We are used to Nissan creating monstrously fun and insane vehicles. Between the GT-R and the NISMO range, there is pretty much nothing that Nissan can do that will surprise us any more. Except when they created this insane little bakkie. A cross between the Nissan Navara and the Nissan LEAF, this one of a kind bakkie is simply too cool!
The Crazy Nissan LEAF Bakkie
Faced with the problem of moving tools and light machinery around the Nissan Technical Center, most people would probably use a Nissan NP200. After all the Nissan NP200 has a great load bed and is really great to drive. But the guys at Nissan are always pushing forward, so instead of taking the easy way out, they decided to create a completely new breed of vehicle.
Nissan LEAF Bakkie – Rear 3/4 View
Of course going from an idea to a working unit is not that easy (Come on IDx!), but when Roland Schellenberg took the idea to other workmates at the Arizona center, he found that they were not only interested, but excited to create this new machine.
Nissan LEAF Loadbin
“After he (Schellenberg) told us it was going to be the LEAF that we would redo, I went home and stayed up till like four in the morning making all kinds of designs for what would work,” said Arnold Moulinet.
Nissan LEAF Loadbin
Deciding what bed to go for is no easy job when you have so many great Nissan models to choose from, but in the end the engineers went for the Nissan Navara’s cargo bed. But getting it to fit the Nissan LEAF is not as easy as that. They had to remove the rear seats, split to the roof to the B pillars and trim a little off the cargo bed itself to get it to fit over the rear wheels. Throw in a working sliding power window and transform the LEAF’s hatchback door into a tailgate, and you have Sparky, the one of a kind LEAF bakkie.
Arnold Moulinet & Roland Schellenberg
But will it stay one of a kind? “We have visitors and they come and they see that truck and they go straight to ‘what is it?’ and they start looking at it, and it makes great conversation,” said Roland Schellenberg, and nobody could blame them! Hopefully this interest in Sparky will ensure that it goes into full production.
What do you think? Is this the future of small bakkies or will the NP200 still dominate the market? Is there space on the market for an electric Navara? Tell us what you think!
