Following a very successful Tokyo debut last year, Nissan’s IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO concept cars are now in Detroit to see what people on this side of the planet think about their revolutionary ideas. These concepts are designed with pure simplicity of form and function in mind. Some say they are Nissan’s answer to the Toyota GT86.

Whether or not the IDx duo will result in a production sports car or not remains to be seen in the future. But they do represent a bright idea that takes the sheer simplicity of old Datsun sports car and mixes it up with modern technology to offer a car that is reliable, easy to live with, and above all, fun to drive. The boxy design of these cars hints at their relaxed attitude.

The Nissan IDx Freeflow is designed to offer the same level of comfort and relaxation to occupants as if they were seating in their living room. It does that by shunning luxury excess and using new materials with a calming effect. It has a simple steering wheel, a simple instrument, and it uses denim as to cover the seats and certain trim area. The car has 18-inch wheels and its power could come from a powertrain with a 1.2-liter or 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Nissan IDx NISMO is a sportier version of the same car, fiddled with by motorsport experts at NISMO. It is slightly wider and lower than the Freeflow, and features carbon panels, side mufflers, 19-inch wheels, a high-performance, eco-friendly 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine, together with a sporty CVT with 6-speed manual shift mode and synchronized rev control. These elements, and the Alantara-wrapped interior, give the sporting credentials it needs to become a proper NISMO.