Nissan Frontier: Mountain Ride

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Top 10 Nissan Stories from 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, we thought it would be nice to have a look back at some of the biggest, brightest moments from Nissan in 2011. Following are some of our favorite moments, in no particular order.

1- Nissan Rebuilds, Perseveres

The March disaster in Japan was like none other. The event claimed over 24,000 lives and threated the safety and livelihoods of millions of people in Japan. Today, Nissan factories and dealerships are back on-line through the overwhelming team response to the crisis. While the impact of that day in March will be felt for years, Nissan can look back on its staff's heroic response to the greatest natural disaster in Japanese history and know its people stood tall. 

2- Nissan LEAF Named World Car of the Year

At the New York International Auto Show, the 100-percent electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF was named 2011 World Car of the Year, edging out the BMW 5-Series and the Audi A8 for the top spot. The award was the latest in a string of accolades for the world’s first affordable mass-market, all-electric vehicle for the global market, which was also named European Car of the Year.

3- “Gas-Powered Everything” Ad Campaign Wins

A series of Nissan LEAF commercials titled “Gas Powered Everything” is on AdWeek’s list of 10 Best Commercials for 2011.

4- Nissan LEAF Turns One

As the Nissan LEAF™ turned one-year old, electricity had a celebration. In a special commercial created for the occasion, we journey in and out of a home to all different types of electrical sockets singing away to wish the first and only mass produced electric car a very happy first birthday.

5- Power 88 Outlines Nissan’s Growth Plans

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., announced a wide-ranging, six-year business plan that will accelerate the company's growth across new markets and segments. "Nissan Power 88 is the roadmap for our company's profitable growth," said Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn. "We will accelerate our growth, bringing more innovation and excitement to our products and services as well as cleaner, more affordable cars for everyone around the world, in line with the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century."

6- Nissan NV200 Taxi Named Taxi of Tomorrow
New York is “hailing” a new era of urban mobility, as the city with the nation’s largest taxi fleet selected Nissan to design and supply the next-generation “Taxi of Tomorrow.” The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) selected the Nissan NV200 as the exclusive taxi of New York City beginning in late 2013. The award comes after a rigorous selection process that occurred over more than two years.

7- GT-R Wins Worlds Biggest Drag Race

Eleven of the world’s most desirable cars lined up side-by-side. Legendary marques and iconic nameplates – Porsche 911, Corvette Z06, Ford Mustang Boss 302, Ferrari 458 Italia and Audi R8 GT, to name just a few – assembled by the editors of Motor Trend for an informal, bragging rights-only drag race as a sidebar to its 2011 Best Driver’s Car award, announced on motortrend.com today, and cover story for the November issue of Motor Trend magazine. Eleven cars, one shot, one winner: the legendary Nissan GT-R.

8- ESFLOW Debuts in Geneva

It looks like a sports car, handles like a sports car and performs like one too. But ESFLOW is different than every other sports car yet built: It's electric. Using technology pioneered in the award-winning Nissan LEAF, the EV concept shows that driving can still be as much fun tomorrow as it is today.

9- LA is not Just for Movie Stars

Nissan presented world debuts of three dramatic new vehicles during a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show – the 2011 Nissan Quest Minivan, the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet and the Nissan Ellure Concept. “Innovation is Nissan’s core belief and it has driven us to create some of the most iconic cars on the road,” said Carlos Tavares.

10- Record Sales, and 2012 Looks Very Bright

In December, 2011, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) reported record November U.S. sales of 85,182 units versus 71,366 units a year earlier, an increase of 19.4 percent. Nissan Division sales also set a new November record, increasing 21.5 percent for the month to 76,754 units. “Strong gains across our lineup extended Nissan’s record-breaking October into our best-ever November,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Sales. “We expect to finish 2011 on a high note with vehicles like Altima, Versa, Sentra and Rogue leading Nissan to a strong close in December and into an even better 2012.”

 

**  Courtesy of Nissan USA Newsroom

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Nissan Americas Hosts First-Ever Energy and Sustainability Summit

Leading companies see a competitive advantage in pursuing energy management and sustainability strategies. Myriad reasons drive these efforts, including support for the bottom line, protection against energy risks and a desire to position a company’s operations and practices to stand behind energy-efficient product offerings.

Most corporations also see a benefit to collaboration and sharing best practices in an effort to adapt strategies as shareholder and world expectations change.

