Nissan NV200 Shows How to Make Panel Vans a Hot Trend

Designers at Nissan were recently challenged to rethink the obvious and come up with a fresh approach to light duty commercial vehicles. The result of this effort at Nissan Design Center in Japan and Nissan Design Europe is a very innovative small cargo vehicle called the NV200, a design that’s a true departure from a traditional barebones transit van.

Nissan senior vice president and CEO Shiro Nakamura points out that while a commercial vehicle has a specific job to perform, that's no reason to design a purely rational vehicle with no warmth. “In the Nissan NV200 Concept, function becomes the aesthetic,” says Nakamura, with the NV200 “a highly efficient tool but one with a human touch.” In this exercise, Nissan designers outfitted the NV200 for the specific application of a marine biologist and underwater photographer. Many of the unique features of this vehicle, however, would work for a wide range of uses and commercial needs.

Powered by a small and economical clean diesel engine, the NV200 is a highly efficient transport that would play well in the North American market for both light commercial applications and, as illustrated here, spark a lot of personal use creativity. There is strong emotional appeal at play in the futuristic cab-forward design, with flowing lines that start at a sleek wraparound grille all working to hide the utility box section that is so obvious in most van designs. The NV200 rides on a 111.4 -inch wheelbase and makes use of a 72.4 inch center height to maximize interior space.

The rear of the NV200 features a transformer-style slide-out pod that can be deployed when the vehicle is parked. Nissan designers made use of the large side panels of the pod to neatly stow scuba gear, an underwater scooter, and gear the marine biologist would need on location. The top of the pod has a built-in solar array to supply clean power for the onboard electronics. When the pod section is pushed back into the van, those solar panels align with a large skylight so electricity continues to be generated. For camping, the NV200 offers a two person tent that folds out of the base of the driver’s side ‘B’ pillar.

Once the pod is deployed, the void inside the vehicle becomes a mobile office with an IT docking station. A fold-out desk area built into the side panel features a pair of LCD computer screens that allow mobile research and photo editing. The passenger seat then swivels around on a curved rail to function as a comfortable desk chair. Nissan designed the concept as a right-hand drive model, though the NV200 is flexible enough to be built with the steering wheel on the left for Western markets.

We like the potential that Nissan’s NV200 concept offers the personal use market. In addition to the concept’s specific theme, the design team also considered the NV200 to be ideal for a wide range of applications. Farmer’s market vendors, florist deliveries, mobile libraries, and compact field ambulances are just a few of the ideas they considered for the slide out pod concept. Fitted with 20-inch six spoke alloy wheels and custom low-profile Goodyear tires, it has an aggressive stance that looks right for clean, green cruising regardless of application.