Nissan Blog
Video: Motor Trend pits the Nissan GT-R against the Scion TC RWD driftersFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan, Scion 
Motor Trend hosted a summit of monsters that could be called "Where the Wild Things Are," gathering a Nissan GT-R and two back-wheel-driven Scion TC drift cars.
The question asked of the GT-R could have come from Autocar magazine's Ken Sutcliffe: "Will it drift?" After running through some standard MT performance runs, the cars were let loose around El Toro airfield to find the answer. You can click through the jump to see the video and find out...
[Source: Motor Trend]Continue reading Video: Motor Trend pits the Nissan GT-R against the Scion TC RWD drifters Video: Motor Trend pits the Nissan GT-R against the Scion TC RWD drifters originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsGeneva Preview: Europe gets its own 40th anniversary Nissan 370Z Black EditionFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Nissan 
2010 Nissan 370Z Black Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's been a couple of months since Nissan first announced a special 40th anniversary model of its svelte 370Z, and, following a batch of spy shots confirming the car's arrival, we're about to get our first up-close-and-personal look at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. But Nissan isn't about to let American customers have all the fun, so it's releasing a similar special edition for the European market.
Like its American counterpart, the Europe's 370Z Black Edition celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Nissan Z, and packs most of the same features that distinguish its Yankee brother. That means darkened 19-inch Rays wheels, red brake calipers, red leather interior with a red-stitched steering wheel, special badges and the like. In fact, the only thing that seems different, apart from the "Black Edition" moniker, is the availability of a second exterior color: while the American version can only be had in "quartz" dark grey, the European Black edition can also be had in - you guessed it - black. It also comes with the full infotainment package
The 370 examples will begin distribution in April - a month after the Geneva Motor Show where it's set to debut - with a £33,645 (~$53k) price tag in the UK. That's over £5k above stock, but then the Black edition comes packed full of optional equipment. Full details in the press release after the jump and high-res photos in the gallery below.
[Source: Nissan]Continue reading Geneva Preview: Europe gets its own 40th anniversary Nissan 370Z Black Edition Geneva Preview: Europe gets its own 40th anniversary Nissan 370Z Black Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsNissan Frontier tops latest round of IIHS crash tests, Chevrolet Colorado hits bottomFiled under: Truck, Safety, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Nissan, Toyota 
IIHS compact pickup crash tests - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has tested five compact pickup trucks for both rollover and side impact crashes, and overall, it would seem that the trucks' performances were pretty dismal. Only the Nissan Frontier was given a 'Good' rating from the IIHS for rollover protection, with the Ford Ranger falling to second place with an 'Acceptable' rating and the Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Dakota and Toyota Tacoma earning lowly 'Marginal' scores.
Side impact scores also failed to live up to expectations for some trucks, with the Frontier, Ranger and Tacoma getting 'Good' ratings and the Colorado getting the lowest 'Poor' rating. Equally as disturbing, though, was the performance of the Dakota, which was tested with optional side air bags (all the other trucks come standard with the bags) that failed to deploy in IIHS testing. Chrysler has reportedly identified the software glitch that caused the air bags not to deploy and is working on a fix. The Dakota will be retested with properly functional air bags at a later date.
See the results of the testing in our image gallery below and click past the break for the official press release from the IIHS.
[Source: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]Continue reading Nissan Frontier tops latest round of IIHS crash tests, Chevrolet Colorado hits bottom Nissan Frontier tops latest round of IIHS crash tests, Chevrolet Colorado hits bottom originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsThe Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools editionFiled under: Motorsports, Videos, Dodge, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Pontiac, Saab, Misc. Auto Shows, Peugeot, Canada, Skoda 
The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
This week's bag of news is all about cars, cars and cars. Was anyone else aware that the Canadians know a thing or two about tuning Lamborghinis? That's a new one on us. Peugeot and Dodge have new logos, and the Pugs have a new, Ratatouille-esque commercial that involves a blender, a bicycle and a three-wheeled car. The as-yet-unveiled Nissan Patrol Safari gets caught with its doors open, and a bespoke Ferrari, the P450 Superfast Aperta, gets introduced in Florida. It's a little odd. And when some Mercedes engineers get a prototype SL Coupe stuck in the snow and it takes two other Mercedes' to rescue it, let's just say a good time was had by all. Except the Mercedes engineers. Finally, back to those Canadians, while those first lads will get crazy money for their wares, another Canuck wants crazy money for a 1975 Pontiac. Must be the weather. Follow the jump for the feast.Continue reading The Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools edition The Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsDC 2010: DOE Secretary Chu announces closing of Nissan's $1.4 billion loan for Leaf electric vehicleFiled under: Government/Legal, Nissan, Electric  Department of Energy Secretary Chu announced the closing of Nissan's $1.4 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Loan Program loan (originally, the amount was for $1.6 billion) today during the Washington Auto Show. As expected, this money will used to kick off production of the Leaf in the U.S.
