Nissan Nismo smartwatch concept monitors you and your car
Nissan (yes, that Nissan) has introduced the Nismo smartwatch concept ahead of the Frankfurt motor show, monitoring both car and driver in one device
If we hadn’t had enough of smartwatches at IFA last week following the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Gear and a first look at the Sony Smartwatch 2, now car maker Nissan is getting in on the act. It revealed the Nismo smartwatch concept, a wearable gadget that monitors both you and your car’s performance, ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show which kicks off later this week.
Designed as a companion device to Nissan’s sporty Nismo car range, the Nismo smartwatch will monitor vehicle speed, fuel consumption and performance data once connected via battery-friendly Bluetooth LE.
Away from the wheel, an integrated heart rate monitor will keep track of the driver’s vital statistics. A seven day battery life is expected under “normal” use, although we don’t know whether Nissan considers thrashing cars around a track normal, and recharges over micro-USB.
According to Nissan’s Marketing Communications GM Gareth Dunsmore, wearable technology is “fast becoming the next big thing and we want to take advantage of this innovative technology to make our Nismo Brand more accessible.
“On track, Nissan uses the latest biometric training technologies to improve the performance of our Nissan Nismo Athletes and it is this technology we want to bring to our fans to enhance their driving experience and Nismo ownership.”
Due to launch in three colours (black, white and trademark Nismo two-tone black and red), Nissan has promised that even the box will stay true to the Nismo ethos, being produced using spent rubber from the Nissan test track.
However, it’s still very much a concept at present so we’ll have to wait until later in the year to see whether Nissan actually puts it on sale. Even then, unless you happen to own a Nismo sportscar you may not get the most from it.
