08-09-14

Nissan 180SX – GTR Frankenstein – It’s ALIVE!

Nissan 180SX - GTR Frankenstein - It's ALIVE! Check out this monstrous 180SX that the mad men at Bee-Racing made into a GT-R!

 

Pop, pop, pop goes the misfiring system combusting in the yellow Bee-Racing Nissan R324 in the D1 Grand Prix drift series. Bee-Racing is infamous for creating machines that are a minor anomaly when it comes to a purpose-built drift car. It's safe to state that they definitely like to stay away from the norm. The famed R32 Nissan GT-R demo car converted to an FR configuration and displaying a R34 front end has become one of the most renowned cars in drifting today. The big boss Kiyonori Imai of Bee-R requires that all his shop cars sport the signature Bee-R Yellow to be recognized (and feared) in the industry. While many might refer to this taste in color as a slight form of insanity, they may be correct—but in a good way. On the outside, an automobile sliding through turns may totally look disorderly and like pure chaos, but inside, expert drivers and genius engineers have everything under precise control. Ever wonder why drifting is called the "controlled slide?"

 

Recently, Imai debuted another fresh yellow 2JZGTE machine at the Drift Muscle series that sent a sonic boom through the entire world of drifting. Photos of an R35 Nissan GT-R in full swing sliding sideways emerged over social media walls all over the world, and, to car enthusiasts, there was something peculiar about the nature of this machine.

 

At first glance, one may think that Imai somehow disabled the AWD system of an R35 Nissan GT-R to make it rear-wheel drive. Nissan gurus were scratching their heads to know how and why such a thing was done to such a superbly designed vehicle from the factory. Upon closer inspection of spy shots discovered on Japanese blogs, it was revealed that this vehicle started its life as an RPS13 Nissan 180SX. Similar to swapping body styles on a radio-controlled car, an R35 Nissan GT-R shell was retrofitted on top of the framerail of an S-chassis. At this point, our gearhead brains were yearning for more details of this yellow jacket, but be warned, what was uncovered from our investigation may shock some of you folks.

 

Apparently, the 180SX project was launched four years ago and took three years to build with the sole intention of Imai himself making an impact in the Drift Muscle series. He said, "My drifting has greatly improved over the years, so that's why I decided I needed a new machine." An estimated 9,000,000 yen ($90,000 USD) was invested into this project to shape it into fruition for Imai and his company, where his intentions were purposefully directed to make something that stirs controversy amongst the drift circuit.

Further revelation: A 3.0L Toyota 2JZGTE (Supra) engine was chosen to power this vehicle, since these units have been proven to be substantially robust even in factory form. Imai basically installed a set of Tomei camshafts, a GReddy surge tank, and a GCG Turbo kit, and called it a day. Other supporting engine mods included a Bosch fuel pump, Sard fuel pressure regulator, and Sard 800cc injectors. A custom-mounted Sard fuel collector tank sits behind the driver seat as well as the battery for preventing fuel starvation from extreme lateral g's and for corner balance, respectively. A Bee-R custom exhaust expels all the gas, but not before passing through a factory catalytic converter that's mandated by the Drift Muscle rulebook. An estimated 460 hp at 6,600 rpm is produced with over 368 lb-ft of torque with this setup, which should be plenty of power for Imai to learn to master. The entire engine is controlled by a trusty Australian ECU named Adaptronic and tuned by Imai himself.

Since the 2JZGTE Supra engine was robust and handled plenty of boost in factory form, it wouldn't be effective unless it had a bulletproof transmission that came with it. Imai chose a Getrag V160 six-speed tranny since it was practically indestructible and it perfectly complemented the engine without any custom fabrication. The transition of rotational force is all taken care of by an Ogura Racing Clutch triple-plate unit. We predict that when Imai's drifting gets even better, he will most likely upgrade to a sequential dog-geared tranny in the near future, provided that he doesn't smash the immaculate R35 body into a barrier at Ebisu Circuit (knock on wood).

In the suspension department, a GP Sports basic coilover suspension kit was installed alongside a variety of Bee-R and Driftworks adjustable control arms. With a relatively conservative spring rate of 8k front and 6k rear, the 180SX didn't require coilovers that were overly exaggerated, since this setup directly correlated with the lightweight nature of the chassis. The wheel position and suspension geometry in terms of camber, caster, toe, and scrub radius didn't really need drastic alteration since the wheel base of both the R35 and S13 weren't all that different. The R35 body literally was a great fit on top of the chassis.

The stenciled Goodyear Eagle letters on all four corners of the tires makes excellent marketing exposure for the brand as well as reinforcing a motorsports feel of this machine. The 255/35 and 265/35 rubbers are mounted on a full set of 18x10.5 Enkei RS05 wheels, with R34 GT-R calipers front and rear.

Sitting in the cockpit of this machine is like being strapped inside a terrifying roller coaster. At standstill, the body builds up anxiety wondering what's in store. Once in motion, the adrenaline and testosterone overrides every neuro receptor in the brain for a seizure-inducing driftgasm. The only luxurious aspect on the interior is the foam rollcage padding and the FIA-approved racing seat. Let it be known that the Bride Low Max reclinable seat enhances vehicle control originating from driver perception and lowered center of gravity. It's clear that Imai had literally built this machine from the ground up since the rollcage, gauge cluster, and dashboard are all positioned for his personal preference. Perhaps subliminally surrounding oneself in a bright yellow cage gives the brain some extra adrenaline needed to plummet into a turn sideways at triple-digit speeds.

The final shocking piece of information that we had uncovered was the front opening bonnet and scissor doors. While true racers may frown upon these modifications, please be reminded that this is not your ordinary motorsport. Flamboyancy and craziness gets you more points in drifting. Imai and Bee-R must absolutely be commended for bringing the car to this level of spectacular caliber. Only in Japan is this kind of craziness openly accepted and copied across the world. But the door and hood hinges make the car heavier and slower, you say? No problem at all, Imai just needs to turn up the 2JZGTE boost!

Yellow is the color for insanity. As insane as they may be, Bee-Racing has managed to take a step aside from the boring norm and execute their visionary project into a tangible matter. The best thing about this machine is that no matter how much love or hate it receives, Imai can care less. He built his ideal machine, and it has plenty of potential for competition. That's all that matters. No wonder Imai is always all smiles. Keep up the craziness, Japan!

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07-25-14

3 Must-Have Tricked Out Nissans To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

3 Must-Have Tricked Out Nissans To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

 

1. FIERCE REDESIGNED 2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER
With available RearView monitor and 26 MPG highway...you can keep an eye out for the undead without stopping for gas. Plus, with third row seating that provides seating for 7, you can bring all your loved ones with you and still have room for all the essentials - like food and water! Drown out the moans of the undead with available Bose® premium speakers and keep on truckin’!
2. VICIOUS 2015 NISSAN VERSA NOTE
Thought you needed a tank to keep your family safe from zombies? Just outrun them in a fuel efficient, spacious Versa Note! The Versa Note gets 40 MPG highway so you don't have to worry about stopping for gas and turning into a zombie feast. With available features such as NavTraffic provided by SiriusXM* and Around View ® Monitor**, you're sure to escape the zombie apocalypse. This small car gives you unexpected cargo room with the available Divide-N-Hide® adjustable floor to stow extra food.
*Required SiriusXM Satellite Radio, NavTraffic subscriptions sold separately and are continuous until you call SiriusXM to cancel. Fees and programming subject to change. SiriusXM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc.
**Available parking aid/convenience feature. Cannot completely eliminate blind spots. May not detect every object and does not warn of moving objects. Not a substitute for proper backing procedures. 
3. THE RUGGED 2015 NISSAN ARMADA
When nothing but "big and bad" will do, it's all about the Nissan Armada! With a vehicle whose name literally means "large" you know you're in charge! Armada’s powerful  317 horsepower V-8 engine allows you to  zoom by zombies with ease. If you need to haul a lot of supplies, the Armada can handle it - it can tow up to 9,000 lbs!*** With seating for 8 and an available Nissan Mobile Entertainment System with dual 7’’ head restraint-mounted monitors, the kids won't even know there's a zombie apocalypse raging outside of the Armada's plush interior!
***9,000 towing capacity on 4WD models. When towing at or near maximum trailer weight, the allowable vehicle cargo and/or number of passengers is reduced because it is necessary to stay below the Gross Combined Weight Rating and the Gross Axle Weight Rating. 
+All zombie apocalypse scenarios are fictional. Zombie apocalypse accessories are graphical representations and are not included.
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07-20-14

Top 5 Coolest Nissan Cars Featured in Gran Turismo

Top 5 Coolest Nissan Cars Featured in Gran Turismo

 

Nissan just debuted a new, futuristic-looking sports car concept for Gran Turismo 6 called the Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo, which joins the extensive list of Nissan vehicles that have been featured in all six editions of Gran Turismo. In fact, Nissan has had more vehicles featured in the game than any other brand since the original Gran Turismo debuted in 1998. Out of these 148 cars, here are our five standout picks.

 

1998 Nissan R390 GT1

The mid-engine Nissan R390 racer was built for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1997 and 1998, and was a fast runner in its class thanks to the twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V-8 engine and extremely aerodynamic body. Although two of Nissan’s three R390 cars suffered mechanical failure in the 1997 race, four R390 GT1 racers completed the 1998 Le Mans race all in the top 10. The R390 was retired after 1998 because of changing regulations, but you can still run the Nissan R390 down the digitalized version of the famous Mulsanne Straight thanks to Gran Turismo. You can even virtually drive the extremely rare road-legal version of the Nissan R390, of which only two were ever built.

