Pereka kereta terkenal, Ash Thorp, yang terkenal dengan rekaan Batmobile dalam filem The Batman, bekerjasama dengan Carlos Pecino untuk mengubah rekaan maya Datsun 240Z menjadi kenderaan sebenar yang menakjubkan. Datsun hitam matte hasil kerjasama mereka menampilkan elemen rekaan unik seperti kamera sisi yang tersembunyi dengan bijak di depan pintu, diffuser belakang yang besar, dan penutup roda serat karbon pada rim BBS. Mengambil inspirasi dari Batmobile, kereta ini mempunyai side skirt yang tajam.
Di bawahnya, enjin asal 2.4 liter telah digantikan dengan sistem penggerak elektrik sepenuhnya dari Tesla. Datsun yang telah diubahsuai ini kini mempunyai kuasa mengagumkan sebanyak 401hp, tiga kali ganda lebih banyak daripada 240Z asal, berkat kepada motor elektrik Model S pada gandar belakang. Walaupun berat sedikit bertambah kepada kira-kira 1133kg, kereta ini mengekalkan ketangkasan pergerakan asalnya.
Di bahagian dalam, hanya beberapa komponen yang kekal dari 240Z asal, dengan susun atur dalaman yang menampilkan tiga dial pusat, stereng Chevy Equinox, kluster instrumen digital, dan konsole tengah yang besar. Transformasi ini mempamerkan kreativiti inovatif dan kerjasama dalam dunia reka bentuk automotif, membawa visi imaginatif menjadi kenyataan di jalan raya.
In a rare instance where a virtual car rendering transforms into a tangible reality, the Datsun 240Z has undergone an extraordinary metamorphosis into an actual vehicle, and the results are nothing short of spectacular.
The concept originated in the mind of Ash Thorp, renowned for designing the Batmobile featured in The Batman movie (2022). Collaborating with Carlos Pecino from Make Haste Corp, the matte black Datsun emerged as the fruit of their partnership, marking their inaugural joint project.
Several design elements set this transformed Datsun apart. Notably, the side cameras, serving as mirrors, are ingeniously concealed within dedicated housings in front of the doors. The rear of the car boasts an immensely oversized diffuser, complemented by carbon fibre wheel caps adorning BBS multi-spoke alloys. The overall styling draws inspiration from the Batmobile, evident in the sharp side skirts.
Under the hood, the original 2.4-litre inline-six engine has made way for a Tesla-derived fully electric powertrain. Power is supplied by a Model S electric motor situated on the rear axle, providing the revamped Datsun with an impressive 401hp, nearly three times the output of the original 240Z. Despite a slight increase in weight to around 1133kg, the car maintains agility.
Inside the car, only a few components hail from the original 240Z, with a custom layout featuring three central dials, a steering column sourced from the Chevy Equinox, a digital instrument cluster, and a substantial centre console.
This real-life manifestation of a virtual concept showcases the boundary-pushing creativity and collaboration within the automotive design realm, bringing an imaginative vision to the streets.
Nissan started participating in the Safari Rally in 1963 and in 1966, a Bluebird entered by the team became the first Japanese car to win its class in the gruelling event. Other victories followed and by 1970, Nissan finally took top honours, winning all three prizes – overall (with a Datsun 1600 SSS), class and team. In 1971, a Datsun 240Z won to give the brand its second consecutive overall victory in the rally.
The original Datsun 240Z which won the Safari Rally.
From concept sketch to one-off model
Paying tribute to the successes in the legendary rally half a century later is the Nissan JUKE Hybrid Rally Tribute. The special model has now moved to become a fully operational one-off vehicle following the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the original concept images. Its unveiling previews the European introduction of the JUKE Hybrid soon.
“The JUKE Hybrid Rally Tribute represents our optimism and daring mindset. We are currently preparing an exciting new chapter of JUKE history in advance of the introduction of the new JUKE Hybrid in the summer. It will offer the excitement and agility customers would expect of our iconic crossover, with both improved performance and efficiency. The JUKE Hybrid Rally Tribute takes its playful character to a new level. “Speaking about the decision to bring the JUKE Hybrid Rally Tribute to life,” said Coralie Musy, Vice-President, Brand and Customer Experience of Nissan’s AMIEO region.
