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The Nissan AZEAL Coupe Concept, which makes its world debut at the 2005 North
American International Auto Show in Detroit, is a fresh interpretation of the
classic compact sports coupe - an affordable, performance-oriented entry-level
coupe with the style and personality to match the lifestyles of its young,
active target buyers. The AZEAL design exercise is the first concept car created
by Nissan Design America’s (NDA) new studio in Farmington Hills, Mich.
AZEAL features an aggressive body design with wide fender flares, short
overhangs and a sharply sloped rear roofline with integrated active airfoil. The
interior combines a dark, industrial metallic instrument panel appearance
contrasted by Wasabi Chartreuse fabric seats and an open greenhouse with
glass-panel roof.
AZEAL is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a
6-speed manual transmission. It rides on 19-inch wheels and tires.
Highlights of the Nissan AZEAL Coupe Concept include:
Exterior
- Aggressive, athletic proportions characterized by wide fender flares, broad
shoulders and short overhangs
- Open, airy greenhouse with glass-panel roof with center metal insert
- Aggressively sloped roofline with integrated active airfoil
- Structural roof rails with built-in clips for mounting roof racks
- Light-jet headlights, prism-like fog lights with brake cooling ducts,
full-width CHMSL in the active airfoil
- 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with unique machined and painted surface
treatment
- Dual exhausts and integrated rear diffuser
- Integrated turn signals on side mirrors
- Liquid Titanium metallic paint
Interior
- Modern, driver-oriented cockpit
- 2+2 seating with split-folding rear seat with ski pass-through
- Ventilated powered front seats with under-seat storage compartments
- Modular center console with adjustable armrest & integrated electronic
parking brake
- Auxiliary port for MP3 player & PDA, built-in navigation system with
retractable screen
- Sinister Gunmetal finish interior trim, Wasabi Chartreuse seat materials
- Sequential lighting on rocker side sills
- Active synchronized mirror system
- Integrated mood lighting
- Illuminated starter button on instrument panel
Drive train
- 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder, variable-valve timing, turbocharged engine
- Close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with limited slip
differential
Design
- Designed, created and managed by Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA),
Farmington Hills, Mich.
Design Concept
“The idea behind the AZEAL is that an entry-level vehicle doesn’t have to
look entry-level. Though AZEAL has the compact dimensions of a small coupe, it
projects a much larger presence in terms of style, personality and
desirability,” said David Wong, designer, NDA.
The AZEAL recalls previous small, high-performance coupes and sedans like the
original Datsun 510 and Sentra SE-R – where compact dimensions and short front
and rear overhangs were essential to the design and the vehicles’ nimble
performance.
“As opposed to other body configurations, the sport coupe is the most
passionate purchase decision there is, especially among young or first-time new
car buyers who typically are spending a much higher percentage of their income
on the purchase,” said Wong.
“We wanted to assure that the AZEAL had all the design elements that separate
it from a sedan, including an aggressively sloped rear roofline, broad shoulders
and wide fender flares and stance. As a result, AZEAL screams of independence.”
The designers’ challenge in creating AZEAL’s exterior was in finding the
right balance between these basic elements and the compact dimensions without
going overboard. The main emphasis of the layout was biased toward the front
occupants, but without compromising the rear seat area.
“In creating the overall dimensions of the AZEAL, we were obviously
influenced by Nissan’s current small car platforms. But the layout is actually
closer to the Infiniti G35 coupe – slightly taller and aggressive,” said Ken
Lee, designer, NDA. “AZEAL captures the essence of emotional, aspirational
vehicles like the G35 coupe or Nissan 350Z but in the entry-level segment. It
doesn’t cost anything more to style an exciting vehicle.”
The front-wheel drive AZEAL utilizes a turbocharged version of Nissan’s
2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. It rides on
19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a unique sandblasted and painted surface
treatment.
“AZEAL has a grounded look and feel, like it is magnetically connected to the
road. Its wide, big-tire stance gives it a purposeful appearance,” said Mark
Milner, design manager, NDA.
The AZEAL exterior features an open, airy greenhouse contrasted with robust
aluminum ground effects. The distinctive glass-panel roof is bisected by a body
color "Mohawk" that leads visually into the aggressively sloped rear roofline.
There are structural roof rails with built-in clips for mounting roof racks for
bikes and other gear.
Individual body elements, including the side mirrors, headlights and
taillights, echo the overall design look of square forms with rounded corners.
AZEAL’s unique fog light construction is highly architectural and functional,
with a prism-like protrusion that acts like a brake cooling duct. AZEAL also
features an integrated, active airfoil located at the trailing edge of the roof.
“AZEAL’s exterior is the embodiment of Nissan’s current design language –
sheer surfaces with hard edges,” said Wong. Inside the aggressive AZEAL exterior
is an equally modern, driver-oriented interior with 2+2 seating. Key elements
include power front seats, split-folding rear seats with a ski pass-through
feature and a center overhead storage console with integrated rearview mirror
and mood lighting.
A modular center console includes adjustable armrests and an integrated
electronic parking brake. Ambient mood lighting highlights the front doors and
center console. The front seats are a ventilated design with under-seat storage
compartments. There is also an auxiliary port for an MP3 player and PDA, along
with a built-in navigation system with retractable screen.
The materials chosen for the interior – a fusion of metals, leather and glass
– were inspired by the new NDA Farmington Hills design studio architecture. The
seats are covered in perforated hide with Wasabi Chartreuse inserts, which
contrasts the darker, more metallic and industrial appearance of the AZEAL
instrument panel.
“The Wasabi Chartreuse color signifies the growing creative energy of our new
studio,” said Leslie Feiten, color designer, NDA. “The dark leather interior is
contrasted with ‘Sinister Gunmetal’ for a serious driving environment.”
“Like the original import sports coupes, AZEAL has a bit of a dual
personality for night and day,” said Leon Carpenter, digital animator, NDA. “It
excels at meeting all the basic transportation needs of an entry-level vehicle,
yet has a wilder side for both driving and going out to clubs and other venues
after the workday is done.”
AZEAL follows the Nissan Actic Concept, which was shown at the 2004 North
American International Auto Show, in exploring the needs of the diverse youth
market.
“AZEAL and the Actic before it are both designed specifically to be personal
vehicles, not the do-it-all multi-purpose vehicles that are so common in the
entry-level segment today,” said Wong. “Unlike many entry-level, youth-oriented
vehicles, which serve primarily as a platform or blank canvas for
personalization, AZEAL has all the right parts, pieces and styling buyers want
right out of the box.”
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