Nissan has demoed its latest take on the electric car, which takes the word ‘futuristic’ to a whole new level.
Can't see the video? Download Flash Player from Adobe.com
Technical details about the Land Glider – which we assume is a concept – are scarce. But we do know that the vehicle continues Nissan’s Zero Emission e-car …
I'd like to see this hit a pothole whilst on the tilt, clearance seems real low, country lanes would be the lat place i'd want to take this. I think if you had accident the tree would def win!
Why do the manufacturers not concentrate on cars people will actually want. I would happily buy an electric car as a 2nd car (commuter vehicle) if it was an attempt at actually making a good electric car, rather than ridiculous waste of money that will never make it anywhere near production.
Lets face it - electric cars require less servicing and maintenance, and this is where the majority of automotive company profits are derived; this is why the manufacturers are slow to introduce them... but when the first big manufacturer produces a good, normally priced electric car, the others will be forced to follow suit or lose market share in the long run as this 'first mover' takes all the customers.
Given that these would be round profile tyres, they look rather narrow, to my eye: barely more than 120/70s - and I doubt this car weights in a at much less than a quarter tonne.
I'm guessing all four wheels are driven, which probably rather changes the dynamics we'd expect from a standard combustion-engined vehicle, but I still wouldn't want to trust a round-profile tyre, of those dimensions, with a mass that great in anything less than a flat calm and sunny day - especially since a lot of that mass could be unsprung.
Two things; Firstly, It was 200*3*, not 2008 as the video suggests, that the Carver was first shown. Secondly, Carver went bust, but the tech company is still going.
Looks fun to drive, but there are a lot of extra moving pieces. It looks like the front wheels tilt, and all four fenders pivot up and down. It could be a problem to keep it all working properly if you go on a lot of muddy roads.
Not only would it make you seasick to drive on windy roads, imagine cutting a line on a sharp curve and nailing a pedestrian walking on a sidewalk as you lean into the poor unsuspecting person.
An on ice this car would be a real kick.
Nissan and the rest of them need to focus on making a car we can afford to drive not this latest batch of TECHNO buble crap that will never see the light of day.
I just don't see the necessity for leaning into corners like that. I assume it's not a fast vehicle, given the zero-emissions bit, so corners would be tame to begin with. I could see if you were blasting through some mountain roads, and didn't want to have your body pressed constantly against one side or the other of the cabin, but with wheels like that you'd surely be in full under steer before the lateral acceleration got too tiring.
And as someone else mentioned, the unsprung weight is probably quite high, which would kill braking and handling.
Having read some of the comments about feeling seasick, I take it none of you have ridden a motorcycle?
Motorcycles 'tilt' quite a lot when cornering as you may have noticed. however because the vector forces of gravity pulling down and inertia pulling you to the side, when combined with the tilt of the bike it pulls you down on the seat giving you the sensation of just a downward force.
In one of these you would feel less sloshed about from side to side than you would in a car tackling the same corners.
Your coffee cup would not spill a drop!
I'll get my coat, it's the one with carbon kevlar inserts....
This would not give you motion sickness. Dear lord where do some people get these ideas from?
And the nonsense about potholes. Deary me. And as for 'skinny tyres' - there is more to life than fitting a set of 10" Pirellis to a car in order to make it stick tot he road. Christ alive..........
I would definitely love to give it a whirl, if only to compare the experience with my Ducatis.
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Nissan demos leaning e-car
Nissan has demoed its latest take on the electric car, which takes the word ‘futuristic’ to a whole new level. Can't see the video? Download Flash Player from Adobe.com Technical details about the Land Glider – which we assume is a concept – are scarce. But we do know that the vehicle continues Nissan’s Zero Emission e-car …
This topic is closed for new posts.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 12:09 GMT
thefutureboy
It... #
It made me feel slightly seasick just watching the video...
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
matt_lethargic
Pot hole #
I'd like to see this hit a pothole whilst on the tilt, clearance seems real low, country lanes would be the lat place i'd want to take this. I think if you had accident the tree would def win!
Looks nice n geekified though!
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Gary450
wtf #
Why do the manufacturers not concentrate on cars people will actually want. I would happily buy an electric car as a 2nd car (commuter vehicle) if it was an attempt at actually making a good electric car, rather than ridiculous waste of money that will never make it anywhere near production.
Lets face it - electric cars require less servicing and maintenance, and this is where the majority of automotive company profits are derived; this is why the manufacturers are slow to introduce them... but when the first big manufacturer produces a good, normally priced electric car, the others will be forced to follow suit or lose market share in the long run as this 'first mover' takes all the customers.
Gary.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Anonymous John
I want one. #
Nothing else to say really.
I want one.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Steven Griffiths
I prefer the Carver One #
http://www.carver-engineering.com/projects/carver.html
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Daniel 1
Wheels look a little skinny, to me #
Given that these would be round profile tyres, they look rather narrow, to my eye: barely more than 120/70s - and I doubt this car weights in a at much less than a quarter tonne.
