Tag: nissan

Video: Renault and Nissan imagine a world where gas powers everything

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Renault, Electric

Nissan gas-powered everything

Nissan’s “Gas Powered Everything” ad – Click above to watch the videos after the jump

What would the world be like if everything were powered by gasoline?

Renault-Nissan has kicked off a massive advertising campaign intended to highlight the advanced technology of electric vehicles with the debut of a pair of videos that bang home the point that consumers depend upon electricity to power items used everyday and that using gasoline is, in some instances, utterly ridiculous.

In one spot, a middle-aged man wakes up for work to the burning whistle of his gas-powered alarm clock and with a few fierce tugs at his coffee maker’s rip cord, manages to fire up the gas-gulping machine. That same man, while at the office, walks up to a miniature gas pump to refuel his laptop computer.

Oh, and the owner of a Chevrolet Volt, while standing at the gas pump refueling his plug-in hybrid, watches in envy as another man across the street unplugs his Nissan Leaf and drives off as onlookers watch in amazement. Yep, that’s how Nissan sees the world if “Gas Powered Everything.”

Since the videos are, in our humble opinion, absolutely hilarious, we’ll refrain from revealing too much. Hit the jump to view the clips clip. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Continue reading Renault and Nissan imagine a world where gas powers everything

Renault and Nissan imagine a world where gas powers everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Is the quickest way to charge a Nissan Leaf… by towing?

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Nissan, Electric

Towing a Nissan Leaf with a Toyota Tundra

Towing a Nissan Leaf to charge it – Click above to watch video after the jump

When you have a Nissan Leaf with an empty battery, desperately need to get somewhere and there’s no charging station around, your options are pretty limited. For the moment at least, Nissan will gladly tow your EV at no cost, though something tells us the driver may have an issue with being your personal chauffeur. But there may be another alternative to help you get where you’re going. As one enterprising Leaf driver recently found out, towing the vehicle using a tow bar actually quickly charges the batteries thanks to the vehicle’s regenerative braking.

Now, as you can tell from the video after the break, this may not be the best thing for the Leaf’s powertrain. The owner’s manual specifically warns against towing in this manner unless it’s a dire emergency, and the Leaf’s computer seems all kinds of out of sorts after a brief tow session behind a Toyota Tundra. We wouldn’t be surprised if this even led to warranty issues down the line, too. The bottom line is that while the stunt makes for compelling internet entertainment, it’s not something we’d recommend trying at home. Be warned that the video may be a little NSFW due to some brief foul language (the audio is in Dutch, but there are English subtitles). Check it out after the jump.

Continue reading Is the quickest way to charge a Nissan Leaf… by towing?

Is the quickest way to charge a Nissan Leaf… by towing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Nissan donates cash, offers employee pricing and delayed payments to Southern storm victims

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Nissan

Nissan

Nissan Americas is offering employee pricing and delayed finance payments to victims of the recent tornadoes and floods across the southeastern U.S. The latest gesture comes after the company donated $115,000 to the Red Cross to help with the relief efforts.

Qualified buyers, meaning those from the southeast who were left without a mode of transportation after the storms, will be offered Nissans at a price normally reserved for company workers and their immediate families. To be eligible for the program, you have to live in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi or Alabama and be able to provide proof of damage to your primary vehicle. Check out Nissan’s full press release after the jump.

Continue reading Nissan donates cash, offers employee pricing and delayed payments to Southern storm victims

Nissan donates cash, offers employee pricing and delayed payments to Southern storm victims originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 May 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Why some Nissan Juke owners are getting a $400 check in the mail

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Nissan, Earnings/Financials

2011 nissan juke

2011 Nissan Juke – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan Juke is offered in two different drivetrain flavors: front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. When marketing the Juke early on, Nissan listed the gas tank capacity at 13.2-gallons. That’s true… for the front-wheel-drive model, however, the all-wheel-drive Juke has a smaller 11.6-gallon tank. Nissan caught the error and corrected it, but not before approximately 4,000 Juke owners purchased the all-wheel-drive Juke and assumed they had the larger tank.

