2004 Chevrolet Nomad Concept

All about character

Speaking of Great Britain, that’s where the internationally flavored Nomad was designed.

GM tapped its global network of designers to pen the Nomad - a group that brought to the design table a diverse cultural background and linked with North American counterparts to produce a series of stunning, contemporary concept vehicles.

Renowned Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina helped assemble the driveable vehicle.

The Nomad team created a forward thinking and forward looking design while evoking the spirit of the 1954 Chevy Nomad concept vehicle, including round headlamps mounted on gently curving fenders, a trademark Corvette grille and a forward-sloping B-pillar.

Like the ‘04 concept, the ‘54 Nomad shared a new sports car platform - the Corvette - and challenged the thinking of car-based utility. The new Nomad goes even further, incorporating clever details to accommodate large, bulky items, such as a removable rear roof panel and a unique folding tailgate. A sliding cargo floor extends over the folded tailgate so items placed on the load floor are easily pushed into the cargo area.

Chrome strips on the outside of the tailgate complement styling ribs on the Nomad’s rear roof - another nod to the character of the 1954 concept vehicle.

LED technology for the headlamps and taillamps not only adds a modern, high-tech touch to the Nomad, but allows for the lamps’ slim profiles. They look pretty cool when illuminated, too.

“There is a simple, yet very expressive design to the Nomad,” said Dale Brewer, lead exterior designer. “The face of the vehicle, along with the lights, the shape of the grille and the tailgate have Chevrolet heritage, but conveyed in a thoroughly modern way.”

That goes for the interior, too, which has a large, fan-shaped central gauge cluster mounted in the dashboard. The cluster takes on a 3-D look, with an aluminum background and special instrument lighting. It’s a luminous appearance that adds visual depth and a sophisticated feel to the interior.

In front of the gauges is a large, classic-looking steering wheel that is covered in leather. Chevrolet “bowtie” insignias accent a metal band that runs the length of the dashboard - a styling cue on Chevrolet models of the 1950s that contributes to the interior’s geometric theme.

The black leather-trimmed interior features Cove Blue performance Nubuck inserts, anodized blue aluminum gauges and energizing blue lighting. A color used increasingly by trendsetting designers for its ability to evoke relaxed emotions and convey sophistication, the blue lighting and accents add a uniquely urban ambiance to the Nomad’s passenger environment - like the atmosphere of a hip martini bar.

Besides looking cool the interior also offers clever functionality, including three folding options for the rear seat: the center armrest folds to store long items, such as skis, while each rear seatback folds to dramatically increase the Nomad’s overall cargo space.

The cool theme continues the Ice Blue Metallic exterior color, complemented with an ultra-fine tinted silver-blue accent. In addition to being one of fashion’s most popular palette choices, the blue hue bolsters the Nomad’s sophisticated, urban character.

“Wherever you look or whatever you touch in the Nomad, it creates a satisfying emotional reaction,” said Jose Gonzalez, lead interior designer. “There are cars that offer more room and amenities, but the Nomad’s environment has soul. It’s a car you want to get in and drive.”

A powerful, yet unobtrusive Panasonic sound system in Nomad has speakers in the dashboard and doors, as well as subwoofers in the rear of the armrests. Quite simply, it bumps - a prerequisite of younger buyers for any new vehicle.

Right for the time