GENEVA, Switzerland - Nissan's domination of the crossover market will move up a gear at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show when the New JUKE will be revealed for the first time.
Today Nissan reveals the first teaser image of the latest version of its premium B-segment crossover, a car that has triggered one of the most talked-about trends for a generation.
Promising even more striking design, improved efficiency and enhanced refinement, the new JUKE will be one of the stars of the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show when it is revealed for the first time on March 4, 2014.
Building up to the unveil moment, Nissan fans will be able to interact with Nissan on social media to "earn" an ever clearer glimpse of the exciting new crossover. Starting today, an obscured image of the New JUKE will be shown on a variety of social channels where over the coming days and weeks the image will become clearer to define some of the Nissan's new design cues.
Two Nissan-Powered prototypes grab top 10 finishes at rolex 24 at Daytona
Two Nissan-Powered prototypes grab top 10 finishes at rolex 24 at Daytona
DAYTONA, Fla. – Lucas Luhr, driver for Muscle Milk Racing, knows well that winning championships is a year-long marathon. Given that the toughest test of the year is the Rolex Daytona 24 at Daytona, he is happy with a hard-earned fifth place for his Nissan-powered Oreca team of Luhr, Klaus Graf and Alex Brundle. The Muscle Milk ORECA-Nissan car was first among the P2-type cars entered.
"I have to say that I'm proud of our guys. It's a brand new package, brand new car, it was the first 24-hour race for this team, and to finish it, it was a good thing," said the four-time ALMS champion. "The car ran mostly trouble free and we finished only three laps down after 24 hours, and that's impressive."
The team qualified sixth, fastest of the P2 cars and behind five Daytona Prototypes –cars well suited for the full throttle racing at a superspeedway course. The car ran suffered two punctured tires early, dropping them back to 40th position after an hour.
By hour six, the Muscle Milk Oreca-Nissan was back in the top ten, pushing into seventh by midnight. By daylight, the Pickett team was a top five car, behind only Daytona Prototypes. Through the morning, the team ran between sixth and fourth, and with just three hours left, Klaus Graf took the wheel in fifth. Graf could not make up the lap he trailed on the Corvette DP car in fourth, and he brought the car home safely – still running strong.
French entry OAK Racing's Morgan-Nissan ran in the top 10 for five hours until an alternator failed and dropped them all the way to 55th position overall as the car underwent work in the garage. By daylight the OAK Racing car driven by Pla/Yacaman/Rusinov/Webb was in 14th, picking off slower cars and making up laps. With three hours remaining, Gustavo Yacaman had the car up to 11th, knocking on the door of an overall top 10.
With a furious finish by Yacaman, the Morgan-Nissan came home eighth overall and sixth in class, garnering valuable points to move forward to tracks better suited for the P2-style race cars. OAK Racing plans to contest the full season TUDOR Championship.
"It has been a battle," said Pierre-Alain Bouhet, Team Manager for OAK Racing. "We were knocked back in qualifying by a (electronic) wiring loom issue, but we knew from practice we were one of the top six fastest cars. Then the alternator failed in hour six, which put us almost on the bottom. It's been a real fight to get back where we did in the end, so I'm pleased with the effort."
The teams move on to the Sebring 12 Hours March 14-15, then the Long Beach Street Circuit April 12.
The following is an Op-Ed piece written by Renault-Nissan Alliance Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn at the 2014 World Economic Forum in Davos.
DAVOS, Switzerland – Today, the automobile finds itself at a significant turning point.
For more than a century, it has helped drive industrial economies around the world, provided freedom of mobility to billions and transformed modern society. But its success in the 20th century also came at a cost: a rising number of accidents, traffic congestion, CO2 emissions and oil dependency.
Our challenge today is to reduce and eventually eliminate these negative consequences while bolstering the inherent benefits of clean, efficient transportation to people around the world.
To transform the car for a new era, we must address three major issues: safety, the environment and affordability. But the auto companies cannot do it alone. We will need to partner with one another, with governments and other industries if the car is to remain a source of prosperity, progress and freedom.
Safety
Every day, more than 3,000 people die in auto-related accidents around the world. Ninety-one percent of the world's road fatalities occur in lower-income countries, even though they only account for about half of the world's vehicles.
For example, France has four times more vehicles than India, but India has 20 times more road-related deaths.
In Europe, the number of road deaths has been cut in half while the number of vehicles over the same period has doubled. Technologies such as anti-lock brakes, airbags and electronic stability control have contributed the most to the reduction in road deaths.
More technologies are being developed with the potential to eliminate auto-related fatalities.
Autonomous driving is the next step in advancing vehicle and road safety. Together, Renault and Nissan are working on complementary technologies that can predict, detect and prevent collisions. This more holistic approach promises maximum protection for people in and outside the car.
With the help of policy-makers providing clear regulatory oversight, these technologies could lead to "zero fatality" roads within our lifetimes. They also promise far greater freedom of mobility for the aged and the disabled, and will reduce the stress associated with driving in heavy traffic and unfamiliar locations.
Environment
Automobiles represent about 23 percent of the world's total CO2 emissions, the greenhouse gas most associated with global climate change. Fifteen years ago, the Renault-Nissan Alliance evaluated the environmental impact of its vehicles throughout their life cycle: the greenhouse gas effect on the climate, the impact exhaust emissions have on public health in congested urban areas, and the impact of using scarce raw materials.
As a result of that evaluation, the Alliance invested more than EUR 4 billion in zero-emissions technologies. Today, it is the only auto group that mass produces a full line of zero-emission cars and light commercial vehicles. Together, Renault and Nissan have sold more than 100,000 of these vehicles worldwide – more than all of the other major carmakers combined.
One of society's challenges now is to integrate these vehicles into a more efficient and cleaner power grid by increasing, for example, hydroelectric power to replace aging coal-fired power plants. This will require the support of local and national governments, which also need to work with industry to integrate zero-emission vehicles into the broader transportation infrastructure.
