Renault-Nissan Opens New Silicon Valley Research Center

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced the opening of a new research office at Mountain View, California. The new facility lies at the heart of Silicon Valley, directly across the Google campus and near some of the world’s leading software and hardware companies.

The location will allow the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which already employs more than 350,000 workers and accounts for 1 in 10 new cars sold globally in 2010, to benefit from the regional engineering talent in shaping the cars of the future.

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Nissan Rebadges Mazda5 MPV for Japan, Calls it the New Lafesta Highway Star

After preparing its customers with an announcement in January, Nissan today went ahead and introduced a re-badged version of the Mazda5 MPV (called Premacy in its home market) in the form of the new Lafesta Highway Star. The compact minivan is supplied to Nissan by Mazda on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis, and will be sold exclusively in Japan. Read more »

Nissan to Axe Altima Hybrid at the End of the 2011 Model Year

The current Nissan Altima Hybrid is counting days (well, more like months) in the U.S. as the Japanese automaker plans to drop the gasoline-electric hybrid model from its lineup at the end of the 2011 model year, according to a report from Autonews. The hybrid sedan hasn’t been much of a success for Nissan as only 35,000 units have been sold in the States since its introduction in the market in 2007.

Aside from the somewhat disappointing sales, Nissan’s decision may also have to do with the fact that the Altima Hybrid utilizes a hybrid system sourced from rival Toyota. Nissan has since developed its own hybrid system with a new lithium-ion battery that made its debut on the 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid.

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Ghosn Says Nissan will Sell Record Number of Leaf EVs in the US this June

The battle for sales supremacy in the eco-friendly segment between Nissan’s pure electric Leaf and GM’s extended range Chevrolet Volt is really heating up lately, with the two models separated by only 17 cars in U.S. sales figures so far this year.

And while GM is betting on the introduction of a slightly lower priced base model as well as the extended availability of the Volt in all 50 states to win this battle, Nissan is counting on increasing output to ease customer delays after production was disrupted by the Japan’s earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

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Nissan Leaf vs Chevrolet Volt: Who will Win the Sales Battle?

Even though the new Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt are two very different cars when it comes to details, they do have a common denominator: they are the most technologically advanced eco-friendly vehicles that are mass-produced and readily available in the U.S. market. That said, it’s interesting to see how they’re doing in sales this year.

Believe it or not, it’s a fierce neck-to-neck sales battle so far in 2011 with only 17 cars separating the Leaf from the Volt. Nissan has delivered 2,184 examples of the pure-electric Leaf from January to the end of May, while GM has sold 2,167 units of Chevrolet’s extended range electric vehicle in the same period.

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Nissan Pays Top Execs Twice as Much as Toyota and Honda

Toyota’s executives must be green with envy once they hear the salaries of their counterparts in Nissan. That is because, Nissan’s top directors were paid more than twice as much for the fiscal year that ended last March than their equals at Toyota, according to a report from Bloomberg. And this despite the fact that Toyota is Japan’s biggest car manufacturer and Nissan is number two.

In a statement that Nissan issued before its annual meeting on June 29, average salary, including bonuses, for 14 executives was 126 million yen, or $ 1.6 million. In comparison, Toyota paid its 38 directors and auditors an average of about 41 million yen per executive.

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Shhh….Nissan’s Radical Leaf Nismo RC Coupe Racecar Filmed on the Track

If there is one thing we don’t like about electric sports cars (we emphasize ‘sports’) in general, it is the lack of engine sounds, you know, the banging thunder of a brawny V8 or the symphony of a finely tuned straight six. Sure EVs may be just as fast as any gasoline-powered model but when it comes to aural pleasure, you might as well be listening to your electric shaver…

Take a look at the following video of the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC racer, which was filmed during a test session, after the break and you’ll see what we mean. And if you disagree, feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section.

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BMW Takes Top Spot Among Automakers and 4th Overall in New Study for the World’s Most Reputable Companies

A recently released study by research-based consulting firm Reputation Institute, found that BMW is considered the world’s most reputable company in the automotive sector and fourth overall behind Google, Apple and the Walt Disney Company. German automakers in general performed well in the study with Daimler, owner of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and Smart, ranking 7th overall, while Volkswagen finished in 10th place, followed by Honda (29), Toyota (60), Nissan (61) and Suzuki (63). Read more »

Nissan to Design, Engineer and Build Next Qashqai in Britain

The second generation of Nissan’s big-selling in Europe Qashqai crossover will be designed, engineered and built in Britain, the Japanese automaker’s CEO Carols Ghosn announced today during a meeting with UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Nissan said it will spend £192 million (US$315 million or €215 million) for the new Qashqai, safeguarding 6,000 jobs, both direct and indirect through the UK supply chain. Read more »

Japan’s Impul Tricks Out the New Nissan Juke

It doesn't even come close to being the prettiest model out in the market, but Nissan’s Juke sure ain’t boring. Now, Impul, one of Japan’s lesser-known tuning firms has set their eyes on improving Nissan’s small crossover with the release of a new performance and styling package.

The cosmetic makeover begins with a full aero kit comprising of a new front spoiler, side skirts or optionally side steps, a rear diffuser and a giant rear wing. The company’s aesthetic offerings also include a redesigned front grille, profile decals and exterior mirror trims.

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Toyota Sales Plunge More than 33% in May, Chrysler Group up by 10%

The numbers for U.S. auto sales for the month of May are out and as expected, Japanese automakers continue to be hit hard by the ongoing production disruptions caused by the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in their home market. As a result, Toyota’s sales plunged 33.4% over the year-ago month to 108,387 units, while rivaling Honda saw its sales fall 22.5% to 90,773 vehicles, Nissan recorded a 9.1% drop to 76,148 units and Mazda 17,875 vehicles, down 20.9%.

