Nissan takes wraps off conceptual Pivo 2 electric car

Apparently, one Pivo just isn't enough, as Nissan today unveiled the Pivo 2 concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show. The fully electric vehicle boasts a 360-degree turning cabin, 90-degree turning wheels and "employs by-wire technologies for braking and steering." Yes, that means that this thing can "drive sideways as well as forward," and thanks to the in-cabin Robotic Agent, you can now rest assured that someone, er, something will be along for every ride to give you tips on finding the nearest parking garage. As expected, there's no telling if this thing will ever show up en masse on dealer lots, but feel free to hit the via link for a smattering of photographs.

[Via Autoblog]

[blade417 @ Oct 5th 2007 11:53AM]

I like the idea, but this thing is INCREDIBLY ugly

[Panodraa @ Oct 5th 2007 11:56AM]

What happens when another vehicle hits you? That does not look safe at all.

[karts41 @ Oct 5th 2007 6:45PM]

Well, the centre ball/pod detaches and you roll to safety, samus aran style

[Jean-Michel Decombe @ Oct 5th 2007 11:56AM]

The "crabby" car that will put a smile on your face.

[Todd @ Oct 5th 2007 11:59AM]

( from the blog post )"...the PIVO 2's driver gets some company in the form of the "Robotic Agent," a disembodied monkey head on the instrument panel that speaks English and Japanese and is able to help out with things like directions."

picture: http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/nissanpivo2_hi_009.jpg

I'd buy/drive it just for the monkey head that swivels back and forth, looking forward while I am driving, then turning to face me to give directions.

[Ekauq @ Oct 5th 2007 1:42PM]

i'll wait till someone comes out with an R2 mod :)

[anonymouspimp @ Oct 5th 2007 12:01PM]

I have this vision of me driving down the highway in this thing... and just to freak people out, I rotate the cockpit 90 degrees and wave at them with a psychotic blank stare...

[Pandy @ Oct 5th 2007 12:06PM]

What happens when an SUV hits you? Or any other vehicle for that matter?

[McGinley @ Oct 5th 2007 12:21PM]

You die.

[Dan @ Oct 5th 2007 5:22PM]

The sphere detaches and you roll away safely.

[Stan Winstone @ Oct 5th 2007 12:07PM]

Ha- someone at Nissan likes Woody Allen movies(it's the car from Sleeper).

[apeguero @ Oct 5th 2007 12:09PM]

Is that Nissan's equivalent to an R2 unit? Is it called Pivot2D2?

[kkowalczyk @ Oct 5th 2007 12:13PM]

"Pivo" means "beer" in Polish and some other slavic languages. I suppose you could get the robot to drive, and enjoy a nice tall frosty cold one.

[oxjox @ Oct 5th 2007 12:11PM]

Can't wait for the 20 minute commercial during Heroes :-/

[optV @ Oct 5th 2007 12:14PM]

Nissan must have a lot of money to waste or their employees just have way too much time on their hands. Perhaps if they spent their resources on a practical project they might win the edge against the higher ranking Japanese auto makers. Is this why a new car costs 30K?

[Murray McGinley @ Oct 5th 2007 12:17PM]

I'd hit that.

[Mike @ Oct 5th 2007 12:24PM]

360º rotating cabin? I would love to put a cannon on the top...
PIVO TANK

[dpk @ Oct 5th 2007 12:25PM]

Working in the concept car department of an automotive company seems like it'd be one of the coolest jobs ever.

[Chris Robinson @ Oct 5th 2007 12:33PM]

Who the hell did they hire, Homer Simpson?

[pauly @ Oct 5th 2007 12:40PM]

This is an interesting concept, but looks about as safe as a Jonny cab.

http://www.robotliving.com/2007/10/05/johhny-cab-anyone/

[joel @ Oct 5th 2007 12:52PM]

Personally I can see the value. Although the thing is somewhat bizzare, the concept is actually quite valuable. Parking spaces are at a premium in urban areas and much of the space used when creating parking spaces has to do with creating buffer zones around the car for accessibility so that one can turn in, back in, Get in and out of the vehicle etc. With something like this, you could pull up next to a parking spot pivot the wheels 90 degrees, squeeze right into that spot with only a matter of inches to spare. Heck you could even pivot the cockpit so that the door is facing a side of the car that is easy to exit. No more futzing with parallel parking, being blocked in, or sucking in your gut to get in and out of the car.

As for Safety, I doubt they had that in mind when creating a Concept car, but if done right a sphere is an extremely strong shape that can take a beating. It is the lack of crumple zones to absorb the crash I'd be worried about. Of course it would be really cool if the sphere on top could detach and you could turn into a Giant pinball during an accident..... Super Monkeyball anyone?

[brandon @ Oct 5th 2007 1:00PM]

Does anyone remember that episode of the Simpsons where Homer designed a car for his brother's company?...

[Noll @ Oct 5th 2007 1:05PM]

Ick, put the wrap back on.

[Speed @ Oct 5th 2007 1:20PM]

Weebles.

