Nissan IDx concepts teased a retro revival that never came to pass

The Nissan IDx Freeflow concept combined the boxy proportions of the classic Datsun 510 with a healthy dose of futuristic stying. This coupe concept originally debuted at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.

Nissan stated that the IDx could've been be powered by a four-cylinder engine displacing between 1.2 and 1.5 liters.

That engine would've been mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to balance fuel economy and power. Normally, we we would've run screaming at the first mention of CVT, but Nissan has proven that it can do variable ratios well enough.

Like the 510s of old, the IDx was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration. You may be thinking that this setup was just begging for a sporty variant and you'd have been right.

The squared-off front end featured a quartet of LED headlamp projectors.

The beige coupe featured contrasting roof, hood and decklid panels, all finished in glossy white. Black greenhouse pillars created the illusion that the roof floated above the vehicle.

Elsewhere in Nissan's booth was the IDx Nismo, the car that we actually wanted the automaker to build.

Finished largely in carbon fiber with contrasting white panels, the IDx Nismo also featured unique head and tail lamps when compared to its Freeflow conceptual sibling.

The rear-driven IDx Nismo also featured a "sporty CVT," but we wish they would've built it with a six-speed manual transmission featuring the automaker's SynchroRev Match technology.

The red roof, the white body, the competition graphics scheme: The IDx Nismo paid perfect homage to the racing BRE Datsun 510s from the 1970s.

Behind its squinty headlamps, you'd have found a turbocharged, 1.6-liter engine. 

Nismo enthusiasts have been champing at the bit for the automaker to revive the Silvia/240SX coupe to do battle with the Toyobaru twins. Unfortunately, both IDx concepts remained showcars exclusively.