Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

North American journalists were given a glimpse of the future at Nissan's recent 2015 Product Days event in Nashville, Tennessee. For three days, innovations were showcased and journalists were invited to drive a selection of Nissan vehicles, from old classics to new concept cars.

One of the highlights was Nissan's Smart Rearview Mirror, an innovation that boosts driver comfort while significantly improving road safety. In place of a traditional rear view mirror, the device features an LCD screen showing a 70-degree view from behind the car. This wide-angle image is delivered by a rear-mounted camera, allowing drivers to enjoy perfect visibility even when the back of the car is occupied by tall passengers or piled-up luggage.

Thanks to electronic image enhancing, the camera is particularly effective in low light and poor weather conditions, such as rain or snow. If they prefer, drivers can choose to revert to a classic rear mirror view to keep an eye on children in the back seat, for example.

The technology has already won an award for improved driver safety at the New York International Auto Show and was tested by pilots at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is set to launch to the public later this year in Japan, with other markets to follow in 2015.

Other highlights of the Nashville event included a demonstration of Nissan's "clean car" prototype, an innovative paint technology that repels rain and dirt, as well as new cars like the Nissan NV200 New York taxi and 2015 Nissan Murano. Journalists were also given the opportunity to drive Nissan classics, including a 1965 Datsun pickup loaned out by a local motor museum.

Find out more about the Smart Rearview Mirror in the video below.