Working together, we can ensure that cars can have "zero impact" on the environment.
Affordability
In 1999, Brazil, Russia, India and China combined had only 8 percent of the global vehicle sales volume. In 2012, these four countries alone comprised 35 percent of the industry's volume.
The tremendous sales growth in these markets has been due in part to carmakers offering increasingly affordable cars for first-time, cost-conscious buyers in the rapidly rising middle class. The Alliance's CMF-A platform, created and manufactured in India, will pave the way for more affordable vehicles in emerging markets.
Conclusion
We should not forget the important role that the automobile has played in driving economic growth and freedom of mobility for more than 100 years. If today's global automotive industry was a country, it would be the world's sixth largest economy – greater than the GDP of Brazil – and account for more than 50 million jobs.
Our challenge is to ensure that the automobile remains a vehicle for progress and prosperity around the world well into the 21st century.
In partnership with other carmakers, industries and governments, we have the capability to reinvent the car for a new era, to provide sustainable mobility for all.
DAYTONA, Fla. – GT Academy 2011 champion Bryan Heitkotter has a history of strong qualifying laps during his Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSCC) career, and his first drive in the Skullcandy Nissan Altima almost netted him his fourth pole position. But a flurry of fast laps in the closing minutes of the session bumped the #33 Skullcandy Nissan Altima to the second row for tomorrow’s Performance 200 race at Daytona International Speedway.
“The car worked great,” said the 2011 Nissan GT Academy champion. “I’m still finding a tenth of a second here and there around this track, but I’m happy that I’ve been able to put some good laps together here at Daytona and can’t wait to start the race.”
The Nissan 370Z NISMO contingent in the GS class was led by Tim Bell, who managed 11th quickest during a crash-shortened qualifying session. This is Bell Racing’s first event with the Nissan, and the team of Tim Bell and Dane Cameron should be a potent combination in Friday’s race.
Doran Racing’s Brad Jaeger took 15th qualifying spot in the #14 Nissan, while the sister car #41 was unable to post a time despite being the quickest 370Z throughout most practice sessions.
“It was unfortunate the 41 car didn’t get a time today due to the very short qualifying session,” said team owner Kevin Doran. “David (Empringham) and John (Farano) have been consistent and fast this week, and it’s too bad they have to start near the back. They’ll have time to make up ground and they’re very experienced and capable guys that can do it.”
Qualifying for the Rolex 24 at Daytona yielded both good and bad news for the Muscle Milk-Pickett Racing Nissan ORECA. Lucas Luhr was in a familiar position as the fastest LM P2 driver in the session. Unfortunately for the Muscle Milk team, Daytona Prototypes took the top 10 spots, leaving the Luhr/Graf/Brundle car 11th on the starting grid.
Fortunately, the P2 cars are typically quite reliable in endurance racing and the team has 24 hours to work their way up the scoreboard this weekend.
The OAK Racing Nissan-Morgan suffered a mechanical issue during qualifying and will have to start 23rd. Fortunately, the team quickly corrected the issue and posted fifth fastest time during Thursday night practice.
The Rolex 24 at Daytona coverage on Fox Sports 1 begins on Saturday, January 25 at 2 p.m. EST.
The Continental Tire Challenge Performance 200 will air on Fox Sports 2 at 6 p.m. EST on Friday January 24.
Nissan has delivered the 100,000th LEAF to a customer in the U.K., reaching a milestone for the pure electric car that seems to be leaving other EVs in its wake. Now, the pure electric LEAF is on sale in 35 countries on four continents, and it has captured 45 percent market share for pure electric vehicles.
Amy Eichenberger of Charlottesville, Va., was the 99,999th Nissan LEAF buyer, picking out a Glacier White example at her local dealership for her 10-mile daily commute.
"I have friends I like to visit in Richmond, which I can do in the Leaf with some planning, and in D.C., which I'll do in my son's or boyfriend's car," Eichenberger said. "Leaf will meet my needs 98 percent of the time, and I didn't want to let a little range anxiety prevent me from missing out on what I consider a much more progressive and forward-thinking vehicle than any of the alternatives."
The 100,000th Leaf buyer was Dr. Brett Garner in Fareham, U.K.
"I have chosen my Nissan LEAF because I am very interested in its running costs," Dr. Garner said. "The cost of ownership, such as maintenance, insurance and charging also convinced my wife. She had the experience of driving 500 miles in a borrowed Leaf and the low cost was remarkable. So she was converted and insisted that we had a LEAF."
Amy Eichenberger of Virginia poses by the LEAF she's just bought, number 99,999.
LEAF sales started out slowly when the zero-emission car reached dealerships in December 2010, but demand has grown steadily to the point where stateside Nissan dealerships began reporting stock shortages six months ago. In August 2013 Nissan considered moving to increase production of the electric car at its Tennessee plant, just as sales reached approximately 2,000 units a month--about double the sales volume of August 2012. Interestingly enough, the LEAF’S number one market in the U.S. has been Atlanta.
"With LEAF, we see a high level of organic growth and viral sales where LEAF owners become our best evangelists and salespeople," said Erik Gottfried, Nissan's director of EV Sales and Marketing. "With electric vehicles, many folks presume a 100-percent electric vehicle won't meet their needs until they chat with a neighbor, co-worker or family friend who loves their Leaf and explain its practicality, and then it goes on their consideration list."
A year ago this week, Nissan cut the price of the LEAF by $6,400 to stimulate sales, and this price cut remains in effect for the 2014 model year LEAF . The 2014 LEAF starts at $29,830 and has a range 84 miles on a full charge, with the mpg-equivalent ratings at 126 MPGe in the city and 101 MPGe on the highway, for a combined rating of 114.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Vintage Roadster Travels More That 30,000 Miles of Wide Open Road
THROWBACK THURSDAY:
Vintage Datsun Fairlady Roadster Travels More That 30,000 Miles of Wide Open Road
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Scott Fisher is a man on a mission. Not the kind of mission with deadlines and meetings – a mission to reconnect with his 1967 Datsun Fairlady Roadster and discover the wide-open spaces of North America. Fisher has blogged the entire trip in detail at RoadsterRoadTrip.com, sharing an impressive array of his photographs from the road.