 

2001 Nissan GT-R Concept

One of the coolest things about Gran Turismo is that you can drive one-off concept cars that, in many cases, weren't even drivable in real life. This GT-R prototype, which debuted a full six years before the current-generation Nissan GT-R was revealed at the 2007 Tokyo auto show, was meant to show what the legendary GT-R would look like in the 21st century. Although the roofline may have more closely previewed the look of the Infiniti G35 Coupe, many of these design cues like the swept-back headlights and quad rear taillights, made it to the GT-R we know and love today.

 

1989 Nissan Fairlady Z 300ZX Twin Turbo

The 1989 Nissan 300ZX was featured as one of our 5 Japanese Cars that Shocked the Auto Industry in 1989, and this sports car was truly a revolution with its high-tech, high-performance construction that brought new life to the Z nameplate after a few decades of softer and heavier Z cars. The twin-turbo V-6 engine put out 300 hp, a big number for the time, and we named it our 1990 Design of the year, comparing it with the benchmark Porsche 944.

 

1989 Nissan Pao

This tiny 51-hp hatchback may not fit in with the other performance cars on this list, but the Nissan Pao was a funky, retro-inspired limited edition car for the Japanese market only. Underneath, it was similar to the Nissan March economy car, but the exterior design stood out with its boxy lines, available canvas roof, external door hinges, and chrome luggage rack that were meant to evoke classic cars like the Citroen 2CV and the original BMC Mini Cooper.

 

1971 Nissan Fairlady 240ZG

Although it was called the Datsun 240Z in the U.S., this Nissan 240ZG is the same original Z that first started Nissan on its impressive run of affordable sports cars. This Japan-only 240ZG model featured in Gran Turismo was built as a homologation special for the Group 4 racing version of the Z in 1971. It featured a 2.4-liter straight-six with 150 hp that mated with a five-speed manual transmission. For more on the Datsun 240Z, check out our drive through the hills of Tennessee in a 1971 240Z and a 2013 Scion FR-S.

 

CREDIT:  http://www.automobilemag.com/features/lists/1406-top-5-coolest-nissan-cars-featured-in-gran-turismo/#ixzz37T5VZm2L

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07-13-14

Nissan GT-R vs Jaguar F-Type

Nissan GT-R vs Jaguar F-Type

It would seem that the Jaguar F-Type Coupe R is the performance king of the jungle. First, Motor Trend challenged it against a Porsche 911 on video to see how it fared. Now, Autocar in the UK is pitting the Jag against the latest iteration of the Nissan GT-R around a small course in a time trial battle. Who do you think will come out on top?
On paper, the F-Type Coupe is the clear winner. however, they both share the same 542 horsepower. But the Jaguar has more torque, less weight and an eight-speed gearbox, compared to the six-speed in the GT-R. That seems like an automatic recipe for victory. However, the Nissan claims a faster sprint to 62 miles per hour and all-wheel drive. 
So which would you rather drive? The Nissan GT-R is only a fraction of the price as a Jag and just as impressive on the track!
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07-08-14

New Nissan Rogue is one of the top ten safest crossovers

New Nissan Rogue is one of the top ten safest crossovers

 

The newly redesigned 2014 Nissan Rogue has been making quite a stir in crossover news! Its base price tag of $23,650 outshines competitor pricing. The Rogue also has a cool 26-mpg city and 33-mpg highway rating making this vehicle best-in-class. Powering the Nissan Rogue is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. the New Rogue can fit plenty of cargo with  39.3 cubic feet max cargo storage and 41-inch front headroom. So if you have a large family or just like to pack for adventure, the 2014 Nissan Rogue is the safe bet. 
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06-29-14

Hey Smart Lookin’: Nissan’s “Smart” Rearview Mirror

Hey Smart Lookin': We Sample Nissan's "Smart" Rearview Mirror Technology

 

