Spinning wheels

A quirky car puts a new spin on driving. Nissan's Pivo has a passenger compartment that can rotate 360 degrees.

Why the pivoting cabin? Instead of straining their necks to get a clear view while backing up, drivers can rotate the cabin and face the direction they are moving.

The spinning secret: Unlike a typical car, which has rigid metal components that link the steering wheel and pedals to the motor and wheels below, Pivo uses flexible wires and electronic signals. Turning the steering wheel, for instance, causes electrons (charged particles) to flow through the wires. This signal causes the wheels to turn. Because the flexible wires move as the passenger compartment rotates, the driver can maintain control from any orientation.

For now, Pivo is just a concept car. So it won't hit the road any time soon.

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