While the news, such as it is, is about the all-electric Leaf and the 1,300 jobs this loan is expected to create in Smyrna, TN, Chu's speech touched on all sorts of advanced vehicle technologies, from cleaner gasoline engines to biofuels. Chu's statement about hydrogen, which part of the DOE's $13 billion advanced vehicle technology budget, was "longer in the distance, but we're still in there."
While discussing some of the other projects the DOE is funding, Chu somewhat surprisingly called the Fisker Karma "not a high-end cost vehicle," depending on who you are, and said that the Chevrolet Volt and the Tesla Model S were examples of "strong electric vehicle projects." Full details in the press release after the jump.Continue reading DC 2010: DOE Secretary Chu announces closing of Nissan's $1.4 billion loan for Leaf electric vehicle DC 2010: DOE Secretary Chu announces closing of Nissan's $1.4 billion loan for Leaf electric vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsAutoblog Podcast #163 - Paukert Re-ReduxFiled under: Podcasts, Hybrid, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Saab, Toyota, Spyker, Rumormill 
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
Episode #163 of the Autoblog Podcast is here and Chris Paukert once again adds his insight as he's fast becoming the fourth regular member of the crew. First up we peek into the Autoblog Garage, occupied this week by a Nissan Versa, Audi S4, and a Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. Topics follow, with our first drive of the 2011 BMW 5 Series starting us off before we move on to Ed Whitacre's new status as official General Motors CEO and get all misty about the uncertain fortunes of Saab (glad that's been cleared up.) Toyota's most recent recall for its throttle issue, the 2011 BMW 335is, and rumors of a 50th anniversary edition Ford Mustang with independent rear suspension finish us off before we take some questions and call it a night.
Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget - there's going to be big Apple Tablet news soon! Let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #163 - Paukert Re-Redux Autoblog Podcast #163 - Paukert Re-Redux originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsSpy Shots: 2011 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition spottedFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Nissan  The crew over at Inside Line got its hands on some rather curious spy photos of the new 2011 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition. Why curious? Most of the time, spy photographers work from behind massive lenses at long distances because the secretive engineers don't want themselves or the car they're testing to be photographed. But these shots look almost... composed. Or at least like the person manning the camera is on a first name basis with the folks at Nissan.
Regardless, these are clearly photographs of the soon to be released 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition. As we've known for some time, there's not too much to the 40th Anniversary Z above and beyond a couple of badges. The slate gray body color and matching wheel color are unique to the limited edition coupe, as are the red brake calipers, but the wheels themselves are the optional 19-inchers from the standard 370Z.
 Inside, IL claim's you'll find the "standard Z Touring seats" covered in red leather. But how can they tell what specific type of seats are in a car by looking at photos? Mechanically, we all have to wait until the Chicago Auto Show before we get the details, but Inside Line confirms a rumor we heard that the 40th Anniversary car might be more NISMO than standard Z. If Nissan decides to imbue the 40th Anniversary model with 350 horsepower (or more), along with the more sporting suspension in a less boy racer-ish body, they'll have quite a compelling performance package on their hands.
According to Inside Line the only exterior badging that distinguishes the 40th Anniversary car from lesser Zs is a small plaque on the car's rear bumper, just below 370Z. What's odd is that this little badge isn't visible in any of the photographs Inside Line posted. Look for yourself. And as far as we've seen, Nissan hasn't released any official photos of the 40th Anniversary car's rump. So how do they know? Could it be that Inside Line has additional "spy photos" of the 40th Anniversary Z's rear and isn't posting them? We kind of doubt that. And what's with the guys standing in front of a dark 1971 Datsun 240Z, seen next to the white Volkswagen GTI? And why would Nissan engineers be driving a VW? We're thinking Inside Line might know a bit more about the 40th Anniversary 370Z than they're telling.
