This feed contains the latest All feed items for the NISSAN manufacturer. http://www.motortorque.com/ Copyright 2013 MotorTorque All Rights Reserved. Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss Automotive Website Framework Engine (2.9.1208.1803) The UK arm of technology giants Microsoft has taken delivery of two Nissan Leaf models. The Leafs have become the first 100 per cent electric cars to join Microsoft's staff company car scheme. Always looking for more ways to reduce its vehicle fleet carbon footprint, Microsoft UK ran competitive internal trials with other electric car manufacturers for a total of five weeks. The company's trials involved inviting 500 Microsoft UK staff members, ranging from engineers to senior directors, to try and test a variety of vehicles. Nissan's eco-friendly Leaf model made the final selection list after receiving praise from Microsoft UK's staff for its comfort, driveability and large array of standard equipment. The company has since welcomed the car to its fleet scheme by installing two 32 amp quick chargers at its Reading HQ in order to allow staff who have opted for the 'green' Leaf to charge it on-site. Alex Kureen, Microsoft UK's partner/channel marketing manager, was the first to take delivery of a Nissan Leaf. Kureen will keep the vehicle for four years and will cover around 7,000 miles per year as the Leaf becomes his environmentally-friendly commuter vehicle. Microsoft UK's car benefits manager, Katie Colledge-Price, commented: 'As you can imagine at a software company, when we announced the vehicle trial list we were overwhelmed with staff interest in an advanced piece of technology like the Nissan Leaf.' Barry Beeston, Nissan corporate sales director, was delighted with Microsoft UK's choice of 'green' car, remarking that it was pleasing to hear a company at the cutting-edge of hi-tech developments praising the Leaf and its technology. He added: 'The LEAF represents an excellent solution to cutting any company's carbon footprint as well as reducing running costs for the end user. After a positive trial process, we now look forward to providing more LEAFs as staff at Microsoft UK see the benefits of 100% electric vehicles.' Written by Glenn Doyle. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/microsoft-uk-opt-for-green-nissan-leaf-22131.aspx Glenn Doyle Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Nissan Juke nismo is easily the most driver focused model on the range. It is a different take on the traditional hot hatch - it's never going to woo you like say a Ford Fiesta ST or a Peugeot 208 GTi would, but it offers a little more practicality and plenty of fun. The Nissan Juke nismo is the first car to get the nismo treatment, the 370z nismo will be the second and after that will come the LEAF nismo. Performance Powering the Juke nismo is a 197bhp 1.6-litre DIG-T petrol engine. Our test car had a smooth shifting six-speed manual gearbox. It produces 250Nm of torque making the Juke nismo fairly lively. It will complete the zero to 62mph sprint in 7.8 seconds and has a top speed of 134mph. As we mentioned earlier this is a not an outright rival to the hot hatch brigade and is a full second slower than the Peugeot 208 GTi - you lose the outright pace, however, you get a little more practicality and a high-driving position. With 250Nm of pulling power, overtaking is never a chore, you may need to drop to fourth or third gear at times but the Juke nismo has more than enough oomph to overtake slower traffic on single lane carriageways. Ride and Handling Surprisingly the Nissan Juke nismo is pretty engaging. The steering is fairly well weighted meaning the driver gets a good level of feedback. The suspension is firm, however, it prevents the Juke from rolling through corners when driving enthusiastically. The Juke nismo is agile when tackling twisty B roads but the sports suspension is not harsh enough to make your fillings fall out, like in the cases of some hot hatch rivals. Comfort and Practicality Nissan Juke nismo comfort levels are high. You can hear the turbo engine kick in when the Juke nismo is pushed, however, all-in-all refinement levels are good. Road, tyre and wind noise are fairly well suppressed. Up front the driving position is good, the seat has a good amount of lumbar support while enhanced sides on the standard sports seats hold you in well when cornering hard. The Nissan Juke nismo has a load space of 251 litres with the seats in place but fold them flat and this expands to 830 litres making the Juke nismo much more practical than its rivals. Running costs Nissan Juke nismo prices start from £20,395, while our test car had nismo Storm White metallic paint at £700 taking the price up to £21,095. Compare that to the current crop of hot hatches including the Peugeot 208 GTi at £18,895 and the Ford Fiesta ST from £16,995 and the Juke is