"I had owned a manufacturing business in Las Vegas for 16 years. I knew I needed to kinda' get out, and unwind, and get my mojo back," said Fisher.
In his travels, Fisher has covered more than 30,000 miles to date, starting from his Las Vegas home last spring and heading up the West Coast.
"I got up into the Northwest when it was hot in the South, and I got over into the Northeast for fall, which has allowed me to keep the top down, maybe 80 percent of the time. I drove through the polar vortex cold snap. Car even ran well through that. Started right up, idled, didn't seemed phased by it at all," said Fisher.
Now, with 44 states and seven Canadian Provinces behind him, Fisher has stopped in Tennessee at Nissan's invitation to show off his red Datsun and share some tales from the road. The day started with a visit to Nashville's Lane Motor Museum, a place where a car guy like Scott Fisher can check out vintage automobiles and relive a childhood memory.
"This exact car would have been one of the cars I watched racing when I was growing up. Nissan brought these in and started cleaning up. I definitely didn't think I'd be sitting here when I woke up, let alone back then," said Fisher.
Then Fisher headed down the highway to Smyrna to tour Nissan's Assembly plant.
The extensive road trip has become more than just a chance to decompress and enjoy driving a machine from a simpler time. It is a connection with the natural beauty of a continent and the hospitality of its people that has given Fisher a renewed optimism for life.
"Pretty much anywhere I stop people will come up and talk to me. The car is like a little ambassador. Like traveling with a puppy, people want to come up and look at it, pet it," said Fisher.
Part of Scott's Middle Tennessee visit was a tour of Nissan's Smyrna Assembly plant, where he witnessed a level of modern automobile manufacturing automation that was not around when his Fairlady rolled off the line at the Shatai plant in Japan in the mid-1960s.
It was a day of unusual hustle and bustle for a man on a year long journey traveled at his own pace, stopping and taking in landmarks and natural beauty whenever the opportunity presents itself.
"I feel like I've got a better sense of the country than before I started, for sure," said Fisher.
Then it was off again, down the Natchez Trace Scenic Highway toward more undiscovered states and beautiful scenery passing by as the soothing sounds of a 45-year-old carbureted Datsun purr under the hood.
"I'm planning on taking my time down through Mississippi, and then getting over into New Orleans. And I am really grateful to Nissan for inviting me to come by. The hospitality and the generosity has been fantastic," said Fisher.
The trek that began as stress relief has become something much bigger; a blog started for close friends and family now has legions of followers. And for Scott Fisher, a man of many talents, the next curve brings a window of discovery to be shared with an old friend.
Datsun Releases Concept Car Sketch Pointing Way to Future Design Direction
Datsun Releases Concept Car Sketch Pointing Way to Future Design Direction
Concept will be revealed to the world at Delhi Auto Expo 2014
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Datsun today revealed a sketch of the forthcoming new Datsun concept car, which will have its world premiere at Delhi Auto Expo 2014 in February.
The concept car represents a possible direction for the future expansion of Datsun's model line-up for up-and-coming young customers in high-growth markets, such as India.
The new concept will be unveiled at Datsun's press conference on February 5 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida Delhi NCR.
About Datsun
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced the return of the Datsun brand, Nissan's third global brand, alongside Nissan and Infiniti, in March 2012. Datsun will provide a sustainable motoring experience to optimistic up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets. Datsun represents 80 years of accumulated Japanese car-making expertise and is an important part of Nissan's DNA. Datsun vehicles will start sales in India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa from 2014.
Datsun History
Datsun originated in Japan as DAT-GO (the DAT-car) almost a century ago in 1914. The word DAT means ‘lightning-fast' in Japanese but is also a reference to the first letters of family names of the three financiers who supported the business at the time: Den, Aoyama and Takeuchi. Using the same logic, it was promoted as Durable, Attractive and Trustworthy, or DAT for short.
In 1933, Nissan's founding father Yoshisuke Aikawa took over the business with a vision of “mobility for all". The introduction of a light-weight, economical yet resilient car to meet the aspirations of young Japanese people in the early 1930s was named the ‘son of DAT' – Datson - which later changed to Datsun. Local engineering and mass-production made the founder's dream a reality.
Nissan and FedEx Express Put All-Electric e-NV200 to Work in Collaborative US Test
Nissan and FedEx Express Put All-Electric e-NV200 to Work in Collaborative US Test
WASHINGTON, D.C. — FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., and Nissan announced today at the Washington Auto Show that the two companies will begin testing the Nissan e-NV200, a 100 percent electric compact cargo vehicle, under real world conditions in Washington, D.C.
This test marks the first time the vehicle will be running in North America. FedEx Express and Nissan have conducted similar e-NV200 tests with fleets in Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Brazil.
FedEx and Nissan are both committed to reducing the environmental impact of their operations worldwide. Rotating the Nissan e-NV200 into the delivery fleet is part of the FedEx EarthSmart program, a global sustainability platform designed to guide the company's environmental commitment in the communities where it operates. For Nissan, this effort aligns with its "Blue Citizenship" corporate social responsibility program with a focus on increasing the number of vehicles that emit no greenhouse gases by exploring additional vehicle segments where its leading electric vehicle technology may be applied.
FedEx will deploy the Nissan e-NV200 in the Washington, D.C. area, where it will undergo field tests that subject it to the routine requirements of a delivery vehicle. The results will be used to help determine the viability of using an electric vehicle in this role in the U.S. Nissan e-NV200 is scheduled to begin mass production later this year in Europe.
"As a global fleet operator serving 220 countries and territories worldwide, FedEx is committed to improving the efficiency of its vehicles as part of our EarthSmart initiatives," said Mitch Jackson, vice president of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corporation. "We are pleased to continue our work with Nissan and bring the e-NV200 into test in North America."
