Nissan Creates World's Biggest Zorb… With a Car Inside

LONDON, October 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

• Nissan Note in 'CarZorb' brings Safety Shield technology to life 
• Two-storey high ball delivers a new twist on the popular pastime 
• Massive 'bubble' highlights how technology can keep cars safe 

Nissan has created the world's biggest working Zorb, complete with a full-sized Note safely cushioned inside.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762577-nissan-biggest-zorb-car-inside/

The giant inflatable ball, which measures six metres in diameter and more than 18 metres in circumference, was constructed to highlight Nissan's Safety Shield technology featured on the Nissan Note, its popular small family car.

Nicknamed the 'CarZorb', the colossal structure was successfully rolled down a course of steep hills in a two minute film released today.

To see it in action, click here.

Originating in New Zealand, Zorbing sees thrill seekers roll downhill inside an orb, made of strong wearing inflatable plastic. The Zorb is usually made of two inflatable layers, shielding the individual inside from outside dangers.

To demonstrate its Safety Shield technology, Nissan took the popular pastime one step further and built a bespoke Zorb capable of holding the Note. The CarZorb was then tested at a top-secret military training facility in the UK.

Nissan's CarZorb, which took more than two months to build and weighs more than a tonne, was designed to visually represent the manufacturer's Safety Shield technology - a suite of driver assistance technology to alert motorists to potential hazards.

The stunt comes as the all-new Note celebrates its first anniversary on Europe's roads.

The Nissan Note is packed with innovative technology designed to make driving safer. Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection combine to form the Nissan Safety Shield. This unique package is powered by 360° Around View Monitor technology which relies on the unique self-cleaning rear camera - an innovation already breaking new ground in the segment.

Bastien Schupp, Vice President Strategy & Marketing, comments, "The Nissan Note has been carefully engineered to provide motorists with a whole range of technology that creates a protective bubble around you and your car. Our Safety Shield technology in particular is unrivalled amongst other small family cars.

"Creating a life size CarZorb to highlight the technology is an exciting and memorable way of reminding people about the benefits of Nissan's Safety Shield."

Making premium technology and sharp design accessible is at the core of the Nissan Note's appeal, with innovative thinking applied to all aspects of its design and engineering.

Visit http://newsroom.nissan-europe.com/ for the full story on the Nissan Note.

Note to editors: 

The Nissan Safety Shield pack comprises the following three technologies:

Blind Spot Warning 

A feature once reserved for cars in the premium sector, Nissan's system uses the rear wide view camera to detect vehicles in the hidden blind spot areas on both sides of the Note. If a vehicle is detected in either blind spot, a discreet warning light illuminates in the glass of the Note's wing mirror.

Lane Departure Warning 

Another premium feature making its debut in the B-segment, Lane Departure Warning detects if the car is starting to drift out of lane. Advanced computer programming detects even faint road markings allowing the car to determine if it is drifting out of position without indicating. According to research, Lane Departure Warning systems could prevent nearly 1 in 10 accidents that occur when changing lanes on motorways. According to research, Lane Departure Warning systems could prevent nearly 1 in 10 accidents that occur when changing lanes on motorways. Driver inattention causes 78% of accidents, near-accidents and unintentional lane deviations according to recent reports.

Moving Object Detection 

Building on the capabilities of Around View Monitor, this new function effectively gives the driver a digital co-pilot to help them look at what might be approaching the path of their reversing Note.

Mounted on the tailgate and having a convex lens, the rear wide view camera has a sweep of vision in excess of 180 degrees, giving it an unparalleled field of vision at the back of the car. Images from the camera are displayed on the 5.8-inch Nissan Connect screen.

Video: 
     http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762577-nissan-biggest-zorb-car-inside/