Nissan Cocoon
Car of the Day #273: 1991 Nissan Cocoon and Cocoon L – Close-knit family cars
1990s Japanese auto shows are an entire ecosystem of pure creativity.
In Europe or the U.S., image concerns alone would have put the stop to auto show concepts that didn’t fully align with where the suits felt a particular brand should go — a Pontiac is a Pontiac is a Pontiac.
In Japan, for about a decade, automakers would each unleash a small army of concept, prototype, race, and production cars at the Tokyo Motor Show.
A Nissan is…well, it’s complicated.
In 1991, alongside both the Cocoon and Cocoon L, Nissan’s TMS stand included a methanol-gasoline luxury coupe with active suspension (TRI-X), a concept electric car with 250 km of range and a heat pump(!) (FEV), its top class Le Mans challenger (R91CP), its Spa 24-Hour -winning Group A and Group N car (Skyline GT-R), its World Rally Championship car (Pulsar GTI-R), a resort bus (Civilian Panorama), a concept sports car with an offset engine, sort of like the Honda Side-By-Side or Nissan Saurus (DUAD), an open top sports car (300ZX Convertible), a model of an unmanned lunar exploring vehicle (LV-01), an ambulance (Paramedic), a four-wheel drive truck (Datsun 4WD Flex Cab), a van for active lifestyles (Caravan Salon de Sport), an off-road camping van (Vanette Largo Yamaarashi - 'Porcupine'), its Paris-Dakar challenger (Safari), the most elegantly-named car ever (Leopard J. Ferie) — a new slogan (Life Together Nissan) — and 12 production cars.
Confession: I left a dozen things out. These are all from a single auto show…see the official period Nissan press release below if you don’t believe me.
Speaking kindly, Nissan had a lot going on at that time, and it is with that background I remind you the company showed two nearly identical concept cars, which is nearly unheard of in the auto industry.
Were we supposed to get Cocoon before cube? Was Cocoon supposed to warm us up to the Quest?
Most crucial: Was I the first person to email this important information to you today?
To keep things light and breezy for everyone, I’ll finish up this article in the captions to both the family-oriented Cocoon (above) and the resort-oriented Cocoon L.
I’ve been able to dig up specifications and the original press release, so prepare yourself for a metamorphosis in your understanding of these uniquely 1991 concept cars.
Nissan Cocoon
Inside, Cocoon was wild. The sides of its seats lowered to aid ingress / egress. It had navigation, a laser distance warning system, and a heads-up display (HUD). Its driver alertness monitor could mist its operator in the face with scents to aid alertness. And its three rows (2, 2, 2) were bisected by a gigantic, medical-grade pupa-inspired centre console.
