Nissan Primera takes Fusion concept into production

The new-generation Primera Sedan and Wagon were released recently in Japan. The Primera has been created around the product concept of “an intelligent sedan and wagon for trend-setting adults who are one step ahead of the times.” They are targeted at adult men and women who enjoy active lifestyles and prefer distinctive and original products.

The Primera is effectively a production version of the Fusion concept shown at the Paris Motor Show in October. The Fusion was clearly a ‘teaser’ concept, as the design of the Primera production model would have been finalised over a year ago. This is a strategy often used by manufacturers to introduce new styling themes to the public, and to explore new technologies, in the lead up to a major new model release.

As with the Fusion concept, the sedan exterior is distinguished by an innovative bodyside shoulder treatment, and a monoform silhouette that integrates the hood, cabin and trunk in a single elegantly flowing body line. The traditional 3-box emphasis of saloon car design is replaced with a fluid and aerodynamic new profile dominated by the cabin.

Stéphane Schwarz, studio chief designer at Nissan Design Europe describes the origin of the Fusion theme: “Imagine a car, a familiar, practical car, but imagine it covered in snow. Think about how the snow softens the lines of the car and distorts its shape, no matter how familiar that shape might be. That is what we were trying to achieve with Fusion. A four-door sedan is the most familiar shape of all. Fusion is our challenge to that orthodoxy. It says we have the confidence to reformulate even the most established of forms.”

The wagon exterior has been executed in an elegant yet sporty profile formed by the slanted back door. The bodyside on sedan and wagon has a very solid, precise feel. The bevelled lower door edge works with the upper shoulder to give a girder-like solidity to the bodyside, while highlighting the rocker as a base element. The bodyside shoulder treatment is unlike any other, tapering to a point at nose and tail. The geometry of the tapered shoulder requires that the hood and trunk forms reach outward to the corners of the car, and the Nissan designers have managed this unusual arrangement very effectively, to create a harmonius overall design with striking, crisp feature lines.

At the front, the Nissan split grille theme has evolved into a unique geometric design, with the grille and lamp lines linked to the bodyside lines, as on the Fusion concept.

The interior is again very similar to that of the Fusion concept. The control switches, monitor and three sporty-looking analog center instrument dials are all laid out in the center of the instrument panel. This arrangement gives the driver instant access to all sorts of information needed for driving, including the vehicle status and traffic information, and also enables all occupants to share such information.

The 7-inch wide LCD monitor, concentrated control switch layout and other cutting-edge technologies ensure that the equipment is exceptionally easy to see and operate even during high-speed cruising. The Primera thus proposes new forms of communication between people and their cars.

The new Primera’s advanced, functional design projects a premium-quality image, and is much more distinctive than the model it replaces.

Fusion Concept sketch

Fusion concept