Design student creates new diesel hybrid Datsun 240Z concept
Once upon a time cars made by the Nissan Motor Co. actually wore the Datsun brand rather than that of the parent company. In 1986 Nissan finally retired the Datsun brand in favor of its own name but not before creating an iconic sports car in the form of the Datsun 240Z. Design student Benjamin Nawaka has created a four door coupe called XLink that is supposed to capture the essence of the 240Z. Aside from having four wheels, it's not clear how the original Z inspired this new concept. There don't seem to be any elements of the original car brought into this new design. Regardless of what you might think of the aesthetics of the concept above, it has some enticing powertrain elements. The XLink is reportedly concieved around a diesel hybrid powertrain. It's not known if Nissan has any intention of ever producing a car like this, but they have both diesel engines and hybrid system in development for a 2010 launch. Will they combine the two? who knows? It's fun to contemplate though.[Source: AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Duodenum 8:14PM (8/07/2008)
This concept bears zero resemblance to the 240Z. If you're not going to even attempt some retro cues, why bother with the name?
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T2 11:55PM (8/08/2008)
Diesel hybrid powertrain in a car - stupid idea.
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Andy 1:10AM (8/08/2008)
More car drawings? And by a guy who doesn't even have a job in the industry yet? Explain to me why you consider this news. And what is green about the body anyway?
If I draw a picture of a car I imagine will run a thousand miles on a cup of tea, are you going to print that too?
Come on... please tell us something that is actually happening.
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GoodCheer 11:20AM (8/08/2008)
I agree.
Item 1: A pretty picture of a car.
Item 2: A modest advance in [battery / fuel cell / combustion] technology on a dark bench-top somewhere.
One of these things is worthwhile automotive news, one is not.
Paul Sallmen 2:29AM (8/08/2008)
The original looks nicer. I agree with Duodenum - if it doesn't resemble the original, then why call it that?
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Keith Wakeham 6:38AM (8/08/2008)
Datsun Z series was a 2 door coupe (and T tops), that is a sedan. Anyone who knows the Z series will know that and will also know that Datsun became Nissan. The Badges on the 280ZX read 280ZX Datsun by Nissan.
While a technically proficient designer I don't believe he is the one to blame. He created this for a Datsun Marquee and called it X-Link. NOT 240Z.
The person who wrote the article is to blame and must be fairly oblivious to history and what the Z car is. Mainly Nissan 350z, the door issue, and the fact this in no what elicits the same feel as a Z series car. Its not a sports Coupe. Jack Rix needs a history lesson.
However I agree with Andy. There are to many designers who half imagine what will power something. Please stop. I've seen too many "designers" spouting off about how there design is amazing. It looks good. You would need a team of engineers to even determine feasibility.
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JanusCarrera 7:25AM (8/08/2008)
why bring back the datsun name? all datsun was, was rebadged nissans from japan because when they first entered nissan was worried about its success in the usa and didnt want the nissan name to get a bad rep if it didnt do well so entered the usa as datsun and then chaged it to nissan seeing that the cars sold well. i can see reviving a car name (like dodge with the challenger) but not a car brand, more so one that was used as a possible safety net.
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wave54 2:53PM (8/08/2008)
Neither in this article or the source does it state that the Datsun brand name is being resurrected. From the original article:
"Called the XLink, the four-door, four-seater coupé has been penned to capture the essence of Datsun if the marque was to be relaunched today."
Emphasis on the word "if". This is a design/styling exercise. Anyone who would be looking at purchasing this vehicle, if produced as a Datsun, would probably be too young to know or care about the history of that brand.