The Nissan Americas team recently took steps to share its best practices in the area of energy management and sustainability, and to learn from colleagues, during the first-ever Nissan Americas Energy and Sustainability summit in Franklin, Tenn., from Dec. 13 to 15.

A special emphasis was placed throughout the three days of presentations on establishing contacts and networks... both within the Americas region... and with the attending “best in class” companies, including Coca-Cola, Ingersoll Rand , Alcoa and Kimberly-Clark.

The Americas Energy and Sustainability Summit was also an opportunity to share details of Nissan’s U.S. ENERGY STAR tools and program knowledge across the Americas region and among the international partners in attendance.

With events like this first Energy and Sustainability Summit, the vision for a zero-emission society in the future looks very bright indeed.

 

**  Courtesy of Nissan Newsroom

Nissan Cube, Juke and Leaf Named as IIHS Top Safety Picks

The list of winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award is longer than ever this year, with vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earning accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models.

In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn Top Safety Pick. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute evaluations. The ratings, which cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes, help shoppers pick vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection. Because the federal government now requires all 2012 and later passenger vehicles to have electronic stability control to help drivers avoid loss-of-control crashes, ESC no longer is a requirement to win as it was in prior years.

The winners' circle includes 18 new recipients for 2012, while 97 models that previously qualified for the 2011 award carry over to 2012.

"For the second year running a record number of models qualify," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "It's tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority."

That commitment to protecting people in crashes is evident in the fast pace of design improvements automakers have made during the past year. Initially 66 vehicles qualified for last year's award as less-than-perfect rollover ratings held back many contenders. Later the number climbed to 100 as manufacturers redesigned roofs to make them stronger or introduced new models to win. The Institute's rolling test schedule allows for recognition of additional winners throughout the year, so many 2012 models qualified for a 2011 Top Safety Pick.

Again this year every major automaker has at least one winner. Subaru remains the only manufacturer with the distinction of earning awards for every model it builds. Subaru picks up 5 awards, including one for the redesigned Impreza, a small car.

About the award: The Institute awarded the first Top Safety Pick to 2006 models and then raised the bar the next year by requiring good rear test results and ESC as either standard or optional equipment. In 2010, the Institute toughened criteria by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test to assess protection in a rollover crash.

The Institute groups winners according to vehicle type and size. Lund advises consumers to keep in mind that size and weight influence crashworthiness. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford better occupant protection in serious crashes than smaller, lighter ones. Even with a Top Safety Pick, a small car isn't as crashworthy as a bigger one.

How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2 instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a 5th percentile woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a displacement rate of 0.2 inch per second. To earn a good rating for rollover protection, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a 2-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man.

Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.

2012 Winners include:

Nissan Cube
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf

 

**  Courtesy of IIHS News

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Nissan JUKE-R Video - Shakedown and Testing

Zero-Emission Vehicles from Renault-Nissan Alliance Win Industry’s top Prizes

• Nissan LEAF becomes 2012 Japan Car of the Year, adding to accolades including 2011 World Car of the Year and 2011 European Car of the Year.
• Renault Kangoo Z.E. is 2012 International Van of the Year – the first time that an electric vehicle has received the award.
• Prizes represent a “clean sweep” for Renault-Nissan, consumers and the planet

Zero-emission vehicles from the Renault-Nissan Alliance have won the auto industry’s top accolades two years in a row, beating dozens of conventionally powered cars and vans competing for the prestigious titles.

On Saturday during a ceremony at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, the Nissan LEAF became Japan's Car of the Year -- the first time a zero-emission car has won the prestigious award. Last month, the Nissan LEAF won the 2012 Car of the Year award from RJC, a panel of Japan's top automotive researchers and journalists. And earlier this year, the Nissan LEAF became the 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car of the Year -- in all cases scoring more points than competitors powered by a single, non-renewable fuel source.

On Nov. 25, the Renault Kangoo Z.E. became the first electric vehicle to be named International Van of the Year. Thanks to a floor-mounted battery, the Kangoo Z.E. delivers the same load capacity and spaciousness of the internal-combustion Kangoo – and the former can be charged with purely renewable energy for greatly reduced carbon emissions.

“These awards to both Renault and Nissan represent a ‘clean sweep’ for zero-emission vehicles and a milestone for consumers and the environment,” said Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Zero-emission vehicles can clearly be competitive alternatives to conventional ones -- whether you use them as delivery vans or everyday commuter cars.”

