Updated 23 May, 2012, 6:39 pm IST

Nissan Micra i-Key System

07 Sep, 2010, 1:08 pm IST | by Shayne Rana

The Micra is the first in India to come with a keyless entry/engine ignition system using RFID technology.

The Nissan Micra is one of those small hatchbacks that are making their way into the market with USPs that center around technology. In case you’re wondering, we haven’t started reviewing cars on Tech2 yet… However we are going to be delving to the technology that vehicles use for some in-car systems and such. So here’s a closer look at the Nissan Micra XV’s I-Key (Intelligent Key) Keyless Entry system and Push Button ignition.

It’s called the Intelligent Key System
I would have gone with ‘Smart Key System’ considering the kinds of ‘Smart’ technology that’s going around these days. It’s a ridiculously simple but weather or not it’s actually handy or just a gimmick is yet to be decided. This particular system is only available with the high end model i.e. the XV.

Like I said, it’s a simple system. On the two front-door handles and just above the boot’s handle are small rubber buttons. These can be either press to lock or unlock the vehicle. Although you’ll see a key slot in the driver’s side door, there didn’t seem to be any actual key provided. The key chain is fitted with an Auto-Cop style button system for remote unlocking or locking the car as well. But it’s this key that is the… ‘key’ to the whole system (pardon the pun). Thanks to RFID (Radio-frequency identification) technology, as long as you have the key with you when you press the buttons on the door, can the car be unlocked. Each key is of course coded with a specific frequency that each car can read.�

The car can be locked by simply pressing the button and walking away. If the key is out of range, that’s about 5-6 feet away from the car doors, pressing the button as hard as you can, still won’t get the door to unlock. You can also unlock or lock the car in the old fashioned way by using the auto-cop remote key lock.�

The system makes it very convenient to lock/unlock the vehicle. If your hands are full or if you’re a lady and the keys are inside your purse (that never ending space that contains all kinds of weird… things) you won’t need to hunt around for any key. What would have been great is if the door actually popped open when you pressed the button. That way you still wouldn’t need to search for your keys if your hands were otherwise occupied and wouldn’t need to physically exert to free one hand to just to open the door, just press the button and voila…

The Engine Immobilizer
So it sounds a bit like something out of a Sci-fi movie but it works on the same system as the key. If you happen to get into the car without the key and setting off an alarm, starting the car, is not as simple as pushing the button. The car’s internal sensors will not allow you to use the Push Button Start to start up the car, unless the key is physically inside with you. Once again we see the RFID technology hard at work. If the key is nearby, you may be able to start the car systems like the Air conditioning, audio player etc. but the engine will not turn over if the key’s not inside.

As a safety precaution for kids, the engine won’t start unless you’ve got your foot on the clutch. This way kids who love playing with buttons on a dashboard won’t be able to accidentally start the vehicle.

A dedicated on-board computer and a complex array of antenna fitted both on the inside and outside of the car are the Key (sorry couldn't resist) factors in control of the whole system.