Nissan Kicks concept debuts in Sao Paulo [w/videos]

Tue, 28 Oct 2014

The Sao Paulo Motor Show only comes around once every other year, and Nissan – an automaker deeply vested in the Latin American market – isn't missing out on the opportunity to showcase a new crossover concept.

Called the Kicks concept, the crossover seems to slot in size-wise in between the Juke and the Rogue. Nissan isn't saying much about it, though, aside from its having drawn its inspiration from Brazil with a "satin titanium" finish and bright orange trim – the former taking its cues from Sao Paulo and the latter from Rio.

While emphasizing its Brazilian character, Nissan also stresses that the concept's creation was "a product of global collaboration." So while it isn't saying anything about production feasibility, it is seemingly suggesting that if it were put into production – and as we stated previously, we think it just might – it could stand to be a global model and not confined strictly to South America.

Scope it out in the pair of videos and press release below along with the high-res image gallery above.

Nissan debuts Kicks Concept at 2014 São Paulo International Motor Show

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – The Nissan Kicks Concept premiered today at the São Paulo International Motor Show, a compact crossover reflecting the design inspiration from Brazil.

"This concept is a product of global collaboration, but it was inspired by the streets of Brazil and designed for its people," said Mamoru Aoki, Executive Design Director of Nissan's Global Design Strategy Department.

Nissan's design team saw a disconnect between vehicles on Brazilian roads, which were mainly silver, black and white in color, and the exuberant nature of the country and its people.

Kicks Concept was intended to bridge that gap and showcase the distinct design signature of Nissan cars.

"What we try to achieve is this kind of duality. It fits your pragmatic needs but also provides a sense of style and an extra sense of substance that we feel is missing in the market right now," said Project Lead Designer Hiren Patel of Nissan Design America.

Under the leadership of the Global Design Center in Japan, the concept was developed by Nissan Design America in San Diego with input from Nissan Design America Rio, the recently opened satellite design studio.

"The main inspiration for this concept was the contrast that we saw in the grey tones of the urban settings in São Paulo and the bright natural colors that we saw near our studio in Rio," said Robert Bauer, Chief Designer at the Rio studio. "How to combine these two, the more grey urban tones with the bright sunset orange that we would see – this combination we thought was really uniquely Brazilian."

But the team has a bigger ambition for this concept, says Taro Ueda, Vice President of Nissan Design America.

"It's not only just for the Brazilian market, but we capture the idea of Brazil and then we apply it to our global design improvement, making a stronger design lineup for future Nissan designs," said Ueda.

The São Paulo International Motor Show, held every two years, is the biggest auto event in Latin America, and the Kicks Concept will be a centerpiece of the Nissan stand through November 9.

By Noah Joseph