starting to look a little expensive. The Nissan Juke nismo has a claimed average economy of 40.9mpg so expect mid thirties in real world driving. It emits 159g/km of CO2 putting it in band G. That means it will cost you £175 annually on road tax. Based on the regular Juke, the nismo version has a few more design cues to make it more eye-catching along with additional equipment. So what do you get for your money? This nismo version adds 18-inch nismo alloys, nismo aero package including front and rear bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler, nismo front grille, signature red door mirrors and detail line, nismo badges located on the front and rear and a single sports exhaust finisher. Standard equipment highlights include Nissan Connect, colour reversing camera, Bluetooth, Nissan Dynamic Control System, LED daytime running lights, six airbags, climate control with pollen filter, heated front seats and remote central locking. Summary It's different, that's what you'll come away thinking. The Nissan Juke nismo offers a good level of practicality mixed with decent levels of performance. Leftfield it is, hot hatch it's not. http://www.motortorque.com/nissan-juke-hatchback-(2010-on)-nismo-16-dig-t-nismo-5dr-car-review-22121.aspx Simon McBride Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT To advertise its new Connect technology, Nissan has lined the walls of the London underground with a 360 degree advertisement of its Juke crossover. The public has already gazed upon Volkswagen's AR campaign and its 3D app functionality, but Nissan is going for something a bit more atmospheric. The new Nissan Juke advertisement features in the walkway to the Bakerloo and Victoria lines inside Oxford Circus station on the London Underground. By wrapping the ceiling, floor and walls, spectators get the feeling that they are walking on a roof top with the Nissan Juke soaring above. The new advert is expected to catch the eye of around 2.7 million passengers over the next two weeks. This advertisement is specifically focused on promoting the new Nissan Connect Technology. Nissan Connect Technology gives drivers the ability to plan a journey via any device and send it remotely to their car. The tag line for the new technology is 'Turn every drive into a ride with Google Send-to-Car technology'. Guillaume Masurel, Marketing Director at Nissan Motor (GB) said: "This campaign will create a brief moment of exhilaration for commuters by physically placing them at the heart of an all-encompassing, dramatic set-up. It also pays homage to a commitment at Nissan that we reflect products, such as Nissan Connect, through innovative and engaging marketing.' The new Nissan Connect Technology is available on the Nissan Juke n-tec, priced from £16,295. Check out our review of the Nissan Juke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZPgrYAR1Ow http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/nissan-juke-goes-down-under-22051.aspx Richard Bush Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Nissan has taken the wraps off the Friend-ME concept car at the Shanghai motor show. The concept is a four-seat model and if you look close enough it will give you hints of future designs from the Japanese maker. The Friend-ME concept is likely to contain some design cues that we are likely to see on next generation Nissan Murano and Qashqai models. Taiji Toyota, Vice President of Nissan Design China, said "We call our solution Distilled Da Qi. Da Qi is about casting an aura, about standing out, but at the same time going with the flow, fitting in. It's a question of balance, and we've worked to refine it right down to the essence. The result adds an entirely new and youthful dimension to the sedan category." Featuring short overhangs, the Friend-ME concept has a low wide stance emphasising the sporty look of the Friend-ME concept. The design's flows from the 'V-motion' shaped grille and streams through the bonnet and shoulder lines while the headlamps and rear combination lamps are accentuated by its unique boomerang-shaped lighting signature. Under the bonnet the Friend-ME concept is powered by an efficient PureDrive hybrid powertrain. "If there's one thing we want Nissan to be known for, it's uniquely powerful insight into what excites and delights customers across China," said Bancon. "Friend-ME is just the beginning." http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/nissan-unveils-friend-me-concept-car-22032.aspx Simon McBride Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Read more about the Nissan Micra The Nissan Micra is one of the most unusual superminis on sale, with a 'bubble-esque' exterior design that evokes somewhat of a love/hate relationship between car enthusiasts. Even though Nissan has toned the design of the Micra down, it still presents itself as one of the most stand-out models in the supermini segment. With models like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa occupying the market, the Nissan Micra is not short of competition. However, on paper the Nissan Micra seems to offer a lot of the key criteria of a winning supermini. So, is its strange exterior design enough to keep away buyers? We take the Nissan Micra out on the road in our latest review. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4NNzZhjrpk http://www.motortorque.com/videos/new-car-reviews/nissan-micra-review-and-road-test-2013-21932.aspx New Car Reviews Richard Bush Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Nissan's gadget-laden, design-focused new Juke model, the 'n-tec', hits our shores with an on-the-road price starting from £16,295. The Juke n-tec model has been created to deliver even more style and upgraded equipment levels than the standard Juke vehicle. One of the major highlights is the Nissan Connect infotainment system that features remote connectivity as standard. The new Juke n-tec is based on the Nissan's existing Juke Acenta Premium model, with the body riding on bold 18-inch black and silver n-tec alloy wheels for a striking new look. The focus of the new car is, however, on the interior and more specifically, on the Juke's advanced range of in-car technology. The centre stage is taken by the new generation Nissan Connect system, fitted as standard on all Juke n-tec models. The system is controlled via a large 5.8-inch colour touchscreen and integrates the Juke's satellite navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones and MP3 players. The Juke n-tec also features advanced route planning software, known as Google Send-To-Car technology allowing owners of the vehicle to plan and send their route from a smartphone or laptop to their car before leaving their house. As well as being convenient, the Google Send-To-Car technology is designed to make driving safer, as it removes the temptation to plot a route when on the move. Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan has also enhanced the navigation system interface by introducing a new 'exit view' display with lane guidance. There's also an economy readout that 'scores' the driver according to how economically they are driving. The smoother and more efficient they drive, the higher the score will be. All Juke n-tec variants come with Nissan Dynamic Control System, allowing the driver of the vehicle to select preferred driving dynamic modes. Other functions include climate control settings via the touchscreen. Nissan is expecting the n-tec to be the best-selling model in the Juke line-up and is offering the vehicle to be available across all engine and powertrain combinations. Customers will be able to choose from three engines, one diesel and two petrol versions, with the optional of Nissan's ALL-MODE 4x4i intelligent four-wheel drive, as well as the company's XTRONIC M-CVT transmission - when ordered with the advanced 187bhp 1.6-litre DIG-T engine. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/nissan-add-n-tec-trim-to-juke-21884.aspx Glenn Doyle Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT With a longer range, more practicality, better to drive and even more equipment - the new Nissan LEAF has arrived at the Geneva Motor Show 2013. Since launching in 2011, more than 50,000 units of the vehicle have been sold to happy customers nationwide. Although production of the world's best selling pure electric vehicle has been built solely in Japan, production of the new model will soon commence at Nissan's Sunderland production facility - with more than 100 changes being made to the multi-award winning car. Some of the improvements that have been made to the new version of the LEAF include an extended driving range, greater recyclability, more interior space, better charging performance, more equipment and, with three versions now available, great choice for potential customers. Many of the changes have come as a direct result of feedback from pioneering Nissan LEAF owners, as well as feedback from aggregated data from the unique Carwings telematics system that is at the heart of the vehicle. Paul Willcox, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan Europe, commented: 'LEAF owners are passionate about their cars and their comments and experiences have genuinely influenced many of the changes we have made to New LEAF.' Our MotorTorque video team are currently at the Geneva Motor Show, reporting back on all of the cars and concepts from the week. You can watch our day two round-up video below. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/geneva-motor-show---nissan-leaf-21576.aspx Glenn Doyle Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Signalling the start of a wave of bold new models from Nissan, the all-new Note for Europe made its world debut at this year's Geneva International Motor Show. The new Sunderland-built Nissan Note is now a true B-segment contender that will redefine customer expectations, with a dynamic design and advanced premium technology. The new vehicle fully utilises Nissan's innovative approach to design and engineering, whilst building on the strengths and values of its well received predecessor. Benefitting from extensive European development and tailored for European buyers, the new Note has been designed to perfectly meet the wants and demands of the small car customers of today. Additionally, the new Note embeds the latest version of the Nissan Connect navigation system, including all its connected services, to provide potential customers with the ultimate driving experience whilst not ostracising them from the outside world. The Chief Marketing Manager for Nissan in Europe, Geraldine Ingham, explains: 'The New Note fulfils a really important role in our line-up, combining really smart design with technology that has never been offered in the B-segment before.' Ingham further added: 'We've used design and engineering innovation to make premium technologies accessible and affordable.' The prices and specifications for Nissan's new vehicle will be unveiled closer to the new Note's European on-sale date in the autumn of this year. Our MotorTorque video team are currently at the Geneva Motor Show, reporting back on all of the cars and concepts from the week. You can watch our day two round-up video below. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/geneva-motor-show---nissan-note-21574.aspx Glenn Doyle Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT The new Nissan Leaf will arrive in mid-2013, and comes with an extended range alongside other impressive technical improvements. The electric car's range has been boosted from 109 miles to 124 miles, while the car's optional 6.6Kw charger reduces charging time from eight hours to four through a 32 amp supply. Improvements to the range have been made thanks to a new heat pump, which helps to reduce electrical consumption in cold weather. The charger has been repositioned under the bonnet which helps improve luggage space in the boot to an incredible 370 litres - an improvement of 40 litres. Driving pleasure and handling has been improved, according to Nissan, thanks to an entirely re-engineered chassis developed for the European market. Aerodynamic efficiency has also been improved which helps increase the car's range. The new Leaf line-up now consists of three trims: Visia, Acenta and Tekna. The new Leaf and its batteries will be produced at the Nissan Sunderland plant in spring. "By sourcing Nissan Leaf and its batteries in Europe, we are underlining our faith not just in the ability of the Sunderland facility to build our most technically advanced car, but also in the fact that electric vehicles can be considered a genuine alternative to conventionally powered vehicles," says Paul Willcox, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan Europe. "In its two years on sale, the global success of Nissan Leaf has shown that electric vehicles offer viable everyday transport for people with a typical daily commute. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e0t_kQoG-I http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/new-longer-range-nissan-leaf-in-production-21445.aspx Ant Bradshaw Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Nissan has announced a new Nismo version of its GT-R, which will join the Juke and 370Z in the Nismo range. Nissan says the car will be the ultimate GT-R for the road, and say it would be "unthinkable" to leave the GT-R out of the Nismo family. The GT-R Nismo will be the third production car released with the Nismo badge, and promises incredible performance paired with immense style and flair. The GT-R Nismo is already in development, and will sit at the top of the Nismo range when released thanks to its high performance and drastically-improved high-speed stability. "It would be unthinkable for us to develop a range of Nismo road cars without including the GT-R," said Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn. "The standard road car is a global supercar and the GT-R's performance on track reflects the passion and talents of the Nismo team. The GT-R Nismo will be special and I can't wait to drive it." "We know that enthusiasts around the world will be itching to know more about the forthcoming GT-R Nismo," adds Shoichi Miyatani, president of Nismo. "It's too preliminary to share any details yet, but fans can be certain we'll be applying all of our motorsport expertise to creating a GT-R Nismo worthy of the name." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWuIosB-pqA http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/high-performance-nissan-nismo-gt-r-revealed-21429.aspx Ant Bradshaw Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT