Revealed yesterday at Detroit’s 2018 North American International Auto Show, the Nissan Xmotion concept is a spirited design exploration of everything the future of SUVs can hold for Seattleites and global citizens. It fuses American-centric style with traditional Japanese culture for something altogether different, as is readily apparent when you examine its breathtaking exterior.


Nissan remarks that the refreshed “boomerang†headlights go a step further in aggressiveness on the Xmotion concept, now resembling “forged steel blades" unlike anything seen on, say, the Murano. Cool, right? But there’s also a functional side to this—the lamps are integrated smartly into a single piece, offering turn signals, positional units, and both high and low beams all in one place. Further, the color and intensity alter depending on conditions.
The rear of the Xmotion is similarly inspired. The details are taken from the warmth of kumiko (Japanese puzzles and woodwork). When the taillights are on, blocks will appear that are created by a holographic image—effectively, an optical illusion that oozes progressive style. And on the sides of the crossover, the U-shaped body provides an unbroken visual wave that undulates from front to back.