Nissan's engineers and marketing gurus spend a lot of time asking themselves a simple question: what will tomorrow's motorist expect from their personal transport?
When it comes to the SUV market, the Dunehawk Concept shows the road down which Nissan is traveling, and gives visitors to Auto Africa a tantalising view of the company's SUV future.
With a bold and intelligent design, advanced technology, and innovative combination of SUV and MPV, the Dunehawk is a midsized 4x4 aimed at meeting the emerging needs of tomorrow's active families. With a rugged ladder frame chassis, 20-inch wheels, minimal overhangs and the advanced, electronically controlled ALL-Mode 4WD system first seen on the acclaimed X-Trail, the Dunehawk Concept will be ideal for an adventurous lifestyle, yet it'll be just as at home on smooth tarmac.
Takeshi Yamazaki, creator of Dunehawk, explains: "Active families want more from their cars these days and we see this need developing into a combination of SUV performance and MPV versatility. Dunehawk Concept takes both values one-step further. It creates a new concept which adapts perfectly to the demands of families of the future."
Dunehawk's bold and imposing design, features smooth surfaces with iconic, angled accents. The body adopts a cylindrical design theme, with gently curving body sides that are narrower at roof and chassis level and wider at the body belt-line. This design solution helps create a feeling of strength while giving greater interior width where it's needed most – at elbow level. The cylindrical theme is repeated at the tailgate, on the extended wheel arch blisters and on interior fittings.
There are neither door handles nor door mirrors to disrupt the Dunehawk's surfaces. The doors are opened electrically by brushing a pad on the vehicle's flanks, while rear facing cameras with pop up screens at either end of the dashboard take care of what's happening behind.
Contrasts can be found in the striking side window graphic, with its heavily angled C-pillar separating the deeper door glass from the shallower rear window, and in the iconic Nissan 4x4 front grille design with its 'balanced angle strut' motif, which is set off by the confident Nissan logo.
The overall design also makes it straightforward to get in and out, and the doors open to a full 90 degrees, while access to the rearmost seats is eased by the middle row, which slides forward out of the way. Discreet waterfall lighting cascades from the roof, from underneath the door fittings and from under the rear storage bins to bathe the interior with a subtle ambient glow.
For added convenience and versatility, Dunehawk has a fully flexible seating arrangement. All seven seats can be folded electrically by remote control using a push button pad, to lower, fold flat or raise the seats individually or collectively. All the seats have full three point harnesses for maximum family safety.
With the seats folded, the luggage area is long and tall enough to hold two mountain bikes upright. With the front wheels removed, the bike forks can be securely locked into special fixings found on the back of the middle row of seats, while the rear wheel is strapped into a special shoe neatly integrated into the boot floor.
The cockpit is dominated by an angular theme with a 'T-bone' centre console which houses all the vital driving information systems, including a screen showing critical real-time traction information via sensors on all four wheels and within the 4x4 system. The cylindrical dashboard incorporates a compass, altimeter and inclinometer – all highly useful instruments for serious off-road work.
Practical elements include ample storage space with deep bins on the doors and side panels as well as an aircraft-style overhead console, which runs centrally for the full length of the roof and incorporates luggage lockers.
On either side of the console, the roof is glazed to help create an airy interior ambience – a styling feature reminiscent of Nissan's C-MPV Evalia concept car. The console also houses ventilation outlets and a DVD screen for rear seat entertainment.
"Dunehawk Concept is the family SUV of the future. It has the roominess and versatility of a MPV mixed with all the authentic 4x4 ability that you would expect from a Nissan. Dunehawk is where the world of MPV and SUV meet," concludes Yamazaki.
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