"We're eager to work with FedEx and other companies to put the e-NV200 through its paces to continue to build awareness of the capability of electric vehicles and to evaluate how well it meets the needs of the commercial consumer," said Erik Gottfried, Nissan director of Electric Vehicle Sales and Marketing. "We'd also like to explore clever uses of EVs in work environments where carbon emissions of gas-powered vehicles make them impractical or impossible to use."
2015 Nissan Micra Debuts at 2014 Montreal Auto Show
2015 Nissan Micra Debuts at 2014 Montreal Auto Show
2015 Nissan Micra will combine Japanese quality, European style and heritage with unbeatable value
MISSISSAUGA, ONT. – At the Montreal Auto Show, Nissan debuted the car that will mark a new era of unbeatable value for Canadians when it arrives this spring - the all-new, 2015 Nissan Micra. Combining Japanese quality with European styling and heritage, Micra will provide Canadians with more fun, more attention to detail and more value than they've ever expected in a small car.
"Micra will change the automotive landscape and provide Canadians with the value and fun they deserve in an entry-level car," said Christian Meunier, President, Nissan Canada Inc. "With great visibility, impressive agility and excellent turning radius, Micra is designed for Canadian drivers. It will offer a small and fuel efficient, yet spacious and fun choice - at a great price."
Available in three models, the Micra S, SV and top-of-the-line SR will be available with either a 5-speed manual transmission, or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Each model is equipped with an advanced 1.6-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine with dual fuel injection and Twin CVTC. With no plans for the United States, Micra will truly be a Canadian car and has been extensively tested and perfected for the Canadian driver with features like heated outside mirrors, rear heater ducts (to keep backseat toes warm), 60/40 split rear seats and either 15 or 16 inch wheels – sizes that are widely available as snow tires.
"Micra will truly be a car for every Canadian," said Meunier. "It's been specifically designed for this market and has been thoroughly tested right here in Montreal in driving conditions Canadians typically face. It's ready for Canada. And we think Canada is ready for Micra."
Nissan Presents 2015 Nissan JUKE NISMO RS and NV200 Taxi
In addition to Micra, the 2015 Nissan JUKE NISMO RS also made its debut in Montreal, demonstrating the performance and styling potential that Nissan's NISMO team excels at.
With horsepower and torque increased to 215 and 210 lb-ft respectively, a new manual transmission, larger brakes, stiffer chassis and unique RS interior treatments featuring Recaro front seats, this new model will take the already popular Nissan JUKE NISMO to an even higher level and join the Nissan lineup later this spring with pricing to be announced at a later date.
"The Nissan JUKE NISMO RS does exactly what it is meant to do – it takes a great Nissan product and makes it even more stylish and more fun to drive," said Meunier. "It's a great example of our commitment to bring new and innovative products to the market and we're excited to see welcome it to our line-up."
Rounding out Nissan's debuts was the first Canadian showing of the Nissan NV200 Taxi, demonstrating the versatility of Nissan's commercial vehicles. Currently being used in New York, the NV200 Taxi provides residents and visitors with sky views of the city improved leg room, cargo space and safety and much more. Canadian opportunities for the Nissan NV200 Taxi continue to be explored.
Montreal residents can also get up close to the world's best-selling pure electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, as part of CAA's EV Ride and Drive event from January 16-27 at the Palais de Congres, Hall Vigor. Powered by a standard 6.6 kW onboard charger that emits zero emissions, visitors to the show will have the opportunity to experience and learn about all the benefits of electric mobility.
Autoweek Magazine Names Nissan Sport Sedan “best concept”
Autoweek Magazine Names Nissan Sport Sedan “best concept” at 2014 North American International Auto Show
DETROIT – Today the Nissan Sport Sedan Concept was named “Best Concept” at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) by Autoweek Magazineeditors. The Nissan concept edged out the Kia G4 Stinger and Toyota FT-1 to earn the annual accolade given to vehicles that Autoweek believes rose above the rest at the auto show.
“The Sport Sedan Concept is an extremely important vehicle for Nissan because it demonstrates a new and energetic design direction that builds on Nissan's legendary approach of applying sports car principles to a sedan,” said Nissan senior vice president and chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura. “To receive this recognition reinforces that Nissan is headed full speed in the right direction, and this is only a sign of good things to come. We are elated to take home Autoweek’s ‘Best Concept’ award from the 2014 NAIAS.”
Each year, Autoweek editors select Best in Show, Most Significant, Most Fun and Best Concept at the auto show in Detroit. Editors pointed to the Sport Sedan Concept’s forward-looking design themes, including a flow-over “V-Motion” grille, a “floating” roof, boomerang light clusters and diamond-shaped seat graphics, as notable qualities that helped earn the award.
The Sport Sedan Concept was created by Nissan Design America and developed at the Nissan Global Design Center in Japan. It is the third vehicle displaying signature design aspects that will be adapted to all future Nissans following the previously-revealed Nissan Resonance and Friend-ME concepts. The "V-Motion" movement of the front end flows from the dramatic chromed grille up through the hood. The front of the Sport Sedan Concept also incorporates the large LED boomerang headlights, a deeply scooped front fascia and wide, sloped windshield.
The profile of the vehicle is equally powerful, with its dynamic bodyside lines adding a strong sculptural feel and connecting the wheels and tires – which are pushed out to the four corners.
The unique "floating" roof adds a sense of openness and lightness in contrast to traditional sedans' heavy cabin appearance. The design is meant to evoke youth and adventurousness, intended as a reward to customers for their hard work and success.
The concept is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of 300-plus horsepower. At this stage, the Sport Sedan Concept is a design study created to explore future design cues for Nissan’s sports sedans and is not directly affiliated with any current or future production models.
Giant Amazon delivery boxes were showing up on the door steps of unexacting customers over the holidays. Tons of speculation arose when it came to what was inside.
