Is the Max-Out an all-electric MX-5 by Nissan?

In November 2021, Nissan showed four virtual renderings depicting future products. The Japanese carmaker has now materialized one of them, the Max-Out. After the more sensible Leaf and Ariya, this two-seater convertible must add more spice to Nissan’s electrification plans, though details remain scarce.

The Max-Out was unveiled as part of the Nissan Futures event, which shows demonstrations and reflects on the sustainability ambitions of the carmaker. It lasts one month.

One in four

The Max-Out isn’t entirely new. The car was part of a series of four sketches the company showed earlier. The others were called Chill-Out, Surf-Out, and Hang-Out. However, the roadster MAx-Out is the first – and maybe the only one – that turned into a concept car.

Nissan doesn’t provide much specific information, but at the time of the visual renderings, it was already known that the all-electric convertible used two electric motors, one for each axle, a clear hint at the 4orce system, which was subsequently introduced in the Ariya.

One with the car

Looking past the neo-retro looks unveils a roadster with compact dimensions, reminiscent of the MX-5 of compatriot Mazda. The press release uses a similar speech. While Mazda has always propagated its roadster as a vehicle bonding with its driver like a horse unites with its driver, this is what Nissan says: “The Max-Out is created on the fundamental concept of being one with the car.”

As a showcase, the Max-Out isn’t a prelude to a production model. Instead, it seems to be a styling exercise, hinting at details and a language that might trickle down to future models. In addition, it’s most likely a source of inspiration.

Nissan’s future

Nissan finds itself in a phase where it is restructuring and rethinking the distant and the near future. The company has been a pioneer in electrification, debuting the Leaf in 2010. However, the company failed to validate its early electrification efforts when the transition to battery-powered vehicles gained traction.

The company’s operations have also suffered from a crisis of confidence with alliance partner Renault. To stop the collaboration from worsening, both carmakers struck a new agreement, where the share of the French partner was seriously diluted to strike a more balanced ownership structure. The Alliance, however, is rescued, as we reported before.