We’ll come right out and say it: we simply love the look of this thing
Crossovers these days are getting a lot of attention and some of the best-designed new cars are high riders like Chevrolet’s new FNR-X concept. Its name stands for Find New Roads, and the X suggests it can go off road, although it most likely won’t have all-wheel drive, not even as an option.
The press blurb tactfully avoids talking about this vehicle’s lack of even optional all-wheel traction, but it does mention “the all-terrain Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS), in addition to optical and acoustic recognition sensors all over its body, the FNR-X provides highly autonomous driver assistance by choosing the best route based on its predictions for complex road conditions.”
This, to our understanding, means the car will have some degree of self driving ability even off road, although we need more details for confirmation.
It sees that even though it’s designed to look like it can go off-road, it’s really more of an on-road sort of vehicle, one designed to be highly efficient and futuristic looking. For instance, it uses a hybrid powertrain in conjunction with adaptive suspension (which can alter the car’s ride height too) in order to make the most of a certain set of road conditions.
According to Alan Batey, executive vice president and president of GM North America and Global Chevrolet, the concept is “one of Chevrolet’s most forward-thinking concept cars, truly exemplifying the brand’s passion for innovation and ingenuity,” adding that it “builds on the design and technology showcased on the original FNR concept and embodies the belief at Chevrolet’s core that anything is possible.”
We hope the FNR-X spawns some sort of production vehicle, because it’d be a shame not to use design and styling as good as this. Thus far, it’s a one off concept that just debuted at Auto Shanghai 2017.