NISSAN CANADA - When it comes to favourite things to do in a car, parallel parking likely ranks right down there with mobile root canals - until now. With the addition of the highly innovative Around View Monitor to the 2012 Nissan Rogue, drivers can manoeuvre into parking spaces with more ease. Rogue is the first non-luxury vehicle in Canada to offer the unique Around View Monitor feature, which is available on the Rogue SL trim.
"More driver's license tests have probably been failed due to the applicant's inability to parallel park than any other task," Judy Wheeler, Director of Marketing for Nissan Canada Inc. "It's anxiety provoking at best, and risks damage to a vehicle and surrounding property at its worst. Around View Monitor now comes to Rogue drivers' rescue."
Rogue's Around View Monitor utilizes four small superwide-angle cameras – mounted on the front, side mirrors and rear of the vehicle – to provide a virtual 360° view of objects around the vehicle, helping the driver maneuver it in tight spots. The system converts image data taken by the four cameras to create and display the virtual image of the vehicle from above.
The system has been designed to be easy-to-see, easy-to-use and easy-to-understand. The virtual overhead view makes it easy for the driver to position the vehicle for parallel parking, with the front/rear view enabling the driver to simultaneously confirm the front or rear of the vehicle. When the transmission is shifted into drive from reverse the system automatically switches to the previous screen.
By displaying the rear view and front-side view simultaneously, the driver can easily confirm the two most worrisome areas; the rear and front passenger side of the vehicle.
Views shown on the split-screen display can be changed as desired through use of a button on the center console. For example, front and side or rear and side views can be shown together to help gauge the distance of the Rogue to the curb.
"Unlike complex systems that take complete control of the parking function, Rogue's Around View Monitor allows the driver to remain in charge – with a heightened view of the vehicle's surroundings," said Wheeler. "It's amazing technology, an amazing innovation, and we're proud that Rogue is the first vehicle in its segment to offer it."
For a video demonstration of the 2012 Nissan Rogue Around View Monitor system, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGJM776JKRk