At the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, Nissan showed off their exciting new Resonance concept car. Featuring what the company calls “V-Motion” styling, it features a grill that sweeps upwards and a windshield/ A-pillars that are steeply raked. The impression is dramatic and portrays a car in motion. Nissan says its designers were inspired “by the future allure of hypersonic travel.” Dimensionally, the Resonance is similar to the current Nissan Murano with proportions that imitate the mid-size crossover’s, with an oblong profile, short hood and rear wheels close to the rear deck. High styling details include a panoramic glass roof, a tinted translucent acrylic grille, 22-inch wheels and boomerang-shaped lights.
Inside the Resonance the “V-Motion” styling ethic continues. The cockpit displays feature a stunning “layered” graphics that simulate a holographic setup without all the actual holographic technology. The gauges directly in front of the steering wheel are similar in color and design to the information and control center so the combination has an encompassing panoramic feel to it. Light-colored leather covers the seats and nearly every surface that isn’t already covered in brushed metal or polished wood.
Team Nissan (www.teamnissannorth.com serving Keene) explained to us the under the Resonance’s hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine driving a hybrid-electric drive system. It employs a single electric motor driving a dual-clutch AWD drivetrain. The transmission is Nissan’s next-generation Xtronic CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission). We spoke with the sales staff at Team Nissan North and they explained that the electric motor is powered by a large lithium-ion battery pack which is recharged not only by the engine abut also by the kinetic energy captured during vehicle braking.
Some journalists note that the Resonance may be a proxy for the styling of the 2015 Murano. Why not a separate Model? The Murano has been one of Nissan’s biggest selling SUVs but not really one of its more “practical” cars. With the new seven-passenger Pathfinder now filling the role of people and gear hauler, it could very well be that the Resonance hints at Nissan’s planning for the future Murano. That may not a bad thing because in either a Resonance or Murano model, it should be a big hit in the showroom.