The Nissan Gobi, known in Japan as the Nissan Gobi (ニッサン ゴビ), was a pick-up concept study developed by Nissan Design International, Inc., the brand's design studio based in San Diego, California. Unlike most pick-up concepts shown at American motor shows at the time, which were largely derived from production models, the Gobi was conceived entirely from scratch. NDI director Gerald P. Hirshberg described the goal as developing a light commercial vehicle with forms as appealing as those of a sports car, a notable ambition given the importance of the pick-up market in the United States.
The design broke new stylistic ground for a vehicle of its type. The cab had a rounded shape reminiscent of a small helicopter, with the hood and windshield sitting almost in a single line. Its side structures were distinctively set off in contrasting color. Inside, the cabin was laid out asymmetrically, oriented toward the driver.
Mechanically, the Gobi followed a conventional layout with a front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels. It used a 4-cylinder, 12-valve engine of 2388 cc, producing 136 hp. The body was a two-door, two-seat pick-up configuration. As a design study, the Gobi was never put into production.
