On the way home from checking out that Aston Martin Rapide, we spotted a Nissan Frontier truck hauling a very interesting ride. We slowed down to snap some pics and here’s what we got.

It has a Nissan badge and I can barely make out the logo in the plates but I think it says “URGE”?

More detail shots as we passed right by it.



Sorry, that was all the shot we were able to take. As we passed by it, I took a quick glance to see the front end and I noticed that the headlights looked similar to a Z33 and the R35 but not exactly like it. I thought maybe it was some student project. But why would there be a Nissan badge though. What if it’s a concept car from Nissan? Hmm..

Got home, googled “Nissan” and “Urge” and what do I see… booyaa!
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There is a Nissan URGE concept car! Nissan actually debuted this exact car at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show.

Check out the press images which I believe is the same exact car we saw..

Here was Nissan’s Press Release via Autoblog:

Body
• Motorcycle-inspired styling – lightweight, minimal, exposed
• 104.3-inch wheelbase (same as the 350Z), 156.6-inch overall length (16 inches shorter than the 350Z)
• See-through glass hood, cutaway door panels
• Aluminum center structure that runs from the engine bay to the interior center console
• Recyclable aluminum and composite construction
• 4-bar hinge scissors-style doors with cutouts for easy ingress and egress
• Spun aluminum roof cage structure, triangulated A-pillars
• Collapsible, quick-close, manual (storable) canvas top
• 2400-pound target vehicle weight
• “Mirror Crystal” exterior color

Engine and Driveline
• Quick, small-displacement, high-revving engine
• 6-speed manual sequential gearbox
• Front engine/rear-wheel drive

Suspension and Braking
• Independent suspension
• 350Z-style Brembo® brakes
• 19-inch front/20-inch rear 9-spoke spun aluminum-alloy wheels with narrow Michelin tires (195/45R19 front, 225/35R20 rear)

Interior Features
• Driver-oriented interior with compact, responsive F1-style steering wheel
• Racing-style lightweight mesh-and-leather bucket seats
• Billet aluminum center console
• Cell phone and mp3 player docking stations; cell phone acts as Intelligent Key to start vehicle
• Navigation system displayed in front of driver (not passenger)
• Five customizable driver info screens (including HVAC, navi, audio and suspension/performance tuning)
• Integrated gaming system powered by Xbox 360 and featuring a special Nissan edition of Project Gotham Racing 3
• Game screen folds down from the rearview mirror; steering wheel and pedals engage as game controls; gaming audio powered through the vehicle’s audio system
• Perforated metal mesh-covered silicone foam instrument panel material, visible passenger-side air bag, racing-style durable rubber flooring
• Two alpha seating (third seat hidden behind driver and passenger seats)

Design and Assembly
• Designed by Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA), La Jolla, Calif.
• Assembled by Metal Crafters, Inc., Fountain Valley, Calif.

Nissan URGE

Key Dimensions and Specifications

Engine Quick, high revving, small-displacement engine

Transmission 6-speed sequential manual gearbox

Drive Configuration Front engine/rear-wheel drive

Wheels/Tires/Brakes 19-inch front/20-inch rear 9-spoke spun aluminum-alloy wheels with Michelin tires (195/45R19 front, 225/35R20 rear), 350Z-style Brembo® 4-wheel disc

Wheelbase 104.3 inches/2650 mm

Length 156.6 inches/3979 mm

Width 71.8 inches/1824 mm

Height 49.6 inches/1260 mm

Target weight 2400 pounds

Seating Capacity 3 passengers

Select Exterior Features Motorcycle-inspired styling, see-through glass hood, cutaway door panels, aluminum center structure, aluminum and carbon fiber construction, 4-bar hinge scissors-style doors, spun aluminum roof cage structure, collapsible quick-close, manual (storable) canvas top, “Mirror Crystal” exterior color

Select Interior Features Driver-oriented interior with compact, responsive F1-style steering wheel, racing-style lightweight mesh-and-leather bucket seats, billet aluminum center console, cell phone and mp3 player docking stations (cell phone acts as Intelligent Key to start vehicle), customizable driver info screens (including HVAC, navi, audio and suspension/performance tuning), integrated gaming system powered by Xbox 360.

I can’t believe we saw this car all exposed like this. Given it’s a 4 year old concept but still. I imagined they would haul these concept cars around in an enclosed trailer or something but I guess not. Maybe even a car cover to protect it from the elements during transport.

But one of the interesting info I read about it was from Autoblog reporting in May 2009 that AutoExpress through its unnamed Nissan sources said that they might be bringing back the 200sx/240sx based from the combination of the Z34 and this URGE concept in 2011!! Now nothing is confirmed but wouldn’t that be cool to see the 240sx make a come back!