Nissan GYM - A workout at the wheel
- Nissan introduces new ‘GYM' button to help drivers get fitter
- Option to turn off driver assistance systems to help define your body
- Burn 1,415 calories extra per week on the average commute
It may be a company renowned for its innovative driver assistance systems, but now Nissan will be the first vehicle manufacturer to offer the option to switch them all off.
The bold development is an attempt to help drivers improve their fitness levels, after a European study showed the region's drivers to be among the least healthy in the world.
The new GYM function, initially available in the class-leading Nissan X‑Trail and Qashqai crossover models, turns off all of the driver assistance systems at the touch of a button, allowing commuters to get their very own workout at the wheel.
As well as isolating the car's innovative systems such as Nissan's ‘Park Assist' self-parking system, the GYM button also turns off features that many drivers take for granted, such as power steering and electric windows. It also increases the resistance in the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals and stiffens up the gate of the gearbox, increasing the exertion required to drive.
While you workout on the move, the car's infotainment system logs the calories burned and tracks your progress via the new Gym And Go app.
The innovation comes after a study conducted by the University of Lura, in Sweden, showed that drivers in Europe were getting fatter and less fit, largely as a result of increased congestion leading to them spending longer at the wheel.
Nissan's director of Customer Welfare, Dr. P. Taka said: "We take the health and wellbeing of our customers very seriously - after all, we want them to live longer and buy more cars. So we developed a system that helped them achieve it.
"The adoption of Autonomous driving also represents another opportunity for the GYM system. In the future, the car can take over the driving while the occupants use the controls as workout equipment. The steering wheel can build your biceps while the modified pedals can push and pull your leg".
Nissan has enlisted the help of fitness experts to develop the system. Personal trainer Raol Pofil, who runs Le Mensonge Fitness Centre in Paris, said: "Nissan asked me to develop a programme that would help drivers burn more calories and develop leaner bodies without leaving the comfort of their cars. On average, my programme helps commuters burn around 1,415 calories per week."
ENDS
About Nissan Motor Co.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 244,500 employees globally, Nissan sold almost 5.2 million vehicles and generated revenue of 10.5 trillion yen (USD 105 billion) in fiscal 2013. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment. It also has a sense of humour and we are surprised you have read this far.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/
Notes to Editors
About Nissan in the UK
- Nissan Sunderland Plant produces the Nissan Qashqai, Note and Juke and the 100% electric Nissan LEAF
- Production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles began in 2012
- Total plant volume since 1986 stands at more than eight million units with 80 per cent of production exported to 100 markets worldwide
- Total investment made and announced since then is over £3.5 billion
- 500,238 units were produced at Sunderland plant in 2014
- In 2014, one in three cars built in the UK was a Nissan.
- Sunderland Plant currently employs more than 6,700 people
- Nissan's European Design Centre is located in Paddington, London and employs around 65 people
- Nissan's European Technical Centre is based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and employs around 1,000 people
- Nissan's sales and marketing headquarters in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire employs around 190 people
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,600 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last financial year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 675,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, small cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles and electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle with 96% of customers willing to recommend the car to friends. Nissan now offers a strong line-up of 23 diverse and innovative models in Europe under the Nissan and Datsun brands.
