The Nissan IDS Concept just made its debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, giving a glimpse into the automaker's vision for the future of cars.
Nissan sees an exciting future with autonomous driving and zero emission electric vehicles (EVs) and the new Nissan IDS Concept embodies that futuristic view.
Autonomous driving is a key aspect of that vision for the future and Nissan will start introducing such technology early next year in select markets. The automaker plans to gradually introduce autonomous technology and artificial intelligence (AI) across its lineup, aiming to offer fully autonomous vehicles by 2020.
The new Nissan IDS Concept now previews core design and engineering technology that will grace future vehicles. A 60 kilowatt-hour electric drive unit, a sleek construction made of carbon fiber and other light materials and a compact, yet aerodynamic shape are just some highlights, but the IDS Concept has several exciting features.
"Nissan's forthcoming technologies will revolutionize the relationship between car and driver, and future mobility," said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan President and CEO.
EVs will soon evolve to go greater distances on a single charge and aerodynamics play a key role in increasing the driving range. The Nissan IDS Concept boasts the automaker's most advanced aerodynamic technology, heralding a promising future.
At the same time, the concept vehicle also tackles a major challenge automakers currently face with autonomous cars: communication. A self-driving vehicle needs to ensure communication not only between the car and driver, but also between cars and people.
"A key point behind the Nissan IDS Concept is communication. For autonomous drive to become reality, as a society we have to consider not only communication between car and driver but also between cars and people. The Nissan IDS Concept's design embodies Nissan's vision of autonomous drive as expressed in the phrase together, we ride," added Mitsunori Morita, Nissan's Design Director.
The automaker has come up with an intriguing solution for communication, placing an outward-facing display in the dashboard. This screen will display messages such as "After You" to pedestrians and cyclists, letting them know they can safely go about their route.
At the same time, a strip of bright LED lights called the "Intention Indicator" will shine white when pedestrians or cyclists are close by to indicate that it is aware of them.
The Nissan IDS Concept further packs five radar sensors, five laser scanners, 12 cameras and other high-tech features to ensure the car recognizes surrounding objects and always takes the safest course of action.
The interior design, meanwhile, transforms depending on the driving mode. In Manual Drive mode, for instance, the Nissan IDS Concept will look similar to a regular car, with a steering wheel on the driver's side and a digital instrument panel. In Piloted Drive mode, however, the car will house the steering wheel into the dashboard and push out a large flat screen, while also adjusting the position of the seats so the car's interior seems more like a lounge.
Users will be able to control the car's autonomous driving functions either by voice or by gestures. A PD Controller switch, meanwhile, will rest between the front seats, requiring the driver to physically toggle between the Manual and Piloted Drive modes. According to Nissan, this physical action is an essential step to ensure safety.
The Nissan IDS Concept has plenty of other futurstic features to offer, so check out the videos below to get a better idea of Nissan's vision for the future.
