nissan

Production of the 2013 Infiniti JX, which offers the first backup collision intervention (BCI) system, is now in full swing in Nissan's Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennessee.

The 2013 JX gets 21 mpg and 20 mpg for the front-wheel-drive and intuitive all-wheel-drive models, respectively. The BCI system warns the driver if an obstacle is detected; the system gives visual and audible cues. It can also step in and automatically apply the brakes to help avoid a potential impact, Nissan said in a press release.

In another first, the seven-passenger JX offers a multimode middle-seat design that makes it … Read more

Hertz announced last week that it was testing a wireless charging station with Plugless Power on a Nissan Leaf. The new wireless charging station trial means that drivers won't get their hands dirty plugging the EV into the grid, and it's a foolproof way to make sure they recharge the battery for the next user when they drop off the car.

The test, conducted by Plugless Power manufacturer Evatran, will provide data on daily usage routines, user interfaces, and any additional functionality needed. But don't get too excited about trying out this new product. Although Hertz rents … Read more

During your dating life, you will meet many a prospective life partner, and their cars will serve as a good indication of their personalities, likes, and dislikes.

You can tell a lot about a person by the car they drive, and some cars say more than others. In some cases, the message conveyed by these cars will let you know you have found a home. In others, that you should start looking for the closest exit. Look fondly on these cars, even if they represent the one that got away, or the one that was a total psycho, because after the wedding and the kids some, you will be driving a minivan.… Read more

Nissan announced it is recalling 39,000 Versas due to a possible safety hazard on the automatic and continuously variable transmission cars.

According to the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site, the cars can be shifted out of park without depressing the brake pedal.

Nissan will replace the shifter knob free of charge. Owners need to make an appointment at a Nissan-authorized dealer to fix the problem. Versa owners can contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 for more information.

Although there have been no crashes or injuries reported, federal safety regulations require that the brake must be applied before a … Read more

The news that Nissan updated the 370Z for the 2013 model year seemed promising. The update that took it from the 350Z to the 370Z produced a brilliant little sports car.

But after reading the press release and looking at the photos, published in conjunction with the 2013 370Z's unveiling at the Chicago Auto Show, this is not a car to get particularly excited about. When Nissan launched the 370Z in 2009, it came out with a shorter wheelbase and more power than the outgoing 350Z. The 2013 370Z changes little from the 2012 model, with mostly cosmetic touches. … Read more

At the 2012 International Motor Show in Geneva, Nissan will show off a small car concept with striking new design language.

For the last couple of years it seemed like Nissan's design department was playing exquisite corpse with its vehicles, one designer taking over where another left off, not looking at the previous section of the car. Both the Juke and the Quest seem a mishmash of styles, while earlier design cues, such as the boomerang headlight casings from the 370Z and GT-R, haven't made it past the sports cars.

Then there's the coherent but conservative design of the Versa, leading to a nondescript little car that will have people wandering around parking lots for hours trying to find it.

But the photos just released for the Invitation concept show a car with a solid and attractive design. The wide grille stretches across the front of the car, fitting into cutouts in the headlight casings. The lower air intake and parking lights mirror the upper half of the front.

The side shows a powerful contour line that runs down the back, then forward, hooking back again in the front doors. Nissan calls it the Squash Line. To paraphrase The Dude, it really ties the car together.

Nissan has not released many details of the concept, which will be the basis for a new European B segment car alongside the Juke.… Read more

With the new Versa, Nissan concentrates on keeping the price low rather than offering a compelling tech package.

We liked the car's engine and transmission combination. Although not very powerful at only 109 horsepower, the 1.6-liter engine was adequate to move the Versa around the city and eventually get up to freeway speeds. It also turned in mid-30s fuel economy, in part due to Nissan excellent continuously variable transmission.

But Nissan did not make cabin tech a priority in the car, and that is an area where it falls down in the face of the competition. Similarly priced … Read more

Sales of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf dipped in January, with Volt sales apparently hit by a now-closed safety investigation.

The volume of these high-profile electric cars sold is closely watched as a barometer of consumer demand. Several more battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models from other automakers are expected to come out this year and next.

General Motors said yesterday it sold 603 Volts in January of this year, more than the 321 it sold in January last year. GM shipped 1,529 Volts in December last year, its best month since production, although the yearly total of 7,671 was less than it had hoped. … Read more

When Nissan showed us renderings of a GT-R powered Nissan Juke-R, we said, "Gee, that's neat." When it started building the darn thing, our interest was piqued.

Today, we have a video of this oddest of skunkworks supercars at a street race exhibition event in Dubai going wheel-to-wheel with the likes of a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Ferrari 458 Italia, and a Mercedes-Benz SLS. Check it out below.

OK, so "wheel-to-wheel" was a bit of an overstatement as the Juke hands the trio of proper supercars their hats around an improvised short course. How did that … Read more