21 Oct 09 12:03
A leaning car is nothing new - remember the Prodrive-produced Carver - but Nissan reckons the Glider isn't a gimmicky concept, more a pointer to a future city vehicle for the masses.
This radical, yet odd two-seater tandem, leans like motorcycle to make it much more manoeuvrable than a traditional car. The Japanese company says the Land Glider is a concept that represents a 'new proposal for urban mobility'. Like all plug-ins it offers zero carbon dioxide emissions and is extremely lightweight in construction.
It's powered by two rear-mounted electric motors that get their charge from an underfloor lithium-ion battery.
The steering wheel has been replaced by an aircraft-style joystick, and cameras and monitors replace rear-view mirrors. The degree of tilt when cornering is determined by sensors that detect vehicle speed, steering angle and yaw rate. It's just 3.1m long and just 1.1m wide which helps combat traffic congestion and makes it easier to park.
