2013 Nissan Pathfinder SUV Fully Detailed Plus

Nissan has fully revealed the final production version of its all-new 2013 Pathfinder SUV, following the presentation of the Pathfinder Concept at the Detroit motor show in January and a first batch of teaser images earlier this week. 

Continuing the back-and-forth between unibody constructions and truck-based frames, as the first generation of the Pathfinder (1985-1995) utilized a ladder-type frame while the second generation (1996-2004) a unibody platform and the third iteration (2005-2012) a truck frame, the new model returns to a passenger car-like unibody structure. 

The Japanese carmaker says it made the shift again as truck-based SUV sales have declined steadily over the years with consumers preferring more fuel efficient and refined crossovers. 

"It's no secret that the industry has shifted as gas prices have increased," says Al Castignetti, general manager of Nissan North America. 

"But while traditional SUV customers are looking for improved fuel economy, they still demand a vehicle that can do all the things they need, like carrying seven people, towing, and providing the surefootedness in all conditions of a four-wheel drive," he adds. 

The new platform, which is shared with the Infiniti JX crossover, helps shed 500 pounds (227 kg) of mass compared to the outgoing model, with the FWD model tipping the scales at 4,149 pounds (1,882 kg) and 4WD version at 4,290 pounds (1,946 kg). 

Nissan states that the new Pathfinder offers a standard towing capacity of 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg).

As we anticipated, the 2013 model uses the same 3.5-liter V6 engine found in the new Infiniti JX, matched to a next-generation Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). In this application, the V6 produces 260-horsepower. 

The Pathfinder is offered in FWD and 4WD configurations, with the latter featuring ALL-MODE 4x4-i system with selectable 2WD, Auto or 4WD modes. 

Thanks to the lighter platform and the new powertrain, the 2013 Pathfinder's fuel economy has improved more than 30 percent over that of the 2012 model with the FWD version returning an EPA-estimated 20mpg city, 26mpg highway and 22mpg combined, and the 4WD model, 19mpg city, 25mpg highway and 21mpg combined. 

Nissan claims that the new model features a more upscale exterior and interior – though for some reason, the Japanese company skimped on the pictures of the dashboard that we don't get to see as a whole [Update: we found a third video that gives us a better look at the interior]. 

Inside, it's worth mentioning that the 2013 Pathfinder has room for seven passengers in three rows of seats equipped with the so-called "EZ Flex Seating System with LATCH AND GLIDE", which the company says is an industry first 2nd row tip-up seat for use with a child safety seat. 

Among other amenities offered on the new Pathfinder are the leather appointed seats, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, programmable Nissan Intelligent Key, Nissan Navigation System, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, 13-speaker Bose Premium Audio system, Satellite Radio, Dual-Zone Climate Control, RearView Monitor, remote engine start and tri-zone entertainment system. 

The 2013 Pathfinder will go on sale in the States this fall with pricing to be released closer to launch. 

View the original article here

Read More

2013 Nissan Versa Sedan

Nissan claims the 2013 Versa sedan will see a bump in highway fuel economy from 38 mpg to 40 when equipped with the CVT. The car also will once again be available with a traditional four-speed automatic, which brings the low-buck, lackluster ride’s gearbox count to three; the two self-shifters are complemented by a five-speed manual.The CVT’s 2-mpg increase in highway mileage comes from new engine and transmission programming, and improved aerodynamics by means of a new decklid spoiler and underbody ducting. We’re told that the transmission programming provides a wider ratio range, expanding on both the high and low end. City mileage for CVT models stands at 30 mpg for 2012.

The traditional four-speed auto returns to the Versa sedan’s U.S. lineup for cost purposes, according to the manufacturer. The CVT was the only automatic available for 2012, adding $2130 to the $11,770 sticker of a manual-equipped base model. Pricing for the four-speed auto–equipped Versa sedan will be available this fall, when it goes on sale—when Nissan still offered the four-speed auto in 2011, it was a $1000 option, and we expect a similar cost again. Nissan says its traditional slushbox will be good for 26 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway, while the manual is again rated at 27/36 mpg. Regardless of economy, buyers can be secure in the knowledge that they won’t have a very good car—the Versa finished a quite-distant sixth out of sixth in our most recent small-car comparo. 

View the original article here

Read More

Nissan Leaf Limousine

So many vehicles have been turned into limousines, some more sensibly than others. These stretched examples, in our opinion, were a bit over the top. It’s probably no surprise, then, that electric vehicles now are getting in on the act. Nissan, in conjunction with the Embassy Suites hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, commissioned the limo-fication of the all-electric Nissan Leaf.

During our test of a standard-wheelbase Leaf, we experienced a range of 58 miles. The builder of the stretched Leaf, Imperial Limo Land, says that it expects range to decrease by 15 percent. The drop in range is a result of the extra 400 pounds from the additional aluminum structure used to stretch the center section of the car.

That roughly 12-percent gain in weight is not offset by any changes to the powertrain. The Leaf’s 24-kWh battery remains, though it is located farther back for better balance. The hotel says that it will use the Leaf limo for journeys averaging around 10 miles round-trip. If our calculations are right, the Leaf limo might complete five trips before needing as many as 12 hours to recharge.