At this year's New York auto show, Nissan showed off an interesting piece of rearview-mirror technology that no one in our office paid any attention to - mostly because the brand's flashy 2015 Murano debuted at the same time. Dubbed the Smart Rearview Camera, the tech consists of a rearview mirror that can be toggled between a regular mirror and a display showing a feed from a rear-facing camera. Thanks to Nissan bringing a Rogue outfitted with a prototype Smart Rearview Camera to our office, we've now sampled the feature for ourselves.
The technology behind the Smart mirror is similar to the backup-camera displays Nissan has embedded in rearview mirrors for years - other manufacturers like Ram have done this, too - except in this case the entire mirror surface is also a display. If you're thinking this is simply a backup camera, slow your roll - it is a full digital replacement for the rearview mirror, designed to be used while on the move. At the flick of the day/night lever, the system switches the rearview mirror to Smart Rearview Camera mode.
The video feed from the rear comes from a small camera - separate from the backup camera - mounted behind the Rogue's rear hatch glass, just beneath the center high-mounted brake light. This way, the camera's view out of the back can be cleared in inclement weather or dusty conditions by using the wiper and defroster. The camera enables drivers to see what's behind them even if the cargo hold is full to bursting or if the rear-seat passengers have big heads. As a bonus, the camera improves on the regular rearview mirror's visible angle by 30 percent.
Driving around with the system switched on, we were able to see more or less everything we could see with the regular mirror, albeit with more blind-spot coverage. The view can be adjusted for height and zoom, but even set as low as possible, the camera seems focused too high; for example, when stopped in traffic, most of the car immediately behind you isn't visible. Now, it's the same when using the regular mirror, but we were left wanting more out of the camera. We were told the camera's limited vertical view is a constraint dictated by the mirror’s size—if they made the unit taller, it would block more of the windshield and seem bulky.
Another downside is depth perception; because of the nature of the camera's lens, it's tough to get a sense of depth when using the Smart Rearview Mirror. The camera almost requires the disclaimer: "objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear—but only those in the center of the mirror." Also, when using the regular mirror, the driver's view aft is bracketed by the back window, which helps place the car relative to other cars and objects behind you. The camera lacks this frame, and it lends the Smart Rearview Mirror's view of the world a disconnected feeling. We're sure that, with time, a driver would get used to it - and Nissan's people assured us this is the case - but just jumping in and trying it out for the first time, we weren't confident enough to pull off truly heroic lane changes or use it for backing up.
Which brings us to the Smart Rearview Mirror-vs.-backup-camera debate. Instinctively, every time we put the prototype Rogue in reverse, we'd look to the center mirror, when in fact the lower and more useful backup camera sends its feed to the dashboard display. This was a bit confusing, especially given the display also shows the four-camera Around View bird's-eye account of things. It would be nice if the Smart Mirror switched to regular mode—to bring back that good old-fashioned depth perception - and left only the more useful (due to its lower height and bumper proximity) backup camera to show what’s going on behind you.
All of this should be worked out in due time, however. In the U.S., the Smart Rearview Mirror is still in the development stage. It's already on sale in Japan, and really, this same tech has been around for a while - many box trucks and other commercial vehicles have utilized a camera feed from the rear to give drivers a rearview-mirror-like glimpse at what's behind them. But those efforts weren't so seamlessly packaged into a mirror-like unit that folks are already familiar with. When will we see the Smart Rearview Mirror go on sale in the U.S.? Nissan says we'll get it within two years.
 
 
CREDIT:
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06-25-14

Nissan and PlayStation reveal future vision

Nissan and PlayStation reveal future vision

 

Nissan lifts the virtual covers off the NISSAN CONCEPT 2020 Vision Gran Turismo, a vision of what a high performance Nissan could look like in the future. It was created through close collaboration with the creators of Gran Turismo®, Polyphony Digital Inc., the legendary PlayStation® driving franchise.
NISSAN CONCEPT 2020 Vision Gran Turismo began life as dream project for Nissan designers who were given free rein to create their dream supercar for their own Gran Turismo fantasy garage.

Created by a team of young designers at Nissan Design Europe, in London, England, the model was considered to have so much potential that it has benefited from input from an advanced engineering team based at Nissan Technical Centre in Atsugi, Japan.
 
As a result, NISSAN CONCEPT 2020 Vision Gran Turismo gives hints as to how a supercar of the future might look.
 
In July, automotive enthusiasts will be able to discover that performance first-hand when it becomes available to download in Gran Turismo®6, just as they did with the NISSAN GT-R and Skylines from earlier episodes of the historic franchise. That performance heritage and commitment to delivering excitement for enthusiasts is why there are Nissan vehicles in the franchise.
 
But as a specialist in automotive design in three-dimensions, Nissan believes that the real-world is ready for the NISSAN CONCEPT 2020 Vision Gran Turismo. Watch this space…
 
Want your own amazing ride? 
 
 
 
 
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06-20-14

Join #Nissan in designing the ultimate #Titan truck with Project Titan.

Join the #Nissan team in designing the ultimate #Titan truck with Project Titan. 

 

Nissan is asking fans on Facebook to help build the ultimate off-road capable full-size truck for the adventure of a lifetime. Project Titan will invite fans to choose custom modifications for a 2014 Nissan Titan that two Wounded Warrior Project Alumni® will pilot through the Alaskan wilderness this summer.

Fans are encouraged to visit Facebook.com/NissanTrucks to vote on their preferences for the Titan's performance, utility, design and other modifications during the next few weeks. Nissan will build the project truck based on this fan feedback and will share exclusive videos and photos of its progress. Once complete, Nissan will take the truck to Alaska, where WWP Alumni David Guzman and Kevin McMahon will embark on a multi-day trek that will put the veterans and the vehicle to the test. Nissan will document their adventure and produce a YouTube series launching in September. Project Titan is Nissan's second crowdsourced vehicle project, following the automaker's Project 370Z performance build in 2012.