General Motors dealers in the United States delivered 221,192 vehicles in May posting a decline of 1%, while the Ford Motor Co. said its sales decreased by 0.1% to 192,253 cars, trucks and SUVs.

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Nissan Offers Three Years of Free Service for 2011MY GT-R in the UK

Pit stops for new owners of the 2011 GT-R in the United Kingdom will become a far more enjoyable chore as Nissan is offering a three-year servicing plan, along with three years RAC cover. The Japanese automaker said the free service plan is offered to those purchasing a 2011MY GT-R through Nissan’s own personal contract plan (PCP) known as Preferences. Buyers that opt to finance their car in any other way as well as current owners of the 2011MY GT-R, are offered the option to purchase the servicing plan for £499 (equal to US$899 or €567). Read more »

New Nissan Leaf Commercial Mocks the Chevy Volt for Using Gasoline

Electric carmakers are trying hard to promote their products, with the environmentally friendly nature of these vehicles being their most exploited feature in advertising. Nissan is going down the same path with a new campaign for the fully-electric Leaf entitled “Gas Powered Everything”, in which the company mocks the internal combustion engine by imagining a strange world where all appliances run on gas.

The result is a funny commercial in which people have to put up with gas-powered alarm-clocks, microwave ovens, computers and many more appliances. Even the Chevrolet Volt becomes a subject of joke for being a gas-electric hybrid. But we can't help but wonder: isn't Nissan's approach a little hypocritical? It's not like their range includes electric cars alone...

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Renault’s Dacia Duster “No Limit” Racer gets 850HP V6 Sourced from the Nissan GT-R!

Following an early reveal on racing driver Jean-Philippe Dayraut's website, Renault today released official photos of its PikesPeak contender, the 850HP Dacia Duster “No Limit”. The name comes from the “Unlimited” class of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which imposes no restrictions on the size or power output of the engine, maximum power or torque. In addition, there are no restrictions concerning the transmission or the aerodynamic characteristics. Looking at the size of the Duster's rear wing, it is obvious the car competes in the “Unlimited” class.

The one-off prototype was built by Tork Engineering (which handled the design, production, assembly and development) and Sodemo (engine), in association with Renault Sport Technologies, which supplied certain components.

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Nissan Leaf Becomes the first EV to Receive a 5-Star Euro NCAP Rating

After awarding the Mitsubishi i-MiEV with a four-star rating, Euro NCAP, which is the European equivalent of the American IIHS, crash tested its second all-electric model, the Nissan Leaf. The Japanese hatchback achieved a five-star rating, becoming the first electric vehicle to do so. Read more »

SPIED: Nissan Testing New 2012 Sunny / Versa Sedan in Europe

Our spy photographers have captured a lightly camouflaged prototype of the freshly revealed in the USA and China, Nissan Versa / Sunny series, during testing in Sierra Nevada, Spain. The prototype was a right-hand drive example with test license plates from Spain.

Aside from the odd-looking exhaust tail pipe that extends all the way to the outer corner of the rear bumper and possibly the headlamp and tail lamp designs, we didn’t notice any other styling differences compared to the North American Versa and the China market Sunny models.

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Hyundai Set to Become Sixth Biggest Automaker in the U.S. In 2011

In the realm of U.S. automotive sales, 8% is a magic number. When an automaker hits 8%, they know they’ve become one of the big guns. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and Nissan have all made it, and 2011 is expected to be Hyundai’s year.

So sayeth market research firm Polk, and I’m tempted to agree. Hyundai and its partner-brand / internal rival Kia have steadily been evolving into truly world-class carmakers. They’re keenly priced, inoffensive to look at and comprehensively covered quality-wise – everything the vast majority of new car buyers want in this day and age.

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Recall da Nissan Frontier LE

A Nissan está convocando os proprietários de picapes Nissan Frontier Limited Edition fabricadas na Espanha entre 2005 e 2008 para comparecer às concessionárias.

O recall é referente as rodas de liga leve que podem trincar quando usadas com carga máxima, com grave risco de ocasionar acidentes.

Os carros chamados deverão ter as cinco rodas trocadas por novas.
O recall inclui as 208 unidades do modelo vendidas no Brasil, que têm chassis entre VSKCVND4060069190 e VSKCVND4070144648. A Nissan tentará entrar em contato com os proprietários.

Maiores informações podem ser obtidas pelo telefone 0800 011-1090 ou no site Nissan.

New Nissan 370Z GT Edition Launches in Britain

Following its European presentation in March, Nissan has announced the UK introduction of the new 2011 370Z GT Edition, which is available for order now with first deliveries expected during the first week of June. The new GT model is based on the European market 2011 370Z adding bespoke styling and equipment features to the mix. Read more »

Top Gear vs. Electric Cars Part Two: Nissan Leaf Runs of out Electric Juice…

Lately, it seems that pushing an out-of-juice electric car is quickly becoming a trademark of Britain’s popular Top Gear TV series. After the Tesla Motors row, it seems another EV will be featured in the show while being pushed. This time it's the Nissan Leaf, whose batteries ran dry while being driven by Jeremy Clarkson.

Fortunately, one of the many witnesses of the event caught Clarkson and James May trying to find an outlet to plug for the Leaf on camera. The two TV hosts were filming a test drive with the Nissan Leaf and the Peugeot iOn for the next episode of the show. After looking for outlets in the park, the crew eventually plugged the Leaf in at the UK's University of Lincoln.

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