[Source: Inside Line]Spy Shots: 2011 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition spotted originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsCobb Tuning GT-R expects 600 HP at the wheels running on E85 with stock turbosFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan 
Perhaps going green doesn't necessarily mean you can't have any fun. Evidence of this fact can once again be seen as the performance and tuning communities continue to look at ethanol for increased performance for a relatively low outlay of cash.
Ethanol, which is an alcohol fuel commonly distilled from corn here in the United States, mixed with 15-percent gasoline carries an octane rating of about 105, compared to the low 90s for the best freely available pump gas. This fact means that engines, when tuned properly and especially when using forced induction, can make more horsepower on E85 than pump gas - and sometimes nearly as much as pure race gasoline.
Cobb Tuning claims to be the first company to outfit a Nissan GT-R for use with E85 fuel and is displaying a dyno graph that indicates very high levels of performance is available when Godzilla is tuned properly for ethanol fuels. How much power? Currently with Cobb's catless midpipe, prototype cat-back exhaust, stock intake, twin Walbro 255 fuel pumps and 800cc Deatschwerks fuel injectors, the GT-R is putting down 574 ponies and 585 pound-feet of torque. After some additional fiddling, Cobb expects to see 600 horsepower at the wheels.
Sounds great, right? Well, hold on to those drunk alcohol-hungry horses for a minute. Ethanol, especially when derived from corn, isn't necessarily the pinnacle of green motoring, and modifications (including high-flow fuel injectors in the case of the GT-R) and required to run an engine with high concentrations of alcohol fuel. Still, something tells us that the promise of cheap and easy horsepower will keep ethanol in the greenlight limelight for the foreseeable future.
[Source: Cobb Tuning]Cobb Tuning GT-R expects 600 HP at the wheels running on E85 with stock turbos originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReview: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R is a tall orderFiled under: Sedan, Performance, Nissan, Reviews 
2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R - Click above for high-res image galleries
The Nissan Sentra has long been the bridesmaid of America's C-segment. Few consider it to be best-in-class, yet it would be a stretch to call Nissan's second-smallest sedan the category's cellar dweller. In the past, the Sentra hasn't been the fastest, it hasn't been the prettiest and it certainly hasn't offered the best interior, but the affordable sedan has quietly continued to sell well enough to keep Nissan in the picture.
Unlike some of its more popular competitors, the Sentra is offered exclusively as a sedan, while other automakers offer coupes or hatchbacks. Nissan makes up for this deficiency in part by offering six different variants of the Sentra, ranging from a base 2.0 model to the 200-horsepower SE-R Spec V. We had the chance to spend a week in the mildly refreshed 2010 SE-R model that slots in just below the Spec V, and with 177 horsepower on tap and quite a few high-end options, we wanted to find out if this upper-middle child could hold its own in what has fast become one of the most interesting and competitive segments in the market.
Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Review: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R is a tall order Review: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R is a tall order originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsTommy Kaira presents Nissan GT-R "Silver Wolf" editionFiled under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Nissan 
Tommy Kaira Silver Wolf Nissan GT-R - Click above for high-res image gallery
Japanese tuning enthusiasts (and racing sim fanatics everywhere) have come to know Tommy Kaira as one of the best in the business. The Japanese outfit works its magic on Skylines, Imprezas and more, and has now released a tuning package for the current Nissan GT-R.
Called the Silver Wolf, this GT-R sees its engine left intact, but gets treated to a full body kit, plus new rolling stock, brakes, exhaust and suspension components. The carbon fiber widebody package gives Godzilla a serious attitude adjustment, while the functional components - if Tommy Kaira's previous offerings are anything to go by - promise to squeeze that extra bit of performance out of this Japanese icon. Click the thumbnails below for a closer look.
[Source: Tommy Kaira]Tommy Kaira presents Nissan GT-R "Silver Wolf" edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsIntroducing the first-ever Autoblog WeekenderFiled under: Motorsports, Videos, Chrysler, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Saab, Smart 
Introducing the Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
We cover a lot of automotive ground here at Autoblog every week, but even with our obsessive watch on the industry, things still get away from us. So we hereby present the Autoblog Weekender, a place where we might be able to leave no story unturned.
