Report: Nissan to check radiation levels on cars tabbed for export

Filed under: Japan, Nissan

Nissan Cube

As fears of radiation from Japan’s severely compromised Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant seem to be growing by the minute, automakers have tried to assure car buyers that most of their products are produced far enough away from the crippled facility that fallout won’t end up on vehicles, but a report from Kicking Tires shows that Nissan wants to go a step further.

Nissan will reportedly perform a radiation inspection on all vehicles imported from Japan; a process that will continue until all threats of contamination have subsided. Nissan is following through with the inspections even though The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association announced that it has found no harmful levels of radiation in any vehicles destined for export.

Nissan, along with other Japanese automakers, is also trying to better assess any potential supply disruptions that could come as a result of the quake and ensuing tsunami. The automaker claims that its current supply of vehicles here in the U.S. stands at 50 days worth of cars, trucks and SUVs. That number could dwindle, however, as current estimates show that the carmaker has at least seven days worth of parts. After those seven days are up, the company will reportedly reassess its situation.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Report: Nissan to check radiation levels on cars tabbed for export originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey pits Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon against last year’s Nissan GT-R

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Wagon, Cadillac, Nissan, UAW/Unions

hennessey cts-v sport wagon versus nissan gt-r

Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon versus 2011 Nissan GT-R – Click above to watch video after the jump

Hennessey is once again bringing its super station wagon out to the drag strip. The Texas tuner has taken Cadillac’s 556-horsepower fast family-hauler and tweaked it so that the 6.2-liter V8 now produces 650 hp. We previously showed you how it fared against an (outdated) Porsche 911 Turbo, and now Hennessey has brought the CTS-V Sport Wagon back to the track, and this time, the opponent in the other line is driving a Nissan GT-R.

A 2011 Nissan GT-R to be more precise. The model that produces 485 horsepower and runs down Hennessey’s track in 11.8-seconds. That’s a hair slower than the 11.7-second run ripped off by the Sport Wagon – an amazing time for the 4,398-pound American muscle machine.

However, the 2012 Nissan GT-R pumps out 530 horsepower, runs from 0-60 miles per hour in less than three seconds and will cover a quarter-mile in about 11.6 seconds. Now, you can take that to mean Hennessey should’ve run against the newer GT-R… or that they’ve built one hell of a station wagon. Click past the jump to watch the two cars run down the strip.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey pits Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon against last year’s Nissan GT-R

Video: Hennessey pits Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon against last year’s Nissan GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #221: Cadillac XTS, 2012 BMW 6 Series and Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

Filed under: Podcasts, BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Jaguar, Lexus, Nissan

Autoblog podcast logo

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #221 is here, and the two Chrises, Zach and Dan chat about the 2012 BMW 6 Series, whether or not the Cadillac XTS has a shot, and debate whether or not the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is hot, or a hot mess. Questions and feedback wrap it up, and it’s an hour and twenty three minutes of fun this week. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #221: Cadillac XTS, 2012 BMW 6 Series and Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

  • 2012 BMW 6 Series
  • Murano CrossCabriolet First Drive
  • Cadillac XTS

In the Autoblog Garage:

  • 2011 Lexus IS 350 AWD
  • 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible
  • 2011 Jaguar XFR
  • 2011 Lexus CT200h

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert Zach Bowman

Runtime: 01:23:26


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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #221: Cadillac XTS, 2012 BMW 6 Series and Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: David Letterman buys a Ford Fusion on air, Nissan Juke gets dissed

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Videos, Ford, Celebrities, Humor

david letterman taking delivery of his 2011 ford fusion

David Letterman buys a 2011 Ford Fusion on-air – Click above to watch video after the jump

If you were David Letterman, what type of car would you purchase? Something German? Italian? Perhaps something that quickly propels you to illegal speeds? You’re all wrong, unless your guess was the 2011 Ford Fusion… which would be an amazingly accurate answer.

Letterman posed a challenge to local Nissan and Ford dealers; get to my set first and I will buy a car from you. Nissan was working to bring down the Juke, while Ford sent over a Fusion. It was clear that Letterman wanted the Ford to arrive first because he mocked the Juke and held up a sign reading “we love Ford.”

