Nissan eyeing at light commercial vehicle segment in India

The Japanese automobile major Nissan Motor Company has some big plans concerning Indian auto market which not only includes passenger vehicle market but also light commercial vehicle segment. A report in The Business Line stated that according to Hideto Murakami, Corporate Vice-President (Global LCV Business Unit), the joint venture with Ashok Leyland is a critical part of that strategy.

He was quoted as saying “From my point of view, India is a very important market for Nissan going forward and we need to do well here. Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and Russia will also be the other growth drivers for the company.” Nissan's LCV business unit is barely eight years old but is expected to generate big numbers in the coming years. The product range does not go beyond eight tonnes.

It was reported that in India, the company has launched the Dost pickup, which is part of the segment where the Tata Ace rules the roost. “We needed a good partner for this market especially when we did not know it too well but still had to make a presence. This collaboration with Leyland has helped us with faster product development,” Murakami said. Nissan brings in the technology while its local ally helps out with the costs and marketing. “In my view, the synergies are perfect,” he added.

The report mentioned that the mini-truck market momentum began with the launch of the Tata Ace, which prompted companies like Piaggio and Mahindra & Mahindra to follow suit with competing products. In contrast, Leyland has been relatively late, but the tie-up with Nissan could see a faster ramp-up in new launches. The fact that the Ace doubles up as a people's carrier will also translate into attractive growth avenues for the Dost. Keeping this in mind, India has the potential to play a bigger role for Nissan's LCV business in the future where it could even emerge as a key global hub. The building blocks are already in place, especially a robust supplier base, which is critical from the viewpoint of costs. However, Murakami reiterated that it was still too early to think so far ahead as it was important to first generate the volumes in India.

Revealed: 2011 Nissan Leaf Electric Car

YOKOHAMA, Japan — In what the automaker hopes is a prophetic pairing, Nissan Motor Co. unveiled its new electric car as part of the grand opening ceremonies for its new, high-tech headquarters building in Japan's semi-official zero-emissions city.

"Just as leaves purify the air in nature, so Nissan Leaf purifies mobility by taking emissions out of the driving experience," the company said.

The five-seat, electric-blue Leaf hatchback is to be launched in select U.S. and Japanese markets next year to begin what Nissan hopes will become an era of global leadership for the company in a growing EV market.

Leadership shouldn't be evasive if the Leaf lives up to its performance billing. A top speed of 90 mph, a range of 100 miles per charge with a 30-minute recharge where quick-charging stations are available (6 hours with a 220-volt current) and seat cushion-compressing acceleration that will launch it from zero to 30 mph faster than an Infiniti G37, thanks to 207 pound-feet of torque from its 80 kilowatt (107 horsepower) electric motor are all part of the package.

To the degree that price matters, Nissan's also got a big edge in the EV world. Pricing hasn't been announced, but the company insists the Leaf will be "affordable" with pricing equivalent to a well-equipped C-class (compact) car.

That's a European compact, though, and they're a lot better equipped, and more costly, than compacts in the U.S. so figure $28,000 to as much as $35,000 (the range for Nissan partner Renault's Megane hatchback) — not super cheap, but a bit less than the five-place Chevy Volt.

And that's before any government incentives — which could knock a substantial amount from the car's price in Japan and would be at least $7,500 in the U.S. as long as funding continues for the federal clean car credit program.

Nissan officials say pricing was held down in part by developing the entire powertrain, including the laminated lithium-manganese battery pack — arguably the most expensive single component on the car at around $10,000 — in-house with an eye toward affordability.

But the real trick is that the batteries won't be part of the selling price: Nissan's global approach will be to sell the car, but lease the battery pack.

The argument for leasing is that if you buy a gasoline car, the gasoline isn't part of the deal, and the battery pack in an EV (plus the electricity that it stores) can be likened to the gas needed to make a conventional car go.

The approach in the U.S, where consumers might be leery of buying a car, but having to lease an essential part of its powertrain, may be to simply lease the entire package, said Andy Palmer, Nissan's senior vice president and head of product planning.

Decisions on the sales or leasing method, as well as on U.S. pricing, will be made closer to the Leaf's late-2010 launch, Palmer said.

The event will make Nissan the first major automaker in modern times to put a full-service battery-electric car into dealerships for retail sales.

To help do away with charging anxiety, Nissan has equipped the Leaf with a communications system that enables drivers to communicate in real time with a special information center to find out where the closest chargers are, which ones are open and operating, and whether they have fast or slow chargers.

The system also highlights in real time on the Leaf's standard navigation system screens the one-way and round-trip travel ranges the car can achieve before needing a battery charge, and sends signals to a driver's cell phone or PDA when a car plugged in at a home or public charger is topped up and ready to go.

The Leaf's target launch date will beat General Motors' Volt plug-in hybrid, and while Japan's Mitsubishi and Subaru both launched EVs for sale to fleets in Japan last month, the cars are smaller, lower-speed, "city cars" with far less range than the 100 miles-per-charge Nissan claims for the Leaf.

The concept unveiled today is pretty much what the production car will look like next year, sans the exotic paint and high-end interior appointments unique to concept and show cars.

Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's global design chief, told us in an interview after a private preview showing of the pre-production concept, that the Leaf, while all-Nissan in concept and technology, borrows a smidgen of design language from partner Renault's popular Megane compact, most notably in the notched hatch.

The elongated but curiously bulbous headlamp assembly (designed for looks and airflow, said Shiro-san) extremely short nose (no engine to hide) and sharply delineated flanks and wheel cutouts are all Nissan, showing a little bit of the styling that went into the Murano crossover utility vehicle — no shocker when you learn that the Leaf's chief designer also headed the Murano design team, according to Nakamura.

Inside Line says: Nissan trails the field in hybrids, but could shock the industry with its nifty new EV.

The Story Behind the Design of the New Nissan 370Z

Automotive design is a highly specialized process, as much of an art as it is a science. It is also often an intense competition among carefully selected exterior or interior design specialists. So when it came time to create the next generation of Nissan’s iconic Z – a completely original sports car that has come to symbolize Nissan – a competition was held. Only unlike normal Nissan design competitions, this one was open to anyone in Nissan’s design operations, regardless of title, specialty or experience.

The rules of the competition were simple. Entrants had to use free time outside work to prepare their designs. With its strong Japanese roots and blending of inner strength and delicacy, the shape of the Nissan Z has evolved over several generations. But each generation has retained the basic stance and air of the original, identifiable at a glance as a Z.

"We received over 100 sketches from around the world, all brimming with 'Z-ness.' No verbal explanation is needed to see that 'Z-ness' has been rooted in the mind of every designer," says Kazuki Yamazaki, the designer in charge of the Nissan Z exterior. The new Z design reflects the input and passion of these many contributors.

The design of the new Z focuses on functional beauty, the excess trimmed away, leaving the image of a toned, athletic body. The body has been downsized, the result of in-depth discussions on achieving the ideal functionality for a sports car and the best proportions for rear-wheel-drive. The new design makes a stronger impression than previous generations, as sharply defined as a faceted crystal. The wheelbase was shortened to rebalance the center of gravity, moving passengers to the rear. This new “taut mass” is well befitting of a sports car, its power welling up from within to create a strong presence.

The character line running from the front fender rearward reaches its peak at around the middle of the hood. The midline curve gently falls from the front and rises again in the rear, following the line of the driver's relaxed arms on the wheel. The boomerang-shaped headlights and taillights catch the bodylines firmly and guide them toward the wheels in a rhythmic flow.

To create the image of a strong, athletic body, Nissan gave the Z what no other car has , a well-balanced combination of concave upper and convex lower side panels, with all excess trimmed away. The resulting character lines also express the Z’s low, sporty center of gravity.

Clay models were especially important in the design of the new Z to create body surfaces that could only come from the sensitivity of human hands. Designers and modelers worked together to create surfaces that digital reproduction can't capture, expressing warmth, strength and excitement.

"Body colors play an important role in expressing the unique statement of each model. The colors must perfectly suit the shape of the car, properly rendering the car's design concept, and maximizing the beauty of the body shape," says Mika Mizutani, color designer in charge of the Z, who had worked on the previous generation Z as well.

In developing exterior colors, the color designer and exterior designer conferred often on the textures of body surfaces and similar subjects. Three new colors were developed for the new Z, but the new Z's 'communication color,' used in catalogs, TV commercials and the like, is the Blade Silver – which best expresses the Z's toned, muscular body. This color was used for the previous Z, but looks quite different on the new body.

"I started working on the new Z from the concept stage, when we chose an expression to describe the model that might seem like a contradiction: 'Cool intelligence and passion,'” she explains. “As I designed the Z's colors, I thought long and hard about what would best express that concept.”

In developing exterior colors, the color designer and exterior designer conferred often on the textures of body surfaces and similar subjects. Three new colors were developed for the new Z, but the new Z's 'communication color,' used in catalogs, TV commercials and the like, is the Blade Silver – which best expresses the Z's toned, muscular body. This color was used for the previous Z, but looks quite different on the new body.

"While we were proud of the previous Z’s interiors, of course, we made it a priority to improve the textural qualities in the new Z,” says Mizutani. “The Persimmon Orange interior color is an evolved version of the iconic color from the previous Z. Combined with a Blade Silver body it perfectly expresses ‘Z-ness,’ meaning intellectual strength and hidden passion.”

Customers demand high performance and originality from the Z in every aspect, not just driving. The designers harmonized the interiors with the hues and texture of the bright details, building a sense of both unity and textural quality for the interiors through fine details like the shapes of the knobs on the center cluster.

The seats were designed to provide the firm grip needed for comfortable driving, rather than as an expression of luxury. For the optimum driving position, the seats are upholstered in a grippy, suede-like fabric developed especially for the Z.

To improve interior textural qualities, Nissan Research developed a special material called Soffiless, which simulates the softness of human fingers. It is applied by hand to the Z’s center cluster, providing both smoothness and durability.

"The Z has no excess. Every part has meaning and function, even the emblems. I wanted to take them beyond mere symbols and make them functional," says Yusuke Tsuji, the Z's emblem designer.

The emblems on the Z mean more than most because it is one of only four models on which Nissan allows original emblems, separate from the unified Nissan emblem on the rest of the lineup. The others are the Cube, the GT-R and the President.

Because of its importance in expressing the Z, development of the new emblem involved close discussion from the very start. To give it function, it was integrated into the turn indicator in a design that represents the essence of the new Z. It is thicker than the emblem of the previous Z, featuring a line in the center of the Z relief. This symbolically applies the concave-convex combination of body shapes to express the flexibility and strength of an athlete.

"Working to express the Z's qualities, we found ourselves unconsciously going back to the original Z (the S30)," says Yamazaki. “Inheriting the strength and grace of its predecessors, the Z achieves a new stage of evolution. Its breathtaking functional beauty will unforgettably touch the hearts of many.”

Firm makes investment in going green

A COMPANY helping to keep South Tyneside safe as houses has invested about £100,000 in going green.

Delta One Security Services Ltd, based at Bede Industrial Estate, Jarrow, which employs 200 staff, is cutting costs and helping to save the planet after ploughing money into energy conservation features.

Launched in 1991, the security specialists have acquired two Nissan Leaf electric cars, which they plan to keep on the road with solar power.

Now protecting everything from council housing and educational buildings to seafront car parks across the region, Delta One aims to be in the vanguard of the latest techological developments in the security sector.

Company operations director Gary Potts said: “We believe going green ticks all the right boxes and we have invested almost £100,000 in the Nissan Leafs and in creating an alarm receiving centre (ARC), which can provide almost limitless cover to any number of buildings.

“Eight solar panels have been fitted to the roof of Delta House, and they will soon provide some of the power we need for the Nissan Leafs.”

The borough company has an exclusive security contract with South Tyneside Council, while also providing cover for South Tyneside Homes, including its Jarrow headquarters, Strathmore House, plus local landmark buildings such as the Hebburn site of South Tyneside College.

Delta One’s other major clients include enterprise company Tedco, at its bases in Jarrow, South Shields and Boldon, and Newcastle College.

Providing security cover across South and North Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, Newcastle, County Durham, Teesside and Northumberland, the company’s services include everything from security guarding to keyholding, and from alarm response to CCTV installation.

Nissan Facebook Fans Invited to Participate in "Project 370Z"

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today launched a social media-directed Nissan 370Z build-up called "Project 370Z" at the Chicago Auto Show -- where the upcoming 2013 Nissan 370Z is also being previewed. The goal of the project is to utilize the passion and knowledge of Nissan Z® fans online to help direct the creation of a unique, one-off Nissan 370Z utilizing readily available aftermarket parts and accessories. Fans will vote on potential modifications and follow along with the progress online through Nissan Perforance on Facebook.
"Car companies build project vehicles all the time, but we thought it'd be interesting to harness the power of social media to reach out to Z® enthusiasts -- the people who are doing this to their own cars everyday," said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Nissan Marketing, NNA. "Together we'll create a vehicle that expands on the already outstanding performance and style of the Nissan 370Z with a balance of street and track ready modifications. Then we'll share the finished project at upcoming Z® car enthusiast gatherings around the country."
Project 370Z will be built in several phases -- power, handling/brakes, interior and exterior. Fan Likes, Comments and Wall Posts will be reviewed over the course of each voting session and the part or accessory with the most fan support will be chosen for the build. For example, in the initial Power Phase, fans might vote between a turbocharger or supercharger for the factory 3.7-liter V6. Phase 2 may include suspension and braking system, since the finished vehicle is expected to see substantial track time. Fans will take part and share in every aspect right up until the final design is revealed at its planned debut set for late May at the annual "ZDayZ" event.
ZDayZ is an annual Z® car enthusiast gathering that takes place in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. Each year the event draws hundreds of Nissan Z®, GT-R and other Nissan performance car enthusiasts from all over North America. This year's ZDayZ will be held on May 17-20. Attendees will participate in a car show, exhaust sound-off, dyno competition, group dinners and multiple group drives -- including runs on "The Tail of the Dragon," which has 318 curves over an 11-mile stretch of scenic Tennessee mountain highway.
"We're excited to see how this group-sourced Z® will come out and how it will perform on both the street and track," said Brancheau. "Social media has become a powerful communications tool and a great way for us to stay connected with our tremendous fan base. Immediacy, like social media itself, is another benefit of Project 370Z -- which will be built from start to finish in less than four months."
In addition to its debut at ZDayZ, Project 370Z will be shown at other enthusiast events such as ZCON 2012 and the 2012 SEMA show. The finished 370Z will also be made available for testing by leading enthusiast publications, forums and blogs.
The 2013 Nissan 370Z, which goes on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in June 2012, features a number of enhancements -- including a revised front fascia with vertical LED daytime running lights.

Nissan's shocking new sports car

The first modern electric car to really catch the attention of enthusiasts was Tesla's Roadster. Back in 2006, PayPal founder turned space-frontier fanatic Elon Musk took the catchy name of fabled electron dabbler Nikola Tesla (no, his machine isn't named after the heavy metal band), gave it a tweaked Lotus Elise body and powered it with laptop batteries on steroids. The result was a lightning strike of a hit, generating breathless reporting about the two-seat roadster's staggering torque and long waiting lists topped by celebrities such as George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Fast forward five years. It now looks like the folks at Nissan want to capture some of that glitzy mojo for themselves.

With a zero-to-60 mph time of around 4 seconds, Nissan's Esflow concept explores the fun side of going green.

In March, the Japanese automaker plans to unveil its own battery-powered rocket for two at the Geneva Auto Show. News of the so-called Nissan Esflow has already shot around the web, with many of the images and (limited) details provided by the company itself in a clear effort to build awareness of its efforts in the electric car field. The timing couldn't be better. Nissan's four-door electric Leaf starts hitting driveways this spring, and the Esflow is nothing if not a gleaming concept car meant to cast a cool halo over the company's entire range of vehicles. That said, word is Nissan may well consider building the Esflow and is using Geneva as a public-reaction barometer. If that's true, there's a lot to like judging from the images that have been released.

For starters, the Esflow concept, which is anchored to the electric underpinnings of the Leaf, bears a striking resemblance to its gas-powered 370Z stablemate, with perhaps a touch of the old BMW M Couple in its hatchback-like rear haunches and sloped roofline. Up front, a long and wide hood give way to a sharply raked windscreen. Front and rear bumper overhangs are minimal, with the large wheels pushed to the extremities of the car. Although Nissan has not as yet released interior photos, one exterior shot reveals racing style seating more typically found on a Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale, indicating the sporting intent of this electric steed.

As for just what the Esflow is capable of, Nissan reports that the lithium-ion batteries powering twin rear motors combine for a zero to 60 mph time somewhere around 4 seconds, impressive considering the Tesla astounded with its 3.9 second blast to 60. The Esflow's range is around 150 miles to the charge. That's roughly a third more than what the Leaf is expected to provide, though a bit less than the range of a $100,000 Tesla. The Esflow is rounded out by the usual high-tech car accouterments, from LED lighting and interior LCD screens to an ultra-low profile all-aluminum chassis with an integrated roll bar system. Serious boy-racer stuff for the dawning of an electric-car age. About the only thing this Nissan may need is a better name. Esflow is just one letter too close to E-slow.

2011 CrossCabriolet

The 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

Meet the world’s first crossover convertible.

Nissan vehicles offer the kind of innovation that makes other car brands look a bit staid. For example, at the entry level, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet delivers midsize interior room in a compact exterior body starting at under $10,000. At the other end of the spectrum, the Nissan GT-R offers Porsche 911 Turbo performance for around two-thirds the price. Now, the luxurious, all-new, 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet joins the troop. It blends all-wheel drive crossover capability with a convertible’s fun, and offers a combination of style, luxury and capability simply unavailable in any other vehicle on the market today.

For decades, car designers have taken for granted that people who enjoy top-down driving are not that interested in all weather, all-road capability. Nissan’s designers, however, saw a niche going unserved. Their unique answer is the four-passenger 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet, a vehicle that seems custom-built for the convertible lover who wants to keep on driving, no matter what the climate is doing. Owners say they love the Murano’s distinctive silhouette, and so Nissan designers sought to preserve that in the Murano CrossCabriolet with its convertible top raised. At the same time, they made the new vehicle a two-door. With the top down, the Murano CrossCabriolet strikes a sporty stance with a streak of “I can handle anything” attitude. Some

will even see a bit of the 370Z sportscar in the rear three-quarter view, especially in the taillight area.

The convertible top itself is pretty special. When lowered, it folds to a compact size to preserve 7.6 cubic feet of trunk space. That’s enough to fit two sets of golf clubs or two carry-on suitcases. With the top raised, cargo capacity expands to 12.3 cubic feet.

The high-quality cloth top integrates a rear glass skylight, giving rear-seat passengers a view of the sky and stars, even when the top is raised. As in high-end luxury roadsters, the Murano CrossCabriolet offers the rollover protection of dual popup rollbars. Also, like those luxury convertibles, the CrossCabriolet features one-touch roof operation with automatic latch/unlatch. Driving the Murano CrossCabriolet will be a luxurious experience for

driver and passengers. The new model shares the standard Murano’s powerful 265-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine and Xtronic® CVT continuously variable transmission for smooth, effortless performance. And, of course, it’s equipped with all-wheel drive as standard, so the sporty convertible can still be a winter commuter. There’s plenty of warmth with a standard heated steering wheel, heated front seats and heated outside mirrors.

The CrossCabriolet’s tall beltline design helps reduce the turbulence typical of top-down driving for a quieter interior. Nissan outfitted the interior with premium materials such as standard leather-appointed seats. Other standard equipment includes Nissan Intelligent Key with push-button ignition, an eight-way power driver’s seat and two-position memory for the seat, steering wheel and exterior mirrors. Onboard infotainment underscores the luxury with a standard Nissan Hard-Drive Navigation System with 9.3GB Music Box® hard drive and XM NavTraffic®, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, HomeLink® universal remote and a RearView Monitor.

What’s a sporty convertible without high-powered music? In the 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet, your favorite tunes are loud and clear through a standard Bose® AM/FM/CD audio system with eight speakers including subwoofer. The audio adjusts automatically for top-up or top-down driving. Music connections include the integrated Interface System for iPod® and an auxiliary audio input jack. Or, tune in to the standard XM Satellite Radio (XM subscription sold separately).

The 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet has an MSRP of $46,390 and offers just two factory options: A Camel interior with upgraded, quilted premium leather and black top, and the brown top/Cashmere interior combination, also with upgraded leather.

Especially after such a rough winter in many parts of the country, the idea of a crossover convertible sounds quite appealing. Come in and see the first such vehicle ever, the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.