Nissan Armada Platinum 2011

For 2011 the Nissan Armada is available in SV, SL, and Platinum trims. The SL and Nissan Armada Platinum Editions feature upgraded wheels and exterior trim, as well as Intelligent Key? And leather seat trim.

The Nissan Armada SV replaces the previous Armada SE, and the Armada SL replaces the previous Titanium model.



The Nissan Armada Platinum model continues unchanged. All three models are offered in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. Armada’s expressive exterior design combines modern styling with traditional Nissan SUV ruggedness. Nissan Armada also features two-piece body-color side moldings with chrome insert strips on SL and Platinum models, along with SL and Platinum badges on the respective models.



The front bucket seats feature 8-way power adjustment and a manual lumbar support, while a 4-way power-adjustable passenger seat is standard on SL and Platinum models (4-way manual on SV models). Nissan Armada SV models include a flat-fold front passenger seat with recessed work area. Heated front seats, heated steering wheel and Platinum logo embroidered front seats are offered on Platinum models. The 2nd row offers a fold flat 40/20/40 split bench seat while the elevated 3rd row 60/40-split folding bench seat (folds flat into floor) includes a standard power-folding feature (optional on SV 4x2).



Luxurious Seton leather-appointed seating is standard on Nissan Armada SL and Platinum Editions, with cloth seating on Armada SV. Every 2011 Nissan Armada also offers up to 14 upholders and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Nissan Armada offers a 9,000-pound maximum towing capacity for SL and Platinum 4WD and 8,200 for 2WD models (when properly equipped).



Three wheel and tire packages are offered, depending on model: Nissan Armada a SV features 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels (painted finish) with P265/70R18 Conti-Track tires on SV models; 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels (painted finish) with P275/60R20 Michelin tires are offered on SL Edition; and the Platinum features



20-inch chrome-clad aluminum-alloy wheels with P275/60R20 Michelin tires.

In addition to the long list of standard equipment offered on the Nissan Armada SV, the SL model includes Nissan Intelligent Key, leather-appointed seating, Rearview Monitor, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, premium Bose audio system with 11 speakers, power folding 3rd row 60/40-split seat, auto-leveling rear air suspension and 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.



The Nissan Armada Platinum model adds heated front seats and steering wheel, power rear lift gate, moon roof, DVD Family Entertainment System and Nissan Navigation system with XM NavTraffic system with Real-Time Traffic Information (XM subscription required, sold separately) and 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive. The Driver Package (Armada SV 4x2 only) features Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, fog lights, Rearview Monitor, premium Bose audio system, XM Satellite Radio (XM subscription required, sold separately) and power-operated 3rd row seat.



The 2011 Nissan Armada offers rugged construction and a strong engine, but a lackluster interior means that it doesn’t standout in the class.

On paper, the Nissan Armada seems like a good choice for an Affordable Large SUV. Check. Check. Check. Available luxury features? Check. So, given what it looks like on paper, why don’t car reviewers like the Nissan Armada?

For 2011, Nissan has updated the available trims on the Armada. The former SE trim is now the SV, and the Armada SL replaces the Nissan Armada Titanium.

2012 Nissan Juke

2012 Nissan Juke-Each is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. SV and SL have a standard sunroof, keyless access/engine start, and automatic climate control. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a rearview camera are SL-exclusive standard features.



Nissan's five-seat Juke small crossover is about 20 inches shorter than the Rogue, the previous smallest crossover in the automaker's lineup, but it packs a more powerful engine and a sophisticated available all-wheel-drive system that together give the Nissan Juke a decidedly sporty bearing.



Exterior features include:

17-inch aluminum wheels

Interior

Interior features include:

Standard CD stereo with steering-wheel controls and iPod connectivity

Standard Bluetooth connectivity

Available automatic air conditioning

Available leather upholstery

Available heated front seats

Available backup camera

Available push-button start

Available moon roof

Available navigation system with a 5-inch touch-screen



Available performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system can evenly split engine torque between the front and rear wheels, and also transfer torque between the rear wheels

Should you wait for the 2012 Nissan Juke or buy a 2011 Nissan Juke? Buy the 2011 Juke if you want to catch the subcompact urban crossover wave while it’s fresh. The 2012 Nissan Juke won’t change appearance for its second year on the market.



The 2012 Nissan Juke will continue to share some design influence with the larger Nissan Rogue compact-class crossover. Nissan may add to the 2012 Nissan Juke lineup a fourth model called the Krum edition. Every 2012 Nissan Juke model will continue available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). The CVT should remain the sole transmission for AWD Nissan Juke and for all S models. Since Nissan Juke is an urban vehicle and not a trail-basher it uses a basic AWD system that normally operates in front-wheel drive but automatically shuttles power front-to-rear if the front tires slip. Normal suits everyday driving. Front-wheel-drive Nissan Juke will continue with a torsion-bar rear suspension and AWD versions an independent rear suspension.