Luckily for Dave, a salesman from the Manhattan Ford dealership arrived first. He sat down with Dave, and Letterman successfully haggled him down a bit on the price. Click past the jump to see David Letterman take ownership of a 2011 Ford Fusion and to see the Top Ten Reasons Dave Doesn’t Want A Nissan Juke. Okay, fine. We may have embellished that last bit a little…

[Source: YouTube, Ford]

Continue reading Video: David Letterman buys a Ford Fusion on air, Nissan Juke gets dissed

Video: David Letterman buys a Ford Fusion on air, Nissan Juke gets dissed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: German Nissan GT-R guerilla marketing campaign borders on vandalism

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

nissan gt-r marketing team targets porsche owners

The Nissan GT-R marketing team is hunting down Porsche owners – Click above to watch video after the jump

The GT-R is an aggressive car, and Nissan has taken aim at Porsche owners in an aggressive marketing campaign. A team of ladies in Germany driving a brand new GT-R have taken to the streets, targeting parked Porsches. Armed with a removable decal that shows the tail-end of a Nissan GT-R, the ladies affix the “ad” to the front windshield of the Porsche. The Porsche owner returns to his or her car, sits down and sees the GT-R’s taillights staring right back.

It sounds funny, but we prefer that people keep their hands off O.P.P (yeah you know me! … anyone?). Click past the jump to view the clip and let us hear your thoughts in the comments; is this clever marketing or toeing the vandalism line?

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: German Nissan GT-R guerilla marketing campaign borders on vandalism

Video: German Nissan GT-R guerilla marketing campaign borders on vandalism originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2012 Nissan GT-R

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, First Drive

Japan’s Supercar Killer Comes Back Even Stronger

2012 Nissan GT-R

2012 Nissan GT-R – Click above for high-res image gallery

Invincible. According to Webster’s, the word means “incapable of being conquered, overcome or subdued.” The adjective is often used to describe something so superior that it’s nearly impossible to overthrow. Want to know what invincibility feels like? Strap yourself into the driver’s seat of the 2012 Nissan GT-R, and then press the start button.

Just three years after successfully launching its flagship performance vehicle on our shores, the engineers at Nissan have introduced a subtly but completely reworked supercar. The engine has more power, the suspension has been revised, the wheels are lighter, the seats have been redesigned, the brakes are bigger, the chassis is stiffer and the aerodynamics have been reconfigured to improve cooling and provide more downforce. This isn’t a manufacturer’s token “mid-cycle refresh” to boost sales; these are changes that improve the overall drivability and performance of the GT-R so significantly that most will be inclined to consider it nothing short of a second-generation rebirth.

For starters, how does 0-60 in 2.88 seconds sound?

Continue reading…

Gallery: 2012 Nissan GT-R: First Drive

2012 Nissan GT-R2012 Nissan GT-R2012 Nissan GT-R2012 Nissan GT-R2012 Nissan GT-R

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2012 Nissan GT-R

First Drive: 2012 Nissan GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkish taxi of tomorrow design beats Nissan, Ford proposals among New Yorkers [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Etc., Work

Karsan V1 New York City taxi
Karsan V1 New York City Taxi – Click above for high-res image gallery

The people of New York City have spoken, and they’ve found the taxi designs from both Ford and Nissan lacking. You may remember that the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission recently set about polling residents on which of a handful of taxi designs they preferred for the future of transportation in the city. Automakers from around the world submitted their designs for a cab that was safe, offered a small environmental impact, complied with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and was physically smaller than the tried-and-true Crown Victoria. Well, the votes are officially in, and a cab from the Turkish company Karsan is the winner.

Around 66 percent of respondents either liked or loved the design of the Karsan V1, and that was enough to seal the vehicle’s fate as the people’s choice for the Taxi of Tomorrow. The V1 boasts a number of appealing unique features, including a panoramic glass roof and wheelchair ramps on both sides of the vehicle for easy access. It’s also a hybrid, which means that cabbies can expect to save fuel in the future if the commission picks the V1 as the city’s new cab, and it is easily adaptable to other fuel sources as needed, including diesel, natural gas or fully electric.

