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Nissan's Geneva Motor Show stand was centred on the brand's Intelligent Mobility plans, incorporating hybrids and electric cars going forward, and the centrepiece of the Japanese company's display was the IMx Kuro - shown for the first time in Europe, following its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2017.
With Kuro meaning 'black' in Japanese, all that has visibly changed on this all-electric crossover is the colour scheme; in Switzerland, it's wearing natty new black trim and wheels, the body is painted dark grey instead of Pearl White and the front grille design has been revised. The same 320kW (435hp)/700Nm electric drivetrain remains, as does an OLED-infused interior, a theoretical maximum range of 600km-plus, and ProPilot self-driving capabilities that see the steering wheel fold into the dashboard and all the seats recline if the people inside don't fancy driving the Nissan themselves.
However, the IMx Kuro has received something other than just a new paintjob since Tokyo - and that's the ability to read minds. Brain-to-Vehicle (B2V) technology is a Nissan, um... brainchild (sorry...) and it sees the IMx interpret signals from the driver's brain to assist with driving, while also allowing the autonomous systems to learn from the car's human occupant.
It does this by catching signs that the driver's brain is about to initiate a movement - like turning the steering wheel or opening the throttle further - and then begins said action more quickly, to speed up reaction times. It can also detect if the driver is feeling under the weather, as it detects and evaluates driver discomfort and alters its manual driving configuration/autonomous driving style to suit. Of course, for this B2V system to work, the driver must wear some rather-less-than-flattering headgear which picks up brainwaves, but still - a mind-reading car? That's pretty impressive.
"The IMx Kuro zero-emission crossover concept vehicle embodies the future of Nissan Intelligent Mobility," said Jose Munoz, Nissan's chief performance officer, when explaining the radical crossover EV. "Nissan Intelligent Mobility is Nissan's commitment to changing the way people and cars communicate, as well as how cars interact with society in the near future and beyond."
Anything else?
Alongside fully telepathic AI machines, Nissan used Geneva to confirm that it will offer electrified powertrains in its existing range of best-selling crossovers, like the Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail. The success of the all-new Nissan Leaf, which has already racked up 19,000 European orders, is the driver behind this shift to electric and Nissan's Intelligent Mobility technology - as seen on the EV hatchback - will roll out across all of the brand's passenger cars and LCVs in the coming years; such as ProPilot, to be introduced on the Qashqai within the next few weeks.
Other Geneva announcements for Nissan included the concept livery for the marque's first season competing in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, as well as confirming a strategic partnership with energy company E.ON to explore 'opportunities on pilot activities and commercial offers related to vehicle-to-grid services, renewable energy generation and storage solutions, as well as grid integration for Nissan electric vehicle customers'.