Nissan
Nissan Announces New Mobility Concept EV
Nissan has announced a new concept EV for urban detail in a zero-emissions society. Called the Nissan New Mobility Concept, it is the next step in the automaker’s goal to lead the way in emissions-free driving technology.
LA 2010: Nissan Ellure Concept
Nissan took the wraps off of its Ellure Concept at the LA Auto Show. Nissan is insistent that the Ellure isn’t a preview of any upcoming product, although it does follow a great deal of current Nissan styling. The headlights, taillights, and front grille wouldn’t look out of place on the current Maxima, while the rear haunches look to have been peeled off of the 370Z.
LA 2010: 2011 Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet
Nissan debuted the 2011 Murano Crosscabriolet today at the LA Auto Show. The Murano CCC lost a pair of doors in its conversion to a droptop, but retains the hardtop Murano’s all-wheel drive, 3.5-liter 265-horsepower V-6, and XTronic CVT.
Quick Drive: 2011 Nissan Cube 6MT
In the past I’ve found the Cube to be utterly charming. Maybe it is because it seems to make no major claims about driving dynamics, and so sets expectations on the low side, but in the event I’ve genuinely had fun in the Cube. And this, despite our past testers having continuously variable transmissions (normally an object of derision, though Nissan CVTs are among the best). This time Nissan shipped us a Cube with a six-speed manual, which caused a small wave of joy to shudder through the Austin office.
List: Ten Cars We Are Looking Forward To In Los Angeles
With the LA Auto Show rapidly approaching, a few manufacturers have dropped us some tantalizing crumbs in the past couple weeks about what we can expect. From hybrids and well kept secrets to a few caged beasts, here is a glimpse into what we are looking forward to when the show kicks off on November 17.
Spy Shots: Nissan GT-R Runs ‘Ring Undisguised
Our spy photographer caught a pack of refreshed Nissan GT-Rs on a foggy day at the Nürburgring.
Winding Road Issue 62 Is Now Available!
In this issue of Winding Road, we get inside Cadillac’s newest beast, the 556-horsepower CTS-V Coupe, and see if it’s as exhilarating to drive as it is to behold.
List: Ten Things To Look Forward To In Gran Turismo 5
With its last installment released over five years ago, to say that Gran Turismo 5 has been long awaited is a bit of an under statement. The original Gran Turismo was one of the first console-based games to bring production car racing to the home, and helped create legends out of cars like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and Subaru Impreza WRX.
Quick Drive: 2010 Nissan Murano LE
The Murano works, within the bounds of its SUV/Crossover package, because of some pretty basic engineering. First off, the steering is direct rather than sloppy, and though it isn’t sports-car communicative at least it doesn’t get in the way. Secondly, the CVT, which inherently wants to slip as it adjusts its gear ratios, actually feels more hooked up and responsive than many a traditional automatic. Fortunately, the tendency of the CVT to hold an rpm level is mitigated by two wise choices that Nissan made. The Murano carries lots of sound deadening, so you don’t really hear the engine droning away, though technically that’s what it is doing. On top of that, when you want more than a gradual change in speed, the CVT adjusts its ratio progressively, so you have some feeling of rising rpm to match your subconscious desire for appropriate feedback.
Blog: A Car Guy Lives With The Mitsubishi i-MiEV
“Rex Roy spends a week with the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.” To those who know me, this would be an experiment on the order of Wife Swap. Producers of that wacky and twisted program intentionally find completely incompatible families and have the husbands swap spouses. Tension, irony, and humor ensue. Sometimes individuals learn acceptance, open-mindedness, and ways toward better living. Other times, disaster on the order of one-in-the-head, two-in-the-chest is narrowly averted.
Nissan Prices 2011 Juke
Nissan released pricing for its new small crossover, the 2011 Nissan Juke, and it will start under $19,000.