The city is likely to take the results of the survey into consideration as it makes a final decision later this year, though popularity with the public provides no guarantees that NYC cabbies will soon be talking Turkey. Check out a video detailing the finer points of the Karsan V1 New York City taxi concept after the break.

Gallery: Karsan V1 New York City Taxi concept

Karsan V1 New York City Taxi conceptKarsan V1 New York City Taxi conceptKarsan V1 New York City Taxi conceptKarsan V1 New York City Taxi conceptKarsan V1 New York City Taxi concept

[Source: NY1]

Continue reading Turkish taxi of tomorrow design beats Nissan, Ford proposals among New Yorkers [w/video]

Turkish taxi of tomorrow design beats Nissan, Ford proposals among New Yorkers [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: Nissan pits Juke against… Sports Illustrated swimsuit model?!

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

Nissa Juke vs Amber the swimsuit model

Nissan Juke versus Amber the swimsuit model – Click above to watch video after the jump

Nissan is teaming up with Sports Illustrated to highlight a few specific models – one made of sheetmetal and eight lovely ladies crafted from genetically-gifted moms and dads. The funky 2011 Juke is going head-to-head against models vying for a spot in this year’s infamous SI Swimsuit issue.

This new series of advertisments showcases the attributes of both the Juke and a bikini-clad model named Amber. Acceleration, agility, aerodynamics and curb appeal are tested with less than shocking results.

The four spots are available for you to view after the jump, and be sure to check out SI.com/ModelSearch when it goes live later this evening to vote for your favorite swimsuit hopeful.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Videos: Nissan pits Juke against… Sports Illustrated swimsuit model?!

Videos: Nissan pits Juke against… Sports Illustrated swimsuit model?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: 2012 Nissan GT-R Egoist

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Luxury

2012 nissan gt-r egoist

The 2012 Nissan GT-R Egoist has landed – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Nissan GT-R is already out destroying pavement and causing saliva stains on the t-shirts of slack-jawed enthusiasts. The engine produces 530 horsepower, the launch control system propels the car forward like a runaway bullet train and the styling continues to polarize those who stare at its lines. Now Nissan has prepared a more luxurious GT-R for the people and it’s called the Egoist.

All the details surrounding the GT-R Egoist have not yet materialized, but a plethora of pictures has made its way to the web. We know the interior will feature upgraded leather and carbon fiber materials and that a multitude of additional color choices will be available. No word yet on the cost for this super luxury coupe.

If you’re a potential buyer of the Nissan GT-R Egoist, stop staring at yourself in your Rinceaux full-length mirror and check out the gallery of your future ride. If you can’t find the scratch for the 2012 Nissan GT-R Egoist, you can still click through the gallery and enjoy the opulence.

Gallery: Nissan GT-R Egoist

Nissan GT-R EgoistNissan GT-R EgoistNissan GT-R EgoistNissan GT-R EgoistNissan GT-R Egoist

[Source: Nissan]

Pics Aplenty: 2012 Nissan GT-R Egoist originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan announces return to Le Mans with Signature LMP2

Filed under: Motorsports, Nissan, Racing

Signature Nissan LMP2

Signature Nissan LMP2 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Could this be the first encouraging sign of Japanese automakers returning for international motor racing? The past few years saw such giants as Toyota and Honda pulling out of Formula One and Subaru withdrawing from the World Rally Championship – their places taken up by rivals from outside Japan and independent privateer teams. But now Nissan has announced plans to return to Le Mans and its associated series with a new LMP2 program.

The effort involves Nissan providing Nismo-tuned VK45V8 engines to Signature. The French racing team will be running the engines in an LMP2 prototype in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, including the headline 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as Sebring. Although the driver lineup isn’t due to be announced for a few weeks yet, the team has already retained Formula 3 driver Franck Mailleux for the job.

Nissan and Signature aim to finish at Le Mans and hopefully score a podium finish sometime during the season. To check out the computer renderings of the car with which they hope to do so, click the thumbnails below to skip to our high-resolution image gallery, and scope out the official announcement after the jump.

Gallery: Signature Nissan LMP2

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan announces return to Le Mans with Signature LMP2

Nissan announces return to Le Mans with Signature LMP2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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