Nissan Gripz Concept Is The Sportier Nissan Juke Buyers Want

Nissan unveiled its Gripz Concept in Frankfurt and its got all the Z-enthusiasts lamenting the death of the Z.

Let’s get one thing straight, this isn’t the death of the Z car. Earlier yesterday ( Sept.16, 2015) Nissan went ahead and unveiled a Nissan Concept called the Gripz. In their press release they clearly state how they are channeling older Nissan 240Z’s of the rallying variety of yore by saying how, ” The Nissan 240Zs were proof that sports cars didn’t have to be low to the ground to be fun.” And although the outside screams extreme sports, the power unit underneath the hood takes its cues from the Nissan Leaf with Nissan’s “Pure Drive e-Power.”

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Tethered to the Nissan Leaf’s electric motor is an efficient gasoline engine. We imagine that similar technology found in the Chevrolet Volt will find its way into the Nissan Grip. The electric motor in the Gripz comes in at 107 HP and 254 lb-ft of torque, enough for day to day driving and just enough torque to squeeze you in and out of traffic and up a rutted trail.

What really grabs anyone’s attention seems to be the radical design. According to Nissan, there are four key elements for the Gripz, “V-motion grille, boomerang lamps front and rear, a floating roof and a kicked-up C pillar.” The all new V-motion grille may signal a design language shift for Nissan’s sporty crossovers in the near future. Boomerang headlamps and tails seem to be all the rage at Frankfurt with the all-new Civic as well as the Toyota CH-R sporting similar boomerang light designs. The floating roof does add to the drama of the entire car with solid chevron delineations between the side fender and door. Outback, the steeply raked rear glass, slim bumper and dual tail pipes set high up courtesy of great ground clearance makes this concept ready to tackle any nearby trails you might park at.

The Nissan Gripz concept is a clear indication where Nissan’s smaller crossover are going.  Look for those four key design elements to carry over to what we consider to be the next Nissan Juke minus the flashy rims, bright colors and brash side profile.  Z enthusiasts can also need not worry as far as we’re concerned.