On Friday, Nissan revealed its most inexpensive EV to this point. The so-called Sakura is a cute electrical minicar with a base worth of slightly below $14,000 (2,333,100 yen).
Destined for the Japanese market, the place Kei city-driving cars are well-liked, the Sakura comes with some fairly top-notch options for its class.
Powered by a 20kW lithium-ion battery, the EV has a prime velocity of 130km/h and sufficient juice for 180km of vary — simply 60km lower than the Nissan Leaf.
On the within, you’ll discover that the automotive has sufficient house for 4 folks, with a baggage capability of 107 liters.
Whereas the inside is reasonably minimalistic, the motive force could make use of two massive shows for drive help and navigation.
Plus, the Sakura is the primary mini automobile to characteristic a sophisticated driver help system, with automated steering, accelerating, braking, and parking capabilities.
However what’s most intriguing in regards to the minicar is the best way Nissan determined to deliver it to the world. Following its bodily debut on the firm’s headquarters in Yokohama, the automotive maker additionally held a metaverse unveiling.
Sure, a metaverse unveiling. You’ll be able to test it out within the video under:
In case you watch the video, you’ll discover a bunch of weird-looking avatars gathered at Nissan’s digital showroom. In what seems like an anime film, the corporate’s representatives current the EV to digital prospects, who even get to take the Sakura for a ‘take a look at drive.’
And the metaverse expertise isn’t restricted to the revealing. The Sakura will likely be on show on the VR Nissan Crossing showroom to supply a digital alternative for client engagement.
To be trustworthy with you, I discover the entire thing ridiculous.
Whereas I personally hate the concept of the metaverse and a potential digital model of the whole lot, the absurdity of ‘experiencing’ a automobile this manner doesn’t make sense to me within the least.
Precise expertise is vital relating to selecting a automotive. It’s about understanding its dimensions inside a concrete house, feeling its energy and acceleration, and even visually appraising whether or not its feel and appear are to your style.
A digital model merely can’t meet these requirements. I severely hope that the Sakura’s entrance into the metaverse is extra of a playful advertising technique than a sign of how we’ll select our autos sooner or later.
Name me ol-school, however I’ll stick with testing automobiles in showrooms with precise partitions and driving them in real-world situations for so long as I can.