Features: The 2012 Nissan Juke will remain targeted at a younger audience -- buyers early in their career climb, for example. Among returning standard features on the 2012 Nissan Juke will be Bluetooth hands-free cell-phone connectivity, driver-information and outside-temperature displays, and steering-wheel mounted Bluetooth and audio controls. Remote keyless entry should also remain standard on all Nissan Juke, with push-button start and satellite radio standard on SV and SL models.



Every 2012 Nissan Juke will again include cruise control and power door locks, mirrors, and windows. Also likely to remain standard on 2012 Nissan Juke SL models and optional on SUVs is a navigation system.

2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet Review

The 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is a new convertible variant of Nissan's popular SUV. So as far as convertibles are concerned, the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is quite practical.

Given TTAC’s reputation for lack of restraint when it comes to criticism, I was more than a little surprised to see an invite to the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet launch in San Diego, California. Especially considering that our initial reaction to images of the world’s first soft-top CUV was



Which leads to a problem: how do you define successful designs for convertible crossovers? Nissan explains that the goal of this car isn’t simply to sell a huge number of convertibles: it’s actually intended as a halo for the Murano line.



Otherwise, new front seats have been fitted to give more visibility from the rear seat, and the interior has been worked over considerably.



Luckily the rising beltline keeps rear passengers well-cocooned, and the fresh air is not unpleasantly buffeting (although the rear belts will batter against the seats at speed).

Well, for the surprising amount of sense the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet makes as a value-poseur-mobile, Murano halo or four-up cabrio, on the road the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet falls apart under the weight of its many contradictions.



In that world, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet would not exist, as large, softly-sprung convertible sedans would be able to seat four adults with the top down.

The 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is a two-door convertible variant of the regular Murano crossover SUV. Inside, it gets automatic dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a rearview camera, an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar adjustment, driver seat memory functions, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a heated and power-operated tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and an auto-dimming mirror.



The "2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet" is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) are standard. Unlike the regular Murano, which takes regular gas, the "Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet" requires premium.



The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, pop-up roll bars, front seat side airbags and door-mounted curtain-style side airbags. Convertibles are not supposed to be spacious. Otherwise, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet shares its cabin with a fully loaded regular Murano.



Come winter time, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet will show it's up to wintry tasks with its all-wheel drive. You'll be laughing at the meteorologist when you settle into the CrossCabriolet's standard heated leather seats.



With soft-top in place, the CrossCabriolet's profile looks similar to the Murano crossover. Because the front passenger seat easily flips forward, we made it a rule that the kids always entered the car from the passenger side. Like most convertibles, the CrossCabriolet's trunk is relatively small. Low-clearance items like duffel bags, suitcases and groceries in plastic bags could easily squat under the soft-top's housing. I averaged 18.3 mpg during my test drive, and with the top up I inched up the average to 18.5 mpg.



Because it's the top trim level, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet comes with standard heated seats, dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth connectivity.

I appreciated the CrossCabriolet's high side walls; they came up to nose-height or higher on my kids. To find out how the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet did in MotherProof.com's Car Seat Check,

2011 Nissan 370Z Nismo - Test Drive

 A lot has happened since Datsun turned the sports car world on its ear with the 1970 240Z. This stylish, attractively priced and capable two-seat coupe packing a sweet straight-six under its long bonnet was a Jaguar E-Type for the masses, and a great success.

In the early eighties, Nissan ditched the Datsun nameplate, the Z-car grew soft and bloated, found some of its former glory in 1984 with the 300ZX, left North America in 1996, then returned with a vengeance in 2003 with the 350Z.















For 2009, Nissan gave us an all-new Z that stuck even closer to the original script. It was lighter, lower, wider, and with a wheelbase shortened by 100 mm, it packed 332 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. from its 3.7-litre V6.


And now, another Z milestone: Canada gets the Nismo for

2011. Developed by Nissan Motorsports (NISMO) in conjunction with partner Autech Japan, this is the first Nismo to migrate north of the 49th Parallel, having been available in the U.S. since 2007. It arrives in six-speed-manual-only guise with a price tag of $46,898 – a $6,000 hit over the standard issue 370Z.
So what is a Nismo? For those hip to the Nissan 370Z Coupe’s brand of tough-guy/sophisticate performance, this hyper version delivers more of the same. It’s loud, raucous, looks super nasty and dishes out rear-drive sport car thrills by the bucket full.
That said, if you are at all interested in, oh, maybe relaxing for a moment behind the wheel while enjoying GT cruise mode, the Nismo is probably not for you. This sports car demands your attention at all times. Looking for the Nismo’s feminine side is an exercise in futility.
Distinguishing Nismo visuals include a rear deck spoiler, sill extensions, reworked rear fascia and an aggressive snout that adds 16.5 centimetres to the Z’s length. A word of caution – that chin-spoiler sits perilously close to the pavement.
The lightweight forged 19-inch alloys (wearing 245/40R front and 285/35R rear performance tires) allow a nice view of the Nismo Sport Brakes featuring 14.0-inch front and 13.8-inch rear vented discs squeezed respectively by four-piston and two-piston aluminum calipers.