Advanced hybrid powertrain
The JUKE Hybrid powertrain consists of a new generation Nissan internal combustion engine specifically developed for working in a hybrid powertrain application. It produces 69 kW (94 ps) and 148 Nm of torque.
The main electric motor produces 36 kW (49 ps) with 205 Nm of torque, while there is a 15 kW contribution from a high voltage starter/generator, all of which is fed by a 1.2 kWh water-cooled battery. The net result is a powertrain providing 25% more power than the current petrol engine option, with a claimed fuel consumption reduction of approximately 40% in the urban cycle.
Smart automatic gearbox
Also carried over from the production version of the JUKE is an advanced low friction multi-modal gearbox that provides optimal use of the propulsive power, whether electric, petrol engine, or both. To reduce friction, this motorsport-inspired gearbox uses dog clutches instead of conventional synchroniser rings to shift the 4 ICE (internal combustion engine) gears and 2 EV (electric vehicle) gears.
Additionally, to reduce friction, this gearbox does not use a clutch. All vehicle starts are 100% electric, and the 2 EV motors are used in combination to synchronise the gears, delivering smooth, connected and responsive acceleration.
The gearbox is controlled by an advanced algorithm, managing the shift points, battery regeneration, as well as the advanced series-parallel architecture. The powertrain can seamlessly navigate through different hybridisation combinations (series, parallel, series-parallel) according to acceleration and power requirements and without any driver input.
Rally-inspired modifications
Like the Gripz concept car that was displayed at the 2015 Frankfurt Motorshow, the JUKE Hybrid Rally Tribute takes its design cues from the iconic 240Z that competed so successfully in the desert rally over 50 years ago.
The most obvious modification are the enlarged wheelarches to accommodate the tailor-made off-road tyres, while the additional lights mounted on the bonnet and roof echo those of the 1970s era.
Similarly, the black of the bonnet and enlarged black wheels are a visual homage to the 1971 rallycar. To further provide period accuracy are vintage sponsor logos and the number 11, while the additional reinforced plates under the front and rear valances offer protection to the vehicle’s underside. Reinforced and long-travel suspension has been fitted all-round, while the tyres are 265/70 R16.
Inside, the cabin has been modified with the fitment of a tubular cage to stiffen the bodyshell and to offer protection in the case of an incident at speed in the challenging desert environment. The rear seats have been removed to provide space for spare wheels and 4-point harnesses have been added to secure the driver and navigator safely in their racing seats.
Other modifications to the interior include the fitment of a competition fire extinguisher, an intercom system with a pair of headphones (though the JUKE Hybrid Rally Tribute would be much quieter than the rallycar), the fitment of Alcantara trim on the steering wheel, and a hydraulic handbrake with a high-reach handle.
As part of the Juke Hybrid Rally Tribute project and in line with exploring rallying while being as eco-conscious as possible, the powertrain uses liquids and biofuels provided by Shell, Nissan’s partner for the 1971 East African Rally.
Datsun, a name familiar to older Malaysians, disappeared from the market in the 1980s. It was replaced by Nissan as a brand name for products, and the name happened to also be the company’s name. Part of the reason could have been that Datsun was so well known all over the world and sometimes, senior executives had found that people did not know their company when they mentioned it was ‘Nissan’ but showed much familiarity when they said ‘Datsun’.
Older Malaysians will remember Datsuns as the earliest Japanese cars which were brought in by Tan Chong in the late 1950s. Though seemingly fragile, they proved to be lasting, economical and good value for money. The 120Y (below) was one one of the models that built up the brand’s strong reputation which was inherited by Nissan when it replaced Datsun in the mid-1980s.
Anyway, the brand name was brought back in 2014 as a sub-brand alongside Nissan and Infiniti to represent entry-level products for emerging markets. Nissan’s CEO then, Carlos Ghosn, had thought that there might be a market for lower-cost models in places like Indonesia, India and even Russia. These products would benefit from Nissan’s technology but be built with a lower cost base. The company expected the brand’s previous reputation for value and reliability would be beneficial – but perhaps forgot that the new generation of buyers it targeted would not have known that.
Datsun models sold in 2021.
