Nissan IDx concepts tour Cali

Having traveled from the Tokyo motor show to the Detroit auto show, Nissan's Datsun-inspired IDx concepts are on to much warmer weather.

The upcoming three-day tour, starting Jan. 31, will begin in Venice, Calif., on Abbot Kinney Boulevard. The Freeflow and Nismo will be on display for enthusiasts, with Nissan designers close at hand to swap feedback on the revolutionary couple.

From there the pair is set to arrive early Feb. 1 at Cars and Coffee in Irvine, a location famous for early-Saturday meet-ups with vast array of exotics and hotrods alike.

After leaving Irvine, the concepts will be at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles paralleling the “Inside the MotoMan Studio” event with automotive journalist George Notaras, with the an appearance from Peter Brock.

The tour ends on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Supercar Sunday event in Woodland Hills.

With an always-changing market, this Datsun 510 flashback is just what Nissan needs to break into the younger-generation segment, while at the same time pulling on the heartstrings of 510 faithful.

While at the Detroit auto show, we had the opportunity to speak with Peter Brock one-on-one, where he expressed his enthusiasm for the brand. He's partial to the Freeflow; our interest is in the Nismo.

The Freeflow remains the conservative sister to the problem-child race-ready Nismo. We anticipate one of these models -- but hopefully both -- make it into production.

By Brad Wiley