Nissan Ideo

October 20, 2001 – The Ideo is a 'Network Vehicle' enabling motorists to access in real time the wealth of information available around town. It is a medium for connecting the closed passenger compartment to the outside world. The objective for the Ideo is to enable occupants to enjoy communicating with places of interest around town by giving them efficient access to the wide variety of information disseminated in the urban environment.

To achieve this objective, the entire instrument panel serves as a display screen, similar to that seen on the Ford 24-7 concept at the 2000 NAIAS. The screen, measuring 1170mm X 280mm, provides three different modes: "City browsing", "Enhanced navigation" and "Driver-assistance". In the "City Browsing" mode, the occupants can cruise around town while accessing a wealth of local information. Digitized town maps fly onto the screen in real time. Constantly changing information is presented in the form of live images, voice and text.

The car can select information category and "points of interest" by refferring previous request to match individual preferences. For example, if the driver likes music, the location of HMV is presented in a small, inconspicuous manner at a distant place, and more information on the shop (including new releases of CD's and so on) in a prominent manner as the car nears the shop.

In the "Enhanced navigation" mode, the screen shows large navigation images on the passenger's side. In addtion to a 2-D view, the system can also ahow a 3-D panoramic view. In the "Driver-assistance" mode, the screen shows the images taken by CCD cameras and generated by an on-board computer.

The Ideo has fourteen CCD cameras, six for looking around the car and eight for generating a plan-view image. At intersections, you can see on the screen the situation to the right and left. A plan-view images is shown when parking. A computer-generated plan-view images of the car and its surrounding objects are shown, enabling the driver to grasp the circumstances (such as distance to obstacles) arround the car.

The exterior design symbolically expresses a next-generation vehicle with the tires positioned as closely as possible to the four corners. With an overall length of 3,600 mm, the ideo features a stable-looking form while simultaneously providing the maximum interior space possible. The unique design is based on a lengthwise motif, with the four corners of the body supported by the four wheels serving as pillars, while effectively utilizing the simplicity of the body. The absence of B-pillars and the four upright symmetrical center-opening doors provide wide openings for ease of entry to the vehicle.

The design of the Ideo embodies delicate, modern Japanese tastes. Taking a hint from Japanese architecture, the line from A-pillar to roof curves gently and flowingly and the glass roof incorporates an aluminum lattice similar to a lattice ceiling of Japanese traditional architecture.

The Ideo's exterior may look somewhat similar to that of the Isuzu Zen concept car. It is not surprising. Mr. Shiro Nakamura, design vice-president of Nissan, was Isuzu's design director two years ago, and Isuzu's 1999 concept car the Kai was developed under his direction having in mind Japanese tradition. The Zen is a consequent evolution from the Kai, and the Ideo represents Nissan designer's re-interpretation of Nakamura's favorite design philosophy.

	Nissan explores interfaces with Ideo concept for the Tokyo Motor Show by Masatsugu Arimoto
	Click for larger images	October 20, 2001 – The Ideo is a 'Network Vehicle' enabling motorists to access in real time the wealth of information available around town. It is a medium for connecting the closed passenger compartment to the outside world. The objective for the Ideo is to enable occupants to enjoy communicating with places of interest around town by giving them efficient access to the wide variety of information disseminated in the urban environment. To achieve this objective, the entire instrument panel serves as a display screen, similar to that seen on the Ford 24-7 concept at the 2000 NAIAS. The screen, measuring 1170mm X 280mm, provides three different modes: "City browsing", "Enhanced navigation" and "Driver-assistance". In the "City Browsing" mode, the occupants can cruise around town while accessing a wealth of local information. Digitized town maps fly onto the screen in real time. Constantly changing information is presented in the form of live images, voice and text. The car can select information category and "points of interest" by refferring previous request to match individual preferences. For example, if the driver likes music, the location of HMV is presented in a small, inconspicuous manner at a distant place, and more information on the shop (including new releases of CD's and so on) in a prominent manner as the car nears the shop. In the "Enhanced navigation" mode, the screen shows large navigation images on the passenger's side. In addtion to a 2-D view, the system can also ahow a 3-D panoramic view. In the "Driver-assistance" mode, the screen shows the images taken by CCD cameras and generated by an on-board computer. The Ideo has fourteen CCD cameras, six for looking around the car and eight for generating a plan-view image. At intersections, you can see on the screen the situation to the right and left. A plan-view images is shown when parking. A computer-generated plan-view images of the car and its surrounding objects are shown, enabling the driver to grasp the circumstances (such as distance to obstacles) arround the car. The exterior design symbolically expresses a next-generation vehicle with the tires positioned as closely as possible to the four corners. With an overall length of 3,600 mm, the ideo features a stable-looking form while simultaneously providing the maximum interior space possible. The unique design is based on a lengthwise motif, with the four corners of the body supported by the four wheels serving as pillars, while effectively utilizing the simplicity of the body. The absence of B-pillars and the four upright symmetrical center-opening doors provide wide openings for ease of entry to the vehicle. The design of the Ideo embodies delicate, modern Japanese tastes. Taking a hint from Japanese architecture, the line from A-pillar to roof curves gently and flowingly and the glass roof incorporates an aluminum lattice similar to a lattice ceiling of Japanese traditional architecture. The Ideo's exterior may look somewhat similar to that of the Isuzu Zen concept car. It is not surprising. Mr. Shiro Nakamura, design vice-president of Nissan, was Isuzu's design director two years ago, and Isuzu's 1999 concept car the Kai was developed under his direction having in mind Japanese tradition. The Zen is a consequent evolution from the Kai, and the Ideo represents Nissan designer's re-interpretation of Nakamura's favorite design philosophy.	.