Many, though, will focus straight away on that stark, exposed, Urge body style, with its cycle wings and slimline doors featuring see-through door cut-outs. While Nissan is specifically chasing that exhilarating open-air effect, the Urge doesn't leave occupants totally to the mercy of the elements. You do get a collapsible, manually-operated canvas top that can be stored away.
Urge is built up around a central aluminium backbone frame but the body also features techy aluminium/composite construction. Quite a few bits that are normally out of sight (passenger air bag, aluminium door foam, engine etc) have deliberately been left out on view.
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| A third person can squeeze into the back |
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You get nifty scissor doors and, while the Urge is fundamentally a two-seater complete with groovy set of lightweight mesh-and-leather bucket seats, rather ingeniously it can also be converted to carry one extra person. A small alpha seat in the back (normally hidden under a cover) just about makes it an (occasional) three-seater.
The driver gets an F1-style steering wheel and small three-unit LCD display. You can scroll through the various menus covering satellite navigation, suspension, audio and climate control using steering wheel paddles. The digital wizardry continues with docking stations for cellphone and mp3 player. The cellphone also acts as an Intelligent Key to start the Urge.
Cool as they are, the looks and dynamics of the Urge are maybe only part of the experience. The killer application is the way the car can be turned into a real-life game machine. Yes, really.
In the boot is an Xbox 360. Park the car, disengage the controls and flip the Urge into game mode. A screen folds down from the rear-view mirror and the pedals and steering wheel then become game controls. Sounds from the game are played through the Urge's audio.
Getting in the mood, Nissan says the Urge features an exclusive demo version of
Project Gotham Racing 3.
