Autonomous Driving and Driving Enjoyment Coexist

The Nissan Motor booth was characterized by its (as always) clean and intelligent atmosphere, with white as the base color. The show's highlights, centered on concept cars, seemed to be divided into two main categories: sports and autonomous driving.

Following President and CEO Carlos Ghosn's August 2013 statement, "We plan to equip multiple models with innovative autonomous driving technology by 2020," Nissan Motor has been continuously developing autonomous driving technology. This led to "Nissan Intelligent Driving." The concept is that "Nissan's autonomous vehicles offer the conclusion that one can enjoy active driving at times, and at other times be freed from driving to enjoy more creative time" (Nissan Motor).

Nissan IDS Concept

The "IDS Concept" was unveiled as a symbol of autonomous driving technology. It is a concept model for a near-future autonomous driving project. This is an electric vehicle equipped with a 60 kWh battery. The notable feature is the setting of Pilot Drive Mode and Manual Drive Mode. The former is autonomous driving. It is explained that "AI (Artificial Intelligence) that understands traffic rules correctly understands road and traffic conditions, and road signs, predicts the situation ahead, and performs safe and smooth autonomous driving."

During autonomous driving, occupants can completely entrust the driving to the car. However, when Manual Drive Mode is selected, it is envisioned that the interior will change to create an atmosphere where one can actively enjoy driving, including the monitor display. Nissan Motor's philosophy of "realizing safe and enjoyable driving and allowing many people to experience the joy of driving" can be said to have led to the concept of "coexisting" two modes in one car.

However, the desire to enjoy driving may be uncommon among younger generations. Nissan Motor, considering this, has created a unique model.

Nissan's New Target Customer: Share Native

Share Native. This is the name Nissan Motor has given to its "next-generation customer" segment. They have two characteristics: they will be of driving license age in 2020, and they do not possess the passion for cars that previous generations had. The concept model "Teatro for Dayz" was developed targeting this segment.

Executive Design Director Satoru Tai is quoted as saying, "We believed that added values such as a sense of speed, power, and premium feel, which we have taken for granted in our designs, do not necessarily align with what Share Natives are looking for."

The interior of the Teatro for Dayz, designed to attract these individuals, consists of pure white seats and minimal controls.

NISSAN Teatro for Dayz

Nissan Motor calls this white interior a "Future Canvas." There are no physical switches to limit usage; operations for air conditioning, audio, and other functions are performed via voice controller and motion sensors. Meters and navigation displays appear while driving but disappear when the car stops. By connecting smartphones, occupants can share information and entertainment. It is a tool for connection rather than driving; in essence, the Teatro for Dayz is a space with nothing, yet capable of anything.

Placed away from the Teatro for Dayz and IDS Concept, but asserting a presence no less significant, was the "Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo". While "2020" is also a keyword here, the approach is the opposite of the Teatro for Dayz. It is a sports coupe resembling a racing car, aiming to actively appeal to car enthusiasts.

The cabin features what is known as a cantilever roof, where only the rear quarter pillars are body-colored. The style with the A-pillars blacked out is familiar from the GT-R. The rear combination lamps are also the familiar four-round design reminiscent of the GT-R. Although this show car is a realization of a model from the video game "Gran Turismo," it sparks anticipation that the seeds of the next-generation or the generation after that GT-R might lie within it.

NISSAN Concept 2020 Vision Gran-Turismo

The Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo, painted in a distinctive red and exuding a powerful presence, attracted significant attention from visitors. The display booth, designed to showcase the car's beauty, was also skillfully executed. It was impressively positioned, as if enthroned, behind the NISMO complete cars that Nissan has recently focused on for the March, Note, Juke, and Fairlady Z.

"We will commercialize autonomous vehicles capable of driving on highways and in city streets by 2020, and in preparation for this, we will sequentially introduce various technologies of 'Nissan Intelligent Driving' into new models. In 2016, we will launch Pilot Drive 1.0, which incorporates Traffic Jam Pilot to achieve safe autonomous driving in a single lane on congested highways," said President and CEO Ghosn in his press day speech. Autonomous driving (plus electric power) and sporty cars – Nissan's future direction is diverse.