Nissan built Datsun models in three countries – Russia, China and India – and though there was favourable response initially, dealers found difficulty selling the cars because they also sold cheap Nissan models. To make the cars cheap, features were less and even the engineering was felt to be not as tough as Nissans, so consumers were not greatly persuaded to buy Datsuns when, for a little bit more, they could get better Nissans.
Nissan’s expectations and targets for the brand were thus too ambitious and it showed in the years that followed its launch. In some markets, the network was limited and as mentioned earlier, there was much dependence on Nissan dealers who would have found it more profitable to sell Nissans, rather than cheaper but low-margin Datsuns.
Datsun display at a motorshow in Indonesia in 2015.In many markets, Datsun models were sold in the same showrooms as Nissan models, which proved to be a bad move.
In the emerging markets, there was certainly demand for cheap cars but even consumers in such markets did not want a car that was so cheap but was lacking in features and worse, safety. Crash tests of early Datsun models placed the brand in an unfavourable light, further diminishing its appeal. Perhaps in a different era 40 years earlier, the Datsuns might have done better but with competition from low-priced Korean cars and also brands like Maruti, customer expectations were higher.
By the end of 2019, Nissan came to the conclusion that the Datsun brand was not going to make it and there was little point in trying. Furthermore, as a legacy of the Ghosn era which had become controversial, it was probably one of the moves that was accepted as a way to ‘right past wrongs’. The operations in Russia and Indonesia were discontinued during the following year, just as the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Datsun advertisement in Indian market.
That left India as the only market which produced and sold Datsuns. The final phase of ending the brand was to take another two years as the lifecycle of the last model was run to the end.
Recently, Nissan announced that the final remaining redi-GO model was no longer produced at the plant in Chennai and dealers would sell off whatever stocks remained.
“As part of Nissan’s global transformation strategy, Nissan is focusing on core models and segments that bring the most benefit to customers, dealer partners and the business. In India, this includes the all-new, locally produced Nissan Magnite with over 100,000 customer orders to date,” Nissan India said.
Of course, like any responsible manufacturer, Nissan will provide the necessary aftersales support to Datsun owners in the years to come. This would run for a number of years and in as far as replacement parts are concerned, there should not be difficulty since many of the cars would be shared with Nissan models anyway.
So, for the second time in its history, the brand that first appeared in 1934 and helped to build a strong reputation for Nissan, is retired again. Perhaps it is best left in history books and museums where its glorious days are not blemished by the unsuccessful attempt to bring it back.
During the 1970s, Japanese cars began to enter international motorsports events and their presence became increasingly noted as they won major events. One such event was the legendary East African Safari Rally, a tough dusty event that went around the Kenya countryside. As it was part of the World Rally Championship, major manufacturers took part and among them was Nissan, which used different models.
It was the iconic Datsun 240Z sportscar which won the 1971 event, driven by Edgar Herrmann with navigator Hans Schuller. To underline the superiority of the 240Z, two other cars finished in second and seventh positions. Furthermore, the victory represented the brand’s second consecutive victory in the rally. The sleek and low-slung 240Z was powered by a 2.4-litre straight-six engine, producing 210 ps.
The victorious car is on display today, having been fully restored in 2013. It is part of Nissan’s Heritage Collection which is housed in Zama, close to Nissan global headquarters in Japan.
Revealed on the first day of 2021 event
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Nissan’s victory in the Safari Rally, the carmaker is preparing a Juke Rally Tribute Concept. These images are being released to coincide with the first day of the Safari Rally Kenya which sees the event once again being on the WRC calendar after an absence of 19 years.
The JUKE Rally Tribute Concept, as you can guess, is developed from a production Juke. It’s a very appropriate car to use with a raised stance, short front and rear overhangs strong potential off-road performance.
With enlarged wheels arches to accommodate the tailor-made off-road tyres, the vehicle’s stance is made more imposing, while the additional lights mounted on the bonnet and roof are reminiscent of the old rallycars. Back then, rallies were also run through the night so extra and powerful lighting was important. Two spare wheels are also visible at the back.
