Dramatic new concept car marks 20 years of Nissan’s design studio in London

Car giant Nissan has celebrated 20 years of creating automobiles at its London design studio by unveiling a bold new electric ‘hot hatch’ concept car, in the heart of the capital.

Dubbed ‘Concept 20-23’, the sporty-looking electric urban car will be used to showcase the firm’s talent - and its direction of travel for future designs - at motor shows around the world.

Unveiled by Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, at Nissan Design Europe, in Paddington, the car was floated along the Grand Union Canal which is adjacent to the studio, aboard a barge.

Concept 20-23 was designed by a team including some of the younger game-playing members of NDE, after being asked to create a car - without any constraints - which they themselves would like to drive in London.

Nissan said that the concept car’s name reflects 20 years of NDE’s position in the heart of London. Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for global design, said: “The 20-23 Concept is a compact hatchback which is strongly influenced by the online racing world. I love the story it tells about how the worlds of modern city living, online gaming and zero emissions mobility intersect.”

The design is also intended to reflect Nissan’s participation in Formula E. Now on show on the barge, the bodywork is highly aerodynamic, with deep apertures to cool the brakes and with air vented behind the front wheels. The car boasts a dramatic rear spoiler - to create downforce - while entry is via two ‘scissor’ doors.

Concept 20-23 is an exterior model only, so the team of interior designers created a separate - minimalist - interior that reflects the sporty character of the car, with two screens displaying vital information to the driver.

Nissan Design Europe has already been responsible for designing the popular Qashqai, and the Juke, among other models. It is the only Nissan design centre, of several operated by the firm worldwide, to be in a city’s zone one.

Matthew Weaver, Vice President for Design for Nissan in Europe, told the Standard that London - including its fashion and social scenes, architecture and even the vehicles on its roads - were important influences on the way the team visualised and designed cars.

“I was on the Tube and I just happened to spot this guy with a diamante skull on his flat cap, along with his jeans and trainers. People like to look unique in London and no one cares. It is the mindset of freedom that inspires us,” said Mr Weaver.

Mr Albaisa told the Standard that London’s status as a world city was key to attracting leading design talent from around the globe, to work at NDE. It was no coincidence, he said, that the Nissan Juke, designed in the capital, was an ‘optimistic rebel’.

Mr Uchida also confirmed that Nissan will design and make future electric cars in Britain, underlining the firm’s plan to go all electric by 2030, even though the Government is pushing the date back to 2035.

Nissan Design Europe opened at Paddington Basin in 2003 and is now home to over 60 exterior and interior designers, clay modellers, digital artists, as well as a specialised colour and trim team.

Despite being in central London, the studio is equipped with a full-size robotic milling machine, as well as numerous rapid prototyping machines, cutting edge virtual reality tools which allow simultaneous design reviews between colleagues in different countries, the latest visualisation equipment and three full-size “plates” where clay models can be painstakingly honed.

The studio opened its doors in the Grade II listed building on the banks of the Grand Union Canal at Paddington Basin in 2003. It had previously been an engineering workshop for British Rail as part of the nearby Paddington Station, and was later a bus depot. Before being chosen as the site for NDE, it fell into disrepair and was the location for illicit raves during the 90s. Its graffiti-lined walls have been preserved, but are hidden behind the walls that were installed as part of the Nissan re-fit.