Not content to simply issue an all-encompassing apology, Nissan is sending out letters to each one of those 4,000 Juke owners (out of the 22,000 folks who have so far purchased a Juke). But there is more than just a letter inside the envelope. Nissan is also including a check for $400. Head over to ConsumerSearch.com to read the letter that Nissan sent, then feel free sound off in the ‘Comments’ regarding the 400 bones.

Do you think this is a cool move by Nissan or would you still be upset as a Juke owner?

Why some Nissan Juke owners are getting a $400 check in the mail originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan celebrates racing tradition with special overseas 370Z GT Edition

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, UK

Nissan 370Z GT

Nissan 370Z GT Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s no refuting that Nissan has a rich motor racing heritage, one which it continues to build in series around the globe. And to celebrate its racing prowess, the Japanese automaker is launching a special 370Z GT Edition.

The special model features retro stripes running down the rocker panel over either black or white paint options (including a unique shade of black exclusive to the GT edition), anthracite-finish 19-inch Rays forged alloys and some suspension enhancements. The chassis in particular has been recalibrated at Nissan’s European technical center for high-speed driving, further facilitated by extra underbody sound insulation.

Nissan’s also thrown in the Premium Connect sat-nav system and rear-view parking camera, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a new snow mode on the optional seven-speed automatic that starts the car in second gear to minimize the potential for wheelspin. Unfortunately, there’s no indication as yet of plans to offer the 370Z GT on these shores, so for a closer look you’ll have to scope out the images in the high-resolution gallery and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Nissan celebrates racing tradition with special overseas 370Z GT Edition

Nissan celebrates racing tradition with special overseas 370Z GT Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Nissan Leaf Nismo RC gets on-track shakedown

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, Videos, Nissan, Electric, Racing

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC on track

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC – Click above to watch video after the jump

Nissan has yet to figure out exactly where the company will campaign its new Leaf RC racer, but that hasn’t stopped the engineers behind the Japanese automaker’s Nismo effort from getting the machine out on track for a little shake-down action.

With its sexy carbon fiber bodywork, three-door layout and silent electric drivetrain, the car looks plenty sinister in its element. And while the vehicle’s new skin is both longer and wider than the street-going Leaf, the race car uses the same drivetrain as what’s whirring around on public streets right now, though it’s worth noting that everything has been shifted closer to the passenger cell to improve weight balance.

Nissan says that ideally, the company would eventually like to replace traditional ICE racing with EVs and that it would also like to branch out into other forms of motorsports that have never been explored. Those include city races where typical race cars are too loud to compete and indoor events where a zero-emission vehicle could truly shine. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Nissan Leaf Nismo RC gets on-track shakedown

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC gets on-track shakedown originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 May 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Nissan Pathfinder

Filed under: SUV, Nissan, Reviews

An Aging SUV Stalwart Sizes Up Its Crossover Competition

2011 Nissan Pathfinder

2011 Nissan Pathfinder – Click above for high-res image gallery

Would you describe yourself as an optimist? Someone who can always find the good in something that others fail to see? It’s an admirable quality, and one we’re going to try and keep in mind while putting down our thoughts on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder.

We could write a thousand-word essay on the demise of the large, three-row, body-on-frame sport utility vehicle, but that hardly seems helpful. Instead, we’ll do our best to point out exactly what penalties you’ll be signing up for by choosing this type of vehicle over one of its newer crossover competitors.

Yes, a pessimist could surely find plenty about the aging Pathfinder to complain about, but the deep-seated, glass-half-full optimist can take that 4,800-pound bag of lemons and make some sweet-tasting lemonade. It took the entirety of our week with the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder, but we finally figured out exactly who this vehicle is for. Could it be you? Continue reading…

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2011 Nissan Pathfinder originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 May 2011 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM’s Mark Reuss says Nissan Leaf is a “single-purpose” car that he wouldn’t put in the hands of his three kids

Filed under: Hatchback, Nissan, Electric

2011 Nissan Leaf

2011 Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, recently voiced his opinions on a slew of issues with the Nashville Business Journal. Reuss spoke of GM’s future, the role of the Chevrolet Volt and more. But when the discussion turned to the Nissan Leaf, it became obvious that Reuss is not a fan of the electric hatch.

