. By reinventing their sports cars into sporty crossover, Nissan feels this my help to boost worldwide sales of their SUV lineup.

Another very important factor to consider with regard to the Gripz is that it is intended to be a hybrid that makes use of the powertrain currently being used in the Nissan Leaf EV. At the same time the Gripz will use a gasoline engine to power a generator instead of the driving wheels. While no emissions or performance data was made available at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the numbers are expected to be quite impressive.