The 2005 Nissan x Adidas Car Collab No One Asked Fo

In 2005, Nissan and Adidas teamed up to create a weird sneaker-inspired car called the Nissan Note Adidas Edition Concept. It made no sense—but it sure turned heads.

Back in 2005, Somebody at Nissan Said: “Let’s Make a Car with Adidas”

And nobody stopped them.

So what came out of that brainstorm? The Nissan Note Adidas Edition—a compact hatchback that looked like someone tried to turn a sneaker into a car. Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, this one-off concept car blended driving with gym gear vibes in a way nobody saw coming.

It didn’t have turbochargers. It didn’t corner like a dream. But it did have a zip-up glove box and wheels that looked like sneaker soles. Yeah. This thing was weird.

“Wearable” Car? Yep, That Was the Pitch

The idea behind the Note Adidas Edition was to make a car you could “wear” like a favorite pair of sneakers. Not literally, but you get the point. It was aimed at younger drivers in Japan who liked to mix and match fashion and comfort—people who saw their car as part of their personal style.

So Nissan asked: What if a car was as flexible and customizable as your hoodie?

Here’s what they came up with:

• Swappable bumpers and seat covers to match your mood

• Rubber interior materials like you'd find on gym bags or sneakers

• Zippered glove box, because buttons are apparently too mainstream

• Sneaker-style rims, no kidding—straight out of a tennis shoe catalog

• A removable center console bag, just in case your car needed accessories

Not Built for Speed—Built for Attention

Under the hood, it had the same 1.5-liter engine as the regular Nissan Note. No upgrades, no fancy performance kit. This wasn’t about horsepower—it was about standing out in a parking lot full of grey sedans.

If you wanted something fast, this wasn’t it. But if you wanted something nobody else had? This was your unicorn.

Who Was This Even For?

Hard to say. Probably not the average car guy. This was more about style than substance—think of it as a marketing flex to show that Nissan wasn't afraid to take risks.

And with Adidas Japan on board, it definitely had that “streetwear meets showroom” energy—even if most people didn’t know what to make of it.

The Verdict: Useless? Kinda. Memorable? Definitely.

Let’s be honest: this car was never going into production. But it was a cool reminder that not every concept car has to be a spaceship or a hybrid prototype. Sometimes it’s okay to make something just to see what happens.

The Nissan x Adidas Note was weird. Unnecessary. Kind of goofy.

But also? Pretty fun.

Final Thoughts

Not every car needs to change the world. Some just need to make people stop and say, “What the hell is that?”

So hats off to Nissan and Adidas for giving us one of the strangest collabs in automotive history. No one asked for it—but we’re glad it exists.