The new Nissan Murano model for next year has seen the light of day and while there aren’t any ground-breaking changes there are some nice improvements. The 2011 Murano is set to be released in mid October in the US with a later release date expected in South Africa, check back for more details when they become available.

Headlining the list of improvements for the new Nissan Murano are a number of interior goodies. Including: new center stack colours, power lumbar support for the drivers seat, rear-view monitor, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with compass and a heated steering wheel. These improvements are mostly for the SV model with the heated steering wheel being for the SL model. Regarding the in-car entertaining, the new Murano comes with an impressive audio setup, including: a Bose audi system with 9 speakers and dual subwoffers for the SL model.

The other most significant change, in what is a rather small list of changes, is the exterior styling of the Murano. Most notably the grille has been redesigned and accompanies wide front-headlights. Nissan note that the look of the new Murano has a “modern-art” feel and yet still retains a “Murano-ness”. I have no idea what that means though, other than it looks like Murano, which one would naturally expect from the next generation Murano. Still on the exterior, buyers will have one additional option regarding the exterior paint job in the form of “Graphite Blue”.

As standard the 2011 Nissan Murano comes with a VQ-Series 3.5 liter DOHC V6 which produces 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The new Murano will be available in a total of 8 models, with the addition of a SV FWD and a SV AWD. Also on the list of standard features are; Vehicle Dynamic Control and Traction Control Systems.

While there is nothing too impressive with the list of changes, the Nissan Murano is already a good vehicle, so perhaps it didn’t need that much of a change.

Source: Nissan

Nissan have released details on the upcoming X-Trail model expected to go on sale on the 16th of July 2010 in Japan, there are no details available on a local release date though. Since the X-Trail went through a model change in 2007, it has been the best selling SUV in Japan from the past 3 years. Nissan attribute this to the X-Trails many impressive features, including: Spacious luggage area, improved driving stability, off-road capability as well as a environmentally friendly clean diesel engine.

What can we expect for the next generation X-Trail model? The changes are not huge but they are all improvements. Regarding the exterior, the front end has been made sportier and bolder, with changes to the front grille, bumper and headlights. With seemingly all new vehicles these days, the new X-Trail will now come with LED lights, for improved visibility.

The interior has only a few subtle changes but a big change comes with the vehicle information display panel. This display will show the driver the current fuel consumption as well as when any upcoming maintenance date are. Nothing ground breaking but a nice addition none the less.

There have also been improvements to the engine performance as well improving the environmental impact. Another useful feature comes with a “advanced hill decent control” to assist in driving in various road conditions and depending on the incline of the hill.

Source: Nissan

The new Nissan Juke, which we revealed previously at the New York Auto show is now scheduled for release in Japan. This Compact Sports Crossover is aimed at being agile and quick, but at the same time having the toughness of a SUV. The term “Juke” is an American Football term an essentially means ‘dodge’ further reinforcing the idea that this car has an emphasis on being quick and nimble.

As with seemingly all new cars these days, there was an emphasis put on fuel economy as well as environmental impact. The Juke features well in these departments as well, with a 19km/liter fuel consumption and 75% lower emissions than the 2005 standard. Which qualifies the Juke into the environmentally friendly bracket and means that drivers are exempt from the additional tax, assuming there is such a law in your country.

The Juke is aimed at larger families who do a lot of driving around and need sufficient space for all the passengers. But still maintains the feeling of driving a quick light car and not a minivan. Coupled with the Jukes aim at being environmentally friendly and light on fuel, it should do well and find it’s place in the market competing against the Audi Q5 and BMW X1.

Source: Nissan

The Nissan Juke Sports cross has been unveiled at the New York Auto Show. The Juke joins the Murano and Rogue crossovers and will be available in the fall of 2010.

The styling influence of the Juke was taken from many areas, including motorcycles and rally cars. The engine is a 1.6 litre Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) turbo, with all wheel drive. The aim of the Juke was to create something unique, in that is is part hatch, part SUV while keeping a sportiness and sleek design.