[ug @ Oct 5th 2007 1:28PM]

People think when you make an electric car it has to be completely unconventional. Why can't they just put an electric powerplant into a regular car? The Toyota Rav4 EV gets upwards of 100 miles on a charge on NIMH and it's not even that aerodynamic. Just do it already.

[96rt10 @ Oct 5th 2007 1:31PM]

Looks cool, but I bet:
1. It wouldn't be able to go on US freeways
2. It wouldn't have a range of more than 35 miles
say what you want about opportunity charging and compact lithium ion batteries, but if it's going to be a hit it needs to be able to supplant gasoline-based cars. Doesn't look like it will be capable of that.
So it's about as useful as a GEM, and I think the only person who was gullible enough to buy one of those is Alicia Silverstone.

[AdamY @ Oct 5th 2007 1:40PM]

WTF is the rule that electric cars have to look as lame as possible?

Thank god Tesla Motors is out there, but really, what about a car for the masses?

It's amazing to see, FINALLY, regular Civics with Hybrid technology, but why does it seem so difficult to make an eco-friendly car that doesn't require you to sacrifice a decent aesthetic appeal?

For that matter, I was amazed to see Saturn finally offer a car that had the styling of a high-end sports car, with the inner efficiencies of normal Saturns. Was that so hard? Is it that complicated to make a car look nice that only $250,000 Ferrari's look smoking hot?

Can we make a car that looks smoking hot at $25,000 without giving a 10-12 cylinder performance engine? Can we make a car that runs the cost of a traditional electric (see Wiki on EV-1), that doesn't look like it came off the set of Demolition Man?

Jesus.

[shmengie @ Oct 5th 2007 1:47PM]

maybe not, but future-you would...

[Boynamedsue @ Oct 5th 2007 2:31PM]

Its rotating cabin is obviously designed for ease of strafing in road rage situations.

[Asher69 @ Oct 5th 2007 2:46PM]

True... it is Fugly, but, it has independent wheel arms, which is just one step closer to a Warthog. You GO Nissan!

[Mike @ Oct 5th 2007 2:53PM]

For those of you asking what happens when you get hit in one of these, read the Engadget article a little further up about the newly invented plastic that's as strong as steel.

[Boynamedsue @ Oct 5th 2007 4:01PM]

one of these made out of steel would still get shredded in an accident.

[Michael Writhe @ Oct 5th 2007 3:15PM]

fly by wire... heh. would love it if a hacker got into the system. (i know its not plausable) but it would be funny as hell...

"wtf?! my car isn't listening to me..." WAM into a barrier

[tundraboy @ Oct 5th 2007 3:25PM]

So you ride this in lieu of wearing the "I'm a Dork" sign on your forehead?

[Elliott Long @ Oct 5th 2007 3:30PM]

Even though it looks like a vibrator it is probably too small to have sex in. (With another person, at least.) Pretty ulsless if it can't at least pass that test.

[Anthony Huff @ Oct 5th 2007 4:17PM]

Its ugly. Although it does have a neutered robot monkey.

[randy @ Oct 5th 2007 4:26PM]

Consider all the intriguing concepts the auto industry has teased us with over the last 100 years, then take a look at what the auto industry actually delivers. Case and point: NISSAN. Nissan has got NOTHING in its lineup that is even remotely avant-garde. The company only builds what it can sell ten million times over for six years then update with some new chrome and sell it to another five million all over again.

Folks, the chances of this being built are ZERO. Nissan is just wasting everybody's time.

[Macinjosh @ Oct 5th 2007 4:54PM]

That reminds me of Dr Zoidberg's car that he drives on his home planet.

[karts41 @ Oct 5th 2007 6:52PM]

is it just me or do all electric cars have to be ugly, small, hideously rounded or hideously square?

[sdfgsdfsd @ Oct 7th 2007 5:13AM]

Wow, and I thought the Fiat Multipla was ugly.

[colean @ Oct 8th 2007 3:48PM]

I love this car. I would buy it in a second. I think its great.. It would, save me a ton of money . I hope they make it!!!!

[Patiricia Sakal @ Oct 29th 2007 9:17PM]

The car is as cute as a bug. The concept is great since we all must make thoughtful decisions on what we need to do to help our planet survive. We can't go on buying oversized, gas guzzling cars knowing what it is during to our environment. The Pivo has many good features even though it looks as cute as a bug's ear. It might be too small as a family car, but maybe Nissan can invent an electric car with the same features but with more seating to get a family of 4 or 6 in the vehicle.
How did Nissan come up with that name? Pivo means beer in Croatian (it is also my family name).
I wonder how practical the car is as a battery operated electric car. Could it be made into a hybrid type car? I think this car could be very adaptive for handicapped people. It has so many good features that would make it easier for people with physical disabilites to operate. A car this small would be best for city driving and parking in small parking spaces but it would be a problem out in the fast moving interstate traffic.
The car is small so it should be made out of tough high impact material so it would not be smashed to pieces in an accident. I hope Nissan puts a practical priced version of this car on the market for the average person. We need electric cars!
I'd like to get one as my next car.

[Janice @ Dec 27th 2007 4:52PM]

I think this car is just adorable. I would love driving it around. I would name the little robot Tinky Winky and have a blast driving it!!!