What is it?

The iV is Nissan's vision of the sporty family car of 2035. Under the swoopy, mostly transparent bodywork lies a spacious four-seat car. To boil it down to its most basic form, it's an electric vehicle, but it's nothing like the new Nissan LEAF.

What technology does it use?

There are a few eyebrow-raising features in the iV. That name refers partly to the body structure, which is essentially grown in a field. It's made up of fast-growing ivy and spider silk, apparently making it super-light, really strong and yet completely natural. The transparent canopy is made from a new solar panel material that is 99 percent lighter than glass.

A 'bio-battery' is mounted low down in the chassis, but Nissan doesn't expect owners to ever need to plug the iV concept into the mains as it has "...near limit-less range made possible by regenerative super-capacitor technology that recoups 60% of kinetic energy spent." Don't expect that in the next-generation Micra.

What current car would it replace?

There's nothing quite like the iV in the current Nissan range. In spirit it's not too far removed from the Infiniti G Coupé.

Click here for the full list of vehicles taking part in the 2010 LA Design Challenge.

Shane O' Donoghue - 22 Oct 2010