| Concept Car Preview | 2008 Detroit Auto Show | Nissan Forum
It's difficult to get too excited about the one-box shape of the Nissan Forum, even if it is a concept car, and as MPVs go, does look pretty good thanks to the aggressive headlamp and grille design and large six-spoke alloys. However, the show car, due for unveiling at the
Detroit Motor Show, features a host of new ideas for the genre, some of which are very likely to make it through to a new Nissan MPV.
Entry and exit is made particularly easy. Not only do the front doors hinge a full 90-degrees, there are no B-pillars and the rear doors feature an innovative trackless sliding mechanism contained in the patented hinge design. Nissan attempts to allay fears for side-impact safety by pointing out that both the roof and floor have been reinforced.
The main focus of the concept is on the interior design. The most striking aspect of the layout is the swivelling second row of seats. They can be rotated through 90- or 180-degrees depending on your needs. Nissan worked with Bose on most of the infotainment and the Forum is crammed with the latest technology, though our favourite feature is an audio 'Time Out' button that mutes all the various systems and broadcasts the driver's voice throughout instead. Perfect for those long journeys where the kids need shouting at...
Shane O' Donoghue - 23 Dec 2007