The Future is Now | West Texas Nissan

Nissan advances plans to have commercially viable autonomous drive vehicles on the road by 2020

An autonomous car was once the epitome of a 'future' car, something seen only in science fiction-but now Nissan has achieved the technological advancements necessary to begin to make this fiction a reality.

Nissan has been working to develop this technology alongside teams from some of the world's top universities, including MIT, Stanford, Oxford, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Tokyo. The combined research time equals 80 years of research and development, the kind of effort it takes to put Nissan at the forefront of this important development.

A test 'drive' of Nissan's Autonomous Drive Technology at the 2013 CEATEC Innovation Awards.

Nissan's prototypes are equipped with Autonomous Drive technology that detects road conditions and automatically operates the car's main controls, including steering, braking and acceleration. The prototype vehicles can operate in automatic mode on the expressway, merge into traffic, change lanes and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.

The Autonomous Car Means A Safer Ride

The building blocks of autonomous driving technology already exists in Nissan vehicles in the form ofNissan’s Safety Shield-inspired technologies. These technologies can monitor a nearly 360-degree view around a vehicle for risks, offering warnings to the driver and taking action to help avoid crashes if necessary.

The autonomous car takes the basics of the Safety Shield philosophy steps further. The prototype car can drive autonomously on a highway, merging, passing and performing other typical driving maneuvers. This kind of convenience for the driver could ultimately lead to a significant reduction in the 93% of accidents in the US caused by human error and inattention. Further advances in this technology will reduce input needed from the driver, taking the guesswork and chance out of driving and helping to provide peace of mind.

"Nissan seeks a safer, more comfortable
and environmentally friendly mobile future."

- Toshiyuki Shiga, Vice Chairman, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Japan's Prime Minister Abe Hits Tokyo Streets in Nissan's Autonomous Car


International Attention

Although Nissan's Autonomous Drive was first announced at Nissan 360 in Irvine, California last August, soon after, Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn was able to take one of the vehicles out for a spin. The ride took place in October at CEATEC JAPAN 2013, Japan’s largest IT and electronics exhibition, where Nissan won the Top Award for the autonomous drive technology.

Soon after, a Nissan LEAF® electric vehicle outfitted with the advanced Autonomous Drive Technology was the first to be tested on a public road- it was taken out on the Kasumigaseki and Sagami Expressway, southwest of Tokyo. Nissan Vice Chairman Toshiyuki Shiga came along for the ride and expressed Nissan’s vision, "Nissan seeks a safer, more comfortable and environmentally friendly mobile future."

You’re Smart, Why Isn’t Your Rearview Mirror? | West Texas Nissan

A rearview mirror is simple, and it works- but what about when you are driving around a few of your friends? Or when you're moving and your back seat is jam-packed? Or when it's dark out and there's a bright set of headlights behind you? Now Nissan has made simple smart, while keeping it simple, with the award-winning "Smart Rearview Mirror."

Smart, because it uses cameras installed at the rear of the car, allowing the driver to switch between the view fed by the cameras, and the regular mirror view. The camera view is shown on an LCD monitor that mimics the appearance of a traditional rearview mirror, but without the many potential obstructions usually found in your rearview.

Check out the benefits of a Nissan Smart rearview mirror

"Smart rearview mirror will give our customers the best possible view no matter how tall the passengers in the back seat, or the road conditions.."

– Andy Palmer, Chief Planning Officer and executive Vice President of Nissan

The high-quality mirror provides a wider and clearer view compared to regular mirrors, is especially effective in low-light conditions such as driving at night and in parking garages, and at reducing glare. The "Smart" mirror reduces problems in inclement weather by helping provide a clear image even when it is snowy or rainy.

Nissan has used high performance cameras and image processing in the past, pioneering the Around View® Monitor and the Moving Object Detection systems. Both systems make parking a cinch by using cameras mounted on the vehicle that give the driver a fuller picture of what's happening beside and around the car.

The mirror will be put into action at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in the ZEOD RC vehicle and other NISMO® race cars. The "Smart Rearview Mirror's" sharp and clear view will increase visibility for racecar drivers and soon enough, for the public too- the "Smart Rearview Mirror" is set to hit Japan as a dealer option this year and expand to other markets globally in 2015.

 

The view with a traditional mirrorThe view with the LCD monitor

"Nissan's "Smart Rearview Mirror" wins
2014 Traffic Safety Achievement Award"

– World Traffic Safety Symposium

The "Smart Rearview Mirror" has already been recognized for its cutting-edge and innovative technology; the mirror is a recipient of the 2014 Traffic Safety Achievement Award by the World Traffic Safety Symposium at the New York International Auto Show. This award is given to those individuals and organizations that are finding ways to improve traffic safety, and the "Smart Rearview Mirror" was recognized as one of "the most cutting-edge, life-saving safety features available in vehicles today," according to the World Traffic Safety Symposium. The award is acknowledgement for Nissan’s continued effort to use and develop technology that will result in safer roadways for pedestrians and vehicles alike. 

Nissan has set a precedent by using high performance cameras and image processing in the past, pioneering the Around View® Monitor and the Moving Object Detection systems. Both systems make parking a cinch by using cameras mounted on the vehicle that give the driver a fuller picture of what’s happening beside and around the car. 

The "Smart Rearview Mirror" will be put into action at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in the ZEOD RC vehicle and other NISMO® race cars. The "Smart Rearview Mirror's" sharp and clear view will increase visibility for racecar drivers and soon enough, for the public too- the mirror is set to hit Japan as a dealer option this year and expand to other markets globally in 2015. 

World’s Strongest Man champion pulls a dozen Nissan Note hatchbacks to set record

On December 1, Zydrunas Savickas, a five-time World’s Strongest Man champion, pulled 12 Nissan Notes (the equivalent to our Versa Note) weighing 28,530 pounds over 16.4 feet in 32.9 seconds. The feat, performed in Lithuania at the end of the country’s Car of the Year test camp, was enough to secure him the Guinness world record for “Most Cars Pulled By One Man.”

“Once I got into my stride pulling the 12 Nissan Notes, [it] was fine,” Savickas said after the pull. “Obviously, a big thank you to Nissan for helping me set the record and making it all happen.”

“We at Nissan like setting records and are always aiming high,” said Taina Erkkil