Quick Drive: 2010 Nissan Frontier LE 4×4 Crewcab
In the world of mid-size trucks, competition is interesting, at least if your reference is the full-size truck market. Ford, really, is a non-player and Chevrolet, GMC and Dodge come to market with obviously aging designs. That leaves Toyota among the major players to fight with Nissan and Honda (of all people) for the bulk of the mid-size market. My time in the Nissan Frontier made me wonder why Nissan isn’t among the majors, the same way I did when I drove the Titan last year. That’s because, to a car guy, the Nissans have a lot of appeal due to their superior driving dynamics.
I Want To Go Racing: Getting Started
Racing is something that people tend to think is expensive or only for professionals. Well, truth be told, it’s not. For interested beginners, all that’s really needed is the entrance fee to your local motorsports venue in your pocket and your daily driver. You don’t need any kind of racing experience for many events and you don’t need a sports car (although having one can make events so much more fun).
Secondhand Gems: $30,000 Sports Cars
It’s been a long, harsh winter for many of our readers, and for some of you, record snows have translated to record floods. The Winding Road office in southeast Michigan received no shortage of the white stuff this year, but then a curious thing happened around these parts. Somewhere around the end of February, winter just, well, disappeared. We don’t mean to brag (okay, maybe a little), but for a state prone to prolonged stretches of truly miserable spring weather, the abrupt about face from snowy cold to summertime heat has us positively giddy. As of this writing in early April, we’re already moving into our second day of 80-degree temperatures. Michigan may be leading the nation in unemployment, but at least we can work on our tan between job interviews.
Secondhand Gems: Thinking Inside The Box
There are few automotive genres that polarize the motoring masses more than the one we’re about to discuss. Perhaps the word genre isn’t entirely accurate here, because the three vehicles featured in this comparison have, at one point or another, been labeled the following: crossover, sport-utility vehicle, compact, subcompact, five-door hatchback, station wagon, and our personal favorite, foxy boxy. (It’s possible we made that last category up.) What matters here is that these three cars are pretty much all of the above, making them a bit hard to pigeonhole. And therein lies the appeal for these, um, vehicles. They’re not status quo, they’re not cookie cutter, and while their love-it-or-hate-it styling isn’t for everyone, there’s no denying the sense of individuality these vehicles bestow upon their owners. So go ahead and label these non-conformist rides goofy, or hideous, or ugly, but don’t forget to include quirky, cool, and the most important descriptor of all, successful—especially in the youth market where individuality is everything.
Third Look: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR
In spirit, this Altima stuck me as a rather “American” car. Sure, the final assembly point is Smyrna, Tennessee, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean that the overall Gestalt of the car struck me as consistent with what the former Big Three have done well over the years.
Quick Drive: Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport V-6
Viewed in isolation, the Grand Vitara comes across positively. It has good room, lots of features and drives acceptably. Still, I couldn’t help feeling that the Grand Vitara would have been a standout car 5-10 years ago, but is middle-of-the-pack in 2010.
Quick Drive: 2010 Infiniti EX35
You have to applaud Infiniti for trying to put some dynamic character in almost every vehicle it makes, even when that might not be what is expected. In the case of the EX35, we have a mid-sized SUV that feels a lot like you might expect a SUV would feel if it had a lot of G37 DNA.
List: Top Ten Best Power-To-Weight Ratios Under $40,000
Here, we offer the top ten new cars with the best power-to-weight ratio available for less than $40,000.
Quick Drive: 2010 Nissan XTerra S
The XTerra is plainly geared for SUV enthusiasts who want vehicles that exhibit a fundamentally rugged, rough-and-tumble character, rather than a more car-like persona. This isn’t to say that the XTerra lacks refinement, though, since it is quiet and very solidly built. It’s just that its truck-based roots shine through early and often.
Quick Drive: 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL Hatchback
Cars like our Nissan Versa 1.8 SL, are generally chuckable and zippy, which is an excellent recipe for a fun-to-drive car. Unfortunately, our Versa was fitted with an infernal continuously variable transmission.
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