TG's guide to concepts: the Nissan Pivo

We’ve had not just one, but three chances to ogle Nissan’s future-EV concept over the years. First introduced in 2005, the original Pivo had some sort of electric base, although Nissan’s spiel talked almost exclusively about the 360-degree rotating cabin - so you don’t ever have to reverse anymore (sorry driving test examiners, that reverse-round-the-corner palava is finally defunct) - the innovative egg-shaped body and the fact there was lots of glass so you can easily see the hoards of people all pointing at your shining orb.

The Pivo 2, which tried desperately to cling on to the spinning pod appeal, and even added sideways shuffling, crab-stylie. Again, the actual electrical science behind this seemed to slip through the press releases, Nissan instead pushing home the “unprecedented shape” and “movement never before seen in a road going vehicle”.

We can confirm that it stops here. For now at least. The Pivo 3 appeared in 2011 at the Paris Motor Show and seemed mildly more feesible for the real world. First and foremost, the spinning ball of doom had been swapped for super rotatey wheels, giving it a turning circle of under four metres. It also gets Automated Valet Parking, plenty of driver assistance and even the capability to ‘sell back’ excess charge to the National Grid. It looks a bit G-Whizzy, and we’re not sold on the three-seater layout and centrally placed steering wheel.