The mock-up of the Nissan EA2 concept is done on the-first generation Murano chassis. (Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors Corporation Inc.) 
(Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors Corporation Inc.)
With the center console out of the way, passengers can move easily between the two front seats. (Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors Corporation Inc.)
The drive-by-wire EA2 offers a fold-up center console and column-less steering. (Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors Corporation Inc.)CASCAIS, Portugal — Imagine a small car with the elbow room of a midsize sedan, or a short SUV with ample room for seven. Designers and engineers at Nissan Motor Corporation have, and the resulting concept vehicle was unveiled in Cascais, Portugal today as the automaker kicked off a show and tell of its global product line for North American journalists.
Thinking behind the "EA2" Concept isn't revolutionary: Eliminate a lot of the plumbing and mechanical linkages that make brakes, steering and transmissions in today's cars work and you free up tons of space for designers to work with.
The EA2, built on the first-generation Murano crossover SUV platform, does all that, and more.
Replacing the conventional braking system with one that's electronically actuated and replacing conventional steering with a wheel that sends steering input signals via electrical wires rather than a solid steering shaft have enabled Nissan to increase interior length by 110 millimeters, or 4.33 inches — room enough for a third row of seating.
The by-wire steering also helps improve ingress and egress through the use of a smaller-diameter yet still easy-to use steering wheel.
Replacing mechanical transmission linkage with a shift-by-wire system permitted designers to use a movable center console that, Nissan says, makes it "easier to move between the driver and front passenger seats."
That's while the vehicle is parked, we hope.
Replacing all those pumps and mechanical links with wires also results in a considerable weight reduction that could make it possible to use smaller, more fuel-efficient engines to provide the same level of performance in new, "skinnier" by-wire models of various cars and trucks.
And fuel efficiency is the auto industry's grail these days.
What this means to you: Lighter, quieter, more spacious cars and trucks, possibly even slightly more fuel-efficient, starting in the luxury segments but moving down to everyman territory if there's sufficient demand. — John O'Dell, Senior Editor, Edmunds' Green Car Advisor
