Nissan Unveils Tiny EV Concept

Nissan Motor Co. has unveiled the IMk concept electric city car, which the company says previews its advanced technologies and future design language.

Built on a new dedicated EV platform, the tiny car is 135 inches long, 60 inches wide and 65 inches tall. The car will be publicly displayed later this month at the Tokyo auto show.

Nissan says the concept embodies its “intelligent mobility” philosophy that encompasses automation, connectivity and electrification. This includes an updated version of the carmaker’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driving technology that enables hands-free operation under certain traffic conditions.

The concept also sports an autonomous valet parking system that can be activated via a smartphone outside of the car. The technology allows the car to search for available spots and park itself, then return to a pick-up area when summoned.

Nissan describes the minimalistic design as “timeless Japanese futurism.” The interior features a lounge-style layout with plush bench seats, light colored materials, holographic displays and a clean dashboard whose only physical controls are the start button and shifter.

The vehicle can be linked with a smartphone to authenticate a driver’s identity and apply personal settings, such as seat position, interior lighting and climate controls.