Nissan has unveiled its latest TeRRA concept at the Paris Motor Show. Designed with eco-friendliness and all-weather capability in mind, the TeRRA is a compact crossover with a fuel-cell electric powertrain.
Underneath its Juke-like exterior, the TeRRA features trio of electric engines that draw power from a hydrogen fuel cell stack. Motivating the front wheels is an electric propulsion system borrowed from the Leaf EV, while in-wheel electric motors can spin the rear wheels to provide all-wheel-drive capacity when needed.
Though it's just a concept vehicle, Nissan says the TeRRA demonstrates that the company is "ready to mass-produce fuel cell electric vehicles whenever hydrogen becomes widely available." In an important step towards commercial viability, the TeRRA's fuel cell stack requires just a quarter of the precious metals used by Nissan's last-gen system, reducing its cost by 83 pecent.
It wouldn't be a concept without a futuristic and fanciful cabin, and the TeRRA doesn't dissapoint in this regard. A removable tablet serves as the instrument panel, the navigation/entertainment screen and the key - the driver docks it when entering the TeRRA and then removes it when leaving. The four bucket seats are mounted in a unique diagonal arrangement, with the rear seats slightly offset from the center-mounted front units to give passengers a clear view of the road ahead.
Look for the next-generation Nissan Murano, due out in 2014, to be influenced by the TeRRA's exterior design.Â
