Marc Ecko Nissan Pathfinder and Armada

Nissan North America have teamed up with ultra-hip designer Marc Ecko to revisit the vehicle-as-art experience. Perhaps Fred Flintstone decorated his pedal car. In John Steinbeck's 'Grapes of Wrath' he described how many American families customised their cars Beverly Hillbillies style in the great migration west.  However the first 'serious' attempt I'm aware of at making a car a medium for art was Andy Warhol's BMWs.  Nissan and Ecko have given the theme a modern interpretation.

Like most art, people interpret it in many different ways. It's been called a double-label, cross-branding, a mash-up and a co-brand, beautifully ugly and many other things.

Nissan have provided a Nissan Pathfinder and Nissan Armada and Marc Ecko has supplied his artistic creativity  to produce two unique vehicles that are strong automotive design statements, echoing the designer's cool street swaggering hip hop feel.

Ecko's designs include both exterior styling and interior trim design for both of the Nissan vehicles.

The Pathfinder, labelled *ecko unltd., received a new grille and grey-and-black camouflage paint with orange detail.  Moulded timber seat-backings a high-gloss console makeover with orange details and a wood steering wheel add to the vehicle's strong interior design.

The whole exercise was probably one to create awareness and get people talking - talking about Nissan and talking about Marc Ecko.  If that was the aim, then this project has been a success.  The vehicles have created a buzz inside and outside the vehicle and design industries.  It's been reported in BusinessWeek, in motor industry and fashion industry magazines and all over the internet.

Although there are no plans to reproduce this styling exercise in Australia, perhaps this project will inspire some local Nissan 4x4 owners to customise their own vehicles.  There's no question that a vehicle as bold and unique as the Nissan Pathfinder ecko unltd. would definitely stand out on the streets of Armidale.

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