Nissan Navara Dark Sky, designed with ESA to see the stars

The Nissan Navara is the pick-up from the Japanese brand and is quite well known in Europe. With these credentials, Nissan has wanted to go a step further and take this work van to the stars. Well, more or less, since what they intend with the Nissan Navara Dark Sky, a version of the off-road vehicle for working in somewhat inaccessible places, is to take star research to another level.

The variant presented at the Hannover Show has been designed together with the ESA, the European Space Agency, so that its astronomers can move freely over any terrain and carry their portable observation equipment wherever it is needed. In fact, the Nissan Navara Dark Sky has been designed to tow a large portable astronomical observation telescope behind it.

The vehicle has been fitted with a new front bumper equipped with a winch, and the roof has been fitted with a row of more powerful lights that will allow scientists to set up the portable observatory wherever needed without having to suffer from a lack of light. It also features red lights, which help with visibility in the dark without affecting equipment through light pollution.

The rear bumper has also been redesigned and the wheel arches have been adjusted to fit the car with 20-inch alloy wheels, with tyres ready for adventure. The bodywork has been finished in black, with a map of Europe and the ESA logo on both sides, to make it clear that this concept is dedicated to science and research of the dark sky, as its name indicates.

This is a vehicle for moving around at night, so the interior has details to help with visibility in low-light conditions. For example, the upholstery features fluorescent details that react to light, allowing you to see slightly better. As for the engine, the concept is fitted with a 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 190 CV and a maximum torque of 450 Nm, with all-wheel drive, designed to take it wherever the telescope needs to be set up.

The astronomical observation telescope is mounted on a trailer that can be set up in virtually any location and will allow stargazing in comfort. With this Nissan Navara Dark Sky, the Japanese brand demonstrates the versatility of its pick-up and shows that it can be used for whatever you need.

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