Zero-emission vehicles radically redefine “normal”
The awards come from objective, independent automotive critics and industry reporters who rigorously cross-tested Renault and Nissan’s first-generation EVs against some of the most established internal-combustion vehicles in the industry.

After testing the Renault Kangoo Z.E. and the Nissan LEAF, jurors were impressed with the vehicles’ torque, responsiveness and fun-to-drive simplicity. They also enjoyed the intuitive user interface and commented about how “normal” the vehicles felt, despite state-of-the-art powertrains that consume no petroleum whatsoever.

The Nissan LEAF “feels just like a normal car, only quieter,” said jurors when Nissan beat 39 conventional cars to become the World Car of the Year. The 66 judges were senior automotive journalists from 24 countries.

A separate panel of jurors echoed the sentiment on Thursday in naming the Renault Kangoo Z.E. the International Van of the Year. They emphasized the price of the Kangoo Z.E., which starts at at €20,000 excluding VAT in Europe (before incentive). The battery leases for €72 excluding VAT a month for 36 months and 10,000 km.

“Renault brings the electric van within the reach of the normal European van user, thereby delivering a major contribution to environmental sustainability, one of the most important issues of the transport of goods by road nowadays,” jury chairman Pieter Wieman said at the 14th International Trailer Show in Belgium.

Built in Maubeuge, France, Kangoo Z.E. offers the flexible configuration options of its internal-combustion cousin, the Kangoo. Both can be ordered in load volumes ranging from 3 m3 to 4.6 m3.

Renault received a commitment last month from 19 French companies to buy more than 15,000 Kangoo Z.E.s. French postal service La Poste ordered 10,000 – the biggest single EV order ever.

Renault-Nissan establishes zero-emission leadership
The Renault-Nissan Alliance aims to produce 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2016 and remain the leader in zero-emission technology. The Alliance has begun rolling out a family of electric vehicles, starting with the Nissan LEAF.

The Nissan LEAF was launched in December 2010 and has become the world’s most popular electric vehicle. Nissan has delivered more than 20,000 LEAFs worldwide. The five-passenger LEAF is on sale in Japan, USA and Western Europe.

The Kangoo Z.E. is the first EV from Renault, which within the next year will also also launch the Fluence Z.E. family sedan, the Twizy urban two-seat commuter vehicle, and the ZOE subcompact.

All EVs from the Renault-Nissan Alliance store energy in a lithium-ion battery that meets or exceeds all environmental and safety standards wherever they are sold. The vehicles can be “topped off” whenever drivers want to plug in, or they can be fully recharged overnight from the convenience of the driver's home, garage or parking deck.

 

**  Courtesy of Nissan U.S. Media Newsroom

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Nissan LEAF Wins Car of the Year Japan 2011-2012

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is proud to announce that its 100% electric Nissan LEAF has won the Car of the Year Japan 2011-2012 award.

The Car of the Year Japan 2011-2012 winner was announced at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show*1 venue. This is the 32nd year that the Car of the Year Japan awards has been held, and it is the first time in its long history that an electric vehicle has won this prestigious award.

Nissan LEAF is a zero-emission vehicle that emits no CO2 while it is being driven. With optimally-placed lithium-ion batteries, a high-performance electric motor as well as advanced control technologies, Nissan LEAF achieves strong and smooth acceleration performance, excellent quietness, outstanding riding comfort and superb handling stability. Comfortable and fun driving is enhanced by a dedicated on-board IT system that can be accessed by remote control via mobile phones. Nissan LEAF will also be able to supply electricity to houses via its high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. The Nissan LEAF offers new mobility value as the world shifts toward a sustainable zero-emission society, not only as a means of transportation, but also as an element of social infrastructure on account of its ability to store electricity.

"We have sold 20,000 Nissan LEAFs and also delivered on our promise of affordable, zero-emission mobility on a global scale. This award is as much a win for Nissan as it is for our customers," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "All these accolades show that zero-emission vehicles can clearly be competitive alternatives to conventional ones."

Nissan LEAF was also named the 2012 RJC Car of the Year award winner, presented by the Automotive Researchers' & Journalists' Conference of Japan, in addition to winning the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame's 2011-2012 Car of the Year, the 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car of the Year accolades. The Car of the Year Japan honor is another recognition of the Nissan LEAF's value and attractiveness that has received high praise from customers around the world.

 

**  Courtesy of Nissan U.S. Media Newsroom