The interior further compliments the sport styling. With motorcycle inspired features and a short-shifter gear lever to add to the sporty feel. There are many optional features, ranging from entertainment options and other luxury additions. Many of the safety features though are standard, including 6 airbags, ABS breaks and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)

The most interesting feature is the Integrated Control (I-Con). This feature allows the driver to control the climate settings as well as rotating between the various driving modes. The modes include:

Normal, for every day driving
Sport, for better performance
Eco, for maximum efficiency

The New Nissan Juke is a great all-round car and caters to a market that requires a car with both space, performance and style, without being too big or costing too much.

Pricing for the Juke starts at just under $20 000

Source: Nissan

With the 80th Geneva International Motor Show just around the corner (Starting on the 4th of March) we can expect to see a host of new information regarding many of the top car brands from around the world. As a sneak peak, here is some information from Ford, BMW and Nissan regarding what they will be show casing at the event.

BMW

The 2010 Geneva Motor Show also provides the appropriate setting for the European debut of the BMW Concept ActiveE. Based on the BMW 1 Series Coupé, this concept car comes with all-electric drive and innovative electric storage technology optimising both the range the car is able to cover as well as its supreme standard of functionality.
The BMW Concept ActiveE thus combines emission-free motoring with four seats and luggage capacity of approximately 200 litres. With its agility and driving pleasure so typical of the brand, the car offers all the electro-mobility one would expect of a trendsetter like BMW.

Nissan Juke

Designed to bring a breath of fresh air to the B-segment, where customers are uninspired by the lack of originality on offer, Juke is a distinctive combination of SUV toughness and sporting style in a compact package.

It will be the third member of Nissan’s crossover family, reinforcing the company’s position as a pioneer of this increasingly popular configuration of vehicle.

The top of the range Juke will come with a new turbocharged direct injection petrol engine, developing 140kW (190PS) and 240 Nm.

The 1.6 direct injection turbo engine is available with Nissan’s ALL-MODE 4×4-i system, updated to include torque-vectoring technology. As well splitting torque front to rear – up to a maximum of 50:50 – it can now be split from side-to-side across the rear axle too, enhancing agility and reducing understeer when cornering.

Ford

All-new C-MAX range

The all-new Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, which go on sale later this year, will provide two of Ford’s star attractions at the Geneva Motor Show, bringing new levels of style and desirability to the compact Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) market.

Ford’s C-segment MAV customers now have the choice of a 5-seat C-MAX or 7-seat Grand C-MAX, which features twin sliding doors and innovative seat design to provide outstanding space and flexibility. The interior of the 5-seat C-MAX is revealed for the first time at Geneva.

The all-new C-MAX cockpit will represent the next generation of Ford’s human machine interface (HMI) system.  Key elements of this technology are two five-way toggle switches on the steering wheel, which control two main vehicle displays: one in the instrument cluster and the second mounted in a high position in the centre console.   This simple, intuitive control system enables the driver to operate the key vehicle features while keeping both hands on the wheel, and with a minimum of distraction.

“The launch of the new C-MAX range is highly significant, and shows customers worldwide that they can expect some truly exciting designs as we roll out our new global range of medium cars,” said John Fleming, Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe.  ”The new C-MAX is just the start – with the next-generation Focus coming quickly after, we look forward to revealing more of the story in the very near future.”

Source: BMW, Ford, Nissan

Abu Dhabi, UAE (Feb. 13, 2010) – Reliable, unbreakable, affordable. The Nissan Patrol is a name synonymous with ruggedness, a legendary off-roader capable of going anywhere, anytime. Meticulously honed for over five decades, the Patrol is Nissan’s flagship large SUV model and enjoys a rich heritage particularly in the Middle East that dates back to the 1950′s. This off-road trendsetter was one of the first dedicated four-wheel-drive vehicles in the climatically demanding Middle East region, and boasts the notable distinction of also being the first vehicle to successfully cross the grueling Simpson Desert in Australia back in 1962.

Under the banner of “The Hero Comes Home” the Patrol is back as an all-new seventh generation model, building on its impressive history, but at the same time, incorporating a new platform, a radical new design direction, significantly enhanced interior comfort and luxury, powerful new V8 engines, a 7-speed automatic transmission and a new 4WD system.

“We paid special attention to the needs of current Patrol owners, and their passengers, and so focused on creating first-class levels of comfort for the whole family. Heightened luxury, a roomier cabin and a quieter ride combine to achieve this goal, while maintaining Patrol’s superior off-road heritage” stresses Hiroyuki Fushiki, project head and Segment Chief Product Specialist.

More world-firsts

Nissan designers paid special attention to the second row seat passengers by not only significantly expanding legroom, but by also fitting a new multi-screen DVD entertainment system, a first form Nissan. It boasts two rear-facing TVs; one 7-inch monitor embedded into each front seat headrest.

Fitted with six airbags for top grade, the Patrol also comes with a totally revised climate control system boasting another world-first – the curtain vent. Curtain vent has several small but highly effective vents mounted in the ceiling above each side window to blow a strong current of cool air down forming a curtain of air that acts as a barrier to heat penetrating the cabin.

Yet another impressive Patrol feature is the cool box mounted in the centre console between the front seats. Incorporating a unique double hinge design, the lid of the cool box can be opened easily from either the front or second row of seats to access the six 600ml drink bottles inside.

Source: Nissan

The current generation Skyline Sedan and Coupe, introduced in 2006 and 2007 respectively, have enjoyed a strong reputation for their sporty designs, high-quality interiors and exhilarating performance. Both Sedan and Coupe models receive a number of significant changes for the revised model, including a revised exterior for the Skyline Sedan and a refined interior, enhanced navigation system and upgraded air conditioning for both body configurations.

In addition, the model grading system has been revised to includes new, more affordable Skyline Sedan 250GT A package and Skyline Coupe 370GT A package models.

Mechanical refinements include the availability of a 7-speed automatic transmission with the 2-wheel drive Skyline Sedan equipped with the 2.5-liter V6 engine. Previously offered only with the 3.7-liter V6 engine, the 7-speed automatic provides an expanded lockup area and neutral idle control for improved fuel efficiency and smoother, seamless acceleration (versus the previous 5-speed automatic-equipped 2.5-liter Sedan).

This model achieves the “2010 standards plus 15%” target and qualifies for Japan’s preferential program for environment-friendly vehicles*1, with the acquisition tax and weight tax both reduced by half. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) is also now standard across the entire Skyline range.

Source: Nissan

With the 80th Geneva International Motor Show just around the corner (Starting on the 4th of March) we  can expect to see a host of new information regarding many of the top car brands from around the world. As a sneak peak, here is some information from Ford, BMW and Nissan regarding what they will be show casing at the event.

Nissan

Juke

Designed to bring a breath of fresh air to the B-segment, where customers are uninspired by the lack of originality on offer, Juke is a distinctive combination of SUV toughness and sporting style in a compact package.

It will be the third member of Nissan’s crossover family, reinforcing the company’s position as a pioneer of this increasingly popular configuration of vehicle.

The top of the range Juke will come with a new turbocharged direct injection petrol engine, developing 140kW (190PS) and 240 Nm.

The 1.6 direct injection turbo engine is available with Nissan’s ALL-MODE 4×4-i system, updated to include torque-vectoring technology. As well splitting torque front to rear – up to a maximum of 50:50 – it can now be split from side-to-side across the rear axle too, enhancing agility and reducing understeer when cornering.

Ford

All-new C-MAX range

The all-new Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, which go on sale later this year, will provide two of Ford’s star attractions at the Geneva Motor Show, bringing new levels of style and desirability to the compact Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) market.

Ford’s C-segment MAV customers now have the choice of a 5-seat C-MAX or 7-seat Grand C-MAX, which features twin sliding doors and innovative seat design to provide outstanding space and flexibility. The interior of the 5-seat C-MAX is revealed for the first time at Geneva.

