FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Nissan Gripz

Nissan has officially revealed the controversial SUV that could replace the 370Z coupe and roadster.

Called the Gripz, the new high performance crossover is said to have been created to attract younger customers to the Japanese car-maker.

Said to be inspired by the 1971 East African Safari-winning Datsun 240Z rally car, and painted in the same red/black colour scheme, the new Gripz was also said to mimic the “sleek two-wheel world of road cycling”.

Appearing to look like a jacked-up, elongated 370Z the new concept picks up where the this year’s Sway Geneva motor show concept let off, borrowing its pronounced ‘V-motion’ grille, boomerang front- and rear lamps, floating roof and, what Nissan calls, ‘a kicked up rear C-pillar’. The new concept also features huge 22-inch alloys, inspired by a racing road bike’s spoke wheels.

Measuring 4100mm long, dimensions-wise the Gripz is shorter than the JUKE with a  roofline 65mm lower than the production car, but 135mm wider. The wheelbase, meanwhile, is a considerable 50mm longer.

Despite the differing dimensions, any production version of the Gripz is expected to be based on the same CMF platform that will underpin the JUKE.

Inside is heavily inspired by high-performance bicycles, particularly the seats and centre console. Even the door pulls are said to mimic a saddle.

Under the bonnet the Gripz also shuns a the usual Z-car formula of a powerful V6 petrol. Instead, there’s the electric motor from the Nissan LEAF with a small petrol engine that acts as a range extender.

The production version is expected to be powered by the 162kW/260Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four that's currently used in the Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy. Like the Clio RS, the production Gripz is expected to come with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic ‘box (this time with all-wheel drive), unlike the Frankfurt show car's advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The production version will be on sale in just 18 months with the Gripz possibly arriving in Australia as soon as early 2017 – if Nissan chooses to go ahead with such a radical departure from a powerful rear-wheel drive coupe.

Speaking to motoring.com.au, Philipe Klein, Nissan’s product planning chief said that the Gripz was “made for exploring directions”, hinting the concept was created to gauge public reaction of an SUV-based Z car.

“There is a strong trend towards crossovers and we’re partly responsible for that in Europe and worldwide with cars like the X-Trail”, says Klein.

Refusing to rule out ever putting the well-received 2013 Tokyo motor show iDx coupe concept into production (that was a stripped-out, lightweight coupe in the same vein as a Toyota GT86) Klein insists a decision on the next-generation Z-car will not be rushed by Nissan.

“There’s no urgency to replace. The car [370Z] is there, entertaining its customer base and has been very successful. The only thing I can tell you about the future of ‘Z’ is I don’t think that we’re gonna see an evolution. I don’t think we’ll see the 390Z or 400Z.

“But make no mistake, things remain open”, added the senior Nissan product planner.