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Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Electric

chevy volt crash test

Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf Crash Tests – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has completed its first test of mainstream plug-in vehicles, and both the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2011 Nissan Leaf have were named “Good” for their front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. Testing procedures for these plug-in vehicles were exactly the same as for any other automobile the IIHS tests, as they should be.

The two plug-in pioneers join 80 other 2011 vehicles in earning the Top Safety Pick title, thanks to their fine performance in instrumented crash testing and their standard electronic stability control. For what it’s worth, other fuel sippers like the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Honda Insight have also been named Top Safety Picks in the past. That said, the IIHS has taken issue with some plug-in electric vehicles in the past, specifically the not-quite-a-car NEVs like the Gem e2 or the Wheego Whip.

Of course, we all know how much fun it is to watch brand-new cars being smashed to bits in the name of safety, so we’ve gone ahead and embedded a video of the two plug-ins undergoing the crash testing process. Hit the jump to see for yourself and to check out the official press release.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt crash tests

2011 Chevrolet Volt crash tests

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf crash tests

2011 Nissan Leaf crash tests

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unmodified Nissan Leaf entered in Pikes Peak Hill Climb [w/videos]

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Nissan, Electric

2011 Nissan Leaf

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

“With electric automobiles popping up like dandelions across the landscape of American driving, it’s no surprise that they will be part of the field at the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26.”

So says the press release you’ll find waiting for your prying eyes after the break. While it’s true that we’re not exactly surprised that an electric car will make its way up to the top of the historic hill – there was, after all, a dedicated electric vehicle class for 2010 – we are a little curious whether a completely stock Nissan Leaf has any chance of dethroning current EV Hill Climb record holder Ikuo Hanawa of Japan.

Certainly, Leaf driver Chad Hord knows what he’s doing, as he currently pilots an off-road racing truck in the TORC series. In any case, we’ll find out soon enough if the Leaf’s 110 horsepower and 90-mile-per-hour top speed has the stuff to hang with the purpose-built EV racers; Hanawa will again contest the championship in his Concept two-wheel drive 2010 Custom Summit HER-02.

Oh, and about that dandelion thing… those are generally unwanted guests of those who actually care about keeping a lush carpet of green in their yards. Maybe not the way lovers of automotive greenery want to think of their rides, eh? Check out the complete press release after the break for all the details, and spend a few minutes watching Hanawa’s record-setting HER-02 do its thing on the Peak.

Gallery: 2010 Nissan LEAF

[Source: Pikes Peak International Hill Climb]

Continue reading Unmodified Nissan Leaf entered in Pikes Peak Hill Climb [w/videos]

Unmodified Nissan Leaf entered in Pikes Peak Hill Climb [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: See how Nissan checks its cars for radiation

Filed under: Japan, Safety, Videos, Nissan

Nissan radiation testing in Japan

Nissan radiation testing – Click above to watch video after the jump

Japanese automakers are continuing to test their products for excessive radiation levels as they leave their respective manufacturing facilities and before they’re loaded onto container ships for transport. Nissan has released a video detailing the company’s radiation check system, which includes monitoring randomly-selected sample group vehicles in three key locations.

Workers measure levels at the vehicles’ wheels, the center of the hood and the steering wheel before handing out clean bills of health. So far, all of the company’s vehicles have passed without a problem.

Automakers began testing vehicles after the disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant despite the fact that most manufacturing locations are situated well away from the ill-stricken facility. The video after the jump follows a few vehicles (including a 370Z and a GT-R) through the test procedure and onto a transportation vessel in port. Click past the jump to watch the full video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Stephen!

[Source: Integrity Exports]

Continue reading Video: See how Nissan checks its cars for radiation

Video: See how Nissan checks its cars for radiation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Nissan 370Z plays chicken

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Nissan, Humor

Nissan 370Z races a chicken

Nissan 370Z races a chicken – Click above to watch video after the jump

The team at Nissan UK has worked up a new spot for the company’s 370Z that features plenty of wing-to-fender action. Set in a seedy underworld where poultry is pitted against sheetmetal in a dire race for bragging rights, the 370Z is seen battling the latest descendant in a long line of racing chickens. The chicken in question supposedly excels in the corners, though predictably enough, he’s no match for the tail-sliding action of the Z.

Does any of this make sense? Of course not, but neither do a bunch of rapping hamsters, and we still love those. Considering that Kia just walked away with the winning nod at the Nielsen Top Auto Ad of the Year awards for the company’s “This or That” spot, Nissan may be hoping to cash in on the animal craze in its own way, though we have to wonder if the ad might not ruffle a few feathers over at PETA.