2014 Nissans Versa Notes were found inside!
"three Nissan Versa Note buyers were slated to receive their cars packaged in giant Amazon.com boxes, with video crews on hand to film the deliveries."
An interview with Erich Marx, Nissan North America's director of interactive and social media marketing provides further insight into this genus marketing scheme;
"Dumenco: So, Erich, what was in the damn box?
Marx: [laughs] A Nissan Versa Note, which is all-new for 2014. We did co-promotion with Amazon last fall, where we offered our customers and Amazon customers the opportunity to order a Nissan Versa Note through the Amazon website -- the first time anything like that's been done.
Dumenco: Right, I read about that in Auto News. So is this the first of multiple deliveries?
Marx: We talked about doing three this way. At this time we've done one of the three. We filmed it and we're actually editing the video that was shot this past weekend in Wisconsin. We're putting it together for what was supposed to debut as a social-media video next week, but we got beat to the punch with a spy photo, so we're talking to you today. That's just what can happen when you're delivering a box of that size -- it's not going to go unnoticed.
Dumenco: So there actually was a vehicle in that box?
Marx: Yes there was.
Dumenco: The person who got this, what did they do with all the cardboard? You know, that's a big box to have to fold up and put in the recycling.
Marx: [laughs] We were thoughtful enough that we helped him unload his Versa, and we took away -- our team took away -- the cardboard.
Dumenco: Any more details about the car itself?
Marx: I guess I can tell you that it is a blue Versa Note. The customer was thrilled with the delivery -- he had a good sense of humor about it. We delivered the Versa on Sunday, and he also got a $1,000 Amazon gift card to go along with it.
Dumenco: For the record, this wasn't literally purchased through or handled by Amazon, right? It's just an Amazon box, it's a co-marketing effort.
Marx: The actual purchase, the actual transaction, does have to take place with a dealer. We have wonderful dealers nationwide, and we want our dealers to have relationships with our customers.
Dumenco: What's amazing to me is that nobody got pictures of the unloading of the car.
Marx: We do have pictures of it being unloaded.
Dumenco: You should give them to me! The cat is out of the bag -- the car is out of the box -- so you should just give me the damn pictures.
Marx: [laughs] I'm not sure I'm allowed to share these yet. Again, we were taken off-guard a little bit. I mean, we understand the social space -- it's hard to keep anything secret. Having said that, we did not expect this to come out so broadly and capture the imagination like it has so quickly. We were planning, OK, we'll write up our release tomorrow, we're going to have the video ready on Monday -- we had this whole cadence.
Dumenco: Of course. Yeah, guess again, buddy.
Marx: [laughs] Exactly. Best-laid plans of the marketing guys."
Nissan introduced the 2015 GT-R and GT-R NISMO, the latest iterations of the legendary sports car, in November last year.
From 1969 till now, the GT-R has been the flagship of the company's performance – always innovating, always thrilling. Here are some of the videos that we've enjoyed, and would like to share once again with you, in the new year.
Nissan GT-R Heritage
VIDEO:
GT-R NISMO Conquers Sodegaura
Watch the GT-R NISMO being put through its paces at the Sodegaura Forest Raceway in Chiba, Japan.
VIDEO:
GT-R: A Monster on Russian Ice
Russian race driver Roman Rusinov and auto journalist Andrey Leontjev pushed the Nissan GT-R 2012 model year across a frozen Lake Baikal, setting a new national speed ice driving record of 294.8 kph (183 mph).
VIDEO:
Nissan GT-R Takes on Fighter Jet
Watch the Nissan GT-R take on an Oris Swiss Hunter Fighter Jet with 22,000 HP in a land-sky speed challenge on the Swiss Alps.
Designed in London, for London, at Nissan's European design center in Paddington
Production version will launch in December 2014
Zero emission electric taxi to launch in 2015
LONDON, UK - Nissan has today unveiled the new face of its Taxi for London, re-designed to make it instantly recognizable as one of the capital's iconic black cabs.
Based on the company's successful multi-purpose NV200 platform, the vehicle was first unveiled as a bold and exciting new vision for the famous London Hackney Carriage in August 2012. In response to feedback from the London Mayor's office, Transport for London and other key organizations which have put their backing behind the new taxi, Nissan has redesigned the vehicle to better reflect the iconic nature of the traditional black cab.
Nissan's newly redesigned taxi has been developed for London, in London, by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) in Paddington, the same design center responsible for the Qashqai and Juke. The new taxi will be launched in December 2014 with a modern, clean, 1.6-litre petrol engine equipped with an automatic gearbox. Furthermore, Nissan will launch a zero emission electric version of the NV200 taxi in 2015.
Nissan already has a rich pedigree in the London taxi market - its 2.7-liter TD27 diesel engine was fitted to the FX4 "Fairway" and TX1 black cabs during the 1980s and '90s and gained a reputation for reliability and durability. In developing the NV200 Taxi for London, Nissan has ensured that it adheres to the strict TfL regulations governing Hackney Carriages, including the required 25-foot (7.6-meter) turning circle.
The NV200 cab for London is part of Nissan's global taxi program, which also encompasses New York, Barcelona and Tokyo. The London version's design is bespoke, reflecting the rich heritage and status of London's black cabs.
Among the specific changes that have been made to the front of the NV200 taxi are:
Round headlamps and a re-modeled grille mirroring the traditional black cab "face"
LED lighting to improve visibility of the traditional taxi sign
Completely new front bumper panels
Design Excellence Manager at NDE, Darryl Scriven, said: "Having already overcome the unique technical challenges presented by the development of a new Hackney Carriage for London ahead of our launch of the vehicle in August 2012, we turned our attention to making the vehicle look the part. The Mayor's office and taxi drivers were very keen that we maintain the character of the Hackney Carriage, making it something that people in the city can be proud of.
