Nissan IMs Concept Previews a 483-HP AWD Electric Sedan

The Nissan IMs Concept signals a fully electric production sedan from the Japanese automaker. The all-wheel-drive four-door is powered by two electric motors that together are good for 483 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Joining the motors is a large 115-kWh battery pack, which provides a theoretical driving range of 380 miles.

The powerful motors enable “exceptional traction over slick driving surfaces and excellent cornering performance,” Nissan says, while adaptive air suspension provides “a silky, smooth ride quality and flat cornering character.”

Nissan also describes the IMs, which is shaped like a regular four-door but features extra ground clearance, as an “elevated sedan” and says it’s the first automaker to design an EV for this segment.

SEE ALSO: Nissan is Investing Heavily into Electrified Vehicles

Not surprisingly, the concept EV is also designed to be autonomous. Nissan didn’t just claim it could drive itself and call it day, however – it at least thought of interesting ideas for making AVs a bit safer on city streets. The IMs concept’s side exterior light signature lights up blue and travels continuously from front to rear when it is in AV mode, warning other drivers and pedestrians that the vehicle is driving itself. Now that sounds like it would be very useful in the real world.

Nissan chairman Denis Le Vot says the IMs concept represents Nissan’s ongoing efforts toward “the creation of a sustainable mobile society in the form of EVs, autonomous drive and connectivity technologies.” The automaker says the concept also embodies the three pillars of its Intelligent Mobility brand message: Intelligent Driving, Intelligent Power and Intelligent Integration.

The Nissan IMs concept might one day reach production in the form of a much more tame Nissan EV, but such a vehicle is probably still a very long way away. When AutoGuide.com reported exclusively on the potential arrival of the Nissan IMs late last year, we also indicated a model called the Nissan IMq could arrive, so keep an eye out for a concept of that name in 2019 or 2020 as well.