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Spy Shots: 2012 Nissan Tiida hatch (pronounced: “Versa”) caught ahead of Shanghai reveal

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Spy Photos, Hatchback, Nissan

Yesterday, we told you that the 2012 Nissan Versa is coming to the New York Auto Show later this month, and today we can show you exactly what its JDM counterpart will look like. Above is a completely undisguised photo of the Tiida hatchback as it sits in a parking lot in China. The hatch shares a virtually identical front end to that of the Versa sketch Nisan showed us back in October. The Tiida also shares a platform with the already in production Sunny, which shows that a sedan variant is also likely.

The spy photo shows highly stylized headlamps and a grille that is framed in chrome. The lower fascia is agape, framed by a pair of similarly large fog lamp openings. Overall styling of the Tiida appears to be a bit more conservative than competitors like the Ford Fiesta, though it’s a clear improvement compared to the outgoing Versa. Another spy photo, which is available on autoincar.com, shows that the Tiida carries a Direct Injection Gas 1.6 liter turbo engine, which currently pumps out 188 horsepower under the hood of the Juke, though we’d be very surprised if the Versa gets that kind of power – a naturally aspirated 1.6 will likely be offered.

We’ll see how close this spy shot of the Tiida is to the production 2012 Versa when it is unveiled in New York later this month.

[Source: Auto In Car]

Spy Shots: 2012 Nissan Tiida hatch (pronounced: “Versa”) caught ahead of Shanghai reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 Nissan Versa to debut at New York Auto Show

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

Nissan versa sketch

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

Nissan has hinted in the past that it plans to show a new small car at this year’s New York Auto Show, and the folks at Inside Line now say that new vehicle will be the 2012 Versa. The next Versa will reportedly be based off of a new global B platform that already underpins the Nissan Sunny (pictured, right) and the Micra. The updated Versa will reportedly shrink a bit compared to the current model, and it will continue to slot below the Sentra in terms of price.

The Japanese automaker released a sketch of the next-generation model back in October, giving us an idea of what the Versa will look like. We’re hoping the new Versa will once again be available in both sedan and hatchback variants, and it wouldn’t hurt for fuel economy numbers to offer powertrain enhancements compared to the model that’s currently on sale. Stay tuned.

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: 2012 Nissan Versa to debut at New York Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Altima outsells Camry, Accord in March, named best-selling sedan in America for first time

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Nissan, Earnings/Financials

2010 Nissan Altima sedan

Nissan Altima – Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan says it achieved a 9.7 percent U.S. market share in March, the highest single month in company history. Complementing March’s heady number is an overall market share of 9.3 percent for Nissan in the first quarter of 2011. That represents a 0.3 percent gain in market share, building on 2010’s 0.4 percent gain.

March also saw the Nissan Altima take the title of best-selling sedan in America, another company first. The Altima contributed 32,289 units to Nissan’s 121,141-car total, which is nearly a 27 percent bump over last year’s March figures. It isn’t immediately clear what incentives Nissan had on the car during the month of March to aid sales, but presently, the Japanese automaker is offering zero-percent financing for up to 60 months or 1.9 percent APR financing for up to 72 months, or $1,250 cash back.

Had enough numbers? Too bad, Nissan isn’t quite done. Monthly sales were up 28.4 percent for the division, another record, and Infiniti saw a 13.5 percent sales hike in March. With numbers this big, Nissan is looking at a banner year.

Gallery: 2010 Nissan Altima Sedan

[Source: Nissan]

Nissan Altima outsells Camry, Accord in March, named best-selling sedan in America for first time originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet coming to take on Nissan’s topless Murano

Filed under: Convertible, Honda, Design/Style

Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet

Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet – Click above for high-res image

Are unconventional droptops becoming the darling of the automotive industry? Honda is evidently paying close attention to the new Murano CrossCabriolet from Nissan, and apparently it likes what it sees. Historically averse to convertibles (small-volume jobs like the S2000 excluded), the Japanese automaker now plans to offer a soft-top CUV of its own, and the unlikely choice for a roofectomy is the slow-selling Honda Accord Crosstour.

