Autoblog Green

Nissan releases official sketch of NV200-based electric commercial vehicle

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST

Nissan Light Commercial Electric Vehicle sketch - Click above to enlarge

Nissan has electricity on the brain. The Japanese automaker is readying its opening salvo in the alternative propulsion wars in the form of the Leaf compact hatchback. Carlos Ghosn, though, announced at the Tokyo Motor Show that there would be plenty more to come, including an unknown Infiniti model, something like the unique leaning Land Glider concept and an electric version of the NV200 light commercial van that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show.

Naturally, there needs to be some sort of differentiation between the standard-fare NV200 and its battery-powered sibling, and Nissan has just released the first official sketch of that new electric commercial vehicle. As you can see from the above image, the vehicle will take plenty of inspiration from the Leaf, including the steeply-raked windshield, flowing headlamps, front-located plug receptacle and general bottom-feeder shape.

No real details besides the sketch have so far been provided, but you're more than welcome to click past the break to read the sparsely-worded press release.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan releases official sketch of NV200-based electric commercial vehicle

Nissan releases official sketch of NV200-based electric commercial vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Auto Show Design Challenge entrants reveal Youthmobile 2030 designs

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., EV/Plug-in, Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, LA Auto Show, Green Daily

Mazda Souga Concept from LA Design Challenge 2009 - Click above for high-res image gallery

This year's iteration of the annual Design Challenge at the LA Auto Show asks the question: How will a new generation of drivers age 16-23 - raised with cell phones, web cams and online communities - emotionally connect to the automobile in 2030? We don't know the answer either, but at least six designers from some of the world's top automakers decided to give it a go with their own ideas. if you thought the Aptera was futuristic, check these out.

First up are the eSpira and eOra from Audi, which are controlled by thought and by the minutest adjustments to the pilot's body. Next we have the General Motors Car Hero... yes, the name is borrowed from the popular Guitar Hero line of games and the car, as you might imagine, "turns driving into gaming." What happens when the inevitable "Game Over" comes at the end? Moving along, we come to the Honda Helix, a shape-shifting vehicle that borrows actual DNA from its owner. Yuck, we don't want to be a car, we want to drive a car.

Which brings us to the Mazda Souga, easily our favorite out of this crop of concepts. This vision for the future would have each owner design his own car for the low price of $2,000 while paying an additional monthly usage fee that also covers the price of electricity to power the Souga.

Nissan's vision for the future includes cars that get their power from an electrically-charged roadway called the GRID, and the vowel-challenged V2G UNLMTD is quickly hacked into an OFF-GRID transportation device by the next breed of young hackers. Lastly, we have the Toyota Link. According to Toyota, future college students will have nearly no income and will rely on mass transit vehicles like the Link that allow them to interact via their various social networks on their daily commutes. Sounds boring to us, but what do we know?

Be sure to check out all six designs in our high-res image gallery below and hit the jump for the official press release.

[Source: LA Design Challenge]

Continue reading LA Auto Show Design Challenge entrants reveal Youthmobile 2030 designs

LA Auto Show Design Challenge entrants reveal Youthmobile 2030 designs originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Leaf heading south of the border to Mexico City

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, South/Latin America

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

The latest addition to the ever growing list of regions signing up to support the Nissan-Renault alliance and its electric vehicle plans is Mexico City. The Mexican capital has reached an agreement with the Franco-Japanese automotive group that will see it be the first area in Latin America to get Nissan's upcoming dedicated electric car.

Due to a combination of its large, dense population and geography, Mexico City has similar pollution problems to the Los Angeles basin. The compact LEAF will be introduced in Mexico City in 2011 ahead of its general retail availability the following year. Through its Mexico City Government Green Plan, the city and, presumably, the federal government will be promoting a transition to electric vehicles, through a variety of incentives. At this rate, Nissan may be able to hit its half million EV target just selling cars to government agencies around the world.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan Leaf heading south of the border to Mexico City

Nissan Leaf heading south of the border to Mexico City originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan working on Tata Nano-like cheap car strategy

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Nissan, Asia, China, India

India's Tata Nano has seemingly shown the world's remaining automakers that it's possible to build a small, inexpensive car for emerging markets that's still profitable. You can reportedly count Nissan among the car makers that are paying attention and the Japanese automaker has plans to launch a new small car platform in Thailand, India and China starting in March of 2010.

The new platform is called V (as in Versatile), and it's been in development since 2005. According to drive.com.au, the car will sport 18-percent fewer parts than current Nissan compacts and as many components as possible will be sourced from local areas.