Hit the jump to watch Nissan’s poultry in motion.

[Source: Nissan via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Nissan 370Z plays chicken

Video: Nissan 370Z plays chicken originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Nissan says subcompact buyers aren’t looking for styling, sportiness

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Nissan

2012 Nissan Versa

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

After Nissan unveiled its redesigned 2012 Versa sedan at the New York Auto Show yesterday, coverage was almost unanimous in declaring it, at best, inconspicuous. David Reuter, Nissan’s VP of Corporate Communications, tells Autoblog that’s fine:

“The Fiesta may have been getting the press, this is what was selling. We were up 20 percent last year. Our competitors have gone for sporty and styling, but that’s not what these buyers want. Subcompact buyers want a dependable, roomy car with good fuel economy, and they want the features and specs to feel they spent a lot more on a car than they did.”

The formula, inconspicuous as it might be, has worked: Nissan moved 99,705 Versa sedans and hatchbacks in 2010, running away from everything else in the class – next were the Honda Fit with 54,354, the Hyundai Accent with 51,975, and the Chevrolet Aveo with 48,623 units sold. Say what you will about the looks, with a segment-leading 103 cubic feet of room in the 2012 Versa and more standard features at a competitive price point, the momentum will likely continue.

Gallery: 2012 Nissan Versa: New York 2011

New York 2011: Nissan says subcompact buyers aren’t looking for styling, sportiness originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Nissan’s Leaf Nismo RC ready to jolt motorsports world?

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Technology, Hatchback, Nissan, Electric

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Countless auto industry pundits have suggested that there would be no better way to accelerate the development of EV technologies than for someone with the wherewithal to organize a racing series just for electric cars.

Nissan appears to agree with that strategy, having just unveiled its Leaf Nismo RC (Racing Competition) concept here at the New York Auto Show. The juiced-up hatchback has lost a couple of doors and nearly four inches out of its wheelbase in the transition to competition spec, but it’s a whopping 6.7-inches wider and nearly an inch longer – proportions that are exaggerated by its minimal ground clearance of 2.4 inches. With its carbon fiber body shot in special white paint, the Nismo RC ends up looking a bit like a really, really angry vacuum cleaner, and that’s just fine by us. All-in, Nissan says the motorsports special weighs just 2,068 pounds – around 40 percent lighter than your garden-variety Leaf.

The Nismo RC rolls up to the starting line packing 107 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, and its lithium-ion pack can reach an 80 percent charge state in just 30 minutes. Still, if the Leaf is ever to be raced, we’re thinking that some sort of swappable battery solution will have to be developed; otherwise pit stops are going to be rather leisurely.

Despite its menacing appearance and real racecar engineering, Nissan says its top speed is just 93 mph and its battery would likely only last about 20 minutes in competition. In other words, while this is a promising start, we don’t see the Nismo RC spawning its own race series just yet.

High-res galleries below, official press release after the jump.

Gallery: Nissan Leaf Nismo RC: New York 2011

Gallery: Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

Continue reading New York 2011: Nissan’s Leaf Nismo RC ready to jolt motorsports world?

New York 2011: Nissan’s Leaf Nismo RC ready to jolt motorsports world? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: 2012 Nissan Versa offers 33 mpg for $10,990

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Nissan

2012 Nissan Versa

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

Revealed “simultaneously” as the new Tiida in Shanghai, the 2012 Nissan Versa drove onto the stage here at the 2011 New York Auto Show spouting some impressive numbers: 33 miles per gallon (combined, and 30 city/37 highway) for the low, low price of $10,990. Sure, 33 ain’t nothing compared to a Toyota Prius, but you could buy two Versas for the price of a Prius, and $10k buys a lot of gas at 33 mpg.

This is exactly the kind of thinking that Nissan wants car buyers to do, and the company is encouraging this train of thought by branding the Versa with its Pure Drive efficiency label – first applied to cars in Europe in 2008. The 2012 Versa, sporting a 1.6-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine and weighing 150 fewer pounds than the previous generation model, will be the first Pure Drive vehicle in the U.S. Speaking at the show, Nissan’s executive vice-president of the America, Carlos Tavares, said that this “is a real car, complete with air conditioning, vehicle dynamic control, CD/radio with aux in, electric-assisted steering and 15-inch wheels and tires.” You want more features, like satellite radio or “Fine Vision instrumentation?” They’re available of course, but they’ll cost you a bit more.

