Nissan revealed today the third generation Cube on the Japanese market. The new Cube will also be offered in USA starting spring of 2009. In Europe it will arrive in fall of 2009. Pricing begins at 1,449,000 yen ($14,968 USD) for the 2WD model and 1,687,350 yen ($17,433 USD) for the 4WD model. Cube combines an advanced 122-horsepower 1.8-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder with a new-generation Nissan Xtronic CVTÔ (Continuously Variable Transmission) for good acceleration response, smooth (...)
Last week we reported that the 2010 Nissan GT-R will drop the Launch Control. But exactly how ill this affect the performance of the car? According to Motor Trend the GT-R will be slower. How? The 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in 3.9-sec and not 3.2 seconds as the current model. The 2010 GT-R will be indeed slower, but will keep it in the same sports cars area. Tested by Motor Trend, the GT-R without the Launch Control ended with the follow numbers: 60 mph arrives in 3.9-sec., 0-100 mph (...)
Nissan revealed the first details on the 2010 Nissan GT-R Spec-V at the beginning of January, and now here are the first shots of the car in real life. This factory tuned GT-R was spotted at a Tokyo area dealership. With the shine from the paintwork we can see the multi-layered look that the SpecV's exclusive color Ultimate Black Opal really puts out. No doubt this will become the new favorite color of fanboys once Maaco gets its hands on this shade of shimmering black. The GT-R SpecV (...)
We recently confirmed the Nissan 370Z roadster will make its world debut at the New York Auto Show and also saw the patent sketches of the car. It's not too hard to imagine what drop top car will look like. The exterior of the 350Z and the 370Z coupes don't appear that different, so squinting at a 350z roadster will give you a pretty good idea about what will be in New York. But before you go straining your eyes, GlobalMotors went ahead and did the work for you. It may not look like a (...)
We already knew that the Nissan GT-R's "Launch Control" system had stalled, and that it would not be around for the 2010 model year. So for the next round of GT-Rs, Nissan plans to updates the sportscar's engine control unit (ECU) so that acceleration times are improved with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system is engaged. This same reprogramming will also disable the Launch Control feature. Any car 2009 cars still on Nissan dealer lots will have this change made as well. Cars that (...)
When Nissan launched the GT-R SpecV it was only announced for the Japanese home market. There was no confirmation or denial that there would be a car for other markets, only that sales of the SpecV were only going to be handled by dealers "who are knowledgeable of racing circuit driving." But now we have a new hope. A left-hand drive model of the GT-R SpecV has been spotted. But don't get excited just yet. Current exchange rates put the premium for the SpecV model at $90,000 (i.e. (...)
Mine's is one of the most popular tuning shops in Japan, most famous for the white Mine's R-34 Skyline GT-R. However the aftermarket company could not rest on their laurels forever and decided to upgrade Nissan's latest Z car. The Mine's 370Z comes with dry carbon parts including and aggressive front lip spoiler with built in canards. Carbon fiber rear wing, antenna cover and air inlets called Air Scoops Type-II integrated into the front bumper. These carbon revisions make a great (...)
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When Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com sets his mind to something, it gets done in a big way. Witness last year's 2007 Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Shootout. This year he's back with a comparison test that bests his previous effort not only in size and scope, but also in relevance. For 2008 he has assembled every player in the half-ton truck segment, including brand new 2009 models of the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan and a 2008 Toyota Tundra. Despite the sagging economy, Americans still love us some trucks, and we've never encountered a more thorough comparison of their performance, towing abilities and fuel economy than what Mike has published at Pickuptrucks.com. Consider it the bible of half-ton pickup comparison shopping and have it pre-loaded on your iPhone when you start visiting dealerships.
We're not going to tell you which pickup won, but we will say that it was remarkable to learn how varied are the targets at which each of these trucks is aiming. Some were great for one task while failing miserably at another, and the winner was the one that performed well the most often. Click the source link below to check out the Pickuptrucks.com 2008 Half-Ton Shootout.
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
Click above to view the three new 370Z commercials
Three video spots for the new Nissan 370Z show the marque is serious about reclaiming some of the genuine sports car credentials that were crushed underneath the weight of the last version. Apparently done before Nissan changed its tagline to "Shift_the way you move," these are straight up about shifting desire at high speed from one point to another. One of them is a Japanese market commercial, which means lots of clouds and piano music, but the rest are all Six Million Dollar Man: better, faster, stronger. Follow the jump to check them all out. Thanks for the tip, Chad!
Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Nissan 370Z
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mugen NSX RR
With the NSX successor officially cancelled, Honda tapped long-time motorsports partner Mugen to create a one-off coupe to commemorate the everyday supercar that ended production in 2005. The Mugen NSX RR is stretched to 177.95 inches (almost four inches more than the '94-05 model), and widened by 5.5 inches and features a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum body panels. In addition to a set of upgrade brakes, GT-style body kit, wing, hood-scoop and diffusers, the 3.0-liter V6 has been swapped out in favor of a supercharged 2.4-liter V6 mated to a revised six-speed manual gearbox. Mugen hasn't released any power figures, but informed speculation pegs output between 350 and 380 hp.