Crucial to the success of the program is a massive number of sales - a whopping one million vehicles per year by 2013, which would represent nearly a third of all Nissan's sold in the last three months. To make that goal a reality, sales in Europe and the United States are also planned, possibly as early as 2011.

[Source: drive.com.au]

REPORT: Nissan working on Tata Nano-like cheap car strategy originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan ready to make 500,000 batteries a year when demand is there

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

You certainly can't argue with Carlos Ghosn's commitment to battery-powered vehicles. No one else in the auto industry has placed such a huge bet on plug-in vehicles. Renault has committed to four different battery-powered vehicles in the next few years, and Nissan has committed to three and possibly a fourth. Building so many EVs will require an awful lot of advanced batteries and Ghosn has been lining up the necessary financing to build battery plants in the United States and Europe in addition to Japan.

Speaking in China this week, Ghosn told reporters that his company has lined up the necessary resources to build up to half a million batteries a year if demand warrants it. Regardless of what one thinks of the merits of plug-in vehicles, Ghosn is no fool and won't actually start building the capacity for the batteries until the sales volumes justify it. To make that happen, Ghosn says Renault and Nissan will only sell EVs in regions where there are government incentives, recognizing that large numbers of people will not buy until the cars are cost competitive up front.

[Source: Reuters]

Nissan ready to make 500,000 batteries a year when demand is there originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan announces Leaf EV tour dates

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan is continuing its "leadership on EVs" plans with an upcoming North American tour of the Nissan Leaf. The all-electric vehicle will make its debut on these shores in L.A. in about three weeks, on November 13. From there, the Leaf will head to the north, east and south hitting 22 cities in 11 states and the District of Columbia - and Vancouver, BC - by Valentine's Day, 2010. At each stop, Nissan will offer "interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students" a chance "to learn more about the Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving." See the complete schedule after the jump.

If Nissan wants to have the broadest impact in promoting EVs, we recommend that these tour stops include test drives. Let people get behind the wheel - the way Mitsubishi did with the i MiEV in New Zealand - and let the public experience the EV grin for themselves.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan announces Leaf EV tour dates

Nissan announces Leaf EV tour dates originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan's Ghosn rules out hybrid-only models like Toyota Prius, Honda Insight

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:48:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Nissan

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Quick, think of a hybrid automobile. Got it? Are you thinking of the Toyota Prius? Pretty much everyone instantly recognizes the well-known profile of the Prius, and it's by far the most popular fuel miser on the market. A good bit of Toyota's success with the Prius has been attributed to its unique look - some owners want everyone to know that they care about their environmental footprint, and the Prius currently accomplishes that better than any of its competitors.

Honda followed a similar path with the second-generation Insight hatchback, which some believe follows the form of the Prius a little too closely. According to Nissan head Carlos Ghosn, though, there's no chance that Japan's number three automaker will join that club. Speaking to Automotive News at the Tokyo Motor Show, Ghosn said:

We are not intending to play a leadership role in hybrids. One company already assumed leadership in the technology. We want leadership on EVs.

Obviously, the company that leads in hybrids is Toyota, and Nissan's intention is to score a similar position in the world of pure electric automobiles. The opening salvo on that front will be the upcoming Nissan Leaf, which is slated to hit the market about a year from now, and the company has ambitious plans for its following act. We'll know if Ghosn's plan is successful or not, oh, about five years from now. Stay tuned.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Nissan's Ghosn rules out hybrid-only models like Toyota Prius, Honda Insight originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Nissan Fuga hybrid arrives in Japan fall 2010, to U.S. in 2011

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:39:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Infiniti, Nissan, Tokyo Motor Show

2010 Nissan Fuga Hybrid - click above for high-res image gallery

After several years of selling small volumes of its Altima sedan using Toyota's hybrid drive system, Nissan is finally ready to roll out its first gas-electric model using technology developed in-house. The first model to be so equipped will be the new Fuga sedan, a car sold in North America as the Infiniti M.

Unlike the electronic CVT systems used by Toyota, Ford and General Motors, Nissan has opted to configure their system using a conventional automatic transmission - in this case, a seven-speed unit. The electric drive is provided by a single motor sandwiched between the engine and the transmission. A pair of electronically controlled clutches sit on either side of the motor allowing the engine or the engine/motor combination to be completely de-coupled from the transmission.

According to Nissan, the motor has an output of 50 kW (67 horsepower) and 270 Nm (200 pound-feet) of torque and the system is able to propel the Fuga/M electrically at speeds of up 62 mph. The engine is a 3.5-liter version of Nissan's renowned VQ V6 modified to run with an Atkinson cycle for greater efficiency.