"This is going to be one incredible adventure," said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Nissan Sales & Marketing and Operations U.S. "The Nissan Titan is already well-equipped to tackle a trip into the wilderness, but we are going to push this custom-built version to its limits to give these fearless Warriors all they can handle and memories they will never forget."
The ruggedly tailored Titan will enable the veterans to take on the natural terrain of the Alaskan wild. To assist in their off-roading explorations, the veterans will put Titan's cargo carrying flexibility to the test by loading up the truck with an array of outdoor recreational and survival equipment. With a maximum towing capacity of 9,500 lbs., a sliding bed extender, the Utili-track™ Bed Channel System for optimum cargo hauling and a lockable bedside storage compartment, the Titan's undeniable functionality makes it the perfect companion for the rigorous excursion.
 
How to Participate
 
Vote on Project Titan at Nissan Trucks Facebook:
 
 
Watch the Build & Project Titan Adventure on the NissanUSA YouTube Channel:
 
 
 
 
 
About Wounded Warrior Project®
 
Wounded Warrior Project is recognizing its ten-year anniversary, reflecting on a decade of service and reaffirming its commitment to serving injured veterans for their lifetime. The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP currently serves 50,000 warriors and nearly 7,000 family members through its unique 20 programs and services. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
 
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06-03-14

The 2014 Nissan Versa Note has more room, right down to the floor.

The 2014 Nissan Versa Note has more room, right down to the floor.

 

The 2014 Nissan Versa Note has lots of cargo space with Divide-N-Hide® Adjustable Floor

Social butterfly? Grab four friends, and you'll still have room for 112.9 cubic feet of Best-in-Class total interior volume.* Into surfing? Fold down the 60/40 split seats, and load up your board. Musician? There's plenty of room for your gear. Use the Divide-N-Hide® Adjustable Floor to create a convenient loading platform, or drop the back seats for massive space.
*AutoPacific segmentation. MY14 Versa Note v. 2013 Economy Compact Class, 5 passenger vehicles, excluding electrics and hybrids. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution. Always secure all cargo.

The 2014 Nissan Versa Note is available at all 7 Mossy Nissan locations in San Diego.

Shop for yours today!

Credit: http://www.nissanusa.com/cars/versa-note?next=header.vehicles.postcard.vlp.image

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05-25-14

Nissan’s Smart Rearview Mirror wins 2014 Traffic Safety Achievement Award

Nissan's Smart Rearview Mirror wins 2014 Traffic Safety Achievement Award

 

- World Traffic Safety Symposium says Nissan Smart Rearview Mirror will help make vehicles and roadways safer -         

 
NEW YORK - Nissan's Smart Rearview Mirror will be introduced in Japan later this year, but it's already being recognized for the anticipated positive effect it may have on roadways. Today at the New York International Auto Show, the World Traffic Safety Symposium named the Nissan Smart Rearview Mirror a 2014 Traffic Safety Achievement Award recipient, a recognition given annually to organizations and individuals that help create a safer environment for motorists and pedestrians.
Nissan recently unveiled the technology for North American audiences last week during media days at the 2014 New York International Auto Show.
Each year, the World Traffic Safety Symposium addresses important traffic safety issues in an effort to minimize injuries and fatalities on America's roadways, culminating in a presentation of the most interesting and innovative advancements in traffic safety. Nissan's Smart Rearview Mirror - the world's first LCD monitor that not only provides clear rearward visibility under various conditions, but also allows the driver the ability to switch between the LCD monitor and the traditional rearview mirror - was one of only three winners recognized for demonstrating "the most cutting-edge, life-saving safety features available in vehicles today," according to the World Traffic Safety Symposium.

"Safety is a top priority for Nissan, and our products continue to evolve to meet regulations and consumer expectations," said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. "By improving rearward visibility, we hope Smart Rearview Mirror will help make roads safer with potential ancillary benefits for vehicle design."
With conventional rearview mirrors, rearward visibility can be obstructed by tall passengers in the rear seats, luggage stacked high in the vehicle's rear compartment or even the design of the vehicle. Smart Rearview Mirror can help provide rearward visibility free from these and other in-vehicle obstructions as well as traditional blind spots, thanks to a high resolution camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle.
In addition to the ability to provide a clearer rear view, the Smart Rearview Mirror can also display a crisp, clear image in a variety of other circumstances. The high-quality camera and image processing system implemented in the LCD monitor consistently produces an image with minimal glare, even during sunrise or sunset conditions or when being followed by a vehicle with strong headlights. Visibility during nighttime driving and at dawn and dusk are also improved from that of a standard rearview mirror.
The Smart Rearview Mirror's high-resolution camera displays its images on an LCD monitor built into the rearview mirror, which also functions as a conventional rearview mirror. The camera projects a clear image onto the monitor, giving the driver a better view of conditions behind the vehicle.
Nissan is planning to introduce the Smart Rearview Mirror to global markets in the near future after an initial rollout to Japanese consumers this spring.
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05-18-14

Michael Caruso seals super podium result at Albert Park

Michael Caruso seals super podium result at Albert Park 

 

MELBOURNE - Michael Caruso has secured a deserved podium place at the Albert Park street circuit last weekend.

