Nissan's new self-cleaning car

Washing a car is an enjoyable and therapeutic experience for some people, however many others find it a time-consuming or expensive chore.  

If you fall into the second category, you’ll be pleased to hear that Nissan engineers in Europe are currently testing a new kind of ‘self-cleaning’ paint, capable of repelling everything from rain and sleet to mud and frost. 

Called Ultra-Ever Dry, the super-hydrophobic and oleophobic paint – which repels water and oils – works by creating a protective layer of air between the paint and environment, essentially blocking dirt from coming into contact and marking the car’s surface.

It’s sold by UltraTech International Inc, with Nissan the first carmaker to try applying the technology to a car, using the latest Nissan Note as a guinea pig in a variety of trials and conditions. 

The nano-paint coating has apparently responded well to most common causes of dirt build-up, and will continue to be put through its paces at the Japanese manufacturer’s Technical Centre Europe in the coming months.

Although there are currently no plans for the protective paint to be applied to models as standard, depending on the real-world effectiveness of the super-hydrophobic coating Nissan may consider the technology as an aftermarket option for the future.

Should it eventually become available on production versions of the Note, it will feature alongside the car’s existing ‘wash and blow dry’ self-cleaning function, which is designed to clean the rear view camera. 

Commenting on the tests, chief marketing manager of the Nissan Note Geraldine Ingham said: "The Nissan Note has been carefully engineered to take the stress out of customer driving and Nissan's engineers are constantly thinking of new ways to make families' lives easier.”

"We are committed to addressing everyday problems our customers face and will always consider testing exciting, cutting edge technology like this incredible coating application."