"The main challenges were concerned with making sure customers can easily recognize it as a taxi. Being in London, we were able to go out and talk to cabbies about what was important to them as well as look at the vehicle from a customer's viewpoint. It's unusual for us to be able to work on something as bespoke as this, specifically for one location in the world and we are very proud to have been asked to do so."
Andy Palmer, Chief Planning Officer and Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Corporation, said: "Since we launched our Taxi for London in August 2012, we have worked closely with the Mayor's office and associated stakeholders and interested parties to ensure that Nissan's new cab not only raises the bar for both driver and passenger, but is also as instantly recognizable as its legendary forebears.
"Alongside this, our engineers at Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, have continued work on the cab, running real-world trials on the streets of London."
Nissan intends to put the NV200 Taxi for London on sale in the Capital in December 2014. From launch the new taxi will be available with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine equipped with an automatic gearbox. Compared to current diesel London taxis, this engine will be far cleaner, with lower levels of NOx and particulates.
Nissan franchised dealer group, Glyn Hopkin, has been appointed as the exclusive retailer to sell the Nissan NV200 Taxi for London from a purpose-built, ultra-modern showroom facility based in Canary Wharf.
Nissan is also forging ahead with its pioneering work in the sustainable motoring field, developing a 100 percent electric taxi – the e-NV200 – which it aims to have on the streets of London years ahead of the Mayor's target of 2020 for the development of a zero-emissions taxi. Nissan's electric taxi will be on the streets of a UK city in 2015.
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing joins global Nissan NISMO official partner program
NISMO Global Exchange drivers to compete in Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans
Nissan's GT1 FIA World Champion Lucas Luhr back with Nissan power alongside Klaus Graf and Alex Brundle for Rolex 24
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nissan aims to return to its glory days of sports car success from the late 80s/early 90s with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing joining forces with the Japanese manufacturer as its official partner team.
After taking back-to-back American Le Mans Series championship victories, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will be powered by Nissan in 2014 for the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Nissan dominated U.S. sports car racing from 1988 to 1991 - winning four consecutive driver’s championships, three manufacturer's titles and 33 IMSA races.
As part of the NISMO Global Driver Exchange, racers from Nissan's squad of international drivers will compete alongside Muscle Milk Pickett Racing's Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf. Luhr is no stranger to Nissan colors – winning the GT1 World Championship aboard a Nissan GT-R with Michael Krumm in 2011.
Nissan P2 World Endurance Championship regular Alex Brundle will join the team for the Rolex 24 at Daytona – the young British driver aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father Martin Brundle who won the American round-the-clock endurance classic 26 years ago in 1988.
The Rolex 24 at Daytona will be Brundle's first opportunity to contest a major U.S. championship event. The second-generation racer drove for Oak Racing in 2013 in the FIA World Endurance Championship – finishing second in both the championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LM P2 class.
Nissan drivers will also drive the Muscle Milk ORECA 03 prototype class entry at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
Launched last year, the NISMO Exchange provides opportunities for drivers in the Nissan "family" to contest major motorsports events across the globe.
The Nissan-powered Muscle Milk Pickett Racing ORECA 03 will hit the track this weekend at the "Roar before the Rolex 24" – the traditional pre-season test prior to the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship debuts at Daytona on January 25-26.
DARREN COX
NISSAN GLOBAL MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR
"We're glad to welcome Muscle Milk Pickett Racing to the Nissan family and look forward to having our official drivers learn from such a successful team.
"Greg Pickett and his team have achieved incredible results in recent years and having them as part of the NISMO Global Driver Exchange program will be an outstanding opportunity for our drivers. It is also great to again work with Lucas Luhr who won the GT1 World Championship with Nissan with Michael Krumm back in 2011. Lucas and Klaus Graf have enjoyed amazing success in the U.S. in recent years and I'm looking forward to seeing them continue that run with Nissan power in 2014. We are also very proud to have brought Nissan back to the forefront of U.S. sports car racing. Our company has an incredible pedigree dating back to the old IMSA championship and I'm certain Nissan and NISMO will add to that history in the coming years."
GREG PICKETT
OWNER – MUSCLE MILK PICKETT RACING
"We're extremely pleased to become one of Nissan's partner teams and to have them as part of the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing family. Nissan are proven race winners throughout the world and together we want to build a strong relationship that will help us continue the success that we've both come to enjoy. We're excited to not only have our prototype be powered by Nissan but to also be involved with them at a deeper level. Nissan has developed a great initiative with their NISMO Global Driver Exchange program and have a lot of young talent that we look forward to joining us throughout the season, starting with Alex Brundle at Daytona. I'm anxious to see Alex behind the wheel of our Muscle Milk ORECA/Nissan and I'm confident he will fit right in just fine with Klaus (Graf) and Lucas (Luhr)."
ALEX BRUNDLE
DRIVER – MUSCLE MILK PICKETT RACING
"I am excited to go over to Daytona and race in the Rolex 24. The chance to fight for overall victory with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and Nissan is a fantastic next step in my career. I am delighted to be finally getting the chance to compete at an event I have aspired to contest. I would like to say thanks to Darren Cox of Nissan and Pickett Racing for giving me that opportunity. Muscle Milk has a tremendous record in American sports car racing so to have the chance to join such a prestigious American team is excellent. I'm looking forward to making the most of it. Klaus and Lucas have driven in the American series for a quite a while now so I can learn quickly from them. I am looking forward to the challenge. The Nissan engine was so strong in the WEC last year that in reality there was no other powerplant to have, which brings confidence heading into the testing process. The engine produces a lot of torque with impressive reliability evidenced by the performance we enjoyed at Oak Racing in last year where we had two cars running strongly at the finish of the Le Mans 24 hours."