This week Hannibal and Face stop by along with some freaky hip dude called Reggie White, the Tucker Torpedo Convertible controversy is not over, the Nissan GT-R challenger for the FIA GT1 series takes a bow in high-res photos, as does Heffner's R8 Twin Turbo, somebody puts wood paneling on a Smart Fortwo, and who knew Bentleys could tow in reverse?
And that's not even the half of it. Follow the jump for the week's leftovers, and let us know what you think of the first Weekender in Comments.Continue reading Introducing the first-ever Autoblog Weekender Introducing the first-ever Autoblog Weekender originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGM and Nissan each donate $100k+ to Haiti relief effort *UPDATEFiled under: Etc., GM, Nissan  Both General Motors and Nissan North America have announced they will be donating over $100,000 each to aid the earthquake relief effort in Haiti. If you haven't seen the news lately, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12 near Port-au-Pince, killing tens of thousands of people (maybe over 100,000) and destroying the country's infrastructure. Governments and companies from all over the world have pledged aid for the victims and this broken nation, but so far GM and Nissan's American arm are the lone representatives of the U.S. auto industry.
GM pledged $100,000 straight up to the American Red Cross relief fund through its General Motors Foundation and has also added a direct link on employees' computer desktops to the Red Cross disaster fund. Nissan is giving a $25,000 cash donation, another $5,000 from Nissan Canada, matching employee contributions up to $25,000 for another $50,000 and giving $52,000 to Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild 13 homes in Haiti.
Just as some cynics did when automakers pledged money and supplies after Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean tsunami, one could argue there's an ulterior motive to these gifts of charity, but we're quite sure the Haitians could care less and just appreciate the life-changing money. If you'd like to donate to the American Red Cross, click here.
*UPDATE - Toyota announced just today that its companies operating in the Americas will donate a total of $500,000 to be divided among the American Red Cross, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders.
[Sources: General Motors, Nissan | Image: Angel Valentin/Getty]GM and Nissan each donate $100k+ to Haiti relief effort *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitelyFiled under: Nissan, Toys/Games 
GT Academy demo screenshots - Click above for high-res image gallery
The GT Academy, the partnership between Sony's Gran Turismo game and Nissan, released a time trial demo last month to begin searching for a racer good enough to jump from high-def screen to high-speed chicane. Last year Lucas Ordoñez was the first to go from gamer to racer, scoring a podium in his first race with the GT Academy team. You need to get on it if you want to follow in his footsteps, because you've already got a million competitors - that's how many folks have downloaded the time trial in the first three weeks.
If that isn't convincing enough, there is another less appealing reason to download the demo: GT5's release has been delayed indefinitely. Sony didn't indicate on its web site what caused the delay, saying only, "We apologize for any inconvenience." It was not, however, the previously attributed marketing issues. Some reports point to "production issues" with the $60 million game. London's Times newspaper, however, said analysts think this could be a deliberate Sony strategy. They suggest that Final Fantasy XIII did so well that Sony wants to release GT5 in the next financial year, after March, to lengthen the sales boost.
We'll lean toward production issues as opposed to a deliberate strategy. Heck, we'd believe werewolves caused the delay before we'd believe this was planned. The game does look phenomenal but it's already three years overdue, meanwhile Forza 3 eats into market share. On top of that, we have never heard of a successful business strategy that involved telling your biggest fans, repeatedly, "We don't have it yet," then switching to, "We don't know when we're gonna have it... um, we'll call you."
Will GT5 do well whenever it shows? Of course. But we will wonder how well it could have done. For now there's always the GT Academy demo, and among those million downloaders you'll want to look out for the one who goes by the name Duke Nukem Forever (whose initials are, coincidentally, DNF). There's a press release on the time trial after the jump, and a pretty bunch of high-res screenshots below. Thanks to everyone who sent tips!
[Source: Reuters]Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto salesFiled under: Car Buying, Japan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, South Korea
While it may come as no surprise that Asian car companies are constantly gaining market share in the U.S. market, the actual numbers are quite amazing. Ten years ago, companies like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and the rest accounted for a little more than one-quarter of total light-vehicle sales in the States. By 2005, that figure stood at 36.6 percent. By 2007? 41.9 percent. In 2009, Asian automakers sold a full 47.9 percent of the cars and light trucks we Americans bought.