Caruso, driving the Norton/beyondblue Nissan Altima, finished third, enough to secure third overall for the Grand Prix event.
Caruso dropped back through the pack early, but with some great speed aboard his #300 beyondblue Altima, Caruso raced his way through the pack, eventually pipping Garth Tander at the finish line for third overall.
Caruso's Norton teammate James Moffat was very competitive, running as high as fourth until he was the innocent victim in a clash with Nissan teammate Rick Kelly and Red Bull driver Jamie Whincup.
 
The next event on the V8 Supercars Championship calendar takes us Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania in two weeks time.
 
Michael Caruso, #300 Norton/beyondblue Nissan Altima
"It's an absolutely brilliant result for Norton, beyondblue and Nissan. We started fifth and got crushed back to eighth. It was on for young and old out there and I was getting hit at every corner of the car. To manage to climb back up to third, it was a testament to the fantastic car speed that we had. It was as good as it's been this weekend. And to get Garth over the line, it makes the result even sweeter."
James Moffat, #360 Norton Nissan Altima
"Before the Safety Car, the speed of the car was fantastic. I was definitely pulling in Fabian (Coulthard) who was wounded with a flat spotted tire, but I felt it was just a matter of time before we reeled him. It was a great effort by the boys. They tuned it up over night and the changes definitely worked. That was one positive. Obviously, the result wasn't fantastic, but I was a victim of other people's accidents. That's motor racing, though. It's a shame for the guys, because they'll be fixing the car when they probably shouldn't have to be. I'm more encouraged now, because we have a bit of speed back in the old girl, and that's something to look forward to for the rest of the year."
Sunday trouble at the Australian Grand Prix
In other Altima V8 Supercar news, the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend ended on a low note for Jack Daniel's Racing drivers Todd and Rick Kelly, with both Nissan Altimas striking trouble on the streets of Albert Park.
The pair made solid progress in the early running of the fourth and final heat for the weekend, but Todd's race unraveled after the halfway mark of the 12-lap journey when his car suffered a sudden cooling issue.
Todd immediately parked the car to save damaging the engine, with the safety car called upon to remove his vehicle from the circuit.
Rick then made solid progress from the ensuing restart, but at the entry to turn nine, contact sent the car out of control into James Moffat and Jamie Whincup.
Stuck in the sand trap, Rick was classified a non-finisher.
The V8 Supercar Championship now moves south, with the Tyrepower Tasmania 400 scheduled for March 28-30 at Symmons Plains Raceway.
JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD
TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race 4- DNF
"The weekend was looking not too bad, we had the potential to have all four cars in the top-ten for most of the weekend, and we've only come back with one car in the end. It's disappointing, but the speed from the cars has been pleasing. We'll bounce back at Symmons Plains."
RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race 4- DNF
"It was the exact opposite of what we hoped for. Sunday at the AGP always goes a little bit crazy with double points, and there was some really good fierce racing out there. We got a couple of good restarts and moved forward a little bit, and unfortunately we went under another car there and caught his back wheel when he moved over a bit.
"It sent me in the air, and it was a bit out of control from there to be honest. Once I climbed on the brakes I couldn't do much, it took us out, and it took (James) Moffat out as well, which is really disappointing because the last thing you want to have is for team cars to come together. No doubt we are all quite disappointed by that, the car pace was really good, in our car we made really good improvements today. That's as good as we could have hoped for from the weekend, we got (Michael) Caruso on the podium, we've now got to focus on Tasmania."
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04-13-14

Nissan develops world first analysis technique for better lithium ion battery durability

Nissan develops world first analysis technique for better lithium ion battery durability

 

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Can the battery performance of electric vehicles be improved by observing electrons? Nissan sought an answer to this question through an advanced research project in partnership with universities in Japan. The result: Nissan Motor Company and its affiliate Nissan Arc Ltd. today announced the development of the world's first analysis method that enables direct observation of electron activity in the cathode material of lithium ion batteries during charging and discharging.

Applying this analysis technique to future research and design of battery materials could enable Nissan researchers to develop high-capacity and high-durability batteries that may extend the driving distance of zero emission EVs and improve their durability.