Koichi Hayasaki, senior manager of Nissan's hybrid program tells us that the final numbers on the engine output as well as the net combined output won't be released until sometime in 2010. As is the way these days, energy storage needs are handled by a lithium ion battery pack using the same kind of modules that are going into the LEAF EV.

The Infiniti M hybrid is expected to arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2011 as a 2012 model.

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Tokyo 2009: Nissan Fuga hybrid arrives in Japan fall 2010, to U.S. in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Nissan confirms three EVs for production, including Infiniti

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:20:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Tokyo Motor Show

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're here at the Tokyo Motor Show, where CEO Carlos Ghosn has just confirmed that Nissan, Renault's Japanese alliance partner, will boast a lineup of at least three electric vehicles in the next few years - and a fourth vehicle is also possible. We already know about the Leaf hatchback (above) that was unveiled back in August. In addition, Nissan will build an electric version of the NV200 light commercial van that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. For the first time, Ghosn also confirmed that Infiniti will get a compact four-passenger sedan powered only by batteries.

No other information was available on this car, but Ghosn did say that it would be unveiled in the near future. In all likelihood, the Infiniti will be based on the Leaf platform that is designed for purely electric drive. The fourth model that is being considered for production is the Land Glider concept that was shown publicly for the first time here this morning.

Tokyo 2009: Nissan confirms three EVs for production, including Infiniti originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan already working on next-gen battery tech

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Though the Nissan Leaf has yet to even sniff a dealer's lot anywhere in the world, the automaker's Chief, Carlos Ghosn, says his company is already hard at work on the electric car's next-gen battery technology. Not surprisingly, the goals are to make the pack smaller, lighter and less expensive than the current lithium ion unit that will allow a 100-mile range. So far, there's no word on what type of chemistry Nissan is exploring.

Of course, all this research and development into high-tech batteries doesn't come cheap, and Nissan is planning to recoup some of that cost by offering its proprietary lithium ion battery technology to other automakers. Soon, the Japanese company will be able to produce 200,000 batteries per year at its dedicated plant in Smyrna, TN.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Nissan already working on next-gen battery tech originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan Land Glider could come to the States as an Infiniti

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, On Two Wheels, Tokyo Motor Show, Green Daily

Nissan Land Glider Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Concept cars tend to push the boundaries of what is and isn't possible with a four-wheeled vehicle. Such is the case with the Nissan Land Glider, which is going on display this week at the Tokyo Motor Show. Usually, such far-out-there concepts make the auto show circuit before being abandoned somewhere in the corner of a dark, dingy warehouse, but perhaps not this one.

The machine is sort of a cross between a motorcycle and a car, with an enclosed cabin and four wheels along with a glass canopy and rider compartment that leans into turns for added stability - which is of utmost importance in a car that measures just 47-inches across.

According to Automotive News (sub. req'd), there are some inside the Japanese automaker that suggest the fully electric car could slot into the company's upmarket Infiniti lineup, possibly even making it to the United States. If that happens, the Land Glider may be a single-seater, as the concept's single rear passenger perch may not make it through safety testing.

We'd be pretty surprised to see a production Infiniti Land Glider that keeps the concept's unique layout, but it certainly wouldn't be the only strange-looking eco-friendly automobile to hit the market. We'll see.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Nissan Land Glider could come to the States as an Infiniti originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan Leaf coming to Vancouver in 2011

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:47:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, North America

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for hi-res image gallery

Nissan has named five areas in the U.S. - Tennessee and Oregon; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona - to be the first to get the Leaf all-electric vehicle when the car goes on sale in late 2010. A report in the Globe and Mail says that Vancouver will be the first Canadian city where the Leaf will be available. Nissan apparently said that the EV will come to British Columbia in 2011.

The Vancouver area has a long history of advancign fuel cell technologies, thanks to local company Ballard. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson told the paper that the Leaf agreement means the city is a little bit closer to its goal of "becoming the world's greenest city." Guess all of those plug-in-ready parking lots will see some use, after all. Thanks to Dan and Vince for the tips.

