Is this the next-generation Nissan Micra, an all-electric city car we expect to arrive in 2026? Nissan is saying it’s not — as you would expect — but the Concept 20-23 that we watched sail down the Grand Union canal has more than a hint of what might be coming in the future.
It’s been created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nissan Design Europe (NDE) being located in London, in a nondescript building just a few metres from the Paddington Basin stretch of the canal.
The name reflects NDE’s 20 years in the city and combines the current year and, importantly, the company’s traditional number — the numbers are spoken as ‘ni’ (2) and ‘san’ (3) in Japanese.
Speaking about the Concept 20-23 at its unveiling in London, Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s senior vice president for global design, said: “The young team here at NDE was given a simple brief: design a fun electric city car that you’d like to drive every day in London. The 20-23 Concept that they designed is a compact hatchback which is strongly influenced by the online racing world. I love the story it tells about how the worlds of modern city living, online gaming and zero emissions mobility intersect.”
The Concept 20-23 is a modern small car that Nissan says melds the thrill of online racing with Nissan’s involvement in Formula E. Sporting a three-door hatchback design, it boasts superior aerodynamic features with skirts directing airflow away from the car’s front, cooling the brakes through various vents. Its front is characterised by a flat plane leading to a clean surface hosting distinct semi-circle LED headlights and turn signals, lending the car a pleasant look amid its intricate airflow shapes.
From the side, pronounced wheel arches housing large wheels and low-profile tires demonstrate the car’s robustness. The arches have vented louvres sitting above extended skirts to reduce air resistance. Their curvature terminates at the lower door, with angular intersections outlining the airflow outlets. Matching angular cuts on the rear wheel arches facilitate rear brake cooling.
The back of the Concept 20-23 presents a prominent single-piece spoiler seamlessly originating from the roof rail, uniquely designed not to hinder rear visibility — a common issue in many sports cars. Like the front, the rear lights are semi-circle LEDs juxtaposed with squared shapes, optimising airflow and enhancing downforce. A horizontal bar beneath a soft smile outlining the hatchback accentuates the rear’s design.
Though the Concept 20-23 is primarily an exterior model, it doesn’t skimp on interior design. Two scissor doors facilitate entry, leading to an interior that mirrors the car’s sporty exterior. The cabin features deep bucket seats providing support and comfort, a long extended steering column with a sports wheel endowed with numerous controls, and a carbon-fibre mount. Metal beams support the centre console between the seats, connected to the car’s spine. The minimalist interior, equipped with essential screens, channels the essence of real racing cars, reminiscent of Nissan’s Formula E racer and its influence on online racing simulators.
Makoto Uchida, Nissan’s president and chief executive officer, visited NDE to unveil the car, designed by a team including some of the younger members of NDE, with the simple brief to create a vehicle — with no constraints — which they would like to drive on the streets of the city where they work.
Inspired by the vibrant London streets, Alfonso Albaisa said: “It’s a fitting celebration of 20 years of NDE where bold ideas have taken shape and come to life!”
Albaisa also denied it was a first hint of the next Micra. But then he would…
He is the founder of Huff Media, publisher of Professional Pickup, Professional Van, Average Janes, Average Joes, and CALIBRE. His work focuses primarily on light commercial vehicles, pickups, and real-world vehicle use, with much of his time spent on manufacturer launches, industry events, and long-term vehicle testing.