Nissan will show a new concept at this year's Geneva Motor Show in the shape of the Nissan Terranaut. This behemoth SUV holds just three occupants, and has only three doors. Take a closer look and you'll notice a bizarre glass domed section to the rear of the roof. That's the observation bubble...

The Terranaut has been designed to act as a mobile office for all kinds of scientists or explorers to be taken to the most extreme locations in the world. Up front, the cockpit is relatively straightforward concept-car fare. On one side, the doors meet in the middle, with the rears hinging from the back of the car. There is no B-pillar, to help with getting equipment in and out of the rear. Behind the front seats is a single rotating pew, allowing the occupier 360-degree views through the roof, as well as access to his equipment, such as the computers supplied in the concept car.

Walk around the Nissan Terranaut and you'll think your eyes are deceiving you, as there is just one door on the other side. Other design features include bespoke Goodyear off-road tyres that alter their profile according to the air pressure.

Though it is highly unlikely that the Nissan Terranaut will ever be made in its current format (with only a handful of potential buyers around the globe), we think that design elements will be carried over to the replacement for the Nissan Patrol, itself known as a rugged, reliable vehicle. The distinctive sculpting of the flanks and bonnet could also make its way onto a new smaller Nissan SUV.

Nissan will display the oddball Pivo concept in Geneva, complete with pivoting cockpit. We had our first viewing of this car in Tokyo last year.

Shane O' Donoghue - 3 Feb 2006