Nissan tests self-cleaning paint

Well that took long enough. Nanotechnology is here, and Nissan is reportedly using it in the paint on its little Versa Note hatchback. We would have started on something a little more exciting, like the hard-to-care-for matte finish on the GT-R's rear spoiler, but that's just us.

The super-hydrophobic and oleophobic paint repels water and oil, which led Nissan to call the test vehicle “the world's first self-cleaning car.” We wouldn't go that far, but in the above video, the mud and water do run right off.

The product is called Ultra-Ever Dry, and it creates a protective layer in between the paint and the environment. The coating is sold through UltraTech International Inc., and according to Nissan, it will stop water, dirt, frost and snow from accumulating on your car. That's all good, but we're really interested in how it will stand up against the hot asphalt that will be filling our winter potholes in a few weeks. If it repels that, we'll put it on everything.

Nissan says there are no current plans for the paint to be applied as a standard option, but the company will consider the coating for future models.

By Jake Lingeman