I know concept cars are all over the place right now, but this one is so bizarre that I felt compelled to blog about it. The Nissan PIVO2 is entirely electric (of course it is - it's from Japan). It seats three people (though that looks like it might be rather uncomfortable for more than one). The wheels can rotate up to 90 degrees in all directions, and the main cabin can rotate 360 degrees so, no matter what direction you're driving in, you're always facing front. As someone who has experienced the horror of sitting in a car with someone who is trying to parallel park in a tiny space, on a hill, in traffic, I can appreciate this.
Okay, so the car is cool. But wait, there's more. It's also completely terrifying. It's controlled by a creepy little onboard computer which, according to their website is designed to "engender feelings of affection and trust". This computer (who, as far as I can tell is not named Kit or HAL) is programmed to talk and listen to the driver, assessing his or her mood based on tone of voice and facial expressions, and cheering or soothing accordingly. Apparently this is to ensure a more pleasant journey, rather than to freak the shit out of you.
Check out the simulation on their website here. Terrifying..
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