So Cute You Just Want To Punch It

The Nissan Motors company has unveiled its newest concept car, the Pivo-2. It's just so cute and cuddly that you want to slap it.

(AP) Nissan's ball-shaped electric vehicle can squeeze into tight spots without backing up because its wheels turn 90 degrees and the cabin part of the car can rotate in a complete circle.

The Pivo 2, being shown at the Tokyo auto show later this month, is a three-seat ecological commuter car that's fully working but too expensive to go on commercial sale yet, according to Nissan Motor Co. officials.

In a demonstration Friday, the concept car rolled up next to a tiny parking space, turned its wheels at an angle, then scooted into the space without the back-and-forth jockeying that most cars would need.

The top part of the car - the name is inspired by the word "pivot" - swivels 360 degrees, independent of the wheels, so drivers can turn to face whichever direction they want.

Nissan designers added robotics functions to the Pivo 2, an upgrade of a car shown a couple of years ago, so that a bobbing mechanical head near the steering wheel speaks in a cute electronic voice to provide companionship.

Its the robo-buddy that makes me want to hit it, incidentally. Too cutesy. But there's video of the car parking (and the robo-buddy just asking for it) here. They also have some nice still pictures.

categories Machines, World news | Gaius Monday, 8 October , 2007

  • By BadBob, Monday, 8 October , 2007 @ 2:39 pm

    Pivo is Beer in Slovack (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Czech) … does this mean Nissan is trying to appeal to drunks?

  • By Gaius, Monday, 8 October , 2007 @ 2:41 pm

    Could be. Then your robot can drive you home. If you can keep from slugging it.

  • By Micah Tillman, Monday, 8 October , 2007 @ 2:44 pm

    I love weird cars. But you’re totally right about robo-buddy. :-)

  • By feeblemind, Monday, 8 October , 2007 @ 4:39 pm

    What’s it look like after a wreck? A squashed cockroach? What about the people inside? I don’t think seat belts will do much good.

  • By Gaius, Monday, 8 October , 2007 @ 5:27 pm

    Like this?

    http://www.basimo.de/words/archives/2005/07/31/innovative-geschaftsidee/

  • By Jimmy don't play that, Tuesday, 9 October , 2007 @ 4:10 pm

    Sucka’ be needin’ some dubs an’ a twin turbo SBC, yo!

Other Links to this Post

WordPress Themes