Nissan sport sedan concept set for world debut at 2014 North American International Auto Show
Nissan sport sedan concept set for world debut at 2014 North American International Auto Show
Nissan Sport Sedan Concept offers an advanced look at a future production sports sedan
Embodies next-generation Nissan design signatures
Nissan IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO concepts make first North American appearances
Press conference set for January 13, 2014 at 3:50 p.m. EST
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nissan continues its rollout of show-stopping advanced concept vehicles with the world debut of the stunning Sport Sedan Concept at the 2014 North American International Auto Show. The Sport Sedan Concept will be joined by the North America debuts of the Nissan IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO concepts, which were among the most popular vehicles at the recent Tokyo Motor Show.
The Sport Sedan Concept previews a new energetic design direction that amplifies Nissan's legendary approach of applying sports car principles to a sedan. The IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO's innovative, eye-catching designs offer two different approaches to a next-generation compact vehicle – one expressing a casual, lifestyle-focused vision and the other an ultra-sporty design that looks as if it came directly from a driving video game.
The trio of concepts will be revealed at a press conference on Monday, January 13, 2014 at 3:50 p.m. EST and displayed throughout the public days of the show, which runs at Detroit's Cobo Hall from January 18th through 26th.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – As we look forward to 2014, here we look back on 10 memorable moments in 2013. From launching new vehicles to achieving record sales, this was a busy year. Here's to another successful year in 2014 for everyone. Have a safe and happy holiday, from all of us at Nissan.
Dec. 3, 2013? Nissan Sets November U.S. Sales Record with 10.7% Increase
Consumers continue to show strong demand for Nissan products, as shown by November sales. Nissan established a November U.S. sales record with 106,528 total deliveries, marking an increase of 10.7% over last year's total of 96,197. Nissan Division set a November record with 93,376 deliveries, a 10.8% increase over the prior year. Nissan Division has sold 1,035,439 vehicles so far in 2013, up 10.7% and exceeding the total for all of 2012.
"Consumers' strong demand for Nissan products continued last month, culminating in a very good Black Friday weekend and driving our sales performance to an all-time record November," said Fred Diaz, divisional vice president, Sales and Marketing and Service and Parts, Nissan U.S.A. "Nissan has achieved record sales in eight out of 11 months in 2013 and with more than 1 million units sold, we have already outsold all of 2012."
Oct. 29, 2013 ?New York Proclaims "Hail Yes!" as First Nissan NV200 Taxi Hits the Streets of Manhattan
A new era in public transportation has begun with the Nissan NV200 taxi now in service on the streets of New York City. The meter on the first NV200 taxi fare officially kicked-off at JFK International Airport in October, dropping its inaugural passenger near 13th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. Mr. Ranjit Singh, an owner/operator of Medallion No. 7F20, took delivery of his NV200 taxi from Koeppel Nissan in Queens.
Eight Nissan dealerships in the New York City region now have the NV200 taxi available for purchase by New York City medallion owners. These major milestones mark the next phase in Nissan's commitment to deliver the most innovative, custom-designed taxi experience ever to the more than 600,000 people who ride in New York City taxicabs every day.
Sep. 10, 2013? All-New 2014 Nissan Rogue Makes U.S. Debut
Nissan debuted the all-new 2014 Nissan Rogue compact-utility vehicle, the company's second best-selling model in the U.S. and one of a family of new Nissan global compact crossovers. The European version, called the Nissan X-TRAIL, made its world debut during a press conference at the Frankfurt Motor Show. As a high-volume global growth product built on the new jointly developed Nissan/Renault Common Module Family (CMF) platform architecture, it is projected to be available in 190 countries around the world.
Aug. 27, 2013? Nissan Announces Unprecedented Autonomous Drive Benchmarks
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced that the company will be ready with multiple, commercially viable Autonomous Drive vehicles by 2020. Nissan announced that the company's engineers have been carrying out intensive research on the technology for years, alongside teams from the world's top universities, including MIT, Stanford, Oxford, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Tokyo.
Aug. 26, 2013? Nissan to Boost Americas Production Capacity to More Than 2 Million Units in 2014
By early 2014, Nissan's production capacity will eclipse two million units in the Americas, driven by recently added capacity at its U.S. plants, as well as new facilities in Mexico and Brazil.
In response to strong growth opportunities throughout the region and in an effort to isolate the company from volatility in global currencies, Nissan is rapidly expanding its manufacturing footprint in the Americas region with an investment of more than $5 billion USD in new plants and increased production volumes. To support this aggressive growth and expansion, the company is adding more than 10,000 jobs across the region, with much of the hiring complete or underway.
Aug. 20, 2013? A New Engine Choice Coming with the Next-Generation Nissan Titan
Nissan announced it will offer a newly developed Cummins V8 turbo-diesel engine in its next-generation full-size pickup. The news came during Nissan 360, an industry showcase of Nissan's global product and technology portfolio.
"The fact that we've been working on this together for a period of time, we've had the time to really do it right," said Ric Kleine, Vice President of Cummins, Inc.
The 5.0-liter V8 turbo-diesel engine emerged from a partnership between Nissan and Cummins. It's now in the latter stages of development and testing. Cummins also is developing a version of the engine for its commercial vehicle customers.
Aug. 20, 2013? Nissan Motor Company Celebrates 80 Years, Unveils Power of Global Footprint
Nissan Motor Company marked its 80th anniversary with "Nissan 360," a month-long showcase of the latest breakthroughs in vehicle technology, sustainability and market expansion by one of the world's leading automotive groups.
The full lineup of Infiniti vehicles was on display, journalists experienced Nissan cars on a performance track, trucks were put through their paces on an adventure course, and the Datsun GO made the trip to Southern California from India where it recently launched – as well as other vehicles representing the global marketplace.
Jul. 24, 2013? Nissan LEAF Soars in Atlanta as the 100,000th Electric Vehicle for Renault-Nissan Alliance is Sold
Nissan's all-electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, is selling at historic rates in new cities throughout the U.S. Atlanta is now the third biggest market for LEAF sales, with more than 700 LEAFs sold in the last few months.
Atlanta is also the city where the Renault-Nissan Alliance sold its 100,000th electric vehicle. Allison Howard bought this LEAF just two and a half years after Nissan launched the industry's first mass-market electric vehicle in December 2010.
