Nissan reveals 20-23 concept ahead of Micra EV launch

LONDON -- Nissan has unveiled a European-focused small sporty electric hatchback concept ahead of the launch of the new Micra EV, which is expected in 2025.

The Concept 20-23 was designed at Nissan’s European studio in Paddington, London, and commemorates the studio’s 20th anniversary.

The new, battery-electric Micra is being engineered by Renault as a sister car to the Renault 5 electric small hatchback and Renault 4 electric small SUV. The two cars will be built at Renault Group’s factory in Douai, northern France.

At an event here Monday, Nissan declined to say whether the concept explicitly previewed the Micra, although the round headlights are a signature of the third generation of the small car and perhaps its most well-known styling feature.

Nissan also announced at the event that it would launch only electric cars in Europe ahead of plans to be EV-only  by 2030.

The look of the 20-23 was inspired by Nissan’s Formula E electric single-seater racing car, as well as digital online racing, the company said. Sporty styling cues includes a large rear spoiler, upward-opening scissor doors, muscular wheel arches and extended side skirts.

Nissan global head of design Alfonso Albaisa said the brief to the Nissan Design Europe (NDE) creators was to “design a fun electric city car that you’d like to drive every day in London.” The car “expresses the brutality that is possible from the driving experience of an EV,” he said at the event.

Nissan said the 20-23 name refers to the design studio’s anniversary as well as the brand’s traditional number 2 (“ni”) 3 (“san”) and the current year.

A strong focus on creating a sporty car would allow Nissan to sell the electric Micra at higher prices than a more conventional styled model. Electric vehicles still cost more to build than combustion-engine alternatives, making it hard to create a business at the lower end of the market. 

Nissan’s alliance partner Renault has worked hard to elevate pricing on the Micra’s sister models. The Renault 5 and Renault 4 SUV reference popular models in the brand’s past, while a planned Alpine “hot hatch” version of the Renault 5, previewed by the A290 Beta show car, will command premium pricing.

The sporty strategy has also been used by Volkswagen Group brand Cupra for its version of the “affordable” electric small car planned by Volkswagen for launch in 2025. The small Cupra was first revealed as the hyper sporty Urban Rebel, before it provided a clearer look with the more conventional but still performance-oriented Raval.

Despite the strong focus on performance, Nissan said the 20-23 concept is not all about aggressive design. The front headlights with split semi-circle elements present a “friendly appearance,” Nissan said in a statement, while the rear design incorporates a “soft smile” in the outline.