Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept

Published: Sep 19, 2018Modified: Sep 19, 2018

Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept

Nissan has unveiled two new vehicles at the Hannover Motor Show – the Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept and the Nissan Navara N-Guard.

Both models highlight Nissan’s increasing versatility in Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV), where conversions have seen a staggering 300% sales growth in the past three years. Through these conversions Nissan is able to provide commercial customers with tailored solutions that answer their specific business need.

The star of the show is the Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept. Developed in the UK, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), and equipped with a more advanced version of Nissan’s ProPILOT driver assistance technology, it highlights how the robust capability of the Navara pickup can power and tow a mobile astronomy laboratory.

The concept includes an ultra-high performance PlaneWave telescope within a bespoke trailer module. Thanks to the Navara’s intelligent towing capabilities, the telescope module can be towed easily to remote off-road “dark sky” locations, where the best atmospheric conditions for stargazing are found.

Also making its motor show debut is the Nissan Navara N-Guard, a tough and stylish special version that’s now on sale. It features a number of exterior and interior design upgrades, extending the Navara’s appeal to those who want a superior pickup for off-road adventures.

Inspired by the Nissan Navara EnGuard Concept unveiled at the Hannover Motor Show in 2016, the Navara N-Guard is available with the OFF-ROADER AT32 conversion pack, and this can be also seen on Nissan’s Hannover Motor Show stage. With increased ground clearance, underbody protection and an optional snorkel, it is the most capable Navara ever offered to European customers.

2018 Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept

Ashwani Gupta, Senior Vice President of the Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) business unit, said: “The tough pickup trucks on display are the perfect embodiment of Nissan’s dedication to excellence in conversions. Powered by Nissan Intelligent Mobility and including ProPILOT, the incredible versatility of each vehicle allows us to go above and beyond to support any business need and serve as an authentic partner for our customers.”

With their Go Anywhere capabilities and array of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features, Nissan’s LCV models continue to attract new customers worldwide, supporting Nissan LCV’s goal of 40% sustainable growth by 2022. Global LCV sales for the first half of 2018 reached 464,900 units, a 5.7% increase from the prior year.

The Nissan Navara occupies an integral position within Nissan’s global LCV lineup and is Nissan’s best-selling pickup truck globally.

Other key Nissan LCV models present at Hannover Motor Show include versions of the NV200, NV300 and NV400 vans, and the all-electric e-NV200 van. High demand, particularly from delivery, transport and private hire businesses across Europe, has led to 7,000 upgraded e-NV200 orders since launch in January 2018, a 136% increase in sales in the first half on 2018 compared to the same period last year.

The growing strength of Nissan’s LCV range is also reinforced by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi business unit. Bringing together Renault’s van expertise, Nissan’s truck know-how and Mitsubishi’s pickup prowess, the Alliance currently has a presence in 91 markets and aspires to become the world’s leading LCV manufacturer.

EXTERIOR UPGRADES

Additional exterior styling components made from robust heavy duty polymer
Eight red night light / sensor units, one in each of the four corners of the pickup and trailer
Lashing points on each wheel arch extension add extra practicality
Standard Navara grille enhanced with reinforced over-riders and new front chin guard creates a more purposeful and technical look
Front winch incorporated into the chin guard for additional peace of mind while off-roading
Roof structure extends back over the load bed, and incorporates roll bars and communication transmitter
High-intensity white lights in the front edge of the roof structure for additional illumination ahead of the car
Full-width red night light in the rear edge of the roof structure to illuminate load bed
Roof structure robust enough to carry bags, supplies and equipment for overnighting in remote location
Restyled rear bumper and side step, complete with ground illuminating red night lights with new three-slot design to echo wheel arch lashing points
Four-point projector-style headlamps with new interpretation of Nissan’s signature boomerang Daytime Running Light (DRL) design
Bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels, unique to this vehicle and fitted with off-road tyres

INTERIOR UPGRADES

Midnight blue and orange interior upholstery
Reflective orange piping on seats to help occupants locate interior features in low light conditions
Wider and flatter armrest between the front seats doubles as a work station
Integrated luminescent strap on armrest to secure laptop while driving
Luminescent floor mats to aid night-time visibility

LOAD BED UPGRADES

3 x integrated storage areas in side and front of load bed for carrying smaller items
Lashing points integrated into the top edge of the load bed
Bespoke load bed liner sculpted from heavy duty polymer
Load bed liner features integrated brushed aluminium rollers for easy loading / unloading
2 x Nissan portable battery units integrated into load bed. Spares to power trailer and telescope
Integrated tool and battery storage unit at front of load bed provides locking mechanism for battery units. Vehicle’s engine can be used to charge these when running

TRAILER

World’s first observatory-class telescope on a bespoke off-road capable trailer
Refrigerated interior to ensure calibration of telescope is maintained during transit
Motorised functionality for trailer opening and stabilizer leg deployment
Roof is light in colour to reflect light and heat
Rear-facing camera integrated into the light strip on the rear
Upper section is a laminate construction of bonded cabin fibre layers with insulated reflective liner to ensure the refrigerated trailer stays at the optimum temperature
Chassis built from sturdy box-section steel for practical off-road use, and fitted with 16-inch wheels / off-road tyres
Trailer powered by two integrated Nissan portable battery packs
Trailer opening via motorised two-stage action, splitting front to back, opening horizontally and then with a clamshell movement to allow the telescope to see the widest possible section of sky
Trailer functionality accessed via remote control