[Source: Globe and Mail]

REPORT: Nissan Leaf coming to Vancouver in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti confirms production of 2012 M35 Hybrid

AutoblogGreen Staff — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Infiniti, Nissan, Tokyo Motor Show

2010 Nissan Fuga/Infiniti M35 Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Looks like Infiniti is getting more serious about taking on Lexus. Back in August we saw the M get "virtually revealed" at Pebble Beach. We've also been following the tale of the upcoming JDM-only new Nissan Fuga, a car which is virtually identical to Infiniti's M. Then of course Inside Line dropped the M-bomb when they published pics of both the M56 and M37x after their secret pre-production test drive. Meaning we know there's going to be a 400+ hp 5.6-liter V8 M56, a VQ-engined M37 (with around 330 hp - as much or more than the V8 in the outgoing M45 makes) and M37x (x = AWD). There's also a diesel M aimed at Europe. But today we learn there is another.

Specifically, there will be a M35 Hybrid. This will be the first hybrid Infiniti and it's aimed squarely at the slow-selling Lexus GS400h. Infiniti claims that the hybrid parts will "add to" and not "take away from" the driving experience. As such, there's a Nissan-developed single motor and a twin clutch hooked up to the same output shaft as the engine. This should result in an uninterrupted power flow to the transmission no matter which mode the hybrid system is in. There's also a "laminated" lithium-ion battery that not only stores twice as much power as nickel-metal hydride units, but cools more quickly because of the "lamination." Look for the M35 Hybrid to hit dealers around this time next year as a 2012 model, and a full reveal of the car later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show. And now, where's the new Q?

[Source: Nissan]

Infiniti confirms production of 2012 M35 Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009 Preview: Nissan unveils Land Glider concept [w/VIDEO]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Tokyo Motor Show, Green Daily

Nissan Land Glider Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan is pulling out all the zero emission stops at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. In addition to the expected Leaf electric vehicle, the Japanese automaker will also be showing off a new concept called the Land Glider. Intended to be an urban runabout, the two-seat Land Glider is fully electric and is extremely narrow to ease congestion in dense city centers and make it easier to find suitable parking spots.

Inside the cockpit, the Land Glider's pilot sits front and center behind a suitably futuristic instrument cluster and a steering wheel that looks like twin joysticks. According to Nissan, the steering operations are computer controlled through a drive-by-wire arrangement, so there doesn't seem to be a direct connection between the steering wheel and the car's four contact patches.

Perhaps the most interesting bit Nissan is pioneering in the Land Glider is the ability to lean into turns like a motorcycle. While this isn't an entirely new concept, it's a first for Nissan and the technology seems to be very well implemented in the Land Glider, as can be seen in the video pasted after the break.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Tokyo 2009 Preview: Nissan unveils Land Glider concept [w/VIDEO]

Tokyo 2009 Preview: Nissan unveils Land Glider concept [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan robot car concept avoids accidents by mimicking fishes

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Nissan, Green Daily, Japan

Nissan Eporo Robot Cars - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan sleeps with the fishes? Well, no... not exactly. But we'd guess someone in Nissan's Japanese think tank must watch a little too much Discovery Channel. We've all seen those amazing videos where unspeakably large schools of fish travel huge distances without anyone or anything to guide them. Somehow, it's all very organized and the fish don't seem to have any problems with traffic jams - which is more than we can say for us bipedal earth-goers. Apparently, Nissan has noticed the same thing.

Using two laser range finders mounted so that it has a 288-degree field of vision, Nissan's new Eporo robot cars can travel along at speeds of 1.4 km/h (less than one mile per hour), constantly changing direction as needed to maintain a safe distance from one another. The Japanese automaker suggests that such "Safety Shield" technology could eventually be applied to cars and trucks to help prevent accidents and traffic jams.

In addition to the obvious benefits of reduced roadway congestion and travel times, Nissan also points to the reduction in fuel usage, pollution and carbon emissions as potential results of its efforts. The new technology will be shown off at the CREATEC event next week in Japan. Click past the break for the press release.

Continue reading Nissan robot car concept avoids accidents by mimicking fishes

Nissan robot car concept avoids accidents by mimicking fishes originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eTec's $99.8m DOE contract gives more details on how Nissan will roll-out the Leaf

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for hi-res image gallery

Nissan will work with the Arizona-based Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. to build the charging network that will be important for rolling out the Leaf electric vehicle. We knew that Nissan and eTec will work to install 2,500 EV charging stations in(and bring 5,000 Leafs to) Tennessee, Oregon, San Diego, Seattle and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona. Yesterday, eTec signed a $99.8 million contract with the U.S. DOE that details that eTec will put in 10,950 Level 2 (220-volt) chargers and 260 Level 3 (440-volt) fast-chargers in those areas. The signing marked the official start of "The EV Project," Nissan and eTec's name for their roll-out. Green Car Advisor says The EV Project will be "the biggest deployment of electric vehicles -- and creation of the largest charging infrastructure -- ever undertaken."

