Renault-Nissan Form Electric Car Alliance with Portuguese Government

The Government of Portugal and the Renault Nissan Alliance have announced a partnership to promote zero-emission electric cars across the country. Under the agreement that was signed off today, the government will help the Renault Nissan Group study how to create the right conditions to make electric vehicles an attractive offer for Portuguese consumers as well as increasing public awareness. There will also be a joint study for the infrastructure and related organizations required to create a nationwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles.

The Renault Nissan Group is planning to launch its first mass market electric vehicles (EV) in 2011 and Portugal will be one of the lead global markets for the introduction of EVs from the Alliance. -Continued

“Portugal has become a leading country in renewable energy. This agreement with Renault-Nissan will place Portugal also on the front line in terms of sustainable mobility with zero-emission vehicles. Promoting electric cars in Portugal will reduce our dependence on imported oil and will contribute to a cleaner environment,” said Portugal’s Prime Minister José Sócrates.

“With the rising cost of oil and continuing concerns about C02 emissions, we believe the ultimate solution to sustainable mobility will be the mass availability of zero-emission vehicles,” said Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Portugal is a recognized global leader in the development of renewable energy, and we applaud the government’s actions to make electric cars an economic reality for their citizens.”

Nissan Introduces Navara Aventura X-Back

Nissan is adding more practicality to its Navara line-up in the UK with the introduction of hard top version that looks like a hunchback but for apparent reasons it’s called the X-Back. The new hard top is made from the composite material SMC, which is similar to glass reinforced plastic but with a uniform layered construction making it particularly tough and light for easy installation. The Navara Aventura X-Back is powered by a 171PS 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine and according to Nissan, it achieves 28.8 mpg (23.4 US MPG on the combined cycle). -Continued

Prices for the Navara Aventura X-Back are set at £23,795 (plus VAT) for the manual version and at £24,895 (plus VAT) for the automatic. The vehicles standard equipment includes; side bars, 17" alloys, electric and heated door mirrors, front fogs, automatic headlamps with washers, rain sensing wipers, roof rails, bluetooth phone integration, audio with MP3 compatibility and 6CD autochanger, DVD sat nav, dual zone climate control, a leather steering wheel with audio controls, a trip computer, cruise control, rear dark tinted glass, an electric glass sunroof, leather seat trim and electrically adjustable front seats – which are also heated.

Nissan Recalling MY 2005-2006 Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56

The first recall of the month concerns 180,664 MY 2005-2006 Nissan Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56 vehicles manufactured after March 17, 2005, that are equipped with a Visteon air conditioning condenser fan motor. According to the recall note, the fan motor may not be properly sealed allowing excessive water intrusion and insufficient drainage of moisture which could cause corrosion in the motor leading possibly to overheating and a fire. Nissan/Infiniti dealers will test the AC condenser fan motor and replace it if needed. The recall is expected to begin near the end of July 2008.

NISMO to Test Tuned Nissan GT-R at Tokachi 24H

Nissan’s official motorsports and performance division, NISMO, will enter a specially-prepped Nissan GT-R into the 15th Tokachi 24-hour race, to be held from July 20th to 21st in Hokkaido. The NISMO GT-R that will be based on the standard production car will be equipped with the newly-developed NISMO tuning parts and competition motor oil jointly developed with MOTUL. The GT-R specific NISMO tuning parts used in the race will be available as accessory options to GT-R customers this summer

Team Director Taro Kumagai said, "This is the first Nissan GT-R to race based on the standard road-car specifications. Our target is to complete the race distance, testing both the performance and reliability of the car. Following its success in Super GT, we know that GT-R fans want to see the car compete in this kind of endurance racing series.” -Continued

Team:
Entrant: NISMO
Entry Name: MOTUL NISMO Racing Team
Vehicle Name: MOTUL NISMO GT-R
Team Director: Taro KUMAGAI
Drivers: Masami KAGEYAMA, Tetsuya TANAKA, and Kazuki

Car Specification:
Base Vehicle: NISSAN GT-R (R35)
Engine: VR38DETT
Displacement: 3799 cc
Max. Power: over 480 ps/6400 rpm
Max. Torque: over 60 kgfm/3200-5200 rpm
Weight: over 1600 kg
Tyres: Bridgestone Racing POTENZA

Japanese Magazine Builds a 2009 Nissan 370Z Replica!

Those chaps over at Japanese car magazine Best Car must have too much free time in their hands. Instead of publishing a set of spy shots or renderings of the forthcoming 2009 Nissan 370Z, BC went ahead and commissioned a 1:1 scale replica of the model based on the current 350Z! The 370Z replica was built by Mad House in Shizuoka prefecture that employed the leaked teaser shots of the model as a base for the coupe's appearance.

The Japanese tuning house replicated 370Z looks by using fiberglass for the creation the front and rear end of the car. Since the headlights were too hard too create from scratch, Mad House came up with a simple solution using custom-made stickers! -More pics after the jump

Via: JCPN

2009 Nissan Maxima Priced from $29,290

Nissan has announced pricing on its all-new, North American flagship model, the 2009 Nissan Maxima. Offered exclusively with a 290Hp 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s combined with a standard CVT (auto) transmission, prices for the seventh generation Maxima are set at $29,290 for the base 3.5 S and at $31,990 for the better equipped 3.5 SV. -Continued

If your up to it, the Maxima is also available with a series of new option packages, including the Sport Package (3.5 SV), with sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, paddle shifters and more; and the Premium Package (3.5 SV), with dual panel moonroof, 7-inch color monitor with RearView camera, Eucalyptus wood-tone trim and more.

Video: RWD Nissan S-Cargo with 4.1-liter V8 Engine!

The S-Cargo was a funky-looking mini van based on the 90’s Micra platform and equipped with a puny 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that was built in limited numbers by Nissan from 1989 to 1992. While this custom model that’s for sale in New Zealand might look as innocent as the standard car on the outside, get ready for a surprise once you open the hood; this S-Cargo has been fitted with a Nissan derived VH41DE 4.1-liter V8 engine (same as the one found in earlier Infiniti Q45s) that in stock form, produced 267Hp. Moreover, the S-Cargo has been converted to RWD. -Continued

If you’re wondering what if feels like driving such a compact, tall and lightweight vehicle equipped with a V8 engine, the seller’s description says it all: “Runs and drives mint but you need big balls if you want to give it the berries as its very fast!”

Via: JPCN , Source: Trademe

Nissan Launches Race Academy for GT-R Pre-Order Customers

As if being on the waiting list to receive the all-new 2009 GT-R wasn’t enough to make us jealous, Nissan has now launched the ‘Race Academy’ for GT-R pre-order customers that could lead to them obtaining a full racing licence. In particular, UK GT-R customers will be offered the opportunity to participate in Race Academy events at Silverstone or at the Nürburgring race track in Germany.

The events will take place during August and September with customers having the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the 2009 GT-R, long before taking delivery of their own vehicle. The track day experience will include a one-on-one tuition and over 45 minutes behind the wheel of the GT-R, while there will also be the opportunity to learn how to ‘drift’ in a Nissan 350Z. -Continued

Stephane Cottin, Vice President, Marketing for Nissan in Europe, said: "All of us at Nissan who have been working on the launch of this fantastic car want to provide a customer experience for GT-R customers which reflect the passion they have for GT-R, a passion which is matched by our own. It's important to us that GT-R customers enjoy everything about the car - and these customer events will give customers the opportunity to fully enjoy the GT-R's capabilities on a track, while they await delivery of their car." -Picture: Carscoop

Nissan Releases Note Accenta S & New 103Hp 1.5dCi Diesel

Nissan is spicing up its semi-mpv Note range with the debut of a new special edition and the introduction of a more powerful diesel engine into the mix. The new Acenta S line-up slots in between Acenta and the top of the range Tekna grades and starts from £11,995. For about £400 over the standard Acenta grade, customers get standard climate control air conditioning, a 6 CD autochanger with an MP3 auxiliary jack along with unique silver trim with contrasting circular black inserts on the outer bolsters of both the seat back and base. -Continued

As for the new diesel, the 103Hp 1.5 dCi is available in both Acenta S and Tekna with prices set at £14,245 and £14,995 respectively, an increase of £1150 over the 86Hp 1.5dCi engine. In terms of performance, the benchmark 0 to 62 mph figure drops from 13 to 11.1 seconds while top speed increases from 104 to 112 mph. The Acenta S range and the new diesel models are available to order from the second week of July.

Craigslist Car Scams: A few Tips from Carscoop

At some point we’re pretty sure that most of you have searched Craigslist for a used car – among other producst / services that is. We’ve been checking it out a lot lately as yours truly is (still) searching for an inexpensive RWD coupe. Unfortunately, there are plenty of scam artists on Craigslist who want nothing more than to con you into sending them money and/or your personal info.

The two golden rules as stated by Craigslist, is to deal with local folks that you can meet in person and never ever, send any personal information or money to some random guy you contacted through e-mail. Most of the times scammers are flogged by users and removed from Craigslist, but there are some cases that this doesn’t happen.

For example, look at the Nissan 300ZX pictured above that has 55k miles priced at a mere $4,100. Sounds like a pretty great deal right? Wrong, it's a scam. We’ve been flogging it for the past few days without any success. It’s still there. -Continued after the jump

But how can you detect a scam? Well, for one, email the seller asking for the exact location of the car if its not stated in the post. If it's a scam, the poster will a) not reply or b), he will tell you that the car is located somewhere far-away and that he will ship it to you once you wire him the money.

However, before we send an e-mail to inquire additional info, the first thing you should do is perform a search on Google –eg. "Nissan 300ZX - $4100". Usually, scammers post the same exact article/header/pictures in several cities, which means that if you find the same car located on Craigslist in New York and Los Angeles, then something fishy is going on.

If you’re looking for a special model like the 300ZX, you can also perform a quick check on eBay Motors. That’s how we discovered that this particular green 300ZX located in the Boston area on Craigslist is also for sale in Sarasota, Florida with a “Buy it Now” price of $9,700...

Links: Craigslist & eBay

Next Generation 240SX / Silvia Previewed in Nissan’s GT 2012 Meeting?

This rendering, featuring the next generation 240SX / Silvia, allegedly made its appearance on a video screen along with the first official picture of the 2010 370Z during the Nissan GT 2012 meeting a few weeks ago. We don't want to seem negative, but the profile of this vehicle with the small quarter window at the back looks like it belongs to a four-door sedan and not to a coupe. What do you think?

On the other hand, the scanned images from the Japanese magazine 'Best Car' clearly depict an artist's impression on the next gen 240SX/Silvia that will supposedly be powered a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot developing 225 PS. Best Car also speculates that Nissan's affordable rear-wheel-drive coupe will be based on the Japanese carmaker's FM platform measuring approximately 4,350 mm in length and 1,750 mm in width. -More pics after the jump

Via: 7Tune

Nissan to Save 21 Million Litres of Water in 2008 Barcelona Paint Shop

Thanks to a new water recycling system that was just installed in Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Barcelona, the Japanese carmaker will save 21.6 million litres of water in its paint shop in 2008. The savings equal to a 20 percent reduction in water consumption over 2007.

In the past, the water used to wash the bodies-in-white before painting was purified and sent to the city’s main sewerage system. Now, the water used to wash almost 900 new bodies each day is filtered on site and immediately re-used, reducing the quantity previously sent to be purified by a significant 4,000 litres per hour.

Renault – Nissan Break Ground For New Indian Plant That Will Build The New Micra

Today, French carmaker Renault and its affiliate Nissan performed the ground breaking ceremony for their new passenger vehicle plant in Chennai, India, that’s expected to begin operations in 2010. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 and will produce vehicles for export and the local market for both Renault and Nissan, including the all-new Nissan Micra and the Renault/Dacia Logan. The 50:50 joint venture between Renault and Nissan, represents an investment of a minimum of €780 million / U.S. $1.1 billion.

Video: Nissan GT-R Lapping Nurburgring in 7:29’

Finally, we have live footage of the Nissan GT-R lapping the Nurburgring race track in Germany in 7:29.03. According to Nissan, the GT-R’s time was recorded on April 17, 2008 with the Japanese supercar’s chief test driver Tochio Suzuki behind the wheel of a base specification vehicle fitted with standard Japanese market tires. -See the video after the jump

2010 Nissan Subcompact SUV/Crossover Teaser Sketch

Nissan has released a teaser sketch of its forthcoming subcompact SUV/Crossover/CUV (call it whatever you want) that will be built at its Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom, starting in 2010. We can't be entirely sure, but from the looks of it, Nissan's new crossover will most probably be a three-door model

The all-new model that will follow in the footsteps of the Qashqai Crossover will be an addition to the current Nissan range and for the Sunderland plant, and it will take up the manufacturing capacity created when production of the current version of the Micra ends in 2010. Production of the next-generation Micra supermini will be shifted to a new plant in Chennai, India that is being built by the Renault-Nissan Alliance. -Continued

The decision was announced following a visit today by the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to Nissan’s European Design Centre in central London where he met Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO, Nissan Motor Co.

The Prime Minister said, "Nissan is a global manufacturer with strong roots in Britain and I'm pleased to welcome Nissan's new investment in the UK. Today's announcement that a brand new car is to be designed and built in the UK is another important boost to our manufacturing industry, and builds upon Nissan's recent commitments to increase investment and jobs at its record breaking Sunderland plant.”

"Sunderland's success shows what an innovative, talented and highly committed workforce can achieve, and reaffirms the UK's position as a strong player in the global car industry," he added.

Carlos Ghosn on his behalf said, “By delivering on tough commitments, our employees at Sunderland have demonstrated our plant can be a globally competitive centre for the production of high-value products. We are encouraged by the proactive support shown by the British government to decide new products for the Sunderland plant.”

Aussie Clocked Going 263km/h or 164MPH in Nissan 200SX Held Together With Cables!

A 21-year-old Australian driver was caught by Police going 263 km/h or 164 MPH with his 1995 Nissan 200SX (S14) on the Hume Highway near Mittagong in NSW. As if going that fast on a public road wasn't enough of a crime, to their surprise, the Police discovered that the 200SX's body was held on by cable ties, its dashboard was not secured and its battery was held in place by a rag and a bracket! -Continued

The driver, who allegedly told police he had spent the day at the races, was charged with driving at a speed dangerous to the public. It's a darn pity we don't have any pictures of the car. (Pic: Nissan 200SX S14 '98)

Thanks for the tip Nathan! - Via: Theaustralian

Nissan GT-R Scale Model by Tamiya: A GT-R We Can All Afford

Even though the $70k that Nissan is asking for the all-new GT-R in the U.S. is a steal considering the car’s capabilities, how many of us have that kind of cash lying around? Well, Japanese model hobby manufacturer Tamiya has the next best thing: a 1/24 scale model of Nissan’s new supercar that will hit Japanese stores on Saturday May 24, 2008 with the rest of the world following shortly after. Prices in Japan are set at 3,990 Yen which is approximately $38.5 or €24.5. -More pics after the jump

Nissan 300ZX with Built in 15-inch TV...

As we’ve told you previously, we’re searching for an affordable rear-wheel-drive coupe, and the Nissan 300ZX happens to be one of the cars in our list. During a late night check on Boston’s Craigslist we stumbled upon this “priceless” post: a 1991 Nissan 300ZX with a “built-in (literally) 15inch TV monitor for Video games, DVD and computer.” We’ll leave the comments to you as the pictures speak for themselves. -More pics after the jump

Link: Craigslist

Nissan to Study Electric Vehicles in Japan in 2010

Nissan has come to an agreement with the government of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan to conduct a feasibility study of a full-scale electric vehicle in 2010. The joint-study will explore various opportunities including establishment of a local electricity-charging network and offer appropriate incentives. We remind you that under its recently announced GT 2012 mid-term business plan, will introduce a pure electric vehicle in the U.S. and Japan in 2010 and then to mass-market electric vehicles to consumers globally in 2012. -Continued

“In April, Kanagawa Prefecture had announced the EV Initiative Kanagawa, an incentive scheme to include subsidies and tax exemptions to promote electric vehicles. By 2014, we hope to achieve 3,000 units of electric vehicles in Kanagawa. The scheme is supported by the industrial and academic sectors. The joint-study with Nissan will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles among consumers. We intend to achieve a sustainable mobility solution with the “Kanagawa Model”, which can be replicated at the national and global levels,” commented Shigefumi Matsuzawa, the governor of Kanagawa Prefecture.

“At Nissan, we firmly believe that electric vehicles represent a viable and attractive solution for sustainable mobility. In collaboration with the government of Kanagawa Prefecture, we hope to clearly position the electric vehicle as a zero emission, affordable car with no impact on the environment,” said Carlos Tavares, executive vice president of Nissan. “By creating the favourable conditions, customers can then make a smart and environmentally-friendly choice with an electric vehicle.”