My tester was finished in Nismo-exclusive Airstream Silver, and yes, it was a head-turner. At $135, the metallic paint was the only option here. Other available shades are Hakone White, Magnetic Black, Solid Red and Gun Metallic.
This is the most powerful production Z ever offered, getting a version of Nissan’s ubiquitous 3.7-litre DOHC V6 that makes 350 hp and 276 lb.-ft. (up 18 hp and eight lb.-ft.). The power increase comes from a freer-flowing exhaust system and reprogrammed engine management.
Rounding out the Nismo-specific kit is a specially tuned suspension with stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. A rear limited-slip differential comes standard.
The cabin gets grippy and supportive two-tone fabric seats (eight-way driver, four-way passenger), a leather wrapped wheel, automatic climate control, four-speaker audio with aux input (no USB) and cruise control. A stylistic nod to the original 240Z is a trio of dashtop gauges for temp, oil, battery and clock. The LED information readout to the left of the speedo mars an otherwise well done interior, looking like an incongruous afterthought.Source : Autos.ca

2011 Nissan Sentra Overviews

In SE-R and SE-R Spec.V trim, the Nissan Sentra gets a slightly dressier appearance that some might prefer, however. The front-wheel-drive 2011 Nissan Sentra comes with three different engines, and manual or continuously variable (CVT) transmissions, along with suspension tuning that's very different between trims. So the Nissan Sentra spans several quite different personalities. The sporty SE-R trim brings a larger 2.5-liter engine making 177 hp, matched only to the CVT. Compared to most other models of its size and price, the 2011 Nissan Sentra has a delightful level of refinement. Side and side-curtain bags remain standard as well. The Nissan Sentra has a mix of good and mediocre safety ratings, however.

The audio system offered on both top models includes a color display screen with USB interface. Intelligent Key keyless entry and start is among other extras, and full leather seating is available on the SE-R models.

For 2011, Nissan gave the Nissan Sentra standard stability control, traction control and antilock brakes, which make the Nissan Sentra much more class competitive when it comes to safety features.The "2011 Nissan Sentra" will meet most car shoppers’ needs. Other Cars to Consider

Despite its good qualities, the Nissan Sentra is not the best car in the class; there are a number of affordable small cars the trump the Nissan Sentra when it comes to performance, interior features, fuel economy and price.The 2011 Nissan Sentra is available in six trims: the 2.0, 2.0 S, 2.0 SR, 2.0 SL, SE-R and SE-R Spec V.

The 2011 Nissan Sentra sees only minor updates. Nissan also offers the SE-R and SE-R Spec V trim levels for those seeking bigger thrills. Under the hood, the "Nissan Sentra" is pretty competitive. The high-performance SE-R model offers 177 hp from a larger 2.5-liter engine, while the SE-R Spec V takes this engine's output right up to 200 hp.

Overall, the 2011 Nissan Sentra is worth considering for the right price. The 2011 Nissan Sentra is offered in six different trim levels: four variants based on the 2.0-liter engine (base, S, SR and SL) and two high-performance versions (SE-R and SE-R Spec V).

The Nissan Sentra 2.0 S adds 16-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver seat, cruise control, keyless entry and a six-speaker audio system with an iPod interface.
Nissan Sentra 2.0 models come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 140 hp and 147 pound-feet torque. The 2.0 Sentra base model features a six-speed manual transmission standard, with an option to upgrade to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT comes standard on the 2.0 S, 2.0 SR, 2.0 SL and SE-R, with the SE-R offering shift paddles. The 2.0 Sentra models with CVT are notably frugal, achieving an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city/34 mpg highway and 30 mpg in combined driving; the manual transmission drops fuel economy noticeably to 24/31/27 mpg.

The 2011 Nissan Sentra comes standard with antilock brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. The higher-performing SE-R models come with four-wheel disc brakes, while the others have rear drums.Four stars were given for rear-seat side-impact protection. The Sentra 2.0 models offer 60/40-split rear seating and 13.1 cubic feet of cargo room.

Nissan Juke is a new model for 2011

2011 Nissan Juke Review

The Nissan Juke is part SUV, but its main competitors are affordable small cars. Choose the Volkswagen GTI if you want better performance, more cargo room and classy exterior styling. Choose the Cooper if you want a car with a unique exterior, but think the Juke looks over the top. With a $17,965 base price, it’s cheaper than the Nissan Juke, GTI and Cooper.

The Nissan Juke also competes against the Scion xB, Kia Soul and Nissan Cube, three box cars that have unique exteriors, adequate performance and decent fuel economy. While the Juke isn’t the most practical on the market, it does offer one very practical feature: all wheel drive.

