Nissan Dunehawk
Published: 18th September 2003
Dunehawk has genuine off-road ability thanks to its rugged chassis, ground clearance and advanced, electronically controlled ALL-Mode 4x4 system. It also has an exceptionally roomy interior full of useful features, making it perfect for active families who need a versatile car to fit in with their hobbies. Whether it’s a family trip away sailing, mountain biking, horse riding or simply exploring, Dunehawk would make the ideal companion: the perfect sports utility vehicle (SUV).
Ladder frame chassis
The rugged ladder frame chassis, short front and rear overhangs and dramatic 20-inch wheels allow Dunehawk to cross difficult terrain with ease. The ladder frame also provides the additional strength and rigidity which is essential for towing performance – an important requirement for family-oriented activities. But Dunehawk has far greater depth than a typical 4x4.
Taking its lead from the highly acclaimed Nissan X-TRAIL, Dunehawk is just as at home on road as it is off the beaten track. It has been designed to perform and handle as well as a conventional car and has a luxuriously comfortable interior.
Takeshi Yamazaki, creator of Dunehawk, explains: "Active families want more from their cars these days and we see this need developing into a combination of SUV performance and MPV versatility. Dunehawk takes both values one step further. It creates a new concept which adapts perfectly to the demands of families of the future."
Designed for strength
Dunehawk's bold and imposing design features smooth surfaces with iconic, angled accents. The body adopts a cylindrical design theme, with gently curving body sides that are narrower at roof and chassis level and wider at the body belt-line. This design solution helps create a feeling of strength while giving greater interior width where it’s needed most – at elbow level.
The cylindrical theme is repeated at the tailgate, on the extended wheel arch blisters and on interior fittings.
Contrasts can be found in the striking side window graphic, with its heavily angled C-pillar separating the deeper door glass from the shallower rear window, and in the iconic Nissan 4x4 front grille design with its ‘balanced angle strut’ motif which is set off by the confident Nissan logo.
Rear view cameras
There are neither door handles nor door mirrors to disrupt the Dunehawk’s surfaces. The doors are opened electrically by brushing a pad on the flanks of the Dunehawk, while rear facing cameras with pop up screens at either end of the dashboard take care of what’s happening behind.
New generation N-Form
Inside, the cockpit is dominated by an angular theme with a ‘T-bone’ centre console which houses all the vital driving information systems, including a screen showing critical real-time traction information via sensors on all four wheels and within the ALL-Mode 4x4 system. Nissan’s pioneering interactive N-Form dashboard has also been adopted and reveals how it could function in the future.
The cylindrical dashboard incorporates a compass, altimeter and inclinometer – all highly useful instruments for serious off-road work.
Overhead luggage locker
Practical elements include ample storage space with deep bins on the doors and side panels as well as an aircraft-style overhead console which runs centrally for the full length of the roof and incorporates luggage lockers.
Glazed roof
On either side of the console, the roof is glazed to help create an airy interior ambience – a styling feature reminiscent of Nissan’s C-MPV Evalia concept car, shown at the Geneva show earlier this year. The console also houses ventilation outlets and a DVD screen for rear seat entertainment.
