TRANSPORTATION

Nissan Land Glider

Measuring in at only 47 inches, this cross between a motorcycle and a car will be on display this week at the Tokyo Motor show. The tiny little pod looks like something straight out of that Will Smith / Shia Labouf movie, I, Robot, that nobody remembers, and the car is just about as strange in concept as a movie with Will Smith and a recently post-Disney Shia Labeouf. But – some of the insiders at Nissan think that this could potentially be one of the first concept cars that Infiniti brings to the United States. Like a motorcycle, the little car leans into turns for more stability, but is fully enclosed with a glass canopy that wraps all the way around the rear passenger’s seat. It’s safe to admit that it is an innovative concept; some of the thrill of riding a motorcycle transfers over with the lean on sharp curves, and with the small size of the vehicle, which leaves less substance between the driver and the road. There is also something about being closely contained by glass that brings on a feeling of safety and security – although if Infinity does bring the Nissan Land Glider onto the market, the rear seat would most likely have to be removed, as it is not quite as safe as the round enclosure would make the passenger feel.

This vehicle is a funny little thing. It looks more like a really expensive toy more than an every-day vehicle. However, it is fully electric and definitely very compact, and with the (hopefully) more eco-conscious generation living in more and more populated places, it very well could end up among the ranks of, say, the Smart Car. Let’s say it’ll be the mid life crisis version of a smart car: slightly more hip, with more exciting angles and swooping curves.

Aug. 2, 2013