Nissan Nismo smartwatch to rival Samsung Galaxy Gear

The Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is seeing fierce competition already, as the Nissan Nismo smartwatch is launched - the first smartwatch concept to connect the driver and the car.

Nissan is the first car manufacturer to create a smartwatch designed specifically for drivers of Nissan Nismo cars. It's also the first smartwatch to connect a driver to the car, providing drivers with real-time biometric data.

The Nissan Nismo smartwatch has been unveiled ahead of its display at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. It's Nissan's first step towards wearable technology, allowing drivers to monitor the efficiency of their vehicle with average speed and fuel consumption readings.The Nissan Nismo smartwatch will allow the driver to connect to the car using a smartphone app via Bluetooth Low Energy technology. The Nissan Nismo smartwatch also has a very unique messaging system that offers various tips based on the information that it receives. For example, if the weather isn't looking great, it can advise you to be aware of ice on the road.

Gareth Dunsmore, Marketing Communications General Manager for Nissan Europe, said: "Wearable technology is fast becoming the next big thing and we want to take advantage of this innovative technology to make our Nismo Brand more accessible. On track, Nissan uses the latest biometric training technologies to improve the performance of our Nissan Nismo Athletes and it is this technology we want to bring to our fans to enhance their driving experience and Nismo ownership."

It means that the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is not the only smartwatch on the market which operates using a variety of apps. Alongside the Nissan Nismo smartwatch, Samsung is seeing competition from the Sony Smartwatch 2 and the Pebble smartwatch. As well as the iPhone 6, an Apple smartwatch - the iWatch - is rumoured but a release date is yet to be revealed.

Dunsmore continues, "We have brought the Nismo experience to life in every aspect of the watch, including its packaging, which will be made using tyres and rubber from the racetrack. As Nismo is the performance arm of Nissan, we wanted a way of integrating Nismo's heritage in racing into this futuristic innovation."

Nissan has designed the smartwatch so that it loosely resembles the "O" in the Nismo logo. It'll be available in black and white colour schemes, as well as black and red.

The Nissan Nismo smartwatch will sue a lithium battery and will be charged by micro-USB, with a battery life of over seven days under normal usage conditions. It'll be available in three colours - black, white and the flagship black and red. The smartwatch will also track and rate the user's social performance across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram via Nissan's proprietary Social Speed software.

Earlier this year, Nissan launched its very own Nismo Lab - a bespoke, mobile laboratory that features the latest, advanced biometric training tools such as brainwave technology and JukeRide - a cutting-edge performance analysis tool, that captures live biometric and telematics data from the race cars and Nissan Nismo Athletes during races. Nismo's vision is to take these digital age technologies and make them available to athletes from other disciplines and to Nissan owners through future wearable tech.

Key technologies which have been identified for future development include ECG (Electrocardiogram), which measures the intervals of the R-R rhythm of the heart, and identify earlier fatigue. Also, EEG (electroencephalogram) Brainwave - to monitor the drivers' levels of concentration and emotions, and help athletes to get 'In The Zone'. Finally, skin temperature technology, to record core body temperature and hydration levels.