Nissan Makes A New, Interesting Looking Car

[Seil]

The "Nissan Land Glider EV."

So is this the direction we're heading in? I always thought we wanted to get away from cars that looked like 'The Homer.'

Why yes, it IS happy to see you.

Originally Posted by http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/tokyo-2009-preview-nissan-unveils-land-glider-concept-w-video/

Nissan is pulling out all the zero emission stops at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. In addition to the expected Leaf electric vehicle, the Japanese automaker will also be showing off a new concept called the Land Glider. Intended to be an urban runabout, the two-seat Land Glider is fully electric and is extremely narrow to ease congestion in dense city centers and make it easier to find suitable parking spots.

Inside the cockpit, the Land Glider's pilot sits front and center behind a suitably futuristic instrument cluster and a steering wheel that looks like twin joysticks. According to Nissan, the steering operations are computer controlled through a drive-by-wire arrangement, so there doesn't seem to be a direct connection between the steering wheel and the car's four contact patches.

Perhaps the most interesting bit Nissan pioneered with the Land Glider is the ability to lean into turns like a motorcycle. While this isn't an entirely new concept, it's a first for Nissan and the technology seems to be very well implemented in the Land Glider, as you can see in the video after the jump.

Iuhnno - the Smart car looks pretty silly, and this looks like a thinner version 'o one. But the tipping like a motorcycle is pretty neat, I guess. What do you guys think?

[Viridis]

I've heard about this somewhere (probably on Reddit). They seem neat because you can fit two in a lane/parking space. I like the space-saving design alone.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by Seil

Why yes, it IS happy to see you.[/center]

That thing looks murderous once you start looking at it like a face. Like twisted, sadistic murderous. It'll strap you down and start running you over, crushing you joint by joint starting with your fingertips and toes and working inward with terrifying precision and glee!

Originally Posted by Viridis

I've heard about this somewhere (probably on Reddit). They seem neat because you can fit two in a lane/parking space. I like the space-saving design alone.

I still like the one with the wingmen wheel pods.

Also, joking aside, this isn't a car so much as a cramped golf cart that probably won't break 30MPH. In an accident, it's a deathtrap. I'm sorry, but if there isn't even room for a proper steering wheel, which will be a barrier to getting people to buy it, on top of everything else, there isn't room for you to be safe when a much bigger vehicle decides it wants to occupy the same space as you.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Should we all drive tanks Blues? Tanks are pretty safe.

[Seil]

Lots of info.


Some more info.

Shots of the car at different angles.

If you like what you've been hearing about Nissan's Leaf electric car, but think it looks too much like a futuristic Versa 1.6 for your tastes, then maybe Nissan's other zero-emissions concept will pique your interest.
The Nissan Land Glider concept is a tiny electric vehicle that features a computer controlled steering system that leans the car into the turns. The pilot driver is seated centrally in the cabin with space for a single passenger directly behind in the narrow cabin. At least, it looks like that's where the passenger would sit. Although the photos clearly show a driver's four-point harness, none of the pictures show a rear seat belt.
The steering wheel has been replaced with what looks like a flight yoke. The rear view mirrors have been replaced by cameras and monitors. The dashboard definitely looks like it belongs on a vehicle of the future.

Details about the drive train are scarce, but we do know that it will be motivated by all-electric power. Expect the battery technology to be similar to that of the Leaf, albeit on a smaller scale. With its narrow profile and potentially lighter weight, we presume that the Land Glider will get by with less horsepower than the Leaf requires.
The Land Glider will be displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, alongside the Leaf production concept. Stay tuned for more details as they emerge. In the meantime, check out the embedded video of the Land Glider in action after the jump.

Originally Posted by Peter Hacker

Should we all drive tanks Blues? Tanks are pretty safe.

Yeah, but people don't take kindly to tanks driving around the city:

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

Should we all drive tanks Blues? Tanks are pretty safe.

Nah, they're slow and the treads are murder on the roads.


Really, though, this thing is barely safer than a motorcycle in an accident at best. And everyone knows in an accident, the motorcycle loses. Also the rider as he flies in a balletic arc through the air and into a lamp post. This is just more likely to bash you around the inside, which can be just as bad.




Edit: Also, Seil, this came out, like, this time last year. I just noticed the date on the YouTube video. Not that I mind, but I wasn't sure you realized, either.

[Azisien]

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Nah, they're slow and the treads are murder on the roads.

Modern tanks aren't slow and fuck roads we all drive tanks. Seriously though the "safety" argument for not having smaller cars is horseshit.

But that thing is...pretty ugly. I'd totally drive one!

[Fifthfiend]

Looks like a great design if you live in a city, I'd be terrified to take that thing on a highway.

Still preferable to a motorcycle since at least you can't try and take a perfectly standard turn and pitch yourself right off the goddamn thing.

[McTahr]

Yeah I'm really digging the new models. They seem ugly because they're not what we've come to really expect from cars, but you can't match the shape of a regular car without sacrificing drag reduction, weight, etc.

They're also typically built with a full carbon-fiber cockpit shell or something of the sort (I read the specs last night and don't care to re-read) with front and side airbags for all-around protection, as well as similar crush structures in the front for collision absorption as you see in standard vehicles.

It's not like they're telling safety to eat a dick with these things, they're just taking a different route to get to it than we're used to seeing.

[Krylo]

It's cool for like, yuppies, I guess.

Families and your average bachelors will probably eschew them, though. Not enough room for you family/drunk friends, and good luck picking up a chick with one anywhere outside a green peace rally.

It'd be nice to see companies trying to make zero emission vehicles that could actually fill the spaces that our current vehicles do. I realize it's going to be considerably more difficult, but until they do, it's never going to get off the ground.