"It's economical. It is something I could afford as a college student. It drives perfectly. It's so cool, and that's why I wanted to get a LEAF," said Howard.
Jun. 13, 2013 Versa Note on Sale with $13,990 Starting Price
The 2014 Nissan Versa Note, which went on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in June, is more than just the fourth all-new product to appear in Nissan showrooms in recent months (following the redesigns of Altima, Pathfinder and Sentra). It is also the dynamic next-generation of the vehicle that, combined with Versa Sedan, held the entry segment sales leadership for 20 consecutive months and 38 of the last 44 months.
Jan. 9, 2013? Nissan Begins U.S. Assembly of 2013 LEAF Electric Vehicle and Batteries
Nissan ramped up U.S. assembly of the 2013 model year all-electric LEAF at its manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tenn., where it is being manufactured alongside the company's gasoline-powered products.
The start of Nissan LEAF assembly in Smyrna comes on the heels of the opening of Nissan's battery plant in an adjacent facility. Nissan is the only automaker that manufactures its own electric vehicle batteries, at the largest lithium-ion automotive battery plant in the U.S.
Nissan: Habitat Project Builds a Home, and Repairs a Heart
Nissan: Habitat Project Builds a Home, and Repairs a Heart
Nissan picked 6 of their employees to work with Habitat for Humanity as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity's 2013 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Their task was to help build, or repair, dozens of homes in three U.S. cities in a one-week period.
Juanita Clemmons, a production technician was one of those picked. She has always enjoyed helping others, but lately volunteering has become even more central to her life. She said the opportunity that Nissan gave her to build a home in Oakland is helping her maybe even more than the homeowners.
"Just being with people has helped me get to where I am today, and just being here with these people all week has helped me to get through," said Clemmons.
Clemmons lost her son about a year ago in a car accident.
Clemmons said building a home and a new future for a deserving family is exactly what she needed to rebuild her own life.
Clemmons plans to take all that she learned in California back home to Smyrna, Tenn. She wants to keep breaking barriers and serving others in honor of her son.
"It is not all about him or me. It is about God giving me the strength to move on and help someone else," said Clemmons. "It has taught me there are always people less fortunate than you are."
Nissan employees like Clemmons have volunteered more than 25,000 hours to build, side by side, with Habitat partner families. Since 2005, Nissan has contributed nearly $11 million in house sponsorships and truck donations in the U.S. and internationally.
Of course living in San Diego most of us don't see too much actual snow, much less spend time driving in it. But if you're planning any road trips this winter, especially up to the mountains, please make sure your car is winter ready!
Here are a few tips to help you stay safe on the roads this winter:
Tires: Tires are the number one factor in winter driving safety. When was the last time you had your tires replaced? If it was recently, have you been getting them rotated regularly? Many people forget to get this done, which means these so-called "new" tires are wearing unevenly and could actually be unsafe. Make sure you visually inspect your tires for uneven wear, and loss of tread. Better yet, have a professional inspect them! Balding tires do not grip the road effectively and they increase your breaking distance substantially - especially in wet or icy road conditions. Remember: Worn out tires aren't safe on dry pavement, but they are downright dangerous on rainy, snowy or icy roads. Be sure to get those tires inspected, rotated, and replaced if necessary right away! You can always make an appointment at your local Mossy Nissan service center - for any service needs!
Stay warm and safe! If your car gets stuck in snowy conditions, and you need to keep your car running for heat, make that your exhaust pipe is not blocked off by snow! Run the engine and heater for 10 minutes every hour depending on the amount of gas in your tank. If there is heavy snow or sleet coming down, keep one window slightly open so you don't get sealed inside your car!
We want all our drivers to be safe this season, and we hope this helps those of you traveling to snowy climates. Mossy Nissan can help you get ready for these holiday trips with a FREE winter car care inspection, a winter car care package, or a 27-point inspection here. We wish you a safe holiday season this year!
One winner will be awarded a $200 VISA Gift Card on 12/10/19, courtesy of Mossy Nissan. Winners will be chosen by random selection. The prize awarded is not transferable and is not redeemable for cash.
Selection of Winner:
One entrant will win a $200 VISA Gift Card by filling out the electronic form at Mossy Nissan’s booth during AJ and Sara’s Toy Drive at Grossmont San Diego from Saturday, December 7 to Sunday, December 8 from 10 AM to 11:59 PM. On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the Grand Prize winner will be chosen randomly and notified through the email address that they provided in the electronic form. Winner will be given 48 hours to claim prize from initial contact. Odds of winning depend on the number of entrants received. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these rules. Winner will be chosen and awarded at Mossy Nissan’s sole and absolute discretion. The prize awarded is not transferable and not redeemable for cash.
One winner will be selected at random from all completed form entries. Entrants must complete form in its entirety by 11:59AM PST on Sunday, December 8, 2019 to be eligible. Mossy Nissan will not be liable for inability to notify the winners, whether due to inaccurate entry information, change of email address or otherwise. If an entrant is found ineligible or if they do not comply with the Official Rules, then the potential winner will be disqualified, and an alternate winner will be selected. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Employees of Mossy Nissan and affiliates of its advertising and promotional agencies and their immediate families and any persons with whom they reside are not eligible.
By entering the contest and accepting the prize, the winner (a) releases Mossy Nissan from all liability with respect to this contest, including entry and participation and use of the prize awarded herein, and (b) except where legally prohibited, consents to the use of his/her name and likeness in print, broadcast, internet, social media and other media for advertising, promotional and/or marketing purposes without additional compensation.
Mossy Nissan reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this promotion. This contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. By participating in this promotion, you agree to release Mossy Nissan of any responsibility or liability for any damages or losses of any kind, including direct, indirect, incidental or consequential or punitive damages arising out of or relating to the delivery, use or performance of the prize(s) or products and services purchased with the prize(s), including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. For a copy of the Official Rules, print this page.
