Ahead of this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan has unveiled the IMk, a fully electric concept car that showcases the brand’s Intelligent Mobility vision as well as the new direction for its design language, dubbed “Timeless Japanese Futurism.”

According to the Japanese carmaker, the IMk “combines chic design, cutting-edge technologies and powerful EV acceleration in a compact body to create the ultimate urban commuter.”

The boxy look is reminiscent of vehicles that are prevalent in Nissan’s home market – namely kei cars – and the dimensions reflect this – 3,434 mm length, 1,512 mm width and 1,644 mm height. Adding to this are plenty of unique details that are inspired by the simplistic nature of traditional Japanese design.

For instance, the Akagane paint scheme reflects a reddish copper colour that points towards artisans who use the metal to create functional works of arts. Meanwhile, the V-motion signature grille and headlamps feature a trellised, woodwork-type impression.

These lines, which you also see on the bumpers, wheels, tyres, windows, tailights, roof and rear spoiler, attempt to mimic the flowing patterns of mizuhiki, a thin twine made of Japanese rice paper.

More elements of Japanese craftsmanship are evident inside the lounge-like cabin, with wood slats in the lower door section being a nod to the Japanese wood joinery technique of kigumi.

Meanwhile, the bench-style seats with a dimpled texture, the use of light tonal materials on the dashboard and sections of the doors, and Akagane-coloured accents in various areas represent contemporary cues.

As you can see, there’s very little in the way of physical controls, with just the start button and shifter on the IMk’s thin dash. Upon startup, comfort controls and other settings are illuminated within the copper trim, while a bezel-less prism display shows important driving information just in front of the steering wheel.

“We could have kept all the surfaces inside the IMk’s cabin flat, which would have equated to more physical space. But if we did that, we would have lost some of its beauty, and we didn’t want to go that route. The IMk was never about being roomier than a traditional small car. It was about being an upscale, stylish partner that gives occupants a chic, elegant space to enjoy,” said Satoru Tai, executive design director at Nissan.

There’s no exact details on the electric powertrain used here, but Nissan did confirm the IMk employs the latest ProPILOT and connected technologies, the latter including Invisible-to-Visible (I2V) and Nissan Energy Share (Vehicle-to-Home) systems.