Nissan IDX Freeflow Concept
Will Nissan build this 86-fighting concept for real? Magic eight-ball says yes
By Imthishan Giado
Nissan are not known for taking things lying down. Hell, they built a car specifically at enormous, incredible expense just to take out the 911 Turbo. And now they may be about to do the same to Jesus’s Sportscar, the all-conquering Toyota 86, with this retro revival, the IDx Freeflow.
Ignore the silly name and talk about this car being designed to appeal to ‘digital natives’ and ‘millienials’ or marsupials about what they are. What this is a direct homage to the classic blocky Datsun 510, a tremendously zippy ’70s saloon that your father probably remembers rather fondly.
It’s an interesting tack to take for sure. While the 86 follows feline form and apes sensual Italian curves for a traditionally rakish chopped-bum sportscar, the 510 could be a two door, a four door or a station wagon with its slabby sides and pug-like front end. Underneath the hood (as we knew) is the familiar drivetrain from the Nissan Juke, a 1.6-litre turbo unit hooked to (sigh) a CVT box as usual. The other car is the IDx Nismo, clad in BRE colour meant to evoke the racer driven by the legendary wheelman Peter Brock. You might know him as the guy who penned a little car we like to call the C2 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray?
Will they build it? Officially, the word is that Nissan has produced these two concepts with an eye to gauging public interest in a future production car. C’mon though, they’re not fooling anyone. They have to build it so the sportscar cars commence again!
Check out the pictures below and let us know what you think
It looks like the designers had a good thing going with the Retro styling but then they just messed it up. Way too ugly.. Id frantically re-shake that Magic 8 ball and try to get a NO instead.