Nissan Arc Ltd., a 100-percent subsidiary of Nissan Motor Company, developed the analysis method in a joint R&D effort with Tokyo University, Kyoto University and Osaka Prefecture University. The newly developed technique provides an accurate depiction of how electrons are emitted from certain elements that constitute the cathode material of lithium ion batteries when charging and discharging.

Takao Asami, Nissan senior vice president and president of Nissan Arc Ltd., said: "Creating this analysis technique was a major step toward the further development of high-capacity, next-generation lithium ion batteries. It will play an important part in our future R&D aimed at extending the driving range of future zero emission vehicles."

In order to develop high capacity, long-life lithium ion batteries, the maximum possible amount of lithium must be stored in the electrode's active material, which allows it to generate the highest possible number of electrons. To develop such a material, an accurate reading of the electron activity inside the battery is essential. Existing analysis methods did not allow researchers to observe the movement of electrons. It was not possible to determine how the various electrodes' active material - i.e. manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), oxygen (O) - was emitting electrons and how many electrons were actually being emitted.

The newly developed analysis method combines x-ray absorption spectroscopy¹ that utilizes L-absorption edges² and the first principle calculation³ from Japan's Earth Simulator supercomputer?.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy had been used in the past to analyze batteries. However, the majority of this analysis was done using K-absorption edges that can only observe restrained electrons in the atom (electrons that are not involved in the charging and discharging due to the vicinity to the nucleus) and not the actual electrons involved in cell reaction. By applying x-ray absorption spectroscopy that utilizes L-absorption edges, electrons that were directly involved with the cell reaction can be observed. Accurate analysis of the amount of electron mobility is made possible by combining the observation results with first principle calculations from the Earth Simulator supercomputer.

For years scientists have wanted to understand the origin of electrons during charging and discharging, and this newly-developed analysis method finally makes it possible. Scientists can observe the exact phenomenon inside a battery cell, especially the behavior of active materials of electrodes, permitting further study of better-performing, longer-lasting electrode materials.

Nissan Arc has used the new analysis technique to investigate lithium-rich high-capacity electrode materials, which are considered promising agents to increase energy density by 150 percent. The analysis revealed that at a high potential state, electrons originating from oxygen were active during charging. Meanwhile, electrons that originated from manganese were observed to be active during the discharge reaction. These findings were a big step forward toward the commercial development of lithium-rich electrode materials, which can produce higher-capacity, long-lasting batteries.

*1 X-ray absorption spectroscopy: An analysis method of electronic state and local structure of materials obtained by measuring the increase x-ray absorption energy (absorption edge) after irradiating variant strength x-rays.

*2 Absorption edge: The x-ray absorption value of energy (wavelength) that abruptly increases when the x-ray energy (wavelength) is changed. It is referred to as the K-absorption edge or L-absorption edge depending on the electron orbit.

*3 First Principle Calculation: A calculation method of electronic states without the use of experimental values.

*4 Earth Simulator: A supercomputer owned by the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) originally developed to evaluate global environments.

Credit: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-develops-world-first-analysis-technique-for-better-lithium-ion-battery-durability?page=2

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04-06-14

New Scientific Advisory Council to assist at Nissan Research Center – Silicon Valley

New Scientific Advisory Council to assist at Nissan Research Center - Silicon Valley

 

SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Nissan Motor Corporation has appointed a Scientific Advisory Council to review and provide advice on research performed at the company's North American-based Nissan Research Center - Silicon Valley (NRC-SV).

The advisory group will assist in bridging the gap to what is sure to be an exciting period for the company - and the entire automotive industry - and will give guidance on matters of science, technology, research and other similar topics of special interest to the company.

The activities of the Board will include, but not be limited to: providing independent advice and recommendations on matters of science, technology and research; and researching methods regarding autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, human machine interactions and other matters of special interest to Nissan.

The Scientific Advisory Council will report directly to Maarten Sierhuis, Ph.D., director, Nissan Research Center Silicon Valley, and is comprised of the following individuals:

Jeff Bradshaw, senior research scientist, Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition

James Euchner, vice president of Global Innovation, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Don Norman, co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group

Missy Cummings, associate professor at Duke University and director of the Humans and Autonomy Laboratory

Terry Fong, director of Intelligent Robotics Group at the NASA Ames Research Center

The following are quotes about the Scientific Advisory Council from its members.

Maarten Sierhuis, Ph.D., director, Nissan Research Center Silicon Valley

"I'm honored to welcome these leaders in user experience, human-robot interaction and human-systems engineering to the Nissan Research Center – Silicon Valley Scientific Advisory Council. I am thrilled to have their invaluable insights and feedback as we embark on the development of autonomous vehicles at NRC-SV."

