The Nissan Terranaut was a 4×4 concept car shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006. Nissan described it as designed for scientists, geologists, archaeologists or adventurers and able to seat three people, including an operator of a workstation. Its 4,965 mm body and the extra room were there to house a mini laboratory for field work.
Nissan Terranaut at a glance
| Shown | Geneva Motor Show, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Type | 4×4 concept car |
| Seats | three, including a workstation operator |
| Length | 4,965 mm, just under five metres |
| Height and width | just over two metres each |
| Features | rotating spherical seat pod, air-lock sample drawer |
| Storage | refrigerated space for three people for a week |
| Roof | glass dome with satellite equipment housing |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan Terranaut; no free photographs of the concept were found.
History of the Nissan Terranaut
A field laboratory
The Terranaut was built for people working away from laboratories. It houses three seats and a rotating spherical pod that lets the driver turn quickly to the position they need outside. The purpose of the extra room was a mini laboratory for use in the field, with enough refrigerated storage to support three operators for up to a week, and tents and sleeping bags stored in the door compartments.
Working outside
A low overhang and good ground clearance let it cross rough terrain. Instead of a boot, the car has an air-lock drawer so samples can be handed in from outside by someone while a lab analyst stays inside. External displays and touch screens on the rear give people outside access to data stored in the vehicle, and the interior can be kept under a controlled atmosphere using highly reflective glass that keeps sun, glare, snow and ice from disturbing analysis inside.
Roof and controls
A glass dome over the rear part of the roof provides an emergency escape route, and the roof also has a circular housing for satellite positioning equipment. A display inside the dome shows the passenger images from an outside camera, and the doors open electrically with touch pads.
Design and features
- Field laboratory: a mini lab and a week of refrigerated storage for three.
- Air-lock drawer: samples passed in without opening the cabin.
- Reflective glass: a controlled atmosphere inside.
- Glass dome: an escape route and a satellite housing.
Nissan Terranaut versions
- Terranaut (2006): the only version, a show concept.
The Terranaut was a working-vehicle concept in the same spirit as the Pathfinder and Patrol, and a later experiment of the same kind was the Terrano line. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: Nissan Terranaut
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan Terranaut, English Wikipedia: purpose, dimensions, laboratory equipment, roof and doors
