Vehicle manufacturer Nissan has published details of a new prototype it has designed and built, which the company claims need never be cleaned due to the use of innovative new technology.

The firm has begun testing of a new Nissan Note variant that incorporates a range of the company's latest technological innovations – one of which being its new Ultra-Ever Dry bodywork.

Washing the car can be a chore many people are keen to avoid, but having to get out the sponge and bucket to keep their car clean could soon be a thing of the past for Note owners, as the car can essentially wash itself.

Engineers at Nissan Technical Centre Europe have been developing a range of new super-hydrophobic materials that are being utilised in the new Ultra-Ever Dry technology, and the manufacturer is the first in the world to begin applying this form of labour-saving technology to any of its vehicles.

It works by creating a protective film between the paintwork and the outside environment, essentially stopping any standing water or other particles from adhering to the bodywork; meaning they simply wipe or wash away when the vehicle is in motion.

Geraldine Ingham, chief marketing manager for the Nissan Note, commented: "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."

It is not the only innovative new technology that the manufacturer is looking to employ in its new Note though, as a range of other safety-enhancing features are also being included as standard in the new model.

These include lane departure warnings, moving object detection and blind spot warning for drivers, all of which can have a considerable impact on the ability of individuals to drive safely.

Known collectively as the Nissan Shield Pack, these systems help to give Note owners a greater awareness of what is going on around them when out on the roads, as well as providing early warnings in the event of an impending collision, ensuring the driver has more time to react and take avoiding action.

Overall, Nissan remains one of the most popular manufacturers of vehicles across Europe, having sold in excess of 635,000 vehicles in 2013 alone.

The company employs more than 14,500 members of staff across the continent and remains the manufacturer of the world's most popular electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf.

This model has proven a runaway success with environmentally-conscious buyers across the globe and to date has garnered performance satisfaction ratings of 97 per cent, while 95 per cent of owners claim they would recommend the purchase of a Leaf to either friends or loved ones.

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