Unimaginatively dubbed the Accord Crosstour Cabriolet, this convertible features a two-plus-two interior seating arrangement and unlimited headroom. Under the hood sits the familiar 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 271 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. Like the fixed-roof Crosstour, the Cabriolet will be offered with front- and all-wheel drive, giving it more configurablility than the AWD-only Murano. Like the Nissan, the cabrio conversion has resulted in two fewer doors and the merciful exclusion of a basket-handle structural support. Oddly, to our eyes, the Crosstour Cabriolet almost looks more attractive than the hunchbacked hardtop – at least with the top down.

When it goes on sale this summer, the Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet will sit atop the Crosstour’s pricing structure. The fully-loaded Crosstour we reviewed in 2010 had a sticker price of $36,930, so expect the convertible to come in right at a stitch over the $40K mark. That’s a bit less than the $47,190 Nissan wants for its Murano CrossCab.

Continue reading Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet coming to take on Nissan’s topless Murano

Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet coming to take on Nissan’s topless Murano originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch split-screen action of 2011 Nissan GTR vs. Corvette ZR1

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Chevrolet, Nissan

chevrolet corvette zr1 versus nissan gtr at the nurburgring

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Last week we told you about the fresh, faster Nürburgring track times of the Nissan GTR, with video that proves that Godzilla 2012 managed to shave 2.48 seconds off its best lap. We were under the impression that the GTR’s new top time wasn’t enough to best the Corvette ZR1, but a side-by-side (or rather a top-to-bottom) comparison video of both runs gives us the definitive answer.

Beyond the jump is a video pitting the in-car camera view of the ZR1 (top screen) versus the 2012 GTR (bottom screen). Pay close attention from the five minute mark to about 6:20 into the clip, as the vehicle with the lead loses it for good at this point in the race. Very entertaining little competition, but you’ll have to hit the jump and watch to see the winner for yourself.

[Source: CarScoop]

Continue reading Video: Watch split-screen action of 2011 Nissan GTR vs. Corvette ZR1

Video: Watch split-screen action of 2011 Nissan GTR vs. Corvette ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ivy League-bound teen girl pistol-whips mom, demands Nissan Z [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Videos, Nissan

Rachel Hachero pistol-whipping teen screencap

17-year-old pistol-whipping honor roll student wants Nissan – Click above to watch video

A 17-year-old girl from Fort Myers, Florida allegedly pistol-whipped her mother into buying her a 2004 Nissan 350Z last week. The teen, an Ivy League-bound honor student at the prestigious Canterbury School, reportedly lost control when her mother refused to co-sign on the car.

According to the Naples Daily, Rachel Ann Hachero went home after her mother’s refusal grabbed a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol, hit her mother with it, and demanded she accompany her to the dealership. Not wanting to get shot, the mother complied and signed off on the purchase. The next day, while her daughter was at school, the mother recovered the gun and drug paraphernalia from the girl’s purse and called the police.

Hachero’s mom says she doesn’t want to press charges because of her daughter’s Ivy League scholarships, but a judge says Hachero must remain in juvenile detention for the time being. The girl has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, unlawful possession of a firearm by a person younger than 18 and battery. To make matters worse, the gun was found to be one of three stolen from a Lee County, Florida Port Authority employee last July. Top tip, Berto!

*UPDATE: NBC affiliate WPTV video coverage of the story added after the jump.

[Sources: Naples Daily, Crime Time, WPTV]

Continue reading Report: Ivy League-bound teen girl pistol-whips mom, demands Nissan Z [w/video]

Report: Ivy League-bound teen girl pistol-whips mom, demands Nissan Z [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan of Canada takes a pass on Murano CrossCabriolet

Filed under: Convertible, Crossover, Nissan, Canada

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re really curious as to whether or not the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet has what it takes to succeed in the U.S. market. If our friends to the north are any indication, it won’t be such a big hit, especially in regions that receive snow and ice.

The Globe and Mail reports that Nissan Canada isn’t interested in selling the funky crossover/convertible, preferring instead to sit back and gauge the vehicle’s U.S. launch before committing to anything. Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada director of planning and strategy, told the newspaper that they “continue to assess the opportunity and success in the U.S. market to see if there is evidence to support a change in our position.”

