Nissan brought 7 Star Wars-inspired vehicles to the 2017 LA Auto Show

We are just a few days away from the most awaited movie of the year, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And you might have noticed that wherever you look, you’re reminded of this movie. It seems that Star Wars has invaded our everyday lives, as seen in clothing brands, to shoes, and everything in between to celebrate Star Wars Eight. And of course, Nissan is not going to be left behind.

This is why they introduced no less than seven modified vehicles, which were all brought to the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show to be put up on display. The partnership between both the Japanese automaker and the franchise began this September when it was officially announced. Two months later, Nissan proves how ready it is for the movie’s premier in December with their expressive designs, where each car portrays a certain character or craft from the upcoming film.

All in all, Nissan modified three Maxima vehicles, and one of the following models: Altima, Rogue and Rogue Sport, and brought them to the City of Angels. Each car was designed by artists who work in Lucasfilm. This all started with a pen and paper, where the design team paired certain characters and crafts with cars from the newest film. They then chose colour palettes, graphics, textures and designs for each of them. You probably already know that the 7 vehicles will only be concepts, so don’t expect to get your hands on one.

We can’t help but be impressed with the Altima that portrays the so-called Special Forces TIE Fighter. Nissan gave it a set of custom wheels and a full body wrap with prominent references to the two-seat fighter.

The three Maxima sedans we mentioned earlier were dedicated to the dark side, each of them representing Kylo Ren, TIE Silencer (a new craft that we will see in The Last Jedi), and Captain Phasma, which is also a representation of female strength and leadership. These cars play along the colours of black, red, and silver.

Next up would be the Rogue Sport that has been modified to look like an A-wing. It features two thrusters at the rear fins on the top like the famous strike fighter. On the other hand, the Rogue, also known as the Qashqai outside the United States looks like Poe Dameron’s X-wing fighter. It was given a massive set of wings with a pair of illuminating thrusters, these were even complemented by quad laser cannons integrated into each wingtip.

Jeremy Tucker, vice president of Marketing Communications & Media at Nissan North America said that they are working not just with Lucasfilm, but also with artists from Industrial Light & Magic to create amazing concept vehicles across their best-selling models. He said that these cars will be touring the United States in several regional auto shows soon.

PRESS RELEASE

Nissan unveils seven ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’-inspired show vehicles at 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show

Today, Nissan unveiled seven Star Wars-themed concept vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show in celebration of the brand's ongoing collaboration with Lucasfilm for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The show vehicles are a dynamic display to highlight Nissan's dramatic designs and the famous characters and crafts from the upcoming film, debuting in theaters Dec. 15.

"We're back this year collaborating with Lucasfilm and the artists at Industrial Light & Magic to create these amazing concept vehicles across some of our best-selling models," said Jeremy Tucker, vice president, Marketing Communications & Media, Nissan North America, Inc. "These show vehicles were created for our fans, and will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show and shared across the country in regional auto shows over the next several months."

Beginning with the expressive lines of some of Nissan's most popular models – Rogue, Rogue Sport, Altima, Maxima, and TITAN – Star Wars: The Last Jedi themes for each vehicle were developed from artists inside the hallowed offices of Lucasfilm, whose team penned the designs, guiding colors, textures and graphics pairing the vehicles with a craft or character from the film Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Each concept – not available for purchase – receives a unique approach, including extras such as hydro-dipped graphics, surround sound and aged exterior design to show simulated use in battle. With designs complete, the legendary Hollywood vehicle fabricators at Vehicle Effects in Burbank, California, brought the sketches to life.

2018 Nissan Altima – Special Forces TIE Fighter

The Special Forces TIE Fighter is a strike fighter used by the First Order's elite Special Forces pilots. This is fittingly recreated using Nissan's best-selling sedan, Altima. The show vehicle features custom body enhancements, bringing it in line with a member of the First Order's fleet. The vehicle's stand out feature is the cockpit window that brings the multi-paned look of the Special Forces TIE fighter to the Altima's windshield. Custom wheels and full-body wrap bring the dual-winged spacecraft to life. Speakers at each corner recreate the iconic TIE Fighter and blaster sounds, creating a true sense of motion. Each wheel features the centerpiece of a TIE Fighter wing applied through a hydro-dipping process.

2018 Nissan Maxima – Kylo Ren

Drawing on the existing aggressive design language of the Maxima, this show vehicle is transformed into a truly sinister sedan. Designers merged Kylo Ren's unmistakable black and silver facemask with the Maxima's V-motion design language using a single block of milled aluminum for the front of the 4-Door Sports Car. A custom front lower spoiler, impactful hood and body are coated to exacting character color-matching specifications. The project is completed with a set of red signature headlights and underbody lighting that pulse at random – similar to Kylo Ren's crossguard lightsaber.

2018 Nissan Maxima – Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer

Engineered for speed and astute handling capability, the Nissan Maxima is the perfect car to replicate Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer – one of the new crafts to appear in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This one-off TIE Silencer is customized to Kylo's specifications with laser cannons and missile launchers affixed to the vehicle's distinct wings – stretching the entire length of the car. Crimson lighting in the grille and underneath give this concept an amazing true-to-life feel. Sound effects pulled directly from the movie take this one to the next level, truly blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.

2018 Nissan Maxima – Captain Phasma

Also joining the First Order ranks, the Captain Phasma Maxima is covered in high-gloss silver armor and bears an unmistakable mask of the strong female character in the film. Its fascia and hood are each hand-crafted from aluminum. A red accent line runs the length of the car, with ground effects to further its intimidating look. The Captain Phasma Maxima is also a celebration of female strength. Nissan's Maxima team is led by a female engineer, the designer for this vehicle was a female from ILM, the vehicle's brand director is a female and the vehicle was created to celebrate one of the toughest female warriors in the galaxy.

2018 Nissan Rogue – Poe Dameron's X-wing with BB-8

Poe Dameron's X-wing leads the New Republic starfleet, with massive fixed wings spanning either side of its Nissan Rogue foundation. Ready for action, the T-70 X-wing starfighter features a pair of illuminating thrusters, while quad laser cannons integrated into each wingtip make the craft ready for battle. Sitting atop the crossover is a full-size BB-8 astromech droid with functioning lights, motion and sound. A rugged tire and wheel package draws parallels to the rugged valor of the Resistance.

2018 Nissan Rogue Sport – A-wing

Quick and nimble, the A-wing is a perfect fit for the Rogue Sport it is built upon. Dual thrusters at the rear of the vehicle are illuminated, while top-mounted fins mimic the A-wing's design. Its wheels are painted blue to match the craft's accents with new tires fitted to provide a wide stance. Laser cannons flank the vehicle and a detailed wrap complete with battle damage prove it's a vehicle ready for almost anything.

2018 Nissan TITAN AT-M6

Considering the AT-M6 is the largest vehicle in the First Order's arsenal for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Nissan fittingly created its show car replica with a Nissan TITAN – coincidentally, the biggest vehicle in Nissan's fleet with the highest standard horsepower in its segment. It also happens to be the biggest unveiling (in physical size) at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. The show truck features a massive megacaliber cannon affixed to its back and a custom body wrap reminiscent of the film's massive First Order walker. Wheels receive hydro-dip graphics to mimic a walker's leg joints, while a 1-foot lift kit is applied to promote its destructive appearance. Designers insisted on installing a sound system capable of mimicking the walker's ground-stomping movements, effectively bringing the vehicle to life. An 18-inch bed-mounted subwoofer with a companion surround sound system will produce a planet-thumping 5,000 watts, set to closely capture the reverberation of a First Order walker.