Nissan IDS Concept: Nissan’s vision for the future of EVs and autonomous driving ​​

 At the Tokyo Motor Show 2015, Nissan revealed a concept vehicle aimed to represent Nissan’s vision of the future of autonomous driving and zero emission electric vehicles: the Nissan IDS Concept.

The Nissan IDS experience

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. ​​

Interior Design

The inside of the vehicle becomes even more spacious when the driver is in 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.  

When the driver selects Manual Drive, the roomy interior transforms to put the driver in control. All seats face forward. The steering wheel appears along with driving meters and a heads-up display that shows route and other driving information. Interior lighting switches to blue and use of hollow-structure A-pillars helps ensure outstanding visibility by reducing blind spots!

 Switching between the two driving modes can be done through a switch between the front seats called the PD Commander.  ​​

Exterior design

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.

The height of the full carbon fibre body was constrained to 1,380 mm, sharply minimising aerodynamic drag. 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.

BATTERY

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.

EVs produce no CO2 emissions and their batteries can store energy from renewable sources and turn it into electricity for homes and buildings.