Colour themes reminiscent of 240Z rallycar
The JUKE Rally Tribute Concept’s black bonnet and black wheels are especially related to the 1971 240Z that competed in the RALLY. Those same cues also served as inspiration for the Gripz concept car which Nissan presented at Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015 which, in turn, influenced the design of the production Juke that was introduced in 2019.
A major difference under the bonnet is the type of powertrain used. While the rallycars of the 1970s had petrol engines, the Juke Rally Tribute Concept will have an electric hybrid powertrain. This is in support of Nissan’s commitment to the electrification of its range, especially in Europe.
“The Juke Rally Tribute Concept celebrates an iconic moment in Nissan’s heritage, with the participation and victory of the legendary 240Z in the East African Rally in 1971. As well as celebrating that victory, it reflects Nissan’s pioneering history in crossovers, striking design and electrified powertrains. We’re delighted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the victory of that remarkable achievement with these striking images,” said Coralie Musy, Vice-President, Brand and Customer Experience, Nissan Automotive Europe.
The 2021 Safari Rally Kenya
The Safari Rally Kenya starts today as the sixth round of the 2021 World Rally Championship. It was to have been run last year but the pandemic forced its cancellation. Instead of the route of 6000 kms of open-road of yesteryear, the event will have 18 stages and a total of 320.19 competitive kilometres. But what remains unchanged is the dusty conditions (which could also be wet and muddy), rough terrain and high temperatures – and they will also see wildlife like the drivers in the 1970s. None of the WRC’s frontline drivers have experienced the Safari, which means ‘adventure’ in the Swahili language.
The Indian auto industry produces about 3.5 million to 4 million passenger vehicles (4-wheelers) a year, of which around 20% is exported. The number looks set to increase to 40% with the ‘Make in India, make for the world’ agenda that is a key element in the country’s Automotive Mission Plan 2026.
As always, global automakers will look for regions where they can make their products at low cost and export from there. India has much potential with its mature industry and over the years, some automakers have steadily increased their use of the country as a production hub.
Nissan will also use India as a production hub for its all-new Nissan Magnite SUV, launched recently, that is aimed at the Indian, Middle East and African markets. Designed in Japan, the Magnite is Nissan’s first SUV in the sub-4-metre Indian market category and one of the 12 new models the automaker will introduce before the end of 2021.
Datsun styling elements
The Magnite’s exterior follows the same styling ideas as found in Nissan’s recent SUVs. The grille, however, does not follow the ‘V-motion’ front design signature on many of today’s Nissan products. It adopts the design that was used by the short-lived Datsun brand and the reason is probably because this model was originally developed for sales as a Datsun.
As Nissan decided to terminate the brand (again) last year, the time may have been too short to redesign the front end, so it has remained. This could make the facelift a rather radical change if there is a move to unify the Magnite with the rest of the Nissan family by changing to the V-motion grille. For now, the Magnite has the new brand logo.
The slim front lights are LEDs, with L-shaped daytime running lights that sit at the lower section of the headlamp housings. Skid plates under the front and rear provide protection to the underbody while 205 mm of ground clearance will enable to Magnite to traverse flooded roads and rough tracks.
Compact outside, spacious inside
On the inside, the cabin appears pretty spacious in spite of the compact exterior dimensions. Typical of SUVs, there is a high seating position and maximum use has been made of the available width to provide as much shoulder space as possible between the occupants. Nissan says that rear passengers will enjoy a level of knee room usually found in vehicles one class above.
The dashboard design has some interesting new ideas, with a slightly ‘advanced’ look. The infotainment system has an 8-inch display and is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is also the first-in-class with a 7-inch TFT (thin-film-transistor) display for the instrument screen to provide clearer and sharper images.
Nissan has also made sure that the driver gets assistance for motoring safety. The Magnite comes with safety features such as Hill Start Assist and a 360-degree monitor, along with stability control, ABS, EBD, etc. ISOFIX mounts are also provided for parents to install compatible childseats at the back.
1-litre turbo engine
For the Indian market, Nissan is providing a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine in two outputs, paired with a manual gearbox or CVT. This is the HR10DET which is found in the latest Almera for the Malaysian market. Given the size of the Magnite, it should provide more than enough power for spirited performance.
