2009 Nissan Cube Krom

Scion brought the "box on wheels" design concept to the United States when it introduced the XB for the 2004 model year. Nissan, which has had its own box-shaped city vehicle in Japan for a decade, announced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show last November that it would bring the Cube to the U.S. Three months, later at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, Nissan unveiled a limited-edition specialty version of the Cube.

The 2009 Cube Krōm has been developed by the Specialty Vehicles Group, a new organization within Nissan responsible for the customization and conversion of select Nissan models. Nissan’s North American Technical Center and Autech Japan, a conversion partner, are also working with the Specialty Vehicles Group on this project.

Much like Scion with its long list of accessories, the 2009 Nissan Cube Krōm offers ready-made, aftermarket-style customization, only in a prepackaged form. Nissan calls it "proactive individualism," and it comes with several interior and exterior modifications. On the outside, the Cube Krōm gets a three-bar chrome grille, a lower two-bar bumper grille, more aggressive front and rear fascias, integrated body side sills, a unique rear roof spoiler and exclusive 16-inch alloy wheels. Unlike other Cubes, the Krōm will not have fog lights.

Inside, style changes include brushed chrome silver trim appliqués, brushed aluminum pedal covers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black–and-gray cloth seat trim and an interior illumination system with 20 color options.

Additional standard features consist of automatic temperature control, a Bluetooth cell phone link, an upgraded audio system with six speakers and a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer, steering-wheel audio controls, automatic headlights and an iPod interface.

Under the hood, you’ll find the same 122-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine as other Cubes, but it won’t offer the base model’s 6-speed manual transmission; it will come only with the continuously variable automatic transmission.

Set to go on sale in May, the Cube is the first Nissan vehicle to get the Krōm treatment from the Specialty Vehicles Group, which will also offer a series of performance-oriented models from Nismo, Nissan’s high-performance division. Nismos will come with performance upgrades, to include more power, firmer suspension tuning, aerodynamic body modifications and sporty interior treatments. While Nissan says production of the Specialty Vehicles Group models will be limited, the company has not revealed production limits.

For those who don’t want a prepackaged factory custom, Nissan also offers 40 accessories for the Cube so you can put your personal stamp on it. Customers can choose any number of these features and have them installed at their local dealers.

At Chicago, Nissan also announced that when the Cube goes on sale this spring, the starting price will be $13,990. Pricing for other models will be announced closer to launch. Nissan also said it will announce its next specialty vehicle at the New York International Auto Show in April.