Auto Market: Nissan TeRRA concept debuts in Paris

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The Nissan TeRRA SUV concept, to be unveiled this week at the Paris Motor Show, combines two outstanding Nissan strengths — SUVs and EVs — in a vehicle equally in its element off-road or gliding silently through the city.

With an innovative 4x4 fuel-cell electric powertrain and an athletic exterior that has presence beyond its compact dimensions, TeRRA takes sustainable motoring into exciting new territory.

Building on Nissan’s success with crossovers like the Juke and Qashqai and its EV success with the LEAF, the TeRRA shows Nissan’s zero-emission expertise encompasses fuel cells, too.

It is designed as a functional and flexible choice for tomorrow’s youthful consumers, bringing with it eco-friendliness along with a secure driving feel under any road conditions.

Open the door and exterior toughness gives way to a surprisingly warm and welcoming interior.

The door panel is a sculpted fusion of blonde wood trim and coloured acrylic, layered in an intriguing pattern.

Although TeRRA is presented as a design concept, not a technical exhibit, its proposed 4x4 fuel-cell electric powertrain is far from imaginary.

Powering the front wheels is the electric propulsion system featured in the Nissan LEAF.

In each back wheel, providing all-wheel power as needed, is an in-wheel electric motor, based on the working prototypes featured in three successive PIVO concepts.

As no drive shafts are required to power the rear wheels, there is no hump in the floor or on the underbody.

This allows for the flat boot floor and the underside bodypan.

Under the bonnet is ample space for Nissan’s hydrogen fuel-cell stack: A flat, highly compact unit that features world-leading power density of 2.5kW/L.

The latest in a series of Nissan fuel cells since 1996, the stack costs just one-sixth of its 2005 predecessor as the need for expensive precious metals has been slashed to one-quarter of the previous level.