Nissan today announced an enhanced automotive navigation system design that utilizes intelligent transportation system (ITS) infrastructure and other advanced technology to promote safer and greener driving. The new navigation system - the world's first to incorporate ITS information in a production vehicle - will debut on the next generation Nissan Fuga (Infiniti M), which goes on sale in Japan later this year and in the U.S. early next year.

The navigation system includes four new features in addition to the standard navigation functions. These include a low-visibility intersection warning system, a school zone alert, a navigation-linked speed control and more efficient route search and calculation functionality.

Of most interest is the low-visibility intersection warning system. The latest system uses a beacon that works in sync with a number of other sensors located around the general road infrastructure. Using information transmitted from this network, drivers can receive audible and display warnings when approaching some low-visibility intersections. The driver can decide whether the information is necessary to act on or not, depending on driving conditions. This is the first system of its kind utilized in a production automotive navigation system.

The goal of the enhanced navigation system is to provide safety-related information to drivers to help prevent accidents at intersections and raise awareness for safer driving. The system also incorporates a green-driving feature already introduced on a number of Nissan models.