The somewhat impracticable car has been updated, with doors that slide open backwards, much like a minivan. The original concept had one front door – literally, the front of the car. Pivo 3 can rotate its wheels into a parking spot sideways, automatically.

Pivo 3 is the first version of this concept that could actually make it onto dealer lots. The auto-parking feature is just one of several ideas Nissan has to make Nissan Pivo the next, best selling “city-car” (a new name for smaller, technologically advanced vehicles built solely for urban use).

Pivo 3′s wheels rotate, enabling a 6.6-foot turning radius. The Japanese car’s in-wheel electric motors use up less space. It’s design, which places them directly under the chassis, leave ample room for passengers.

The small car / crossover market is growing. With the success of Nissan’s Cube it was time to up the ante with a more stylish, somewhat larger mini-SUV. With that, Nissan is proud to introduce Juke.

Juke measures 157 inches long, 69.5 inches wide and 61.8 inches high. “Juke brings a sense of adventure to the car market,” said Andy Palmer of Nissan PR. “It’s light, nimble, urban, reactive: qualities designed to grab a younger audience. It offers something entirely different to the traditional B-segment vehicles and cements Nissan as a car maker prepared to do something different.”

Inside and out the Juke looks like a sports car. It’s sporty red or silver exterior is reminiscent of Porsche colors. Inside, the crossover includes a stylish dash and racing style seating for front passengers. But don’t worry, we’ve got a roomy 5-seater here.

Juke will be powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine, producing somewhere around 117 HP, while the turbocharged version produces 190 HP. A third motor available in Europe is a 1.5 dCi diesel with 110 HP.

Juke has been confirmed for Europe, Japan and the United States – with a world debut schedule for Geneva early next month.

No little white tape can hid that Nissan logo. As you can see the concept drawing and final product have a number of differences, including the front end curves & we’ve got 4-doors instead of 2. According to a report from Autocar, who broke the spy shots online this week, the 2010 Nissan Micra will sports a 1.2 liter gas and 1.5 turbo diesel with a max output of 147 lb-ft of torque.

“Weight-saving” is a major buzzword with the so-called V-cars – it’s reported they use up to 18% fewer parts: dashboard is built from 28 pieces instead of 56, and seats cut off 35 parts from their usual 85.

via Jalopnik

When mighty Nissan Roox they rocks the phat ass. First sketches of the Roox Concept are out from the Japanese auto maker, and so far it lives up to the name. Roox will be a “minicar” in the tradition of an already wildly successful Nissan Cube – Nissan’s little box features chrome grill, sliding rear doors, which can be opened remotely, and a large greenhouse roof.

No word yet on an engine type, but despite it’s small size (it measures 3,395mm long, 1,475mm wide, and 1,735mm high) the Roox is the most spacious four-seater in it’s class. Rear seats can be folded down to expand the cargo region. More surprises include a drink cooler in the glove box and storage bins hidden underneath the passenger seat.

Nissan Press Release:

Nissan’s Dynamic, “Super Space” Mini ROOX is Born

With a spacious interior, set to change the face of minicars in Japan, the elegantly designed Nissan ROOX is a “super space” minicar that will certainly catch the eye. The grade ‘Highway Star’, which will be shown at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, employs sportier, dynamic lines. Nissan ROOX will debut in Japan in December.

Spacious interior
The Nissan ROOX employs its interior space and clever packaging to support the active lifestyles of all members of the family. With interior width measuring 1365 mm and interior length 2085 mm, this minicar ranks as the most spacious in its class. No matter where you sit, the ROOX’s design gives each passenger a sense of the great outdoors. Seating arrangements can be altered to suit the number of occupants, and by flattening the rear seat back, a large luggage space is created.

Elegant design boasts loads of street cred
Designers set out to build a “super space” minicar that could be enjoyed by the whole family everyday. Employing a chrome grille and a sharp headlight design, the exterior has been penned in a bold form that stands out in a crowd. The sporty black interior also combines with the strong exterior lines to excite all those who drive it.

