GENEVA - Nissan pushes into the future with Intelligent Mobility making cars safer and greener.

Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility vision pushes towards safer & more sustainable future

• Builds on company leadership in electrification and vehicle intelligence  
• Intelligent Driving, Power, Integration cornerstone of new vision 
• Vision designed to guide Nissan’s future product and technology pipeline 
• Focused on enhancing the driver and passenger experience 

IDS concept makes its European debut at Geneva

• IDS (Intelligent Driving System) Concept represents Nissan’s vision for the future of EV and autonomous driving
• Complex system of sensors & AI brings us closer to a zero fatalities future
• On-road autonomous drive technology demos in Europe in 2016

‘Piloted Drive’ Qashqai to roll off the production line in 2017

• Nissan’s first vehicle in Europe to feature autonomous drive technology next year
• New  technology allows cars to drive autonomously in a single lane in heavy traffic conditions on highways
• Plan to launch a range of cars with increasing autonomous capabilities by 2020
• Boost for European manufacturing with refreshed Qashqai made at Sunderland Plant

World premiere of new ‘Premium Concept’ Qashqai and X-Trail crossovers

• Striking design and styling offers fresh take on successful crossover segment
• Use of carbon fibre, 20-inch wheels, enhanced ‘V-motion’ grilles makes bold statement
• Explores potential of exciting new level of personalisation in its class
• Designed with the ‘Premium Urbanite’ and ‘Premium Adventurist’ in mind
• Qashqai ‘Premium Concept’ features ‘Piloted Drive 1.0’ autonomous technology

Electric vehicle technology ecosystem propelled to new heights

• Nissan’s new European office to feature world’s largest energy management system
• 64 Nissan LEAF batteries to power stationary energy storage system
• 100 vehicle-to-grid chargers to form largest ever grid-integrated electric vehicle (EV) system
• Shows how EVs can play a part in the energy management systems of the future

Nissan’s advanced technology and future innovation will be in the spotlight at this year’s Geneva Motor Show as Nissan unveils its Intelligent Mobility vision for the very first time and invites its IDS Concept to the stand for its European debut.

Featuring a dynamic display of Nissan’s vision for the future of mobility, the Nissan stand will bring to life the technologies of tomorrow. From a glimpse of Nissan’s vision of the future of mobility to exploring the striking design and styling of Nissan’s new Premium Concept crossovers, the stand once again confirms why Nissan is one of the industry’s most exciting and forward-thinking brands.

Pursuing a goal of zero emission vehicles and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility vision is designed to guide Nissan’s product and technology pipeline; anchoring critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society.

At the core of Nissan Intelligent Mobility are three areas of innovation:

• Nissan Intelligent Driving – creating more driver confidence, spearheaded by Nissan’s autonomous drive technology, Piloted Drive
• Nissan Intelligent Power – more efficiency, more power, spearheaded by electric vehicles
• Nissan Intelligent Integration – new links between vehicles and society

This Intelligent Mobility vision is borne out in Nissan’s IDS Concept which makes its European premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. Representing Nissan’s vision for the future of electric vehicles and autonomous driving, the IDS Concept steals the limelight with its highly evolved EV technology, advanced aerodynamic performance, exhilarating acceleration and sophisticated AI capability.   

Set to revolutionise the relationship between driver and car, the new concept proves Nissan stands once again at the forefront of automotive technology - developing practical, real-world applications of autonomous drive technology. Bringing innovation and excitement to everyone.

Nowhere is this better exemplified than in Nissan’s award-winning crossover, the Nissan Qashqai. The Qashqai crossover will be the company’s first vehicle in Europe to feature autonomous drive technology when it rolls off the line next year. Produced at Nissan’s flagship manufacturing plant in Sunderland, UK, the refreshed Qashqai will be equipped with ‘Piloted Drive 1.0’, a feature that allows cars to drive autonomously and safely in a single lane in heavy traffic conditions on highways.

From Piloted Drive technologies to a brand new sense of premium styling, the Geneva Motor Show was also the platform for Nissan’s debut of its ‘Premium Concept’ crossovers. Nissan showcased two striking special versions of its best-selling crossovers, the Qashqai and X-Trail. Taking the current models as a starting point, Nissan has explored how a more premium and dynamic design interpretation could enhance and extend the appeal of its award-winning crossover range in the future.

