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Nissan Friend-ME Looks Better Than Its Name Sounds
A name like Nissan Friend-ME can never sound cool, which the automaker has chosen based on the generation towards which the car is being targeted, but the design is a different all together. The "Balinghou" generation, which includes everyone born during the 1980s when Chinese government introduced the one child policy. These people are mostly in their mid and late 20s now and were born up without siblings, with only friends for company. That about sums up Nissan's explanation for the name and its target customer.
"Bālínghòu males are a huge cohort in the world's largest market, and they're now reaching their prime," said François Bancon, Division General Manager of product strategy and advanced planning at Nissan. "Clearly, their tastes will shape automotive trends worldwide for decades to come. So we believe it's important to listen with respect, and respond by putting dreams within their reach. That's why Friend-Me is our first proposition in an ongoing dialogue."
Friend Me is the culmination of work performed by design teams from both Nissan Design China (NDC) and Nissan Global Design Center (NGDC). The concept is characterised by a bold design and flowing lines.
The 'V' shaped front grille is an important part of the concept's design, from where the fluidic body lines sprout.
The front grille design continues on to join the stylish, lightning shaped narrow headlamps.
Nissan calls the Friend Me a four door sedan for the young generation. "It's definitely not your old man's sedan, yet it's mannered enough not to embarrass the family."
Another design highlight is the c-pillar or rather the apparent absence of it. The window has a undisrupted continuous flow to it, which combines with the rear windshield.
Friend Me is a strict four seater since the inside features four separate seats, in a column of two. The two columns are divided in the center by a large and very cool looking center console that extends from the front to the rear.
The idea behind this is that all four occupants are equals, where everyone gets to see information displayed on the infotainment system and everyone gets to control it.
Describing the center console design Taiji Toyota, Vice President of Nissan Design China says, "Our console is like an oracle-stone that gives the Friend-Me crew the power to look down the road ahead, over the horizon, through walls... to anywhere in the online world. "As they cruise through an entertainment district, the console reveals the scenes playing out in each building they pass. We've anticipated where automotive online is destined to go - and it's bound to be exciting."
While it is a concept, Nissan says it can be produced with use very few unique components, which would make it very feasible to produce. It is even capable of integrating with the PureDrive hybrid powertrain.
Nissan Friend Me concept design is "applicable globally", according to the makers, which would not restrict it to just one region if it were to enter production.
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