That was designed/shaped to try to capitalize on the "Venus Space Probe" shape from the Six-Million Dollar Man TV show of the same era.

I wondered why I kept hearing Mr. Roboto from Styx while looking at it.

lol* >> http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net.....20130619060523

Boy do I remember those episodes!
A kick-ass robotic villain. The sound design was totally monstrous.

Posting here for this mini-flood of classic 80's spacemobile concept cars:
A great showing of what the future used to look like.
Get a period Nissan Pulsar NX up in this and we're set.

It always made me wonder why they went through SO many Probe concept cars before finally going into production. Then after 4 short years of the first generation, they whipped out the 2nd generation without any crazy concept cars at all. In reality, the 2nd generation has virtually nothing in common with the 1st.

Wow! Now that's seriously the epitome of early 80's concept design! Really takes you back!