A working version of the Nissan BladeGlider concept car has been revealed in Brazil to coincide with the launch of the Olympics.
THE NISSAN BLADEGLIDER Concept was revealed at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and Nissan has now revealed a working prototype of that concept in Brazil “to symbolize future technologies that will combine Intelligent Mobility, environmentally-friendly impact and sports-car driving capabilities,” Nissan said.
The BladeGlider is 100% electric, with Nissan’s technical partner for the BladeGlider project, UK-based Williams Advanced Engineering responsible for the drivetrain. Maximum speed is in excess of 190km/h, with 0-100km/h achieved in less than five seconds. The rear wheels’ drive is provided by two 130kW electric motors – one for each wheel. Power is supplied by a high performance five module lithium-ion 220kW battery.
The interior of the BladeGlider offers a four point safety harnesses for each occupant (it seats three with a central driver’s position, like the McLaren F1). The seats offer exceptional support to sides and legs of the driver and passengers. The seats are trimmed in a highly tactile blend of fabric and epoxy resin coating “that has the effect of comfortably adhering occupants securely in place”.
The BladeGlider offers torque vectoring, which means that if the car starts to understeer, it automatically sends more torque to the outside wheel “to restore the handling balance”. The torque vectoring systems has three settings: off, agile and drift mode.
Carlos Ghosn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nissan Motor Co, said: “These prototypes epitomise Nissan’s drive to expand its Intelligent Mobility strategy, where driving pleasure combines with environmental responsibility. Nissan believes that enthusiasts should look forward to a zero emission future and BladeGlider is a perfect demonstration of that. It’s the electric vehicle for car-lovers.”
While the BladeGlider is unlikely to make it to production, it does help Nissan try and get some attention back onto its electric vehicle technology, especially after Tesla’s Elon Musk recently called the efforts of his competitors, which includes Nissan, as mere “appliances”. The BladeGlider, Nissan hints, offers a glimpse at future systems “that will be deployed in a range of vehicles over coming years”.
