Nissan is building on the launch of the electric Leaf with a new fuel cell concept, the Terra, revealed at the Paris motor show.
Sized between the Juke and the Qashqai, the Terra is being billed as a technology demonstrator that shows “Nissan is ready to mass-produce fuel cell electric vehicles whenever hydrogen becomes widely available”.
Nissan is playing down the significance of the Terra’s chunky and angular styling and aggressive squared-off wheel arches, which it describes as “modern toughness”.
However, the packaging gives some clues to the design of a future battery-powered off-roader, one of the possible spin-offs of the Leaf/Infiniti electric car platform.
The rear wheels contain an electric motor each and are based on the designs shown in successive Pivo city car concepts.
Because the rear underfloor is clear of a diff, driveshafts and exhaust, there is room to package the 2.5kW/L fuel cell stack between the rear wheels.
The front wheels are driven by a lithium ion powerpack borrowed from the Leaf.