While it's highly-doubtful that Honda or Mugen will sell the NSX RR in the States, there's a good chance that the tuning firm will acquire some low-mileage NSX-Rs in Japan to produce a limited run of the RR, similar to the NISMO R34 GT-R Z-Tune Nissan produced at the end of the Skyline's production run.
Click above to view full photo
If there were ever a sign of these troubled times in the automobile industry, this is it. The photo you're looking at was taken recently at Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, the largest car plant in the United Kingdom and the most productive in Europe. Well, it may be productive, but with supply outpacing demand, Nissan has apparently been left with too much stock. The factory's parking lots are overfilled, so they've begun parking cars on the facility's test track. Of course, that means Nissan can't use the track to test new cars, but if nobody's buying them, that ought to be the least of their worries. Click on the image above to view in full. Thanks to Hammad for the tip.
Even though its MSRP is well shy of $100,000, the GT-R is still Nissan's most special model, and as such, it carries an air of exclusivity. Because of what the car is, and what it can do, Nissan has been exceptionally iron-fisted on some issues, and now the grip is tightening further.
Citing the fact that the GT-R uses bits and pieces that are "highly engineered, using technologies unique to Nissan," it is now impossible to order, say, a GT-R engine unless you're a dealer doing work on an actual GT-R. All of your dreams crate motor swaps? Gone. And it's not just engines - the transmission, electrical system, fuel system, and chassis parts are also restricted to a GT-R -specific ordering process that reads like a ransom demand. It's not such a big deal for most owners, we'd guess, as they're going to to back for dealer service anyway. Tinkerers and tuners are the ones that will be mainly affected, and we're betting that ingenuity (or a few wrecked examples) will win the day with a workaround. Of course, it's easy enough to not blow up the engine, but about that tranny...
Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Nissan GT-R
With Nissan anticipated to launch the convertible version of its 2010 370Z in a few months' time at the New York Auto Show, a batch of outline drawings of the new roadster managed to walk out of the EU patent office last week. But revealing as those blueprints are, they still require some degree of imagination. Fortunately, the guys over at GlobalMotors.net have precluded the need for imagination by coloring inside the lines for us and providing a batch of renderings that give us a preview of what the 370Z Roadster will look like when it hits the roads later this year. Follow the link to check 'em out, with our thanks to Andrus for the tip.
[Source: GlobalMotors.net]
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan 370Z
The 2009 Nissan 370Z has already proven itself as one of the best performance bargains on the market, but for those who crave the wind-in-your-hair experience that only a drop-top can deliver, a convertible variant is right around the corner. Nissan will unveil the 370Z convertible at the New York Auto Show on April 8th, and according to a Nissan designer we spoke to at the 370Z's launch, it's going to look remarkably better than its predecessor.
The awkward roof-line and misshapen rear will be dispatched in favor of a more fluid canvas roof, because unlike the 350Z, the 370 was designed from the onset as a convertible. As previously reported, Nissan decided early on that a retractable hard-top was out of the question, primarily due to packaging and weight constraints - not to mention the risk of cannibalizing Infiniti G37 cabrio sales. The 3.7-liter V6 will carry over, along with the choice of a manual or automatic gearbox and Base or Touring trims. Expect a full report from the NY show floor in a few months time.
Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Nissan 370Z
Nissan announced some realigning measures today that ultimately add up to resignations and relocations. The measures affect Nissan North America sales and marketing and Nissan Design America, specifically. The first reduces the number of regional sales offices around the country from 11 to just seven that are supported by 23 satellite offices. The four offices to be closed are in Herndon, VA; Pleasanton, CA; Aurora, IL; and Atlanta, GA.
The second adjustment directly involves Michigan where, back in 2005, Nissan had opened a new branch of Nissan Design America in Farmington Hills. That branch of NDA will be no more, as Nissan announced today that it will integrate the Farmington Hills studio with its San Diego design studio (shown above). The studio in Farmington Hills, which is only four years old, will remain and be repurposed by Nissan for other uses. Retreat camp, perhaps? Who knows, but the net effect of all this shuffling is a Nissan North America that's 110 employees lighter.
The Japanese automaker hopes a "voluntary transition plan" will achieve the reduction in staff. We don't know many people who would voluntarily walk away from a good job in this economic climate, so the state of California may need to open its arms for some relocating refugees from Michigan.
Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dodge Hornet concept
Fiat's tentative global alliance with Chrysler should have the desired effect of bolstering the American automaker's nonexistent small car line and give Fiat access to a nationwide network of dealerships in the United States. Don't forget, however, that Nissan also has a deal in place with Chrysler that predates its tie-up with Fiat, and the Japanese automaker fully expects to make good on the arrangement that would provide Chrysler with two small cars developed by Nissan in exchange for one full-size Ram-based truck to replace the aging Titan. The first vehicle to spawn from this alliance is the Dodge Trazo C1.8 sedan, a carbon copy of the Nissan Versa (known as the Tiida in some other parts of the world) and sold in South America.
Before Fiat was ever considered (at least publicly) as a partner, it was assumed after initial negotiations with China's Chery failed to pan out that the second vehicle Nissan would develop would be at least partially inspired by the Dodge Hornet first seen in concept form back in 2006. Since the arrangement with Nissan was announced back in April of 2008, it's probably safe to assume that development work on the protracted small car project for Dodge is already underway and will conclude as planned. Whether or not any fruit of Chrysler's partnership with Nissan will be sold in the U.S. or just South American markets is unknown, as Fiat has plenty of small cars that could be built, badged with a Pentastar and sold in on American soil.
Gallery: Dodge Hornet Concept
Nissan put out an incredibly brief press release about its plans for the Geneva Motor Show, including one line about a new concept that will debut this March. After a bit of snooping we've got a name and a genre: it's called the Qazan and it's a compact crossover designed to slot in below the Euro-market Qashqai.
The sketch above was pulled from our previous story about Nissan's new A-segment vehicle that's due to be produced at the automaker's Sunderland plant in the UK. If the rumors hold true, production of the Qazan will take over the Micra assembly line when it ends next year. The Qazan is expected to go on sale in 2010 and aimed to compete with the Kia Soul, so expect an upright body and a youthful image. More to follow from Geneva in just over a month.
[Source: ZampaRuedos]
Click either image for a gallery of the LHD Nissan GT-R SpecV
We've been waiting for some indication that the Nissan GT-R SpecV would go on sale in markets outside of Japan, and thanks to the eagle eyes of the man at the helm of GTRBlog, there's finally proof.
The latest edition of Best Motoring includes a test of the SpecV and the prototype used for filming is a left-hand-drive model.
Sales of the SpecV in Asia, Europe and the Middle East aren't assured, but with a LHD model floating around, it's clear that Nissan won't be keeping the goods to itself in Japan. However, sales in the U.S. are still highly unlikely, particularly considering the premium (almost $100k) over the standard model.
Gallery: Nissan GT-R SpecV in LHD
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Nissan NV200 concept
Nissan's plans for the Geneva Motor Show include the debut of the Qazana concept crossover and the production debut of the NV200 people mover.
According to Nissan's official release, the Qazana (not Qazan, as previously reported) is a small, five-door CUV that will "challenge conventional wisdom" in the segment. Nissan hasn't released a teaser of the Qazana, instead describing the crossover as a low-slung hatch with large wheelarches and suicide doors. If the Qazana reaches production, expect it to slot in below the Murano and Qashqai in markets outside the U.S.
The production version of the NV200, originally seen in concept form at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, will also bow in Geneva, and will feature three rows to accommodate seating for seven, along with sliding side doors and a flexible interior to fit all the detritus a European family on the move can manage. Van and Combi versions will be offered further down the line, but Nissan hasn't announced when the NV200 will go on sale or if the mini-minivan will make it to the States. Hit the jump for the press release and look for the live in just over a month.
Gallery: Nissan NV200 Concept
The internet has been abuzz with chatter ever since it was revealed that Nissan had updated the software that governs the GT-R's launch control and was instructing all of its dealers to reprogram every vehicle in dealer inventory that had yet to be sold with the new software in a bid to keep additional transmissions from grenading.
The changes limit the maximum RPM that the car will sustain with the VDC switched off to around 3,500, a big reduction from the 4,500 limit of the old programming. Additionally, the software update adds a new, safer form of launch control that allows takeoffs at 3,000 RPM while the VDC remains active. Inquiring minds want to know: Would those alterations still allow the GT-R to hook up hard enough to reverse the earth's rotation at the drags?
We have some good news to share with Godzilla owners that are contemplating whether or not to have their cars updated with the new software. A bone-stock GT-R with the reprogramming has been timed at 11.34 @ 120.85 MPH with an excellent 1.69-second 60′ time. That result compares rather favorably with quarter-mile runs recorded by cars with the initial launch control programming. Thanks for the tip, ViperACR!
[Source: Drag Times]
New Nissan Cars. Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
At the end of last week, Nissan announced the 2010 Nissan Armada prices for US, lower for the Titanium and Platinum version. The price for 2010 Nissan Armada starts from $37.210 USD for 4x2 SE model, and from $42.810 USD for 4x4 version. The Titanium Edition is with $2.500 [...]