Nissan’s newest model was inspired by one of the most iconic designs in aeronautics: the swept wing.
And unlike most concept cars, the company says a version will actually go into production within three years.
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn himself presented the Bladeglider EV today at the 43rd annual Tokyo Motor Show. The delta-wing shape of the Bladeglider prototype has been used on many aircraft in the past, but is still probably best known for its use in the Concorde supersonic passenger jet and the US Air Force’s B-2 stealth bomber. The car’s design also uses wing-like edges and air diffusers on the undercarriage to create downforce, helping the car to hug the road.
The Bladeglider EV has design elements in common with Nissan’s ZEOD RC (Zero-Emission On-Demand Race Car), and Nissan engineering vice president Andy Palmer says that’s no accident—the Bladeglider is intended as an affordable sports car and targets a young population.
“When I was growing up, the principle was that young people wanted a sports car and their parents hated the idea of them,” he told reporters. “The problem with all of today’s sports cars is that they are actually owned by parents.”