Reuss explained what he believes to be the most significant drawbacks of electric-only vehicles like the Leaf, stating:

[The Leaf] has a finite range and requires infrastructure and charging to run it, where the Volt is really an extended-range electric vehicle. The Volt can really be the only car you own. You better be living within a certain range for the Leaf. … It’s a lot different market, a lot different car and a completely different driver.

While we think that Reuss should’ve stopped at that, he didn’t. Reuss continued to rag on the Leaf, boldly stating that:

I’m not sure if I’d put the Leaf in the hands of my three kids. Say, what if they can’t charge it? What if they get to school and can’t charge it? The Leaf is a single-purpose car.

Did Reuss’ statements to a little too far? Let us know what you think by voicing your thoughts in ‘Comments’ below.

GM’s Mark Reuss says Nissan Leaf is a “single-purpose” car that he wouldn’t put in the hands of his three kids originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Nissan Versa will spawn hatchback body style, just not quite yet

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Nissan

2012 Nissan Versa

2012 Nissan Versa – Click above for high-res image gallery

When we studied the trends of hatchback and sedan sales numbers within the subcompact segment, we found that the more functional three- and five-door models tend to attract the majority of buyers. Nissan – a company whose Versa enjoys the largest share (20 percent) of this segment – stated that about two-thirds of all Versas sold in the United States are hatchbacks.

2012 Nissan TiidaSo why, then, when the 2012 Versa sedan debuted at the New York Auto Show last month, was there no five-door variant in sight? After all, the Versa’s global sister, the Tiida (pictured right), debuted in funky hatchback form at the Shanghai Motor Show recently, and with the five-door model commanding the majority of sales, Nissan wouldn’t be smart to kill off its more popular offering.

We spoke to David Reuter, Nissan’s vice president of corporate communications, who assured us that a new version of the Versa hatchback is coming, just not quite yet.

The majority of Versa sold are the five-door. Overall, we sold 99,705 Versa in 2010, compared to our next closest competitor (Honda Fit) who sold just under 55,000 units. So, from a business standpoint, we decided to improve the sedan first.
As of this writing, it is unclear exactly when we’ll see the next-generation Versa hatch. In the meantime, Reuter says that the current car will soldier on for the 2012 model year with “only normal model year to model year changes.”

2012 Nissan Versa will spawn hatchback body style, just not quite yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sales update: Nissan Leaf hits 573, Chevy Volt at 493 in April

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Plants/Manufacturing, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Electric

nissan leaf chevy volt mash up

Last month we tallied the cumulative North American sales of both the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf, and it’s time to check those numbers again. While neither vehicle is selling like hotcakes, April’s numbers show that one of the two electric autos is inching up the sales chart, while the other has slipped a bit.

The Leaf sold 573 units in April versus the Volt’s 493. Compared to March’s results, which had Leaf sales at 298 and Volt sales at 608, Nissan’s electric hatch has gained some ground, while Chevy’s plug-in lost some traction.

The latest cumulative U.S. sales totals for the plug-in duo, since launching in late 2010, has the Volt leading the pack with 2,029 units sold, while the Leaf comes in at 1,044. Year-to-date, Volt sales stand at 1,703, while Nissan says Leaf production had, as of April 15th, hit nearly 8,000.

Nissan’s presser on Leaf sales is posted after the jump and a detailed look at GM’s numbers are available here (PDF warning).

[Source: Nissan, General Motors]

Continue reading Sales update: Nissan Leaf hits 573, Chevy Volt at 493 in April

Sales update: Nissan Leaf hits 573, Chevy Volt at 493 in April originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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