These numbers come from the latest report by Ward's Auto. Perhaps predictably, that same dispatch tells us that American automakers were hurt the most by those Asian gains. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were once part of an American auto industry that accounted for nearly 70 percent of sales in 1999. The Detroit Three had just a 44.8 percent market share a decade later. The European automakers have also gained a bit in the U.S. over the past decade. Still, they only account for 7.3 percent of the market right now.
If the Japanese and Korean manufacturers post gains for 2010 that are similar to the 2009 increases, they will pass the 50 percent mark for the first time in history. Individually, companies like Toyota have fared the best, nearly doubling their slice of the American pie, going from 8.7 to 17 percent since 1999. While Ford shared the biggest gain last year compared to 2008, they were also one of the decade's biggest losers, dropping 8.3 percent. Maybe last year's gain is a sign of recovery for the domestic automakers, but the troubles at GM and Chrysler don't bode well for the group. Check out the full breakdown by clicking the Ward's source link below.
[Source: Ward's Automotive]Report: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsNissan and Infiniti coming to New York Auto Show with 2011 QX56 in towFiled under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Infiniti, Nissan, Luxury 
2011 Infiniti QX56 - Click either image for a gallery
The panjandrums behind the New York Auto Show are happy to announce that Nissan and Infiniti will both be there this April. Not only that, Infiniti will be bringing a new, and very large, toy to unveil: the redesigned 2011 QX56 SUV. New York is Nissan's premier designated market area, which could mean a lot for the fortunes of an SUV some thought would have already shuffle off this mortal coil.
Last year Nissan sounded a little bearish on the entire auto show enterprise, but that sentiment appears to have been forgotten entirely - it has eight new models on the way this year and will need to show them off. Now if we could just get them to add a ninth, that Essence coupe, we'd be as happy as the NYIAS folks. You can have a look at a couple angles of the QX56 in the gallery below.
[Source: NYIAS]Nissan and Infiniti coming to New York Auto Show with 2011 QX56 in tow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: New Nissan Titan coming in 2014Filed under: Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Nissan, Earnings/Financials, Off-Road 
2008 Nissan Titan - Click above for high-res image gallery
Originally launched in late 2003 as a 2004 model, the Nissan Titan light-duty pickup may not see its replacement until 2014 - a painfully long time in the full-size pickup market, and the Titan is already the oldest half-ton pickup in the segment. Titan sales in 2009 fell 44.1 percent from 2008. However, according to Larry Dominique, Nissan's Vice President of Product Planning, things may be turning around.
Improved traffic in Nissan showrooms, new "value packaging" that bundle popular options together, and an effort by dealers to target existing owners to replace or upgrade their Titans seems to be working. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Titan sold 5,337 units compared to 4,153 during the same period in 2008. However, Dominique appears to understand that even the most loyal customers eventually lose interest in an outdated vehicles.
"My team is working on the best overall scenario for doing the next Titan internally," Dominique said. "Given the environment, given the economy and that Nissan's global resources are constrained, we can't do everything we want as fast as we want. We had a plan that was humming along with Chrysler to deliver the truck by 2011 but that deal went away. It's a few years away. We're looking at short term enhancements we can make until 2014."
In the meantime, Nissan's pickup team will ask headquarters to approve building a heavy-duty Titan. Pushing for development of a light commercial truck (2500- or 3500-series) to increase sales volume will help spread engineering costs across more models. However, it's clear that this process isn't a short road. Once Japanese executives approve the development of a new Titan, the Nissan light-truck still figures to be another two years from production.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Report: New Nissan Titan coming in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments2006 Nissan Urge concept spotted uncovered on trailerFiled under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Nissan  The 2006 Nissan Urge looks like a dead man walking. The three-year-old concept designed as a Mazda MX-5 competitor was once planned for the market, but then the market got really, really sick and so the roadster was killed. That didn't stop Auto Express from claiming that the Urge would be coming in 2011 back in May.
Nor has the little two-seater's deceased state stopped Nissan from trailering it hither and thither, right out in the open. And who was there to catch the incident? None other than motorcar rendering guru Jon Sibal. It looks just like it did at its Detroit Auto Show debut and it's spotless in the photo, which makes us think they haven't been hauling the concept uncovered for two years. Thankfully.
