Nissan will officially become the first car manufacturer to launch a ‘smartwatch’ specifically designed for use by drivers.
The ‘Nismo Concept Watch’, designed for use by drivers of Nissan Nismo vehicles, will be the first gadget of its kind to connect drivers to their cars, according to claims made by the company.
Nissan claims that the watch will allow drivers to track the efficiency of their vehicle, providing data that includes: average speeds and fuel consumption rates. The watch will also be able to access telematics and performance data linked to the car.
It will also monitor biometric data via a heart rate monitor, be linked with the car’s on-board computer equipment via a smartphone app and will have the ability to receive tailored messages from Nissan.
In a statement from Gareth Dunsmore, the Marketing Communications General Manager for Nissan, Europe, said: “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.â€
He added: “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.â€
The watch was unveiled prior to the opening of the Frankfurt Motor Show and will be made available in three colours understood to be black, white and the flagship black and red. The user interface can be operated by two buttons and is secured onto the user’s wrist via a snap-fit mechanism.
The smartwatch will function using a lithium battery with re-charging capabilities via a micro-USB. It’s expected that the battery will have a ‘life’ of seven days under ‘normal usage’ criteria. The watch will also have the ability to track and rate the user’s social performance across social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
In a statement from Nissan, they said: “Nismo’s brief is to take these ‘digital age’ technologies and make them available to athletes from other disciplines and to Nissan owners through future wearable tech.â€
Sceptics are concerned by the launch of the ‘gadget’. One road safety expert, speaking on behalf of the RAC, said: “This gadget is likely to appeal to a young demographic, namely drivers aged 17-24. Combining a potential distraction with an age group that accounts for the highest percentage of road traffic accidents in Britain is not a clever idea.â€