Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina has unveiled the Nido concept city car in Paris. Less than 3m long, the two-seater aims to provide maximum protection to passengers and pedestrians alike.
Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina has unveiled the Nido concept city car in Paris. Less than 3m long, the two-seater aims to provide maximum protection to passengers and pedestrians alike.
Pedestrian safety requirements in collisions are a huge challenge for automotive manufacturers and the Nido, which means nest in Italian, introduces a new idea of an energy dissipating honeycomb section sandwiched between a rigid passenger cell and a strong monocoque exterior body, where the passenger cell slides forward and progressively crushes the deformable section in the event of a major frontal impact.
That, Pininfarina says, solves the problem of building a bodyshell soft enough to deform in a collision yet strong enough to resist passenger cell intrusion in an accident with a larger vehicle, such as a SUV. To optimise occupants’ visibility, the Nido’s roof and surrounding panes are see-through.
“The aesthetic design of Nido is probably the most advanced at the show and an impressive realisation of several emergent automotive design themes previously only evident in the best student design work,” reported.