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

eTec's $99.8m DOE contract gives more details on how Nissan will roll-out the Leaf originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan prices 2010 Altima hybrid at $26,780

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Nissan

Nissan North America has announced that the 2010 Altima hybrid, which goes on sale October 5th (Monday), will have an MSRP of $26,780. The tweaked, fourth-generation Altima uses a 2.5L four-cylinder electronically-controlled CVT engine and puts out 198 hp. The new Altima hybrid has an estimated EPA rating of 35 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

These numbers aren't much different from the 2009 Altima hybrid, which had an MSRP of $26,650 and a 2.5L I4 engine that put out 158 HP. The 2009 model had identical fuel economy ratings of 35/33 city/hwy mpg.

The exterior of the new Altima looks a bit different than the older version with a restyled hood, grille and front bumper. The wheels are also new, as are the interior fabric and finishers. One way to push the $26,780 price up a bit is to add Nissan's Hard Drive Navigation System that has a 6.5-inch VGA color touch-screen display and all sorts of audio system upgrades.

[Source: Nissan North America]

Continue reading Nissan prices 2010 Altima hybrid at $26,780

Nissan prices 2010 Altima hybrid at $26,780 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially, official: Nissan Leaf reservations start in the spring; 20,000 predicted by end of 2010

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for hi-res image gallery

Nissan has made it official: pre-orders for the Leaf electric car will start in spring 2010. The company said that, "Nearly 22,000 people in North America have contacted Nissan since the company unveiled the car in August." Nissan's Carlos Tavares, head of Nissan's operations in North, Central and South America, said the company is hoping that all this initial interest will translate into sales and is expecting of have "at least 20,000 reservations for Nissan LEAF by the time we deliver the world's first mass-market zero-emission car in late 2010."

To prepare the market, Nissan will offer people who sign-up for the Leaf - either to buy or to just be alerted when a test drive is available - information on how to become "plug-in ready." The first markets for the Leaf in the U.S. include Tennessee and Oregon; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona. Nissan said that 70 percent of the people who have contacted them for more information about the Leaf live in one of these regions and they seem to be exactly the kinds of drivers that would get the most use and fewest hassles from an EV. 90 percent say they drive less than 100 miles a day and 75 percent live in a two-car household. The Leaf will kick-off a U.S. promo tour in November. Nissan got a DOE loan in June to build plug-in cars in the U.S. starting in late 2012.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Officially, official: Nissan Leaf reservations start in the spring; 20,000 predicted by end of 2010

Officially, official: Nissan Leaf reservations start in the spring; 20,000 predicted by end of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan drops sketches of next-gen global compact

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Nissan

New Nissan Global Compact - click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan has just sent out the first sketch of its next-generation B-segment compact. The new car will be available globally starting next March in Thailand and then spreading to over 150 countries. The new car should be replacing the Micra in Europe and elsewhere.

In Thailand, the new model will be the first to qualify on the local "Eco-Car" rules. Nissan hasn't made any announcements about bringing the little car to the U.S. market, where it would slot in below the Versa. The company may be waiting to gauge the success of new models like the Ford Fiesta before proceeding. It's also possible we will see an announcement about U.S. availability during the upcoming auto show season.

Gallery: New Nissan Global Compact sketches

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan drops sketches of next-gen global compact

Nissan drops sketches of next-gen global compact originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan expecting 20,000 initial orders for Leaf EV

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:49:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily, USA

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for hi-res image gallery

Starting next spring, Nissan plans to begin taking orders of its upcoming Leaf electric vehicle. By the time the first car is ready to be delivered to a paying customer in the fall, the Japanese automaker expects to have taken some 20,000 initial reservations - well over the 5,000 Leafs Nissan has committed to lease in 2010. In other words, if you really want one, you may want to consider getting your order in early.

Nissan will launch the Leaf next year in the states of Tennessee and Oregon, along with San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona. Each of those five locations has pledged to install 2,500 electric vehicle charging stations in expectation of a thousand or so new electric Leafs roaming their streets.

For the first two years or so, Nissan plans to import all U.S.-bound Leafs from Japan. By 2012, the automaker plans to have completed a $2 billion investment into its factory in Smyrna, TN that will allow for the production of 150,000 electric vehicles and 200,000 lithium ion batteries per year. This will be funded, in part, by the DOE loan Nissan was awarded in June.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Nissan expecting 20,000 initial orders for Leaf EV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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