Nissan BladeGlider may see production

The electric sports car unveiled at Tokyo motor show is a radical concept inspired by Nissan's innovative Deltawing Le Mans car, and the Japanese company is keen to develop it into a production version.

The two-door BladeGlider is "a proposal for the future direction of Nissan electric vehicle development and an exploratory prototype of an upcoming production vehicle" the concept's press statement says.

"I think that the excitement of the racing car should be mirrored in the excitement of driving the road car," Nissan Motorsport Innovation director (and Deltawing and ZEOD designer) Ben Bowlby said of the BladeGlider development his division supported. "I think there are elements we can bring from the race track to make these future road cars more exciting, more fulfilling and give greater driving pleasure."

Behind the wing doors of the fighter jet body -- with its characteristics for downforce, low drag and centre of gravity -- are three seats in a triangle formation, with the driver at centre front of the high-tech cockpit. The driver's seat slides automatically when the door is opened, to allow access to the passenger seats.

While the concept is powered by similar electric technology to the Leaf road car and the ZEOD race car, but Nissan says the BladeGlider would be a good candidate for in-wheel electric motors driving the rear wheels with a battery pack sited low towards the tail for better stability and handling.

The carmaker believes the concept in Tokyo points to a new 'clean slate' direction for electric cars. "The goal was to revolutionise the architecture of the vehicle to provoke new emotions, provide new value and make visible for consumers how Zero Emissions can help redefine our conception of vehicle basics," said Nissan product strategy and planning general manager Francois Bancon.

Watch the BladeGlider in action on our desktop site.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott