Non-U.S. Automakers Displeased After President Obama Snubs Them at Washington Auto Show

On Tuesday, January 31, U.S. President Barack Obama�s schedule included a visit to the 2012 Washington Auto Show. The White House informed automakers on a two days� notice to bring their most fuel-efficient models to the show.
Naturally, they obliged. For example, Honda flew in the FCX Clarity from California, Kia brought the Optima hybrid and Mercedes-Benz a fuel-cell car. Carmakers also brought along their top brass to discuss green technologies with the President.
As Bloomberg reports, the problem is that Obama, who had half an hour in his disposal, ignored foreign manufacturers.
Instead, he spent most of his time with domestic brands, posing for the press with the Dodge Dart, the Chevrolet Malibu, the Ford C-MAX Energi, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 (not pretty fuel efficient those two, by the way�).

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Road & Track Pits the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 against the 2013 Nissan GT-R

They may be different as night and day in most aspects, but we shouldn't forget that both the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the latest 2013 Nissan GT-R are aimed at the sports car enthusiast.
Nevertheless, we do find the pairing from Road & Track for its latest test a tad odd for one specific reason: pricing.
You see, Camaro ZL1 with its 580HP 6.2L supercharged V8 will retail for $54,995 (�41,800) when it arrives in dealerships this spring, whereas the 2013 edition of the 545HP Nissan GT-R starts from $96,820 (�73,500) not including destination and handling fees. This means there's more $40,000 difference between the two cars.

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Nissan to Unveil "Revised" 2013MY 370Z at the Chicago Auto Show

We received word today than Nissan will debut a "revised" version of its 370Z sports car series at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show via an invitation to a press event that will take place next Thursday.
Unfortunately, the invite does not detail the changes on the 2013 model year 370Z so we don't know if it's a full facelift or a minor nip and tuck with very subtle updates here and there.

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New Range-Topping Nissan Juke Shiro Arrives in the UK

Following an earlier announcement in January, Nissan has released UK pricing of a new top-of-the-range version of the Juke named Shiro, which is Japanese for white. The Shiro replaces the limited edition Kuro, which was named after the Japanese word for black, as the flagship model of the series.
However, don't go looking for any white shades on the outside as the Juke's Shiro name refers to the interior trim bits and more specifically, the center console, door panels and window switch surrounds.

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Nissan Drops New Pictures of 2011 Quest Minivan

After the release of a single teaser photo of the all-new, next generation Quest minivan back in April, Nissan today published a full set of images (albeit slightly smoked out) of the full-size people carrier ahead of its world premiere at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

The Japanese automaker is still keeping details on the new Quest under wraps, but it is believed that the next generation minivan with sliding rear-doors will be powered by Nissan's venerable 3.7-liter V6 engine.

Scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in early 2011, the new Quest will compete with the redesigned for the 2011MY Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey minivans. More photos after the break.

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2011 Nissan X-Trail SUV Facelift Breaks Cover in Japan

You're looking at the refreshed Japanese domestic market [JDM] version of the Nissan X-Trail, a compact SUV model sold in Europe, Japan and other parts of the world but not in the States. For the 2011MY, there's the subtlest of design tweaks, mainly to the front end and the interior, plus a new diesel version and equipment upgrades.

On the outside, the JDM 2011 X-Trail gains a redesigned front grille, front bumper and headlights, along with a reworked rear bumper and new LED tail lamps. There's also a new model called 'X-Tremer' boasting unique bumpers and alloy wheels.

In the interior, the X-Trail is spruced up with a redesigned instrument panel featuring larger dials and a new information display system, fresh colors and additional standard features.

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Thai-Made 2011 Nissan March goes on Sale in Japan [Plus 49 Photos]

Following on from the presentation of the 2011 Micra at the Geneva Show earlier this year, Nissan introduced the Japanese domestic market (JDM) version of the all-new supermini called the March, which goes on sale this week.

Unlike its predecessors, the fourth-generation of the JDM March is manufactured in Thailand, marking a new trend for Japanese automakers to move more production out of the country to lower the manufacturing costs.

However, Nissan was quick to point out that it has set up a special inspection process at its Oppama plant in Japan, which produced the previous generation model, to make additional quality checks on the Thai-made March.

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2011 Nissan Murano gets Revised Front Styling Due to New Diesel Engine, European Sales Start in September

Back in March, Nissan announced plans to introduce a diesel engine option for the very first time on its European market Murano crossover in September. The need for additional cooling airflow to the diesel engine and radiators meant that the Nissan had to redesign the front end of the Murano which enters the 2011 model year with a reworked fascia sporting a new grille and a reshaped bumper with larger air intakes and different fog lamps.

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Nissan Micra Production Comes to End in the UK after 18 Years

On Friday, the last Micra to be produced at Nissan's Sunderland plant in the UK, rolled off the assembly line marking the end of an era stretching back to the early Nineties. The very first Sunderland-built Micra came to life on August 10, 1992. The UK plant went on to produce 2,368,704 Micras (two generation models) over the next 18 years, which is more than 40% of all cars built at the plant since production began in 1986.

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Nissan 370Z European 2008

It's only been a week since Nissan dropped the first official shots of the brand-new 370Z into the web and even though the sports coupe is supposed to make its first public appearance at the upcoming 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show that runs November 21 to 30, the Japanese automaker revealed the vehicle to a handful of people somewhere in Europe. We're not sure whether it was a closed media session or if Nissan showed the new 'Z' to a few of its European employees, but fact is that someone managed to take a few shots and post them on an enthusiast forum.


Aside from the different color of the interior, the 370Z seen here is in the same gray/silver metallic finish as the car seen in the press shots. You can check out those photos and read all the initial info that we have on Nissan's new Z coupe by clicking here.

RELATED STORIES (Click on the links):

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• Video: Nissan 370Z in Need For Speed Teaser Film
  
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• Japanese Magazine Builds 370Z Replica Based on 350Z
  
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• Nissan 370Z Stars in Need For Speed Undercover Video Game

Via: The370Z

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Photos New Nissan 370Z

The countdown for the revelation of the much hyped Z car has begun. According to the folks over at Edmunds' Insideline who were invited by Nissan to take a "fair-play" sneak-peek at the all-new 370Z sports coupe, we won't have to wait until the Los Angeles Auto Show opening on November 21 to get our first glimpse of the 350Z's successor as the Japanese automaker will release official photos on October 29 followed by technical information on November 11.

The guys at Insideline who in their own words, "were allowed to look - as long as they didn't look too closely", not only managed to take a bunch of pictures of a lightly camouflaged 370Z (in and out) but they also got behind the wheel of one of the final stage prototypes. Apparently Nissan's decision to offer them a pair of blinkers didn't quite work out...

Link: Edmunds

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New Gen Y Buyer Survey Spells Trouble for Detroit

Auto pricing website TrueCar studied the car buying behaviour of four million Gen Y (18 to 27 year-old) over a twenty-four month period and here�s what they found.
Scion took the crown for top brand, with 37.4% of the market and for top model (the tC coupe), with 21.2%, while second place went to Mitsubishi (32.1%) and their Lancer sedan (20.3%).
Mazda was the third most visited brand for Gen Y buyers, though only 17th in terms of model. The top four vehicle choices were Japanese, with a German in seventh place and a South Korean in ninth.

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Video: Nissan LEAF Climbs the Pikes Peak

Last month, Nobuhiro �Monster� Tajima broke his own record at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb with a sub 10 minutes time in a 910-horsepower modified Suzuki SX4 racecar.
Now, Nissan�s first all-electric car, the LEAF, has tackled the 156 turns of the �Race to the Clouds�. Naturally, �Monster� Tajima can rest assured that his record remains safe.
That�s not to say that the LEAF driven by Chad Hord didn�t record a respectable time. After all, 14 minutes and 33 seconds with an average speed of 51.2 mph (82.4 km/h) is not to be laughed at for an EV that used just 46% of its charge to cover the demanding 12.42 miles (20 km) hill climb.
Watch the LEAF climb the Pikes Peak after the jump.

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Nissan Releases Full Pricing of 2012 Versa, Starts from a Low, Low $10,990

According to Nissan, the second generation of its Versa sedan features �the lowest MSRP in America� at $10,990 (not including a destination fee), with the sub note that the company�s aforementioned assessment is based on �MY12 competitors at time of print�.
Some of you will say, we already knew that, and you�re right. But what we did learn today is the pricing of the entire Versa range that includes three more models aside from the cut price, entry-level S trim.

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Caught on Video: Nissan GT-R Crashing into Parked Cars in Moscow

A crazy car crash that took place in Moscow, Russia, on July 6, 2011, was caught on film by a pair of security cameras. The person responsible for the catastrophic scene you see in these aftermath photos that were shot on location is the driver of a black Nissan GT-R.
From what we can tell, the GT-R driver was either street racing with another car or simply trying out the full potential of his high-performance sports coupe on the streets of Moscow. Whatever the case, he failed to steer left after passing a black vehicle from the right and ended up crashing into three parked vehicles.
The force of the impact was so severe that the parked cars were literally thrown into the air as if they toys. Watch the security cam tapes of the accident in the videos after the break.

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U.K.�s Auto Industry to Young People: Be an Engineer!

Twenty-three of the U.K.�s car and component factories have opened their doors to teachers and students alike in a renewed bid to entice young people into automotive and manufacturing engineering. At the annual summit of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Tony Walker � Toyota Motor Manufacturing U.K.�s deputy managing director � said:
�The industry today is hi-tech. There are no oily rags. There are no smoke stacks. It is an inspirational and an aspirational place to be.�
In fact, carmakers are eager to point out just how fun and lucrative engineering can be. It�s all part of the U.K. government�s push to shift its focus away from financial services after the deadly Global Financial Crisis of 2007.