The Nissan Juke is a new model for 2011.Under the skin, the 2011 Nissan Juke packs a few surprises. The Juke also boasts a sport-tuned suspension, quick steering and an available torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system that combine to provide entertaining handling.

The Juke's underlying structure is related to Nissan's other small cars, the Nissan Cube and Nissan Versa. Young drivers (or young at heart) should find a lot to like in the 2011 Nissan Juke.
The 2011 Nissan Juke is a four-door hatchback available in three trim levels: base S, well-equipped SV and leather-lined SL.

The SV adds a sunroof, rear privacy glass, keyless ignition/entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, upgraded upholstery, satellite radio, automatic climate control and the Integrated Control (I-Con) system. The SV can be had with those options as well as a Navigation package (navigation system plus the upgraded audio system). The SL likewise offers the Sport, Chrome and Interior Illumination packages.

Every 2011 Nissan Juke is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 engine that sends 188 hp and 177 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. In Edmunds testing, a front-wheel-drive Juke with the CVT went from zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, an impressively quick time for this class of car. The Juke's standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the Juke stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet, an average distance for a small car.

The all-new 2011 Nissan Juke is as fun to drive as any other small, sporty car in the market. The Juke isn't for everybody. Actually, it's not for anyone with kids in rear-facing car seats, which just don't fit in the backseat. All-wheel drive, which is tough to find on smaller vehicles, is available on the Juke.

My test car, a top-of-the-line Juke SL with all-wheel drive, cost $25,860. The Nissan Juke has a 188-horsepower, turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. On the SV and SL trims with front-wheel drive, a manual transmission is standard. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Juke, and all-wheel drive is optional. The all-wheel-drive Juke gets an EPA-estimated 25/30 mpg city/highway. The front-wheel-drive Juke with a CVT gets 27/32 mpg; with a manual transmission, it gets 24/31 mpg. The Nissan Juke uses premium fuel.

2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster Reviews

2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster
The standard equipment levels are available on 370Z and includes a button to start the engine with Nissan’s Intelligent Key, 18-inch wheels, cast aluminum, sports brakes and a viscous limited-slip differential. Designed Grip Provides a Yokohama Advan Sport tires of different sizes front and rear.

The Roadster model is offered in two versions: 2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster priced at $37,520 and 370Z Touring Roadster priced at $41,070.
The roadster sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 155 mph (limited).

Nissan Europe has unveiled today a new gallery of images featuring the 2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster .
With convertible top in the closed position, the design provides a sophisticated sloped-back appearance, the perfect balance between the soft top and the Z body design.

The automatic latch system secures the top to – or releases it from – the windshield header without driver intervention. The Z® Roadster features an aluminum hood, door panels and trunk for reduced weight. The 2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster is offered in seven exterior colors: Solid Red, Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Pearl White, Monterey Blue and Black Cherry.

The Z Roadster features high back black woven “Carbon” cloth seats with 8-way manual driver’s/4-way manual passenger’s seat adjustments. Touring models include unique leather-appointed seats with 4-way power/4-way manual operation on the driver’s seat (4-way power on the passenger’s seat). Standard interior comfort and convenience features include Nissan Intelligent Key™ with Push Button Ignition, power windows with one-touch auto up/down feature, power door locks with auto-lock feature and a center console box with a non-intrusive cover design.

The navigation system offers a number of enhancements (versus previous Nissan Navigation System designs), including four times higher screen resolution, Bluetooth Streaming Audio, on-board Zagat Survey restaurant ratings database, an in-dash DVD player and XM NavWeather weather information display (XM subscription required, sold separately).

The 2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster interior is available in Black cloth or for 370Z Touring Roadster models, a choice of Gray, Black or Wine leather-appointed A/C and heated ventilated seats.
Large ventilated discs can be found front and rear – 355mm (14.0 inch) at the front and 350mm (13.8 inch) behind – framed by four piston aluminium callipers at the front and twin piston callipers behind.

The GT Pack versions add heated and ventilated leather/suede seats, a premium BOSE sound system, cruise control and 19-inch forged alloy wheels.

2011 Nissan 370Z Sport Review - CARS REVIEWS 2011

Pros:

Great improvement over the successful 350Z
Nice body lines, Rays wheels are icing on the cake
Powerful motor with great sound
GTR influence

Cons:

Manual transmission not as slick as the competition
No lumbar support or telescoping steering wheel
Either less weight or more power and this could be an exotic challenger for a fraction of the cost

41 years ago Nissan (Datsun in the US) launched the 240Z onto our shores and turned the sports car market on its head. Here was a light, nimble, reliable, value oriented sports coupe for two which had decent cargo capacity. I had the pleasure of owning and wrenching on various Z cars through the 300ZX and still found the 240Z to be the purist of them all. Only when Nissan introduced the 350Z in 2003 did it appear that they had something of real value that could match their original Z sports car.