View the original article here

Read More

Nissan Rogue Replacement Coming in 2013

Comedian Chris Rock’s 1999 homily “No Sex in the Champagne Room” wisely observes, “Cornbread: ain’t nothing wrong with that.” The same could be said for Nissan’s compact crossover, the Rogue. As a vehicle, it’s fine. It’ll be replaced next year, with production starting in Smyrna, Tennessee. About a year later, Nissan also will start producing Rogues in South Korea—some will be shipped here to supplement the Tennessee supply. 

There isn’t a whole lot to say about the next Rogue because it’s still far off. Guided by Sir Occam, we’d guess that the next Rogue will grow just a bit in size, ride on the upcoming Sentra‘s platform, and use a four-cylinder engine that displaces about two liters.

Here’s the why for building it in South Korea: The current Rogue is built in Japan, a practice that Nissan and other automakers are trying to get away from; the Yen is pretty strong compared to the dollar, and that makes Japanese-made cars expensive to sell in the U.S. The next Rogue will be built here in the U.S., but Nissan thinks that U.S. and global demand will exceed what it can do in its Tennessee factory.

As a result, Nissan has turned to its live-in significant other, Renault—in MBA jargon, they have a manufacturing alliance, hold stakes in each other, and share a CEO. Renault bought controlling ownership in a small South Korean car manufacturer called Samsung more than a decade ago, so the Busan-based factory is available. South Korea and the U.S. have a free trade agreement that adds a relatively minimal 2.5-percent tariff to imported vehicles through 2015; after that, there’s none at all. The bottom line is that Nissan needs the space, has some in South Korea, and the costs of building the Rogue there are reasonable.

The current Rogue still is a deservedly strong seller for Nissan; we just hope the company doesn’t Versa-fy the next generation of it.

View the original article here

Read More

Nissan will split production

As it turns out, Nissan will split production of the new Rogue crossover between its Smyrna plant in Tennessee, USA, (starting from next year), and the Renault Samsung Motors factory in Busan, South Korea, (beginning in 2014). 

Analysts believe that Nissan will benefit from a weak Korean won and recent free trade deals. 

The French-Japanese firm said it will invest US$160 million (€130 million) to add 80,000 units of the Nissan Rogue production in Korea and "increase cost competitiveness of a key industrial base". The vehicles will be shipped to North America and select Asian countries. 

"Adding production in Korea shows a commitment across the Alliance to helping Renault Samsung Motors achieve its targets for cost competitiveness and growth," said Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn. 

"The Busan announcement represents a unique ‘win-win-win’ for Renault, Nissan and RSM, demonstrating the flexibility and power of the Alliance for all partners -- and I am counting on every RSM employee to contribute to the successful completion of this project," he added. 

The Busan factory has a total capacity of 300,000 units per year but is expected to build only 180,000 vehicles in 2012. 

Renault said that it aims to achieve a 10 percent market share in Korea this year, up from 7 percent in 2011.

As part of the Renault Samsung Motors (RSM) Revival Plan, the company plans to introduce a new small crossover and the zero-emission SM3 ZE in 2013. RSM’s current lineup includes the SM3 compact, the SM5 midsize sedan, the SM7 large sedan (rebadged for China as Renault Talisman) and the QM5 SUV, which is sold as the Renault Koleos outside Korea.

Update: A previous version of this story said that Nissan would build the new Rogue only in South Korea. Travis Parman, Director, Corporate Communications of Nissan North America told us that production will be split between its Smyrna plant and the Busan factory.

"The Rogue will be produced in the United States as well," explained Parman. "The South Korea production is intended to provide additional global capacity for the new model, for which we anticipate increased demand. The plans to move Nissan Rogue production to Nissan’s Smyrna, Tenn. plant in 2013 remain in place. Over the past 24 months, we’ve seen demand for the Rogue in the U.S. increase about 50 percent—from just under 100K units in 2010 to 126K in 2011, and we’re on a trajectory to pass 150K units in 2012." 

View the original article here

Read More

Nissan Says New Note Previews

If you had a hunch that the Brand new Nissan Note for world market as well as Japan and Europe would kind the bottom for a replacement to the North yankee market Versa hatchback, you will pat yourself on the rear.

The Japanese carmaker simply announced that future generation of the sub-compact Versa hatchback, which can arrive among future year, "will receive a contemporary new look that takes style cues from the new Note".

Nissan added that each the new Note and Versa are based mostly on the company's world V-platform, however observed that "the Versa can embrace options tailored to its markets in North and South America."

While Nissan will not divulge any further details till nearer to launch, the sensible cash ought to attend a rather changed version of the Note with market-specific powertrain choices.

In addition to the announcement on hatchback model Nissan said that the 2013 model year version of the Versa sedan that was launched simply last year, has been updated to realize forty miles per gallon on the highway.

The Versa series has been successful for the Nissan with the present hatchback and sedan models having sold sixty,919 units within the States from January through June 2012, beating its nearest competitors as well as the Honda match, Hyundai Accent and Ford Fiesta.  

Source

Read More