The prices are not available yet as the model will only go on sale in early 2021. But it will have to be attractive in a segment that is already crowded with models like the Ford Ecosport, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Kia Sonet, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV and Hyundai Venue.
Whether it comes to Malaysia remains to be seen although pitching a compact model like this means going against the two Malaysian brands and that makes pricing very challenging. Edaran Tan Chong Motor would probably prefer to focus on pushing its new Almera Turbo as its entry-level offering. Anyway, whatever Malaysia gets usually follows the Thai market and if you don’t see the Magnite there, chances are we won’t get it either.
Powerbanks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes these days. Some have unique designs and for car-lovers, especially those who are fans of the Datsun Fairlady 240Z, there’s a powerbank shaped just like the legendary car. A product of Links International based in Japan, the powerbank is a collaboration between the 21-year old company and Nissan.
The energy storage device is a faithful scale reproduction of the sportscar and has functioning headlights and taillights which illuminate to indicate the amount of charge available and status. When charging a device, the white LEDs of the headlights come on, and when the remaining power is 10% or less, the headlights go off. Then the red LEDs of the taillights flash like a brake lamp; when the battery pack is fully recharged again, the headlights will switch on.
It has a single USB port that swivels out from the underside to connect a cable to the smartphone and a low charging rate of 1A/5V. The capacity of the 130 gm unit is 4,500 mAh which takes approximately 6 – 9 hours to fully recharge through the Micro USB port. The powerbank can be recharged for 500 times.
To protect the device being charged, there are safety circuits to prevent overcharging, over-discharging and short-circuit.
The Datsun Fairlady 240Z Powerbank has been in the Japanese market a while now and is still available from the Nissan Online Shop and some online stores in Japan, priced at 6,600 yen which is equivalent to around RM260.
Each year, NISMO, Nissan’s motorsports and high-performance division, holds the NISMO Festival which gives fans an opportunity to get up close with their favourite Nissan racing cars and drivers. Tomorrow (December 8) will see the 22nd edition of the event at Japan’s Fuji Speedway.
This year’s event, which coincides with the 35th anniversary of NISMO’s establishment, is also a special one as it will highlight the 50th anniversary of Nissan’s legendary GT-R and Z models. To represent the GT-R, the festival will feature the KPGC10 ‘Hakosuka’ Skyline 2000 GT-R which won the JAF GP (Japan Automobile Federation Grand Prix) in 1969; the legendary Group A BNR32 Skyline GT-R; and the 2019 Super GT GT-R racing cars.
The 1969 Skyline 2000 GT-R (KPGC10) was a high-performance sedan for touring car races with the world’s first 4-valve DOHC engine for production cars. It made its race debut at the JAF Grand Prix at the Fuji International Speedway in May 1969.
The festivities will also highlight the Fairlady Z – which began with the 240Z as it was known outside Japan – there will be several well-preserved examples ranging from road cruisers to fully bespoke racing machines representing NISMO’s rich history and association with the legendary sportscar. Along with a few other models, the ‘Z’ made a strong impression in the American market in the 1970s, strengthening the Datsun brand which was later changed to ‘Nissan’.
The first generation Fairlady Z (S30), also known as Datsun 240Z or Z-car outside Japan, was launched in December 1969. This model was manufactured for 9 years and its global sales exceeded 520,000 units. This car was powered by a S20 inline DOHC 24-valve 6-cylinder engine which produced 160 ps.
Current Nissan and NISMO cars that embody the Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision, the company’s approach to changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated with society, will also be on display, as well as the new, all-electric Formula E race car and the LEAF NISMO RC – both sporting a new kimono-inspired livery.
LEAF NISMO RC sporting a new kimono-inspired livery.
NISMO Festival-goers will have a chance to experience an exhilarating Time Attack event with specially tuned GT-Rs and walk around the first ‘owner’s parking’ area, made exclusive for owners to park their prized GT-R or Z and share their passion with each other.
“The NISMO Festival is an event we have nurtured with great care,” said NISMO President Takao Katagiri, who oversees Nissan’s NISMO road car business. “I hope many of our fans, drivers, team directors, team staff and NISMO employees will join us in creating a fun day again this year.”
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The prototype Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign will also be on display at the event. 50 unis are being made to celebrate the model’s 50th anniversary.
