The Judo was Nissan's knockout concept that never got in the ring
- This is the 1987 Nissan Judo
- The concept car had a bold, futuristic look
- It never made it to production
Published on May 22, 2025 at 8:02 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on May 22, 2025 at 9:19 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Back in 1987, Nissan unveiled its Judo concept car, described as an ‘all-terrain vehicle with cargo space’ – and it was a bit of a beast.
The Judo was showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show alongside four other concept vehicles from the marque.
It was designed as an off-roader and its bodywork appeared to be heavily influenced by the ‘bubble era’ that was popular in Japan at the time.
The car, which is basically an SUV, had a futuristic-look and was clearly ahead of its time.
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Nissan has released some incredible concept cars, including this all-electric one that looks like something Batman would drive, and the helicopter-inspired Nissan Gobi.
But before either of those, Nissan unveiled the Judo – an all-terrain vehicle that sort of looks like a lunar buggy.
The two-seater Judo measured 157 inches (399cm) long, 66 inches wide (169cm), and 62 inches tall (158cm) – a similar size to a second-generation Volkswagen Golf.
Its unique design featured body-colored front and rear bumpers, a winch hidden in the back, a spare-tire on a hinge at the back, and two large fog lamps at the front.
It also had an unusual retracting hardtop, which slide back along the rear of the Judo, rather than being stowed away.
The interior of the Judo was dominated by grey plastic with a dashboard housing a couple of air vents, an instrument cluster and a glove box that was covered in the same material as its seats.
Its center console had controls for the radio and air conditioning system, as well as a myriad of other buttons with purposes unknown – still it looks pretty cool and futuristic, doesn’t it?
The Judo concept was powered by a 2.0 liter inline-four turbo paired with a five speed manual transmission that could produce 210 horsepower and 195lb-ft of torque.
Sadly, Nissan never revealed any other specs, such as its top speed.
As you already know, the Judo never made it into production and is now just a footnote in the history of Nissan, which is a shame, because we reckon this little vehicle could have been a huge hit.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
