Luxury automakers often boast that their vehicles make occupants feel as if they are relaxing in a spa. Little surprise then, that manufacturers intent on capturing the youth market are now pitching their vehicles as the rolling equivalent of a sports bar. That's the message Nissan is conveying with its Round Box concept, which will be formally unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

"A sports bar affords an enjoyable, stress-free space where friends can experience a sense of togetherness," explained Tatsuya Shiosaki of Nissan's Exploratory and Advanced Product Department.

The oxymoronic name "Round Box" is said to come from the unusual curved surfaces in the cabin. Among the more unusual touches: seats with a bench-style lower half and a bucket-style upper half. This setup is said to encourage conversation among passengers.

The Round Box also has an interactive "Play Catch" system, which Nissan said allows the driver and rear passengers to share driving and entertainment information. A large touchscreen display is positioned in the center of the vehicle with an additional monitor located in the center of the instrument panel. "The 'Play Catch' system encourages the driver and passengers to easily exchange information with each other — just like 'playing catch,'" Nissan said. Passengers can search for restaurants, for instance, and then send the driving route to the driver's monitor.

The four-passenger Round Box compact convertible is powered by a turbocharged direct-injection gas engine linked to Nissan's advanced Xtronic continuously variable transmission. High-tech goodies include the Around View Monitor, which uses wide-angle cameras mounted on the exterior to give the driver a bird's-eye view of the outside of the vehicle, and a radar-based Distance Control Assist System, a fancy cruise-control system that maintains distance when following another vehicle.

The exterior features a three-section removable roof panel and "road surface" windows or small glass panels placed close to the ground that give passengers a "view of the rapidly passing road surface."

What this means to you: The Nissan Round Box may be inspired by a sports bar, but it's a 'dry' concept. You'll have to park it to get a drink.

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Check out the Nissan Round Box wallpapers and Nissan Round Box Pictures (pics) collection below: