Nissan "Land Glider'

[Mike Lucey]

Hi Guys,

I posted this on Simon's thread re: The Greenbird clocked 126.2 mph, but thought the Land Glider deserved its own mention.

Check this out Nissan "Land Glider'

http://www.gizmag.com/nissanland-glider ... re/101293/

the blurb says,

"The term convergence normally refers to the merging of consumer electronics, entertainment and media, but if recent trends are anything to go by, it could equally apply to the melding of the car and the motorcycle. BMW’s enclosed C3 motorcycle is now emerging as a road safety pin-up vehicle and at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month both Volkswagen and Renault exhibited tandem half-width cars that looked for all the world like four-wheeled motorcycles. Now comes news that Nissan is to unveil an electric tandem four-wheeled “Land Glider” concept at Tokyo Motor Show, and the wording of the press statements looks like Nissan is very confident the vehicle will reach showrooms".

I think Nissan are onto something that WILL take off (excuse the pun) for them. While the 17 degree does not compare with the Venture One's 45 degree lean it should be enough for most. The way they have set this up, which looks like 'lever arm' drive shafts, will make for solid grip. The 'one wheel in front' configuration of the Carver (in my Avatar) was okay on smooth roads but not so pleasant of gritty / uneven roads. I had actually made a few doodles of how this could work but am very pleased to see Nissan going in this direction. Hopefully they will continue and produce a production model. If anyone can, the Japanese can!

Mike

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[Mike Lucey]

I have located a stills video and movie on the Land Glider and was surprised to see that the rear wheels, each 'tilt'! This is very impressive technology indeed. And to actually see that Nissan have a working, what appears to be, finsihed prototype gives me a feeling that this will be available pretty soon and probably at a reasonable price for what it is.

[flash=560,340:el55dbnd]http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/onSd5dIsNDM[/flash:el55dbnd]
[flash=560,340:el55dbnd]http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/dFLKhvdzJec[/flash:el55dbnd]
link repaired by Solo

I believe the day of the car as we know it is DEAD in the water. In less than ten years time we will laugh at Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis with their 0-100kph in 5- seconds when the likes of the Land Glider will do the same job or better for a fraction of the price and with no major impact on the environment. We live in interesting times for the auto industry. Only the innovative will survive and rightly so

[Dave R]

That's an interesting vehicle and you may be right, Mike.

I wonder what happens to its leaning function when that gap between body and fender fills up with heavy, wet snow which then freezes into hard ice.

[solo]

I'm not sure the US market will take to it, Imagine a 300 pounder trying to firstly fit in and if he is able then to try taking a corner in that, sadly 300 pounds is becoming the norm.

[Mike Lucey]

Mmmmmmm ..... just trying to imagine a 300 pounder in the Land Glider with all that ice and snow creating a Glider fridge!

Dave, I imagine that a cover would keep the snow off the Glider while parked. In movement / tilting, would this action not cast off / de-lodge snow?

Okay Pete, yeah it won't cater for big people. On looking at the video it looks like Nissan chose a small Japanese woman as the test pilot. Maybe in order to give the impression that the Glider is bigger than it actually is.

I am keeping an eye out on what's coming on stream and looking forward to reading / viewing what will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese car manufactures have been used to volume sales and are probably the best bet when it comes to innovation to drive new 'makeable' cars. I'm fed up of looking at prototypes that never see the road.

[Jackson]

@solo said:

I'm not sure the US market will take to it, Imagine a 300 pounder trying to firstly fit in and if he is able then to try taking a corner in that, sadly 300 pounds is becoming the norm.

You obviously haven't seen the version they produced for the US market... (couldn't resist! )

[solo]