Nissan Teatro for Dayz Concept is a digital delight

Making its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Nissan Teatro for Dayz Concept is a lifestyle-oriented electric-powered runabout designed for socially oriented youth — a group Nissan’s Product Planning General Manager Hidemi Sasaki calls "share natives." Sasaki says these youngsters getting their first driver’s licenses have always been engaged via some sort of digital device or app and are intent on connecting with their peers and sharing their experiences. "What share natives want from cars is not the joy of driving or their own private space, but a better way to connect with friends and share experiences." That’s where the Teatro for Dayz Concept shines. 

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Based on Nissan’s Dayz minicar, the Teatro’s white interior is one mass of programmable screens. "Share natives will use cars in ways we would never imagine," notes Sasaki. "So we thought from the perspective of designing a car that would serve as a canvas for their inspiration." While being driven, the dash presents a selection of conventional instrument and navigation readouts that can be scaled, positioned or selectively hidden to optimize the information. However the rest of the Teatro’s "Future Canvas" interior features image display technology that permits the seats, headrests and door trim — as well as the dash when the Teatro is parked — to present any number of distinctive user-crafted looks. All of the visual experiences related to this ambitious one-off can be uploaded and shared thanks to an on-board camera system. The exterior of the Teatro for Dayz Concept reflects a continuation of its innovative internal design thinking. There, too, a selection of LED display screens open up an equally broad selection of graphic possibilities.

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Sasaki believes the Teatro’s EV technology is a must for vehicles designed for this new generation. "Share natives are already accustomed to recharging their devices at home, so EVs fit their lifestyles far better than cars that require regular visits to a gas station." While offering no hard figures, range on the Teatro for Dayz Concept is described as being "ample for short commutes," and Nissan says it also can serve as a giant mobile battery that can be used to power its on-board super sound system as well as various recharge mobile devices. Still no word on when we might see one in showrooms.