The top of the Canada sales chart is typically filled with economy cars like the Mazda3 and trucks like the Ford F-150, so we can see why a country with six months of snow can do without the CrossCabriolet. Still, since we Americans are all too used to being overlooked for vehicles that are offered in Europe, we know some of our Canadian friends won’t be too happy to hear this.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet: First Drive

2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

[Source: Globe and Mail]

Report: Nissan of Canada takes a pass on Murano CrossCabriolet originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford sues Nissan over commercial with bikini models in Brazil [w/video]

Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Nissan, Humor, South America

Nissan Tiida Ford Focus commercial with bikini models from Brazil

Nissan calls out Ford Focus with Brazilian bikini models – Click above to watch the video after the break

In the advertising world, the gentle ribbing of competitors is almost a given. Whether its dish soap, paper towels, computer companies or automobiles, poking a little fun at your main rivals is the name of the game. But sometimes a company or its advertising agency goes a little too far, and that sometimes means the long arm of the law is dredged up and forced into service.

Such is the case with corporate rivals Nissan and Ford. Apparently, Nissan ran an advertisement in Brazil for its Tiida (known as the Versa here in the States) that may be most notable for its complete lack of any actual Nissan products. Instead, the commercial revolved solely around the Ford Focus, and specifically its base asking price, which is 3,000 reais ($1,806) higher than the Tiida.

No harm in pointing out that your product is cheaper than a competitor’s, right? Well, apparently that depends on how you go about it, as Ford took exception to the use of the two rather irritating rappers and a gaggle of scantily clad bikini models drinking champagne and dancing provocatively around the Focus, explaining how they live in the lap of luxury by overcharging customers. Yeah, it’s kind of funny.

Did Nissan go too far or is Ford making much ado about nothing? Check out the video after the break, then feel free to sound off in the Comments.

[Source: Reuters, YouTube]

Continue reading Report: Ford sues Nissan over commercial with bikini models in Brazil [w/video]

Report: Ford sues Nissan over commercial with bikini models in Brazil [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2012 Nissan GT-R shaving 2.48 seconds off ‘Ring time

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan

2012 nissan gt-r at nurburgring

2012 Nissan GT-R takes on Nürburgring – Click above to watch video after the jump

Nissan loves spending time in Germany. We imagine that Nissan engineers have passports filled with German point-of-entry stamps. However, they’ve likely only spent time in one specific area: the village of Nürburg, Germany.

With the GT-R now producing an extra 45 horsepower for model year 2012, Nissan went back to the Nürburgring last October with it’s updated super coupe to see how much time it could shave off the old car’s best lap – a blistering 7m 26.7s. The result? With a new lap time of 7:24.22, how does a hair quicker than the Maserati MC12 sound?

That time doesn’t just place the 2012 Nissan GT-R ahead of the Maserati. Other cars with slower times include the Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT and a host of other expensive, hard-to-pronounce exotic machines, at least according to Wikipedia. Since there is no official governing body that records Nürburgring lap times for production cars, it’s hard to say which ones really do have the lowest lap times. From what we can tell, the Dodge Viper ACR and Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 are still quicker than the 2012 GT-R.

Follow the jump to watch the run for yourself, which we just found on YouTube for the first time today, but note that the driving action begins around the 3:09 mark.

[Source: Youtube via Motor Authority]

Continue reading Video: 2012 Nissan GT-R shaving 2.48 seconds off ‘Ring time

Video: 2012 Nissan GT-R shaving 2.48 seconds off ‘Ring time originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT Academy winner Lucas Ordoñez races Nissan-powered LMP2 car at Sebring

Lucas Ordoñez – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lucas Ordoñez, the Spaniard who won the inaugural Nissan GT Academy, is racing in the 12 Hours of Sebring today in Sebring, Florida. Ordoñez is at the wheel of a Nissan-powered LMP2 machine entered by Signatech.

This is Ordoñez’s first trip to the big time, and won’t be his last, with a full LeMans Cup schedule ahead of him this year, including the 24 Hours of LeMans in June. After singling himself out of a field of 25,000 GT Academy contestants, Ordoñez’s first race was at the 2009 Dubai 24 Hours, where he drove a Nissan 350Z.

This may not be Ordoñez’s first endurance racing rodeo, but LMP2 is a completely different beast than GT cars. We’ll keep you updated on his status.

Gallery: Nissan GT Academy winner Lucas Ordoñez

Nissan GT Academy winner Lucas Ordoez

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading GT Academy winner Lucas Ordoñez races Nissan-powered LMP2 car at Sebring

GT Academy winner Lucas Ordoñez races Nissan-powered LMP2 car at Sebring originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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