2017 Nissan Micra: prediction vs reality

My prediction:

The real thing:

Nissan just revealed its 2017 Micra in Paris. I made an image a few years ago of what I thought the car would look like, and now that Nissan has revealed the official images I can compare and contrast their version with my own.

Overall, the real thing is a lot sharper and edgier than my prediction. While the basic shape and a lot of the lines are very similar, the real car looks razor-edged in comparison, and looking a bit more sporting than mine. One thing I prefer about my version is the chrome touches dotted around the car. I'm not sure how cost-effective that is for a car of this price-range, but I think it gives my rendering a bit more of a luxurious look - although the new Micra is by no means cheap-looking, unlike it's predecessor.

Bonus points for the almost-identical alloys.

Lotus Mondeo

This is my vision for a Lotus Mondeo. The car begins life as a Ford Mondeo, and is then sent to Lotus Cars in Hethel, England for engineering and styling modifications.

The car takes design cues from its predecessor; the Lotus Cortina of the 1960s. At the front, there's an off-centre Lotus badge in the grill, and the 'MONDEO' badge takes pride of place on the bonnet. As with the Lotus Cortina, the Lotus Mondeo would be available in a single colour scheme - Ermine White with a Sherwood Green flash along its flanks.

Other visual enhancements include a new front bumper, sideskirts, alloys, fuel cap, and rear wing.

Mini Speedster

Seen as it's summertime, I thought I'd share this old rendering I did of a MINI Speedster. This was created before the stunning 2014 Superleggera Concept made its début, so it wasn't influenced by that car. The idea was to give MINI a proper rival to the Mazda MX5, instead of the disappointing Roadster that was just a 2-seater version of the standard open-top MINI.

I looked to British roadsters of the 50s and 60s for inspiration. As with those cars, the MINI Speedster utilises a front-engine rear-drive platform, in this case one shared with the BMW 2-Series Coupé.

High Roller: The new Rolls Royce Shadow

By starting with a Roll-Royce Ghost and then swapping the Ghost's roof for that of the Wraith, I have created a four-door coupé to add to Rolls-Royce's exclusive line-up - the Rolls-Royce Shadow. It would be Rolls' rival to the Bentley Mulsanne GT, and offer a slightly sportier, more driver-focussed alternative to the Ghost.

All the familiar Rolls-Royce family design cues are kept intact. The Spirit of Ecstasy adorns the leading edge of a long, brushed aluminium bonnet, and the suicide doors we're familiar with from other models appear here also. This car is finished in Aqua Blue.

Buick Estate

Taking its moniker from the aptly-named Buick Estate of the past, this modern-day Buick Estate is a compact station wagon based on the European Vauxhall/Opel Astra Sports Tourer.

The car takes inspiration from American motorcars of old, but keeps things modern by giving the 20th-century design cues a contemporary twist. One such retro detail is the wood-finish roof-line which references the wood panelling of old station wagons. The liberal use of chrome and the portholes on the front wing are also other nostalgic touches.

The latest Buick grill is well and present, and ensures there is a visual connection to the rest of the Buick family.

Dacia Diva: low-cost motoring for the masses

The Dacia Diva would be an A-segment car based on the Renault Twingo but placed at a much lower price-point, taking the Dacia Sandero's place as the cheapest car sold by the Renault-Nissan Alliance in Europe.

The Dacia grill replaces the Renault Twingo's grill and fog-lights at the front end of the car, and at the rear a more typical window and body-coloured panel replaces the large black glass hatchback of the Twingo. In the name of cost-savings, the bumpers, wing mirrors, and door handles are left unpainted. The wheels are steelies covered by plastic hubcaps.

The Dacia Diva would be sold across Europe and throughout the Arab world.

Some old creations: Scion xR and Ferrari 626 Piero

Just a couple of older ones I like but haven't had the chance to share yet.

This is my idea for the Scion xR, a hatchback brother to the Scion tC. Inspired by 80s hot hatches and most likely driven by a demographic too young to have experienced the decade first hand. I've probably had this one hanging around for about 5 years now, at a guess.

When I first saw the Ferrari FF, I didn't rate it at all. I thought it was ugly beyond words in both proportions and details, a complete departure from what a Ferrari grand tourer should look like. So the Ferrari 626 Piero you see here was kind of my reaction to the FF. It features more traditional GT proportions and the front fascia is a look back to Ferraris of the 50s and 60s.

I've since warmed up to the FF slightly, and looking back at my 626 Piero, it's probably too traditional for a company that doesn't really do 'retro' - or at least only in subtle ways on their production cars. Somewhere in the middle would be nice.

Chevy metal

Just some old cars I haven't shown yet on this blog.

This first Chevy is a simple estate conversion of the Chevrolet Impala in an attempt to bring back the all-American full-size 'station wagon'. It would come in both 5-seat and 7-seat flavours.

The second car I'm showing is a the Chevy Blazer, a 2-door off-roader. I based this on a big Chevy SUV of some sort. I shortened the wheelbase and the rear overhang and removed two of the doors. I completely redid the front fascia to give it a sportier look. The grill mesh is actually made up of lots of little Chevy 'bow tie' emblems and a small 'Blazer' badge appears within the grill frame - there's no mistaking this cars identity!

Audi S3 Coupé

Here's my proposal for a coupé version of Audi's S3. But I haven't just lopped off two of the doors and called it a day - my S3 Coupé has taken design cues from Audis past and present to give it a completely new look to the regular four-door car.

The fastback roof is a modern take on that of the 1960s Audi 100 Coupé. The upswept rear quarter windows are also a nod to that car. An Audi A1-style roof contrast line (shown here in brushed aluminium) traces the sporty roofline.

The pictured car showcases many optional extras including: the Audi logo decals on the doors (a reference to the urQuattro), the black pinstripe connecting the front of the car to the rear, and the piano black finish between the rear lights.

The new Lincoln MKB

Lincoln is currently in a bad place. It has a very reduced line-up compared to its German rivals, and many of the models it does sell are getting on a bit now. Sales are slow, and in 5 years they will be non-existent as their entire customer base will have died off. What they need is a fresh new car that can bring in new buyers that otherwise would never have considered a Lincoln. And that's what I've tried to do here with the Lincoln MKB. 

Size-wise, it's comparable to the Ford Focus but the coupé/hatchback body makes it a rival to the Hyundai Veloster and VW Scirocco. The smallish size and sporty style could attract a younger demographic to the brand and potentially spearhead an entry into the European marketplace.

In addition to the coupé style, a stylish 2-seat convertible would be offered.

These were done a while ago so they have the old Lincoln face. If I get time, I'll make a post giving them a 'facelift' with the new Lincoln look.