Nissan Sway concept makes world debut at the Geneva Motor Show

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the Sway is a glimpse at how a future generation of compact Nissan models might look if the company's striking new design language was applied to a European hatchback. It is a concept car designed especially to appeal to European tastes: it is seen as emotional, edgy and exciting.

There is an overall sense of unity and harmony but with edginess unexpected in this market segment. The interior, for example, applies techniques more usually seen in industrial architecture such as structural aluminium elements to signify both simplicity and strength, but also the attention to detail and use of colour and materials associated with premium goods.

The exterior, meanwhile, blends four highly distinctive elements - the V-motion grille, floating roof, boomerang lamps and kicked-up C-pillar - to shape a new design signature that has already been seen on the Nissan Lannia Concept that was presented last year in Beijing at Auto China 2014, as well as the new Murano recently launched in the U.S.A.

The Sway represents the first time this new design language has been expressed on a compact hatchback, while future Nissan models in different market segments in all regions will follow this styling direction.

Complex rear doors house not only the extended sill and waistline crease, but also the shapely flared fenders needed to cover the rear wheels. An upward flick towards the rear of the glass line reduces the C-pillar between the door and the floating roof to a minimum.

Another feature of Nissan's new design language is the floating roof, which is expressed this time by a panoramic glass roof, framed by an extended C-shaped construction running from the A-pillars along the side of the roof to the rear cross link above the tailgate. On the concept car this structure is highlighted by the use of a bold orange colour that contrasts with the blue-grey of the body.

Inspired by the IDx show car first revealed at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, the Sway adopts - and develops - its interior design concept of a gliding wing shaped dashboard. The lightweight seats have an aluminium structure - once again exposed - and are covered in a premium suede-like fabric partially accentuated with pearl-effect material, featuring stitching techniques more usually found on luxury handbags.

Although a compact car, the lack of clutter, the removal of the B-pillar and the use of simple yet elegant structures makes the interior seem larger than expected.