Cool Concept: Nissan AZEAL

One of the worst things about growing up is that having fun starts to cost more and more money. First, there's the transfer of expenses from parent to child, which makes that trip to the movies or the go-kart track a little less fun. And then there's the assumption of insurance payments on the hand-me-down sedan, student loan bills, and eventually, new car payments. It gets to the point that everything has that weighty sound of hard-earned currency associated with it. And, unfortunately, that vivid imagination that carried us through as kids just doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders anymore. Our minds are too busy as it is. We need tangible fun. Don't despair. There are people out there who get paid to make fun affordable – like the designers of the Nissan AZEAL concept vehicle.

Affordable Fun

The Nissan AZEAL concept is a car that, according to Nissan's Vice President of Design, Bruce Campbell, is a design study blending desirability with affordability. The idea isn't new, but plenty of time has passed since it has been tossed around at Nissan. Consider the original 240Z, for example. In its day, that car was both affordable and highly desirable. Now, consider the 2005 Nissan 350Z. While that car may be highly desirable, its affordability is debatable. Yet, as Campbell put it, the AZEAL has been designed as an entry-level vehicle while still offering the appealing design, powerful stance, and tailored functionality that has been bestowed upon its costlier relatives, such as the Nissan 350Z and the Infiniti G35. The Nissan AZEAL concept car features a six-speed manual transmission and a limited slip differential that controls the power produced by the turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. Inside, front bucket seats and rear split folding seats are wrapped in two-tone Wasabi Charteuse fabric, and the sky can be seen through dual overhead panels like those found in the Nissan Maxima. Other touches include the generous use of brushed aluminum trim, 19-inch alloy wheels, racing foot pedals, front fog lights, a rear diffuser and airfoil, and a dual exhaust. Rounding off the list are signaling exterior mirrors and a navigation system.

Wrap-Up

Though the Nissan AZEAL is billed as a concept, officials admit they will be offering a new small vehicle for 2006, one of a slew of new or redesigned vehicles the company will be launching over the coming months. Design VP Campbell suggests that the AZEAL would fit into Nissan's lineup quite well. This sleek concept surely serves as yet another nail in the aging Sentra’s coffin.Given the recent success of the similar Scion tC and Nissan's desire to give customers the most bang for their buck, we suspect Nissan dealers will have a new AZEAL-inspired compact to show off before too long. Photos courtesty of Nissan