The Nissan Nails concept is an odd looking pickup truck concept which the Japanese manufacturer rolled out at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show. As history has shown, the Nissan Nails concept never went any further than the show car stage. Which is probably a good thing. It’s hard to imagine it being a successful utility vehicle, or anything else for that matter.
When the car was debuted 10 years ago Nissan’s press department excitedly announced that the Nails; “suggests new, flexible ways of using vehicles as ‘a tool for communicating with friends’, rather than simply as ‘a means of transportation’. The Nails concept integrates advanced communications tools including cellular phones.”
Of course nowadays if a mainstream manufacturer brought a concept car to an auto show which DIDN’T have an array of communication an connectivity, eyebrows would be raised. But just a decade ago it was still relatively new.
One aspect of the Nissan Nails which was quite clever, and it would be nice if more utility vehicles offered it – even as an option – are the tough body panels. The hood, fenders and doors have all been given a treatment to allow rough use without risking scratches or dents.
The interior only has room for two. It’s one of the more unusual automotive interiors we’ve seen. It has an odd mix of retro-futurism – kind of like what an interior would look like if the set designers from Flash Gordon had been let loose on a car. The solid steering wheel is particularly odd, as is the massive old-TV-like display screen that is wedged into the dashboard.
10 out of 10 for originality. 2 out of 10 for practicality.
