Nissan Unveils Futuristic Autonomous Car Concept

Nissan Motor Co.’s new IDS (intelligent driving system) concept car showcases a variety of driver-assist technologies and other next-generation systems the company plans to launch in coming years. The carmaker unveiled the vehicle at this week’s Tokyo auto show.

Drivers can switch from manual to autonomous-driving at the touch of a button. A series of sensors, cameras, lasers and radar monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and location to enable automated steering, throttle control and braking as necessary.

In addition, the interior is transformed into a more comfortable environment when the auto pilot mode is selected. This includes retracting the steering wheel and deploying a large flat screen over the center console. Seats rotate slightly inward toward each other, and interior lighting is softened.

When the vehicle is operated manually, artificial intelligence software analyzes driving habits and plugs the information into the car’s autonomous settings. This allows it to mimic a person’s driving style in relation to road and traffic conditions.

Exterior lights and displays alert pedestrians that the car is being operated autonomously. Messages such as “After you” also can be flashed to pedestrians at cross walks.

The all-electric IDS features a 60-kWh lithium-ion battery that doubles the energy density of the system in Nissan’s current Leaf EV. That vehicle has a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency driving-range rating of 107 miles.

Nissan says it now is able to squeeze 288 cells into the same space that accommodates 192 cells in the current design. The new battery uses a manganese, nickel and cobalt chemistry for the cathode in place of the current manganese-nickel material. The electrolyte also has been enhanced to help improve battery life. The battery can be wirelessly replenished by parking near a charging unit.

The concept car’s wedge-like design maximizes aerodynamics, which Nissan says yields an industry-best drag coefficient of 0.20. Other aero features include wing-shaped fenders, flat undercarriage, thin tires and a low-profile exterior. An all-carbon-fiber body minimizes vehicle weight.

Nissan currently is testing various self-driving systems in a fleet of modified Leaf EVS in Japan. The carmaker aims to launch an automated parking feature and its “traffic-jam pilot” system by the end of next year. This will be followed by automated lane changing in 2018 and other features in 2020.