| New electric concept car | 2008 New York Auto Show | Nissan Denki Cube concept |
Nissan gave the
New York motor show a double shock when it unveiled its Denki Cube. As if the Cube's square-jawed styling wasn't enough of a surprise, this Cube uses electric power.
'Denki' in Japanese means electric, so this Cube is aptly named. Power comes from the latest lithium-ion batteries stored under the passenger cabin floor. The electric motor replaces the usual 1.3-litre petrol engine in the Cube and the batteries are recharged through a plug point on the front wing.
Nissan has stretched the wheelbase of the Cube by 9.4 inches to accommodate the batteries for the Denki concept. The show car also does away with the production car's three rows of seats and instead has two rows that Nissan says makes the car more like a favourite room in a house. This is underlined by the full-length glass roof panel, revised instrument design and unique trim for the show car.
Nissan had one final shock for New Yorkers when it announced it will sell the revised petrol-engined Cube in the USA from 2009. There are no plans to bring the Cube to the UK, but Nissan insiders say electrically powered models will be on sale in Europe by 2012.
Alisdair Suttie - 21 Mar 2008