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Nissan - Will They Or Won't They?

Topics: Nissan IDx

Nissan - Will They Or Won't They?

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
January 19, 2014

The word is that Nissan will produce at least one of the IDx cars shown at the Detroit Motor Show (pictured). DriveWrite mentioned the pair of them at the start of the year, here. Nissan Vice-President Andy Palmer disingenuously said at the show, “Don't say that we won't do both, but we will definitely do one of them.”

His statement is confusing and probably deliberately so, bearing in mind the positioning of Nissan’s Nismo label as the upgraded versions of the company's regular cars. Perhaps that’s what they will do - an IDx Freeflow in standard and in Nismo trim.

Apparently, the Freeflow could be offered with either a 1.2L or 1.5L petrol engine mated to a CVT gearbox. The Nismo version though could be a bit livelier with a turbocharged 200bhp 1.6L, possibly similar to the motor in the Juke Nismo.

“It's very lightweight, so it's a relatively small engine,” said Palmer. “You get a lot of fun with rear drive.” Palmer also said Nissan hasn't yet decided to include a manual gearbox which seems a shame, but he also says, “I would expect some kind of paddle shift. … There's plenty of ways of executing a manual feel these days.” With Nissan citing the Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86 cars as its rivals, they are giving out a really confused message. The IDx would have to be pretty damn good indeed to compete with those two little gems which are, after all, out-and-out sports cars.

“What I really expect is that, when I was a lad, I aspired to a sports car as a bit of a bad boy, and what I'm really looking for is to inspire that same positioning for kids who are coming through today who apparently aren't that interested in cars. We have to re-engender that excitement for motor cars,” said Palmer.

Certainly a laudable thought but is this really the car that could do it? New young drivers might want it both ways but they can’t have sporting performance and low insurance premiums; not in the UK anyway. We await further information with bated breath.