Nissan Anti Drunk-Driving Technology

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. has revealed a new concept car featuring multiple preventative features designed to help reduce drunk driving. Presently integrated on-board a production model Fuga sedan, the various technologies are designed to detect the driver's state of sobriety and to activate a range of preventive measures including immobilization of the vehicle.

• A hi-sensitivity alcohol odor sensor incorporated into the transmission shift knob, which can track down the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver's palm as he/she tries to start driving. When the alcohol-amount detected bypasses a threshold, the system automatically blocks the transmission, immobilizing the car. A "drunk driving" voice alert is turned on through the car navigation system.

• Other alcohol odor sensors are located into the driver's and passenger seats, assessing the alcohol vapors in the air inside the vehicle cabin. When alcohol is found, the system turns on a voice alert and a message alert on the navigation system monitor.

• A camera fixed on the instrument cluster facing the driver supervises the driver's face, assessing his/her state of consciousness based on the blinking. When signs of drowsiness are detected, the voice and message alert are activated. Moreover, a seat-belt mechanism tightens around the driver to gain his/her immediate attention.

• Constant monitoring of the driving behavior (sensing if the vehicle is veering out of its driving lane), the system detects signs of inattentiveness in the driver. In the case of such behavior, voice, message and seat-belt alert mechanism are activated.

This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied in future production cars, part of an ongoing program from Nissan contributing towards the prevention of drunk driving.

Nissan has already launched and is developing several initiatives to help prevent drunk driving. In June, the company introduced the “drunk driving” message alert on its navigation system. In July, Nissan also began testing of a new on-board breathalyzer system in cooperation with several local government authorities, where an interlock mechanism will immobilize the vehicle if the driver’s breath indicates the presence of alcohol above a specified level.

Nissan is taking holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a “safe driving environment”, Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture – aimed at helping to reduce road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In Japan, the company’s safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

2009 Nissan GT-R

Inside Line now has exclusive, never-before-seen footage of the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R on the streets of Southern California.



Twin-Turbo V6
Roll into the throttle at nearly any engine speed and the GT-R drenches you in thrust. Turbo lag from the VR38 3.8-liter V6 is essentially nonexistent, so the immense torque arrives immediately. Indeed, the engine's punch is strongest in the midrange, where the GT-R delivers 434 pound-feet of torque from 3,200 to 5,200 rpm.

• 473-hp twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6
• Rear-mounted transaxle carries six-speed dual-clutch gearbox
• All wheel drive with active center differential

Nissan Levina Geniss

The Livina Geniss is a seven-passenger MPV-type vehicle whose front-end styling (based on the sketches released) looks like a Murano / Presage blend. The interior will be reconfigurable and should be nicely appointed since luxury is one of the themes Nissan is trying to communicate with the car.


Two engine options are available, the HR15DE (109hp at 6,000rpm, 148Nm at 4,400rpm) and the MR18DE (128hp at 5,500rpm, 174Nm at 4,800rpm), both now with CVTC Variable Valve Timing. The MR18DE comes with with a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed auto, while the HR15DE’s gearbox offering is similiar except the manual only has 5 cogs.