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Lose Weight Fast With the GYM Button

Let’s be frank for a moment. A modern car doesn’t need infinite-zone automatic climate control, cool and heat functions for the cup holders and so on. Some cars let you check your Twitter on the go, which makes us wonder what’s going on with the automotive industry in this day and age.
Nissan GYM Button 1 photo
Photo: Nissan
There was a time when carmakers introduced things we couldn’t live without today. Take the almost in limbo Lancia as a prime example. In the old days, the once legendary brand gave the world the five-speed manual transmission, mass-produced V6 motor, the monocoque and the electric boot spoiler (Thema 8.32).

Compared to the previously mentioned, what the industry labels these days as “groundbreaking” is nothing more than grasping at straws.

Ask yourself: “Do I really need twelve airbags instead of ten? Or a gazillion-inch touchscreen infotainment system even though I don’t use the sat nav but only listen to the radio?” It makes you wonder...

For these reasons alone, the GYM button on the Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai is, without a shadow of a doubt, a breath of fresh air. The Japanese automaker’s GYM function “turns off all of the driver assistance systems at the touch of a button, allowing commuters to get their very own workout at the wheel.”

Sounds dangerous! But then you find out that features such as the power steering and electric windows are also turned off. Additionally, GYM can increase the resistance in the throttle, brake and clutch pedals, as well as stiffen up the transmission’s gate, increasing the effort required to drive.

Good golly! This sounds extremely dangerous. However, co-creator of the GYM function Raol Pofil tested the industry-first feature and said this about its benefits: “Nissan asked me to develop a programme that would help drivers burn more calories and develop leaner bodies without leaving the comfort of their cars. On average, my programme helps commuters burn around 1,415 calories / week.” Need I say more?
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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