Council Chair Jeff Bradshaw, senior research scientist for the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC)

"I'm excited to work with a stellar group of experts as part of the Nissan Silicon Valley Research Center Scientific Advisory Council. Nissan's commitment to a human-centered rather than a technology-centered design approach puts them in a unique and enviable competitive position. As a result, they will produce well connected, environmentally aware, and highly capable vehicles that excel in their safety, usability and usefulness."

James Euchner,council member and vice president of Global Innovation, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company 

"It's an interesting time in the auto industry, as vehicles are becoming more intelligent, more connected and increasingly environment-aware. The paramount concern as we move toward autonomous vehicles will be safety, but the potential benefits to consumers in convenience, traffic management and mobility are exciting."

Don Norman, council member and co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group

"The automobile is now undergoing radical transformation, in part because of major changes in the powertrain and energy sources for propulsion and because of increased environmental concerns, but most especially because of the added powers of automation and the enhanced desires of automobile occupants for increased communication features. The increased features give rise to multiple challenges, such as driver distraction and, with automation, moving the driver 'out of the loop' so driver control becomes difficult or impossible. As a result, in this major transition, there are many challenges, especially in the ways that people interact with the systems to give them enhanced pleasure with enhanced safety."

Missy Cummings, associate professor at Duke University and director of the Humans and Autonomy Laboratory

"Driverless car technology is promising in terms of creating safer and more efficient driving systems, but the robustness of the technology and the interaction between the human driver and driverless technology are not yet well understood. I look forward to working with Nissan on issues of automation mode confusion, skill degradation, boredom and distraction, and trust issues for driverless cars."

Terry Fong, director of Intelligent Robotics Group at the NASA Ames Research Center 

"NASA and Nissan share a common interest in advancing the capabilities of autonomous and connected vehicles. These robotic vehicles can perform important services for humans to increase safety, reduce workload and enable significant cost and energy savings."

CREDIT

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/new-scientific-advisory-council-to-assist-at-nissan-research-center-silicon-valley?page=2

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01-28-14

Nissan LEAF tops 100,000 sales and going strong!

Nissan LEAF tops 100,000 sales and going strong!

 

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.
 
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01-28-14

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.
 
CREDIT :

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/video-report-vintage-datsun-fairlady-roadster-travels-more-than-30-000-miles-helps-owner-to-recharge-his-life

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01-23-14

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.
 
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01-23-14

That Mysterious Giant Amazon Box Revealed!

That Mysterious Giant Amazon Box Revealed!

 

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."
 
PHOTO CREDIT:

http://adage.com/article/the-media-guy/check-insanely-huge-amazon-package/290941/

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01-13-14

Nissan Returns To The Top Level Of US Racing

Nissan Returns To The Top Level Of US Racing

 

  • 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."
 
CREDIT:

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-returns-to-top-level-u-s-sports-car-racing

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01-09-14

Nissan LEAF Owner Turns 100,000 Gas-Free Commuting Miles

Nissan LEAF Owner Turns 100,000 Gas-Free Commuting Miles

SEATTLE – Steve Marsh just watched his odometer hit 100,000 miles on his all-electric Nissan LEAF. He has had the car since May of 2011.
 
"I have saved over $9,000 driving my LEAF compared to my previous car that got 30 miles to the gallon. And I have not had to burn 3,000 gallons of gasoline," said Marsh.
 
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee congratulated Marsh at a specially scheduled press conference on his accomplishment and made him Washingtonian of the Day. The Governor also announced his plans to expand the state's electrical corridor to the east and west.
 
"It is great that Washington State, which has led the world in so many ways, is again leading the world," said Inslee.
 
Marsh drives his Nissan LEAF more than 60 miles each way to work at Taylor Shellfish. The long commute was his biggest motivation for trading in his gas-fueled car for an electric vehicle.
 
"It was simply to save money. I could see the operating costs were going to be less than a gasoline car," said Marsh.
 
Marsh worked with his employer to install a charger outside his office building. He says he enjoys driving the car so much that he is using it all the time, even on weekends. He and his family, including his Irish Wolfhound, love to get in and go for a spin.
 
"I am confident that Nissan's LEAF is a perfect commuter car for those that put serious miles on their car or just need to run around town," said Marsh.
 
Nissan's Director of electric vehicle marketing and sales strategy Erik Gottfried says there are now 40,000 Nissan LEAFs on roads across the United States. Marsh helped the company reach that sales milestone by word-of-mouth marketing for the Nissan LEAF. He said many of his coworkers have followed his lead and now are driving electric cars.
 
"There is room for a family. It is a perfect car," said Marsh.
 
Credit:

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/video-report-nissan-leaf-owner-turns-100-000-gas-free-commuting-miles?page=2 

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01-03-14

A LOOK BACK: Memorable Nissan Moments of 2013

A LOOK BACK: Memorable Nissan Moments of 2013

 

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.

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Mossy Stories Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Mossy Nissan

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