Family-Friendly Nissan Forum Concept Announced for Detroit
After bringing out the GT-R for the Tokyo auto show, Nissan is going to be shifting its
focus for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, from supercar-beater to the family friend. And is there a more family-friendly way of moving people around than a minivan? While minivans are in a state of decline, overtaken in recent years by crossovers, Nissan wants to let people know they're here to stay in its namesake lineup. The new Forum Concept, a futuristic minivan, makes this point very clear.
The Forum takes the form of a standard one-box minivan, but it's the styling and the details that make it unique, from its trackless sliding doors to its lack of a B-pillar and large SkyView panoramic roof. Inside, the Forum does its best to make every drive family time. Like a certain new American minivan, its second row seats can turn 180-degrees to face those in the third row, although the key difference is that the Forum's second row is a bench, rather than a set of captain's chairs. Unlike any other van we know of, the second
row seats can also be rotated 90-degrees to face the side of the vehicle, giving occupants a better view out. Alternatively, with the side door open, these bench seats can become a sort of bleacher.
Working with audio-visual partner Bose, Nissan has additionally come up with a couple of new ideas to make keeping an eye on the kids a little bit easier. Fitted in the headliner of the second and third rows are little video cameras called "Kids Cam", which display their respective images on the main instrument panel. It's not just a one-way system either, but rather the Forum has a scaled down version of a PA system which allows the driver to mute whatever is playing on the audio system (be it music, DVDs, video games)
and broadcast his or her voice, giving parents the power of an airline captain. It's cleverly named "Time Out".
Of course, there are still plenty of toys that should keep grown-ups entertained, like the new infotainment system which isn't just a touchscreen unit, but one that actually responds to hand motions. Also featured is the Around View parking assistance system from the EX35 which uses multiple cameras to eliminate blind spots in parking.
Because the Forum is more of a design study, they've left out info about what sort of engine it could be powered by. Nissan says that it could realistically be powered by any sort of future environmentally friendly source, such as a clean diesel or perhaps a hybrid.
As of right now, the Forum is a far-off image of what Nissan believes a people mover ought to be. But who knows, perhaps one day down the road the brand's Quest minivan will take on some of the Forum's clever features, and some of its design cues.