Nissan Gets Touchy with New Concept Vehicle

Nissan Motor Co. will unveil the Teatro for Dayz concept car late this month at the Tokyo auto show. Based on the boxy Dayz minicar, the new concept features touchscreens and displays spread across the instrument panel and on doors and seat backs.

The concept is designed for next-generation drivers who have been raised on social media, smartphones and touchscreens. Nissan refers to this group as the "share native" generation for their penchant for online sharing of photos, thoughts, experiences, whereabouts and other information about their daily lives. Teatro is Italian for theater.

The goal is to reengage young peoples' fading interest in cars, which the Japanese call kurumabanare (car separation), by providing them a new way to stay connected with friends and family.

Both the interior and exterior are solid white to mimic the latest handheld devices. Nissan says it designed the car without the typical vehicle styling elements that convey speed, size and elegance. Exterior light-emitting-diode screens allow users to change the vehicle's appearance.

When the car isn't being driven, the only visible vehicle systems are the steering wheel and accelerator and brake pedals. Users can access various functions via voice and motion controls. In drive mode, gauges and touchscreen controls appear on a reconfigurable instrument panel. Unnecessary information can be hidden.

When parked, the interior is transformed into a series of large displays for connected users. Nissan notes, however, that technology hasn't advanced to the point to allow touchscreens on all surfaces, so the concept projects images onto door trim and the backs of seats.

The interior also can be altered according to a person's mood or for playing online games. In addition, any experience in or around the car can be captured via an onboard camera and instantly shared.

Instead of the base Dayz's 660-cc 3-cylinder engine, the concept Teatro for Dayz features an all-electric drivetrain. This allows users to keep their smartphones and other devices fully charged.