From how the Nissan design language is expressed to how advanced materials are used, both cars offer a fresh take on the widespread appeal of a premium Nissan crossover.  Considering the concept of the urban explorer, each Premium Concept has a unique execution and is designed to appeal to a very different customer. In addition, the Qashqai Premium Concept features Piloted Drive 1.0 autonomous technology – the same technology that will be available on the Nissan Qashqai in Europe from 2017.

Nissan’s presence at the Geneva Motor Show comes in a year when Nissan recorded its sixth consecutiveyear of growth and best-ever sales in Europe selling 715,623 units by the end of 2015. Maintaining our 4.0% market share and growing sales in key countries including Spain, Italy, UK and Germany, Nissan continues to set new heights.

2016 is also a milestone year for Nissan’s manufacturing facilities, with the flagship Sunderland Plant celebrating its 30^th anniversary and Nissan’s St. Petersburg plant marking ten years of operation. This is further proof that ongoing investment to strengthen local production in key markets is paying dividends.

TOKYO SHOW - Nissan delivers a new IDS Concept which promises Zero Emissions and Zero fatalities.

Today at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled a concept vehicle that embodies Nissan’s vision of the future of autonomous driving and zero emission EVs: the Nissan IDS Concept.

Presenting at the show, Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “Nissan’s forthcoming technologies will revolutionise the relationship between car and driver, and future mobility.”

After leading the development and expansion of EV technology, Nissan once again stands at the forefront of automotive technology. By integrating advanced vehicle control and safety technologies with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), Nissan is among the leaders developing practical, real-world applications of autonomous drive technology.

In August 2013, Ghosn said that by 2020 Nissan plans to equip innovative autonomous drive technology on multiple vehicles. Progress is well on track to achieve this goal.

Nissan Intelligent Driving is Nissan’s concept of autonomous drive technology and represents what Nissan believes next-generation vehicles should be. “Nissan Intelligent Driving improves a driver’s ability to see, think and react. It compensates for human error, which causes more than 90 percent of all car accidents. As a result, time spent behind the wheel is safer, cleaner, more efficient and more fun,” continued Ghosn.

By 2020, expect to see Nissan Intelligent Driving technology deployed on cars in cities around the world.

The Nissan IDS experience

Some have compared a future with autonomous drive to living in a world of conveyer belts that simply ferry people from point A to B, but the Nissan IDS Concept promises a very different vision of tomorrow. Even when the driver selects Piloted Drive and turns over driving to the vehicle, the car's performance – from accelerating to braking to cornering – imitates the driver’s own style and preferences.

In Manual Drive mode, the driver has control. The linear acceleration and cornering are pure and exhilarating. Yet behind the scenes, the Nissan IDS Concept continues to provide assistance. Sensors continually monitor conditions and assistance is available even while the driver is in control. In the event of imminent danger, Nissan IDS Concept will assist the driver in taking evasive action.

In addition to learning, the Nissan IDS Concept's AI communicates like an attentive partner. From information concerning traffic conditions, the driver’s schedule to personal interests, Nissan IDS Concept’s AI has what is needed to help create a driving experience that is comfortable, enjoyable and safe.

Design – Together, we ride

“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,” says Mitsunori Morita, Design Director.

Two interiors enable two ways for the driver to enjoy the experience

Together, we ride is clearly demonstrated in the interior design. “The Nissan IDS Concept has different interiors depending on whether the driver opts for Piloted Drive or Manual Drive. This was something that we thought was absolutely necessary to express our idea of autonomous drive,” says Morita.

Even though it is a hatchback, the Nissan IDS Concept’s long wheelbase enables comfortable seating space for four adults. But the cabin becomes even more spacious when the driver selects Piloted Drive. In this mode, the steering wheel recedes into the centre of the instrument panel and a large flat screen comes out. 

Various driving-related operations are handled by AI, voice and gestures from the driver. The interior, which comprises natural materials such as mesh leather, is illuminated by soft light. All four seats rotate slightly inward, facilitating easier conversation. It’s like relaxing in a living room.

When the driver selects Manual Drive, the roomy interior transforms to put the driver in control. All seats face forward. The steering wheel, which takes styling cues from reins for horse riding, appears along with driving meters and a heads-up display that shows route and other driving information. 

Interior lighting switches to blue, stimulating the ability to concentrate. Nissan's use of hollow-structure A-pillars helps ensure excellent visibility by reducing blind spots and also contributes to the feeling of open space.

“In every situation, it is about giving the driver more choices and greater control.  And the driver will remain the focus of our technology development efforts,” Ghosn said at the show.

The transformation to Manual Drive can be carried out with ease through a switch between the front seats called the PD Commander. This is the only control the driver can physically operate when the car is in Piloted Drive: when the driver is ready to take over driving, a physical action should initiate the change.

Exterior design — communication that creates confidence and harmony

For autonomous drive to be widely accepted, people need to fully trust the technology. Through its innovative communication capabilities, the Nissan IDS Concept promotes confidence and a sense of harmony for those outside the car as well. Various exterior lights and displays convey to pedestrians and others the car's awareness of its surroundings and signals its intentions. 

The car's silver side body line, for example, is actually an LED that Nissan calls the Intention Indicator. When pedestrians or cyclists are nearby, the strip shines red, signalling that the car is aware of them. Another electronic display, which faces outside from the instrument panel, can flash messages such as “After you” to pedestrians. This natural, harmonious system of communication signals a new future with cars.

Advanced aerodynamic performance for greater driving range

Design Director Mitsunori Morita says: “By the time Nissan Intelligent Driving technology is available on production cars, EVs will be able to go great distances on a single charge. Getting to this point will, of course, require the further evolution of batteries, but aerodynamic performance is also very important. We incorporated our most advanced aerodynamic technology in the design of the Nissan IDS Concept.”

The height of the full carbon fibre body was constrained to 1,380 mm, sharply minimising aerodynamic drag (Cd). Positioning the tyres close to the corners of the body maximises interior space while enabling a wrap-around cabin design. 

Nissan selected large-diameter wheels for high-performance and sportiness, but used very thin 175-size tyres to minimise air and roll resistance. The wheels have a layered design suggestive of thin fins that create tiny vortexes of air flow on the wheel’s surface. This design further contributes to smooth air flow.

The icicle pattern on the Nissan IDS Concept's grille symbolises a pure and clean design – perfect for an EV. Shaped like a stack of ice blocks, the grille pattern appears transparent. The car's bluish satin silver body colour heightens the impression of a comfortable and secure cabin space.

Highly evolved EV technology for long-distance driving

At Nissan's annual shareholders meeting in June, Executive Vice President Hideyuki Sakamoto said: “Our zero emission strategy centres on EVs. We are pursuing improved electric powertrain technologies, such as motors, batteries and inverters, which will enable us to mass produce and market EVs that equal or surpass the convenience of petrol-powered cars.”

The Nissan IDS Concept is fitted with a high-capacity 60 kWh battery, and thanks to its outstanding aerodynamics, low stance, flowing form and reduced weight due to its full-carbon-fibre body, the vehicle is designed to also meet the need to drive long distances. 

Other technologies on the Nissan IDS Concept include Piloted Park that can be operated by smartphone or tablet, and wireless charging technologies. Through these, the driver can leave parking and charging to the car.

Nissan’s targets – Zero traffic fatalities and zero emissions

In order for our car-based society to be sustainable, complex issues ranging from sustainable energy supplies to climate change, air pollution and traffic safety must be addressed. At Nissan, we have set zero fatalities and zero emissions as aspirational targets in our mission to help create a sustainable car-based society.

Over 90% of traffic accidents are caused by human error. Nissan IDS Concept's extensive system of sensors and AI are designed to provide enhanced safety performance compared to a human driver. This technology brings us a step closer to the goal of zero traffic fatalities.

EVs produce no CO₂ emissions and their batteries can store energy from renewable sources and turn it into electricity for homes and buildings. As the number of EVs increases, entire communities will be able to harness their power as part of a sustainable energy plan. Then, as EVs come to play a central role in energy supply, we will come that much closer to becoming a zero emission society.

Nissan believes that the Nissan IDS Concept will evolve into a leading innovation for next generation mobility and our quest for making these “two zeroes” a reality.

Featuring Nissan’s most advanced safety, driving-control and EV technology – all taken to a new level by AI – the Nissan IDS Concept is a compelling showcase of a promising future.