Continuing its slow tease of the next-generation Leaf, Nissan previewed the car's self-parking feature in a video released today.
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The feature, called ProPilot Park, automatically guides the Leaf into a parking spot with the help of sonars and cameras. Once activated, the feature controls accelerator, braking, and steering inputs to bring the car into a desired space, whether it's a parallel, angled, front, or straight back-in spot.
"You get total confidence that even parking in the tightest space is completely automated and stress free," Nissan says in the video. The global Leaf will be the first vehicle in Nissan's lineup to receive the advanced parking technology.
Unfortunately, Leafs in the U.S. will not come equipped with ProPilot Park for the 2018 model year, a Nissan spokesman says. However, Nissan is looking to add the feature for upcoming model years in the U.S.
The new Leaf will also receive ProPilot Assist, which keeps the car positioned in its lane on the highway. Over time, Nissan will add more capabilities to the feature, including autonomous lane changing. Eventually, the ProPilot system will be able to manage city intersections.
The Nissan Leaf will debut on September 6 and go on sale before the end of the year. In terms of design, the model will take after the Nissan IDS concept that debuted at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. In two separate teasers, Nissan revealed the Leaf's unusual headlights and grille design.
Source: Nissan
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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