I'm guessing all four wheels are driven, which probably rather changes the dynamics we'd expect from a standard combustion-engined vehicle, but I still wouldn't want to trust a round-profile tyre, of those dimensions, with a mass that great in anything less than a flat calm and sunny day - especially since a lot of that mass could be unsprung.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
G Roberts
Carver One? #
Can't see the video at work, only the picture but it seems similar to the Carver One
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_(automobile)
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
The Original Ash
Carver #
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KhABgoss0M
A year ago, has seating for two.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
The Original Ash
Ah... #
Two things; Firstly, It was 200*3*, not 2008 as the video suggests, that the Carver was first shown. Secondly, Carver went bust, but the tech company is still going.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Anton Ivanov
Where is the HUD and Weapons console? #
That will make one hell of a vehicle for a Bond movie. Just let Q play with it for an afternoon preparing it to be his "retirement mobility scooter".
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Jonathan Hogg
Back looks more Cylon to me! #
Mine's the survival jacket with the low-tech gadgets in the pocket...
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Flugal
APT? #
Memories of British Rail's ill-fated Advanced Passenger Train come flooding back...
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Hermes Conran
Four wheeled electric motercycle #
What's not to like?
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Steve Evans
Hmmm... #
Looks like fun...
But this looks like more
http://www.yikers.com/video_top_gear_reviews_the_carver.html
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Wyrdness
Can do this already #
I've already got two vehicles that can lean into corners like this. They're called motorbikes.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Natalie Gritpants
Off-road #
I wonder if it can jack up all four wheels at a time to give decent ground clearance?
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:21 GMT
Chris Gray 1
maintainance? #
Looks fun to drive, but there are a lot of extra moving pieces. It looks like the front wheels tilt, and all four fenders pivot up and down. It could be a problem to keep it all working properly if you go on a lot of muddy roads.
Posted Thursday 8th October 2009 15:22 GMT
CC
The Barf Car! #
Not only would it make you seasick to drive on windy roads, imagine cutting a line on a sharp curve and nailing a pedestrian walking on a sidewalk as you lean into the poor unsuspecting person.
An on ice this car would be a real kick.
Nissan and the rest of them need to focus on making a car we can afford to drive not this latest batch of TECHNO buble crap that will never see the light of day.
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
ian 22
I call Photoshop Disaster! #
Narrow innit. Where did they find the long and winding road?
I suppose Nissan hopes to get the illusion of speed by making driver intimate with pavement, and doing the tilty thing.
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
Mike Moyle
On first glance... #
...until I read the article, I though that the video still had been shot by the Ralph Lauren marketing people...!
That said, this looks like it would be fun to drive -- particularly in front of all the somewhat loopy drivers when the bars let out!
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
Eddy Ito
Don't like it #
Its smile looks forced and you can see the evil in its eyes.
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
Nexox Enigma
...but why? #
I just don't see the necessity for leaning into corners like that. I assume it's not a fast vehicle, given the zero-emissions bit, so corners would be tame to begin with. I could see if you were blasting through some mountain roads, and didn't want to have your body pressed constantly against one side or the other of the cabin, but with wheels like that you'd surely be in full under steer before the lateral acceleration got too tiring.
And as someone else mentioned, the unsprung weight is probably quite high, which would kill braking and handling.
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
Kevin McMurtrie
Run from the hills #
Soon to be seen tumbling down Filbert Street in San Francisco?
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
Matthew 39
Seasick? #
Having read some of the comments about feeling seasick, I take it none of you have ridden a motorcycle?
Motorcycles 'tilt' quite a lot when cornering as you may have noticed. however because the vector forces of gravity pulling down and inertia pulling you to the side, when combined with the tilt of the bike it pulls you down on the seat giving you the sensation of just a downward force.
In one of these you would feel less sloshed about from side to side than you would in a car tackling the same corners.
Your coffee cup would not spill a drop!
I'll get my coat, it's the one with carbon kevlar inserts....
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
Ian Johnston
Clearly the bastard offspring... #
of a Messerschmitt bubble car and a Sinclair C5.
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 00:10 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Prefer the Carver #
..subject says it all
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 09:26 GMT
Paul 129
Who designed this? The BBC? #
Q: How does a cyberman get to work?
Now we know.
Posted Friday 9th October 2009 11:36 GMT
Il Midga di Macaroni
Old tech... #
Aircraft have been leaning into turns for over 100 years... why does it take so long for cars to catch up?
Posted Monday 12th October 2009 16:10 GMT
Pete James
As Matt said before #
This would not give you motion sickness. Dear lord where do some people get these ideas from?
And the nonsense about potholes. Deary me. And as for 'skinny tyres' - there is more to life than fitting a set of 10" Pirellis to a car in order to make it stick tot he road. Christ alive..........
I would definitely love to give it a whirl, if only to compare the experience with my Ducatis.
This topic is closed for new posts.