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Nissan Leaf Outsells Chevy Volt in Electric Car Battle During the first half of 2011

The battle for supremacy in the electric car category has begun �even though at present there are only two prime contestants. According to Bloomberg, the Nissan LEAF sold 3,875 cars the first half of the year, compared to 2,745 of GM�s Volt over the same period.
From January through May, the Volt was only 17 cars behind the Leaf, but in the following month, sales of the Volt plunged to just 561 cars, while those of the LEAF took off with a record 1,708 units, giving Nissan�s EV the lead. The LEAF costs $33,000 before a $7,500 federal tax credit, while the Volt costs $41,000 before government incentives.

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Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

As the world's first all-wheel drive crossover convertible, the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet breaks new ground in both the crossover SUV and convertible segments. With its never seen before design and custom boutique style, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is unlike anything on the road - blending all of the things people love in a crossover with the open air enjoyment of a convertible. Making its world debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in early 2011.

"When people think of a crossover, they think of a combination of the driving sophistication of a sedan with the utility of a sport utility. This new Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet adds an unexpected third element, the ability to make everyday activities more exciting with open air driving," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "However, with its extraordinarily engineered convertible top, standard all-wheel drive and room for four adults plus cargo, the CrossCabriolet is not just for cruising South Beach or Malibu. It's a vehicle to take to lunch, running errands or on a long ski weekend in any part of the country."
Possibilities Await: Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet Design Concept
The impetus behind innovation is often as simple as asking questions not posed before, such as how do you overcome the functional limitations of a convertible? "Everyone loves the convertible experience, no one loves the convertible reality - compromised trunk space, a cramped back seat or none at all, and a lack of flexibility for everyday life," said Castignetti. "The Murano CrossCabriolet is the reinvention of versatility, encouraging people to rethink what a convertible can be."

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Nissan Murano

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) released information and photography of the new, refined 2011 Nissan Murano, which is set to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in mid-October 2010. The second generation Nissan Murano, introduced in 2009, now offers a refreshed grille and bumper design, new taillights, a new 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheel design and a number of interior and content refinements - all intended to keep Nissan Murano's visually distinctive styling fresh and exciting.

Also for 2011, two new models have been added to the lineup, SV FWD and SV AWD, for a total of eight models, providing Nissan Murano buyers with the widest range ever of equipment and features to match their exact needs and budgets. Other changes include the addition of one new exterior color, Graphite Blue, and a new wood grain hue on Murano LE models.
"With its contemporary exterior design, 'mobile suite' interior, advanced technology and refined, premium driving feel, Nissan Murano stands out as a modern crossover SUV like no other," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "With the enhancements for 2011, there are even more reasons for consumers to put Nissan Murano on the top of their shopping lists."
All 2011 Muranos feature a standard VQ-series 3.5-liter DOHC V6 rated at 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded gasoline, and an advanced Xtronic CVT� that provides a sporty and smooth driving experience. Nissan Murano is available in front-wheel drive or with an Intuitive All-Wheel Drive system, and all Muranos come with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS) standard. Murano is built on Nissan's proven "D" platform, which provides a solid foundation and lightweight suspension components, dual flow path shock absorbers and a twin-orifice speed-sensitive power steering system.
The most striking visual element of the 2011 Murano is once again its dramatic body, which imparts a "modern art" feel while still maintaining its distinctive "Murano-ness." The front end features a bold grille with new, revised design and wide front headlights, a wide hood that sweeps into the bodylines, powerful wheel arches and an aggressive stance with available 20-inch wheels. Nissan Murano's rear end features a unique rear glass shape, integrated rear roof spoiler, large redesigned rear LED taillights and dual exhaust outlets with chrome finishers.
Nissan Murano is also offered with an available dual panel power sliding glass moonroof with 2nd row skylight, adding to its open, airy interior feeling. Inside, Nissan Murano offers high levels of warmth and luxury - with available wood and aluminum accents, a 60/40 fold-flat rear seat with power return, heated front and rear seats, power liftgate and RearView Monitor.
Interior enhancements for 2011 include a new white meter color, new center stack colors and added equipment to various trim levels - driver's seat with power lumbar support (SV), RearView Monitor (SV), 7.0-inch color monitor (SV), auto dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink� Universal Transceiver (SL) and heated steering wheel (SL). New audio and entertainment features range from the addition of standard iPod� connectivity and Bluetooth� Hands-free Phone System to SV models to a Bose� audio system with nine speakers plus dual subwoofers for SL models. Other available technology includes an advanced touch screen Nissan Navigation System with 9.3GB Music Box� hard drive.
The 2011 Nissan Murano is offered in eight well-equipped models: S FWD, S AWD, SV FWD, SV AWD, SL FWD, SL AWD, LE FWD and LE AWD.

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Nissan Celebrates Production of 1 Million Qashqai Crossovers, will Give Away the Landmark Vehicle

Four years, six months and 23 days after the first Qashqai small crossover rolled off the Sunderland Plant�s production line in the UK on December 5, 2006, Nissan has passed the 1 million milestone.
The Japanese automaker said the Qashqai is �easily the highest-volume car produced in the UK� adding that no other car in Britain has reached the one million mark in such a short period.

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