After Slashing Costs, Nissan Introduces New Looks

Nissan Motor Co. President Carlos Ghosn says no auto company worth its weight in platinum catalytic converters has problems that good new products won’t cure.

As he carries out his turnaround plan, Ghosn thus far has relied on a liberal application of old-fashioned business principles: increase productivity and slash costs.

But now, he says, it is time to start rolling out the vehicles. Already this year we’ve seen the new Sentra and Altima from the Nissan brand and the Infiniti Q45 from the company’s luxury division. The resurrected Nissan Z is next up, and, as these illustrations show, it won’t stop there.

Nissan will use the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit to unveil a pair of concepts that continue to develop the company’s “fluid geometry” style of design.

The next-generation Nissan Quest concept is an exploration of where the minivan can go if designers and engineers abandon the box-on-wheels philosophy. The concept vehicle is an effort to turn the minivan into a luxury-sport transport for up to six people. Special features include a glass roof, pop-up luggage rack and power-operated “bi-fold” rear door.

The Infiniti FX45 is a second-generation concept that examines a way to combine the features of a sport-utility vehicle with sports car looks and performance.

The four-seater uses a 4.5-liter V-8 for power and an all-wheel-drive system for increased stability and traction. A sleek nose and sculpted wrap-around rear end are intended to disguise its SUV roots.

John O’Dell