Double sliding rear doors make access a breeze
The new Nissan ROOX incorporates rear sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle that make entry and exit easy and safe. When open, rear access dimensions measure 580mm wide and 1230mm high, and a low-mounted rear step provides extra convenience especially when transporting children. And no need to worry about struggling to open doors when carrying lots of luggage. The ROOX features a remote control door opening keyfob.

This vehicle also features a convenient drink cooler fitted inside the upper glove box of the passenger seat while a storage box under the passenger seat caters for children toys, dirty shoes and the like. The ROOX boasts aloud of quality and a range of features that will more than satisfy buyers thinking of switching from their small or medium-sized car. As a very economical alternative, low mileage car, this minicar is also eligible for the eco-car tax subsidy*.

Fitted with dual airbags and front SRS side airbags*, the ROOX is a totally new kind of minicar that combines environmental and safety features into one exciting package.

SPECIFICATIONS
Overall Length (mm) 3,395
Overall Width (mm) 1,475
Overall Height (mm) 1,735
Wheelbase (mm) 2,400
Seating Capacity 4

You really can’t get any more adorable then these little poo-shaped robots from Nissan. The “Eporo” robot car as they are known as travel like a school of fish, without colliding.

The three-wheeled robots use laser range finders and radio communications to duplicate schools of fish. One of the engineers pointed to the practical application of this technology by stating that “We, in a motorized world, have a lot to learn from the behaviour of a school of fish in terms of each fish’s degree of freedom and safety.”

via Jalopnik

The car will qualify as Thailand’s first “Eco-car,” Nissan said. The Thai government is attempting to set up an incentive program for automakers to create more green-friendly cars. It is unclear what standards the new Nissan compact will meet to qualify for the requirement.

The new compact car will be assembled in five different countries, including India, where Renault plans to build a vehicle based on the same platform. The Thai models will be built in Thailand, however. It’s possible that the new car could go on sale in North America – Mexican sales are almost guaranteed.
via LeftLaneNews

Nissan NV2500 Concept Set For Debut

Nissan North America, Inc. today announced its Nissan NV2500 Concept, which makes its public debut in early January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. One of the largest concepts vehicle ever created by Nissan, the innovative NV2500 Concept previews the company’s entry into the North American Commercial Vehicle (CV) market in 2010 and is designed to highlight multi-purpose utility solutions in the real world.

The auto maker calls its NV200 Mobile Office “A Smart Business Tool of New Generation, for Active Professionals.” NV200 combines storage with an office space that has the ability to extract its interior out like a drawer. This allows all your workstation items to be at arms reach while traveling. When parked, you can extend a large storage space to reach any valuables or tools. You can contact clients or get your paperwork done while parked at a lake or beach – then take your scuba gear out for a run during a lunch break.

Nissan states their interiors of the NV200 Mobile Office concept creates an efficient work space with a human touch. Its cargo area is customizable, so you can switch and swap out storage areas for whatever your hobby or business requires.

Get ready to see your co-workers rolling past the office in their Nissan NV200 sometime in the next few years.

When you go to accelerate around something and (hopefully) avoid collision the gas pedal will fight against you. Perhaps adding a sensor to differentiate between normal acceleration and a slam on the gas to what I like to call “escape velocity” is needed. To compensate, Nissan is also introducing a prototype for what they’ve branded an “All-Around Collision Free” sensor layout.

Two state of the art technologies are being implemented in the Collision Free System – side collision & back-up collision prevention. There will also be a distance control and a lane departure prevention system. Side collision prevention includes side-mounted sensors, which warn of approaching vehicles when the driver is going to change lanes. If a car is on your left or right the vehicle will slow or cease merging to prevent a hit. The reverse warning system works the same, also sounding an alarm. The distance indicator helps keep adequate space between vehicles while in transit, side space is kept optimal with lane departure sensors to keep your car from veering over either of the road strips.

These programs complete Nissan’s “Safety Shield” concept – protecting the vehicle and its occupants from accidents coming from all directions. Sound technologies and great concepts from Nissan, but we still have to see how each works during real life road situations. There are some events only the great computer of your mind can predict instantly. These concepts also beg the question: How long before driver intuition and human interaction are removed completely from the equation of vehicle operation?

Photos Courtesy of Nissan