Click the link for the rest of Sibal's shots, and have a look at it in the high-res gallery below. Maybe this means you'll be seeing it on a show floor sometime next year... or not?
[Source: Jonsibal.com]2006 Nissan Urge concept spotted uncovered on trailer originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Nissan planning two $10,000 cars for U.S.Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Nissan 
2010 Nissan Micra (EU market) - Click above for high-res image gallery
Nissan apparently thinks America is ready for more $10,000 vehicles, and the Japanese automaker is gearing up to do something about it. Well, two somethings, really. Automotive News reports that Nissan's chairman for the Americas, Carlos Tavares, has gone on record with reporters at the Detroit Auto Show saying that Nissan is planning a pair of vehicles that will start out at around $10,000. AN reports that the vehicles will be based off of Nissan's new V platform, an architecture set to underpin the next-generation Nissan Micra subcompact (current model shown above), which is smaller than the Versa and not sold in the States.
Nissan already markets a sub-$10,000 Versa model in the U.S., although the value-priced subcompact comes without a radio or power windows. Tavares reportedly didn't want to speculate on equipment levels, adding "the only thing that we can tell you is that we will hold that price point."
Nissan will build the vehicles at an assembly plant in Mexico, and the plan is to build three V platform products for North- and South American markets, although only two of them will be for U.S. consumption. Tavares told reporters that a $10,000 price tag would be "about right," noting that "there are very few new cars sold at that price point in the United States."
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]Report: Nissan planning two $10,000 cars for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Nissan Juke headed for American showrooms later this yearFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Nissan 
Nissan Juke - Click above for a high-res image
It was only six weeks ago that were looking at photos of the Nissan Qazana and intoning, "Oh, I see..." It was only last week we were looking at renderings of a production Qazana, now called the Juke and saying, "Well... maybe," but at the time it didn't look like the design-busting crossover would be coming to America. Looks like we, ahem, juked ourselves. In a meeting with reporters at the Detroit Auto Show, Nissan's American head announced eight new vehicles, and one of them was the Juke.
Other than a sale date in September, there wasn't much else said about the the four-door that reminds us of a Kia Soul reimagined by Dali. Nissan never said the Juke wouldn't be sold in the U.S., but the company's repeated emphasis on Europe and the fact that the Juke will be built in the UK appeared to make it unlikely. Nissan says full details will be revealed on February 10. Until then you can have a look at it in the high-res image below, and imagine it saying "Wait'll they get a load of me..." Hat tip to Dan!
[Source: USA Today]Report: Nissan Juke headed for American showrooms later this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsNissan's Qazana-based Juke shucks and jives its way out of the darkness, headed for GenevaFiled under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Nissan, Design/Style 
Nissan Juke teaser - Click above for high-res image
If you thought Nissan was joking with its barmy Qazana at last year's Geneva Motor Show, think again. The same basic form that had us likening the concept crossover to something French or a vehicle "reverse-engineered from a Paris-Dakar rally special," is evident in this first teaser shot of what Nissan is now calling Juke.
The Juke will be unveiled in Geneva this March, and is expected to moon bounce roll onto European dealer lots this autumn. However, it is rather unlikely that the Juke will make its way to North America, as the compact crossover will be built in the UK.
From what we can see, the major styling elements of the polarizing Qazana concept have made it into this production-ready vehicle, including the wacky fluted front lighting, tapered greenhouse and cartoonishly oversized wheel arches - the latter of which appear to have been minimally toned down. From the teaser point's vantage, we can't see if the Juke will retain the Qazana's 370Z-inspired boomerang taillamps, let alone its motorcycle seat-and-tank aping center console, but we hear that both are in the mix.
Yes, it's bizarre, and no, it isn't pretty. But we still kind of want one. Will the Juke be a sensation, or will it go down in bizarrely shaped flames like the Isuzu Vehicross, Patron Saint of Eccentric Quasi-Offroaders? Official Nissan press release viewable after the jump.
[Source: Nissan]Continue reading Nissan's Qazana-based Juke shucks and jives its way out of the darkness, headed for Geneva Nissan's Qazana-based Juke shucks and jives its way out of the darkness, headed for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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