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Nissan Drives by Wire with EA2 Concept

The car that you see here looks like a normal Nissan Murano... without doors, but it isn't. It's

Stretched by 4.3 inches in the wheelbase, the old Murano has been fitted with DBW, allowing for 3 rows of seats. (Photo: Nissan)

the new EA2 Concept, and it's a demonstration of Nissan's developments in the field of drive by wire technology.

Drive by wire technology isn't anything new, with many automakers developing throttle and steering systems that no longer use mechanical connections. Still, no manufacturer currently offers the same level of drive-by-wire technology on a production vehicle that Nissan is displaying here. For a while technology leader Mercedes-Benz offered a brake-by-wire system on some of its more exclusive products, but no automaker has since duplicated this effort.

Drive by wire aims to eliminate the mechanical linkages between inputs, such as the steering, throttle and braking systems. By removing the need for a steering column or shifter, weight is reduced and designers are allowed greater freedom over the physical layout of the cabin. Drive by wire also happens to offer improved safety, as potentially dangerous items, such as the steering column, are completely eliminated.

The EA2's drive by wire technology has resulted in a

Steering column tilts vertically, allowing for easy entry and exit. (Photo: Nissan)

completely new steering column that swivels up 90-degrees for easy entry and exit. Also new is a flip-fold console, which features an electronically controlled gearshift lever. If desired, one could walk straight across the front of the cabin. But the big news is that the EA2's drive by wire systems have freed up enough space to add a third row of seats, in conjunction with a 4.3-inch wheelbase increase.

As of right now, Nissan doesn't have any plans to market a vehicle with this level of drive by wire technology, due to safety and reliability concerns, but the EA2 is an indication that Nissan is hard at work readying the cars of tomorrow.

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