Tavares said the Versa is already the best selling car in it’s segment, and we can see Nissan selling quite a few of these if the numbers talked about today bear themselves out on the road. Check out the details in our gallery below and read plenty more in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Nissan Versa: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Nissan Versa

2012 Nissan Versa

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading New York 2011: 2012 Nissan Versa offers 33 mpg for $10,990

New York 2011: 2012 Nissan Versa offers 33 mpg for $10,990 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Leaf NISMO RC set to electrify New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Nissan, Electric

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

Nissan Leaf NISMO RC – Click above to enlarge

Nissan will unveil a racing variant of the Leaf electric car at the New York Auto Show, but the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC has little in common with its more pedestrian “sibling.” NISMO started with a lithium ion battery pack and badging from a stock Leaf, then built a completely new vehicle around it.

There are no rear doors; the carpeting, navigation and stereo system are gone; and the battery pack has been relocated to the middle of the vehicle for better weight distribution. Speaking of weight, the NISMO RC is about 40 percent lighter than the production Leaf, as a carbon fiber monocoque platform and more compact dimensions cut total weight to just 2,068 pounds. The race-ready Leaf is also a foot shorter and 6.7 inches wider, and with a scant 2.4 inches of ground clearance.

While the Nissan Leaf NISMO Nismo RC is a different animal than its production namesake, it still carries a familial resemblance, at least up front. Nissan employed LED lighting all around, a driver-adjustable rear wing and plenty of NISMO/Zero Emission graphics to ensure that onlookers know this is no fossil-fuel burner.

Nissan says the NISMO RC will be used for demonstration purposes, so don’t expect this Leaf to compete any time soon. The automaker does say, however, that it’s considering a zero-emission spec series for the future. With an estimated run time of 20 minutes under racing conditions, the 30 minute quick-charge time (to achieve 80 percent capacity) would make for some leisurely pit stops. When the Leaf NISMO RC is in motion, its 80kW AC motor generates 107 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque; good enough for a 0-60 time of 6.85 seconds and a 93-mph top speed. No land-speed records there, folks, but we’re betting this particular Leaf would be a blast to drive anyway. Hit the jump to read over Nissan’s press release.

Gallery: Nissan Leaf NISMO RC

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan Leaf NISMO RC set to electrify New York

Nissan Leaf NISMO RC set to electrify New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, SUV, Videos, Cadillac, Nissan, Luxury

Hennessey HPE1000 vs 2011 Nissan GT-R

Hennessey HPE1000 Cadillac Escalade vs. 2011 Nissan GT-R – Click above to watch video after the jump

The problem with being the standard-bearer for world-class performance is that you’re saddled with the burden of defending your crown at every turn. Take the 2011 Nissan GT-R, for example. This vehicle has the proud distinction of offering one of the highest performance-per-dollar ratios of any car on the planet, and as such, it’s the go-to challenger for any high-horsepower machine looking to make a name for itself.

Those would-be stars are typically low-slung tuner creations, but the team from Hennessey chose to line the big-bad Nissan up against something a little less traditional: its HPE1000 Cadillac Escalade. Whereas the 485-horsepower 2011 GT-R can dash to 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds, the big SUV packs two turbos, over 1,000 horsepower and 0-60 sprint of 3.3 seconds.

To be fair, the Godzilla in the video after the jump isn’t the new-and-improved 2012 model (stop us if you’ve heard this one before…), and the Caddy gets a massive jump on the Nissan, but the fact that a 6,000-pound SUV can manage to keep up with anything from the GT-R bloodline is an impressive enough feat. Click past the jump to check it out for yourself, and remember to keep your fender-to-fender shenanigans off the street.

[Source: Hennessey via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade

Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X

Filed under: SUV, Nissan, Reviews, Off-Road

A Bonafide SUV That Refuses To Be CUV-ified

2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X

2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X – Click above for high-res image gallery

There was a time when body-on-frame SUVs dominated American roads, with nearly every major automaker offering some kind of four-wheeling fighter to suburbia’s off-road pretenders. Nissan was no different, and at its peak in 2000, the eminently capable Xterra sold some 88,000 copies – the same year our colleagues at Motor Trend crowned it Sport Utility of the Year.

But unlike so many hardened off-roaders that have evolved into unibody crossovers, the Xterra has soldiered on nearly unchanged since its refresh in 2005. And according to our sources, this latest variant – the Pro-4X – could be the last of an orphaned breed. We got our hands on Nissan’s most capable SUV for a week of highway drudgery, big-box shopping and even a little time off the beaten path to find out if it deserves to live on.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X…

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X: Review

2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X

Continue reading Review: 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X

Review: 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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