The all-new C-MAX cockpit will represent the next generation of Ford’s human machine interface (HMI) system.  Key elements of this technology are two five-way toggle switches on the steering wheel, which control two main vehicle displays: one in the instrument cluster and the second mounted in a high position in the centre console.   This simple, intuitive control system enables the driver to operate the key vehicle features while keeping both hands on the wheel, and with a minimum of distraction.

“The launch of the new C-MAX range is highly significant, and shows customers worldwide that they can expect some truly exciting designs as we roll out our new global range of medium cars,” said John Fleming, Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe.  ”The new C-MAX is just the start – with the next-generation Focus coming quickly after, we look forward to revealing more of the story in the very near future.”

Source: BMW, Ford, Nissan

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Nov. 24, 2009) – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced the lease of an X-TRAIL Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) to Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. Nissan, which began development of fuel cell vehicle technology in 1996, has previously used FCVs in demonstration fleets in Japan and in California through the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), but this is Nissan’s first commercial FCV lease in North America. The Sacramento Coca-Cola lease is for one year, with an option for two additional years.

“Sacramento already has the beginning of a hydrogen infrastructure in place, and Sacramento Coca-Cola has a track record of utilizing low emissions cars, so the two companies share a green philosophy as well as a common love of things ‘zero’,” said Eric Noziere, vice president, Corporate Planning, NNA

The zero emissions X-TRAIL FCV is being used by the bottler for sales calls and public events in the Sacramento area in promotion of its Coca-Cola Zero® soft drink. “This is a big step in furthering our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Bob Brown, executive vice president of Sacramento Coca-Cola. “We are really excited about the promise of fuel cell technology.”

Nissan’s comprehensive fuel cell research and development program is part of a range of eco-friendly technologies – including FCVs, electric vehicles, hybrid and improved internal combustion engines – being pursued under the Nissan Green Program 2010, a plan focused on developing new technologies, products and services leading to real-world reductions in CO2 emissions, cleaner emissions and expanded recycling of resources.

The Nissan X-TRAIL FCV is based on the X-TRAIL SUV, which is available in Mexico, Japan and Europe. It is fitted with a Nissan-developed compact fuel cell stack, a compact Lithium-ion battery and a high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder. Performance is close to that of a similarly sized internal combustion engine-based vehicle. Versions of this generation X-TRAIL FCV are capable of speeds in excess of 95 miles per hour, with a cruising range of up to 300 miles.

Source: Nissan

Nissan South Africa (Nissan SA) is looking to ramp up vehicle production at its Rosslyn manufacturing plant to 45, 000 units this financial year, after falling short of meeting this target in 2008 because of the global economic crisis which had a serious impact on total industry volume (TIV). This optimistic outlook is on the strength of new opportunities that have opened up in the export market and demand for the NP200 as well as demand for the Renault Sandero which is built at the Nissan factory under the Renault Nissan Alliance.

“If you look at this financial year, I think we are one of the few manufacturers in the South African market that is actually forecasting a higher volume than we did last year because of these opportunities,” says Neil Craddock, Nissan SA’s manufacturing plant general manager, who points out that even with lower volumes of around 33, 000 last year, the company still maintained its 8% market share.

A key challenge is materials management both of overseas and local suppliers. Now that the company is sourcing from a variety of countries, and not just Japan as previously, production is often hampered by long lead times and packing configurations which are at odds with the production line’s requirements. Operational challenges closer to home also spill over into the manufacturing arena. “When it comes to local suppliers, one of the things we are really battling with is some of the suppliers’ inability to meet the delivery expectations,” explains Craddock.  Ensuring the optimum ‘cost per unit’ is an ever-present challenge. NSA is, therefore, always mindful of these cost elements and continues to strive to contain cost through cross functional activity and ongoing benchmarking.

Challenges aside, Craddock is confident that Nissan is on track to maintaining, if not exceeding, the company’s forecasted volumes for 2009 and beyond

Source: Nissan