2011 Nissan 370Z

Just like the Porsche 911, Nissan has raised the level of performance and comfort through the years while paying tribute to its Spartan roots. Sure Porsche got a big head start (approximately 6 years), but Nissan has paid close attention to the formula which Porsche, and Chevrolet with the Corvette, have successfully followed through the years. Now the latest incarnation of the Z has brought this car very close to the level of its big brother GTR, but falls short in a few areas we will discuss later. Address these issues and keep the sticker under $40k, and except for some small back seats, the Z could overtake the GTR. Sound like the Cayman-911 argument? déjà-vu.

Design

From the early days of the 240-Z through the 300ZX years, Z cars were influenced by everything from the likes of Jaguar, Chevrolet, Ferrari and even Lotus; a Japanese version of these cars if you will. With the 350Z, Nissan took its La Jolla California design studio concept and brought it to production, and it was an instant hit. This sixth generation 370Z has improved the concept further by building out the fender flares and sharing design cues from the GTR, which share the same E platform as the current Infiniti G Coupe, FX, and Renault Alpine. It’s wider than the 350Z (read grip), and shorter than the previous Z (read quicker turning.)

Nissan 370Z 19-inch 5-spoke RAYS® super-lightweight forged alloy wheels

The exterior fender flares results in a menacing look without being portrayed as a silly phallic symbol. When traffic approaches from the rear side, eyes will be pinned on the fenders and the beautiful Rays wheels our test car was equipped with. From all angles, the Z looks like it means business. The front bumper has GTR influences and also looks equally menacing on approach, so much so that mothers with small children quickly gathered the tykes as we rolled down neighborhood streets. It makes a statement like no other car with an under $30k base price. Our test car had an unusual Black Cherry paint finish, but the 370Z really looks best in bright silver.

Drive Impressions
This is the truest version of the 370Z; the base car with the Sport Package ($3000), adding limited slip, 19” Rays Wheels, front and rear spoilers, and larger front brakes. Along with this comes a $580 add on for the matching Nismo brake pads. The finely tuned 3.7L engine makes 332 hp and launches the Z down the road with one of the best sounds from a V6 engine, powerful and smooth.  Acceleration is pretty fierce and the amount of grip with the 275’s out back is serious. We turned off the traction control and the Z felt planted in the twisties, with plenty of torque to pull it up the most aggressive mountain roads with ease.
We mentioned that the 370Z has a shorter wheelbase than the 350Z, resulting is a faster turning car, but with that you get more jounce in the ride, especially over rough surfaces. Luckily, Nissan did a great job tuning the non-sport mode suspension to be fairly compliant, saving our brains on long freeway drives.

The Z’s manual transmission is probably the weak point of the whole car, not the ratios but the long throws of the shifter and clutch. This becomes most apparent when trying to go fast. We loved the sport mode, which stiffened the suspension, created more top end power from the motor, and activated the SynchroRev Match®, but this still didn’t address the throws of the transmission. We would suggest a dual clutch semi automatic transmission similar to the GTR, as that will shift faster than 99% of the humans out there. The wheels and tires were great, but Nissan could probably widen them another inch and still clear the fenders.
Nissan is at a point where the 370Z is getting eerily close to the flagship GTR in performance and looks. In fact, the 370Z tends to be more noticeable due to its aggressive fenders, beautiful wheels, and low stance. If they added 90 hp to the motor and AWD, it would be an R8 or Gallardo contender for less than $45k. Nissan has the platform, but a 370Z set up this way might obviate the need to produce the Skyline, or at least to carry it in this country. Sorry GTR fans, but 600 lbs is 600 lbs.

Comfort and Convenience
Just like the exterior, the interior is all business; no navigation, no XM radio, no power seats, not even leather; all of this kept our test car below a 3300 pound curb weight. Just a simple black interior with gray accents, along with tasteful brushed aluminum weaved into the scheme. The gauges are a combination of analog and digital, and strike a balance that makes immediate sense to the uninitiated, with the center dash being the traditional clock, oil temp and volt meter. Interior fit and finish is very good and up to the level of Nissan’s best. Materials and appearance are great; they didn’t try to get all fancy, so everything looks like it belongs.
Although the seating is low and comfortable, the Z could accommodate more drivers with a telescoping wheel, manually adjustable seat bolsters and a lumbar support. Most of our test drivers liked the eight way manually adjustable driver’s seat once they spent a little time making those adjustments. Owners of the 370Z learn to travel light. There is a tray (to place a small bag) and a compartment behind each seat, which expands storage beyond the rear area under the hatchback. There is only one cup holder, two bottle holders in the door panels, and no sunglass compartment at ceiling level; again all business.


This Z is more aggressive in exterior design than its predecessor and this becomes apparent when you have to go into reverse or change lanes, as rearward vision is somewhat limited; better than a Gallardo or R8, but still limited. It helped to open the window when backing into parking slots. The 2011 370Z claims to have more fender well and undercar insulation than the 2010 370Z, but the optional sport package tires still brought in a lot of road noise at freeway speeds. The car could also benefit from wind tunnel testing with the windows down, at speeds above 25 mph there is a distinct buffeting flutter when the windows are rolled down.
At Home on the Road or at the Track
The 370Z is probably one of the most purposeful 2 seat sports coupes made today. It can be driven calmly as a daily driver and can double as a canyon or track attack vehicle. It has aggressive lines that make an instant statement (almost exotic) when you pull up in front of your friends. Nissan makes no difference in output between their base and touring models (save Nismo with 20 more HP), so out of the box the engine propels the car to 60 in under 5 seconds. Overall mileage was about 19 MPG; keep in mind there was a lot of pedal to the metal during the weekend test.

Yes there are other practical 2+2 sports coupes available for less than $35k, like the American Pony Cars or Hyundai Genesis, but if you are looking for a purpose built two seat coupe you can live with every day, this is the one. The closest competitors are the Corvette and Cayman, but these move you $10k higher without the striking looks. This is an excellent value for a performance ride, just make sure you test both the manual and automatic transmissions before buying. Nissan is really pushing their 370Z slogan; Passionate Performance at an Excellent Value. It’s 1970 all over again, just in a Z that’s 2X faster and 5X more comfortable than the original Datsun.

	BUILD	INTERIOR	PERFORMANCE	HANDLING	STYLING	VALUE	OVERALL
RATING	4.25	4.25	4.75	4.5	4.75	4.5	4.5 / A-

 Source : Carreview.com

Automakers Forecasted to Lead the United States Market in 2011

 

General Motors wants to be the plug-in leader with the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid with 40 miles of electric range and 500 miles per gasoline fill-up range. Chevrolet will deliver over 10,000 in 2011. GM has a complete Voltec Propulsion System roadmap that envisions added offerings of pure battery-electric, E85, and diesel. The second plug-in offering from GM is likely to be a Chevrolet Crossover SUV. Look for a range versus cost battle with Toyota, as the Volt achieves more electric range by adding to vehicle cost with a 16kWh battery.
Nissan will be the first automaker to put over 10,000 pure battery-electric cars on U.S. highways. 20,000 have made deposits for Nissan Leaf and several cities are in major partnerships. The LEAF can be purchased starting at $32,780 or $349 per month. The Nissan LEAF is battery-electric with a 100-mile range per charge. LEAF Test drive. This 5-door, 5-seat, hatchback has the right size and range for many who drive under 100 miles daily, or for households with more than one car.

Ford will be selling at least two electric cars by the end of 2011 and five models by the end of 2012. The best seller will be the Ford Focus Electric, a battery-electric that we expect to aggressively compete with the Nissan Leaf. Ford will be taking orders for a 2012 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, an exciting Crossover SUV that seats 5. In the future, the Ford Focus available any way the customer wants it: battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, or fuel-efficient sedan. Ford is already selling the Transit Connect Electric compact van.
 
Tesla is the first to sell 1,000 electric cars for the U.S. highways. Tesla owners are the first to put 10 million electric miles on the road. Like its Roadster, the company is going zero to sixty in less than four seconds. Tesla is also developing a roomy Model S hatchback that starts at $57,400, about half the price of the Roadster. The Roadster is battery-electric with a 240-mile range; the Model S will have remarkable electric range options of 130 to 300 miles per charge. Tesla is working with shareholder Toyota to bring back the Toyota RAV4 EV, an electric SUV. Tesla is working with shareholder Daimler to put Smart EDs on U.S. streets this year. In the future, the Tesla Model X will be a Crossover SUV for those that want more premium styling and interiors than alternatives from Chevrolet, Ford, and others.
 
Fisker Karma is a luxury sports plug-in hybrid with prices starting around $90,000. With 20kWh of lithium batteries, you could go 50 miles before the 2L turbo engine is engaged. The Karma invites you to accelerate, using two electric motors that deliver 403 horsepower, so your mileage may vary. In theory it’s a 4-seater; good luck fitting someone in the back seat. The Karma is about sex appeal, performance, and luxury. A more affordable family sedan is planned for 2012.

Toyota, world-leading seller of hybrids, will offer both plug-in hybrids and pure battery electric cars. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) looks like another Prius until you spot the J1772 plug for smart charging. Six hundred PHV are in fleet trails from cities to car sharing services. Next year, you can order the Prius PHV. Toyota will initially control costs by only using a 5kWh battery for a 14-mile electric range. In 2012, Toyota is likely to also offer the RAV4 EV SUV and a pure battery-electric FT-EV small city car.
Honda is preparing the Honda Fit EV and a plug-in hybrid for sale in the U.S. in 2012. The Fit EV is in demonstration program in fleets such as Google and Stanford University. We speculate that the new EV will use Blue Energy lithium-ion batteries and will price below $29,900.

Mitsubishi is currently the electric car market leader in Japan with the iMiEV.
In 2012, the U.S. version of the Mitsubishi I will price at less than $29,900. This fun-to-drive 5 door, 4 seat hatchback, will have a wheel base 5 inches wider for the U.S. market, but the micro-compact will still be able to get those precious city parking spaces that no other car can take except the Smart. The more powerful U.S. version will have an electric range of 50 to 80 miles with a 16kWh lithium battery.
 

 Daimler is bringing the Smart Fortwo ED to the United States. 250 Smart Fortwo ED will be put into U.S. test this year using Tesla battery packs, but smart is currently targeting the 2013 model year for the first commercial electric car. It will start taking consumer and fleet orders in 2012. Daimler also owns 5 percent of Tesla. Mercedes hybrids. BMW will accelerate electric plans in a couple of years. Mercedes is putting into fleet tests two 5-seat hatchback electric cars – the A-Class E-CELL battery-electric car with 120-mile range and the B-Class F-CELL, which adds a hydrogen fuel cell to double the range.
 
Think has been selling its smaller battery-electric City car in Europe for years. With new capital from EnerDel, Valmet, and Kleiner Perkins, Think hopes to have its financial struggles in the rear view mirror and be on U.S. roads within a year.

 

 

 

U.S. Electric Car Forecast

Accenture forecasts 1.5 million electric vehicles in the United States by 2015. Over 10 million electric vehicles are possible by 2020, especially if oil prices continue to rise as battery prices fall. Single electric utilities have scenarios for charging over one million electric vehicles in their own service area by 2020. With renewable energy investment required of utilities in 30 states, these utilities are most interested in night time charging of electric vehicles with wind, geothermal, and hydropower. Utilities are also implementing smart grids and incentives for off-peak charging.
By 2011 year-end, competition will be intense for electric car leadership. The above Top 10 describe our best guess about the market share leaders for delivered plug-in vehicles on the United States roads in 2011. Battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles with range extended by engines or fuel cells were all considered.
Over 100 competitors will be fighting for U.S. share by the end of 2012. Some may be struggle to get significant share due to the time and cost of safety and other regulatory approvals, delays in funding, unpleasant surprises from a battery, drive system, or component supplier. It’s a tough business. Even Tesla had to add 700 pounds and two years to get the first Roadsters in customers’ hands.

Asia Prepares for the U.S. Market

For three years, we have read about China’s plans to bring electric cars to the U.S. Although China’s U.S. ambitions have slipped badly, its automakers cannot be ignored. China has over 100 million light electric vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters in daily use. It’s new 5-year plan calls for 100 million electric charging stations in China by 2020. BYD, with gold-plated investors such as Warren Buffett, has only put a few hundred electric vehicles on the road in China and continues to delay introduction to the United States. CODA’s $45,000 sedan continues to seek DOE loans and more investors and has delayed sales until Fall 2011, or later. Volvo, now owned by China’s Geely has the new C30 Drive E Electric. I was impressed with my test drive, but the Volvo electric car will be selling only in Europe in the short-term. SAIC, Chery, and hundreds of players are also preparing EVs for Chin
India might bring us a Maharinda Reva or Nano EV that under prices everyone, but not this year which is the basis for this Top 10 Report.

European Innovation

By 2020, Europe with higher fuel prices and fewer oil subsidies, is forecasted to have more electric cars by 2020 than the U.S. Better Place may deliver 100,000 of the Renault Fluence with its switchable battery to Israel, Denmark, and other countries. Volkswagen may teach everyone how to extend range by making vehicles light. The concept Up Light weighs just over 1,500 pounds, but it’s only a concept. I loved test-driving the Volkswagen Golf Blue E-Motion, but don’t plan on buying it in the U.S. before 2014. You will likely be able to buy the Audi E-Tron sooner. BMW’s first U.S. electric car commercial offering, the Megacity Vehicle, may be a hit in 2013. For fun in the city in 2013, the Fiat 500 EV may be what you want. In other words, there is a lot of European innovation that did not make this Top 10 List, which focuses on the U.S. market for the next 12 months.
Please bookmark this Top 10 List and check back as we update. Exciting new electric cars are being driven on the U.S. streets and freeways. Nissan is an early mover with battery-electric cars and General Motors with plug-in hybrids. Competition will start to heat-up with offerings from Ford, Toyota, Honda, and dozens of Asian, European and American innovators. The winner will be the customer.
Source : cleanfleetreport.com

2011 Nissan Leaf Review – Driving into the future with Nissan’s EV

By Jessika Lora
Positrons:

• Roomy and flexible interior space
• 100 mile range on a single charge
• Solar panel converts sunlight into power to charge essentials without draining the battery
• Turning heads and changing the minds of even the old-timers

Electrons:

• Limited number of places to plug-in and recharge
• Only a 100 mile range on a single charge
• Using 110V household current, you can fly to Hong Kong in as much time it takes to charge a drained battery
• Blind spot caused by rear hatch pillar

Driving up the 101 my dad saw the Nissan LEAF billboard next to the 4th street Bay Bridge on-ramp, “That car doesn’t use ANY gas?” At $4.25 a gallon and with no indication of a price ceiling he encouraged me to look into this car, “You know, you’re driving up and down the bay 120 miles each day, this could pay for itself in gas savings.”

A few weeks later I found myself up in Portland for my sister’s graduation. My dad again asked if I had looked into the specs and price for a LEAF , “Heck Jessy, I might even get one for myself. I’ve been thinking it’s just the right size for driving to and from work and going to the gym afterward.” I pictured my father in Nissan’s new EV: my dad whose hobby is rebuilding classic Mustangs and who drives his 1970 Mach 1 to the gym and back 3 times each week for the last 10 years. Way to go Nissan, you’ve engaged a muscle car enthusiast and by doing so have piqued my interest as well! As luck would have it, I would soon have the opportunity to test drive this car and report back to my dad.
Having only seen the car in a billboard, I was eager to walk up and see it in person. Your first impression of this car will really depend on how you approach it, and I mean that literally: from the side this is reminiscent of a Subaru Outback which makes you think, “Hmmm, off road and sporty”. However, if you walk up to this car head-on your first thought might instead be “how cute!” From the back, the car looks a bit like a SMART car with regard to the body height and body to window ratio.

Eager to start exploring the car I opened the trunk. How much junk could fit in this trunk? A lot, as it turns out. Nissan let’s you customize your LEAF and one of customizations is a trunk organizer. I like this add on as it allows you to open a flat clean trunk and become surprised when you realize there are compartments where you might otherwise find a spare tire. The car is also designed so that using this bucket compartment you can fold down the back seats to have a flush surface, which is great for hauling things around. I’ve actually managed to fit a door and three rolls of house insulation into a Prius and I can therefore see many advantages to having a flat trunk/back seat surface – another of which is camping in your car! The LEAF is a little bit longer and taller than the Prius, though both cars have roughly the same wheelbase.



Another thing I was eager to check out is the spoiler solar panel: this is an upgrade on the SL. The solar panel is little, about the size of a keyboard, but enough to power the car accessories (everything in the car short of the engine, external lights, and AC). As my final comment on the exterior, I do want to add that Nissan took a bold shaping approach with the lighting (LED low voltage) and bumpers of the Leaf, making it stand out as a very noticeable car.
Two things were particularly surprising: the amount of space and simplicity inside. The LEAF has an astounding amount of head room. My boyfriend who is 6’ also noticed the difference as compared to our Civic, this is much more spacious.

My test vehicle had a light gray interior with soft cloth seats. Everything felt tranquil and open, including the dashboard which is not over cluttered and follows a minimalist aesthetic. This is the result of thoughtful design: the car is void of excess buttons and controls even though it comes loaded with Bluetooth®, cruise control, USB, Back up Camera (in the SL), full sound system with satellite radio, and a very efficient HVAC package. The only potential down side is that the dashboard is relatively high in front of the driver and I can imagine my sister, at 5’2” needing to use a cushion in order to see over the dashboard since the Leaf doesn’t come with a manual seat height adjuster. For me at 5’5”, however, the height was perfect so I’m merely being a devil’s advocate here.
The LEAF is easy to drive, and it’s fun to use the palm shifter. I took the spunky EV through Noe Valley, a hilly residential neighborhood in San Francisco. This area has high foot traffic; folks jogging with babies or walking their dogs. Therefore, this is a great place to put any car’s brakes, acceleration, and steering to the test. The steering feels very light and at slow neighborhood speeds you feel as though you are gliding through the turns. I didn’t know what to expect with regard to stopping and going but this car responds well to both and is quite zippy.

I do have to comment on the LEAF’s range,  which is quite impressive! The mileage range on this car is 80-100 miles per full charge (which I’ll shorten to mpc) depending on driver behavior. For example, for city or country-road driving where you aren’t accelerating an awful lot and you aren’t running too many accessories you can easily get 100 mpc with the car shifted into Eco mode. On the flip side, if you drive above 60 mph and spend your time lane-switching and revving up to pass other cars while running the AC you will see your mileage dwindle down closer to 80 mpc. Still, 80 mpc is amazing!
This brings me to my two main concerns with regard to driving the LEAF: the first is that the pillar between the rear door and the hatch is fairly wide and can cause a large blind spot. The second is with regard to the charging time, which can be as high as 14 hours.

For the uninitiated, the LEAF has three charging options: 110V, 220V, and 440V. At 110V, which is what you find in standard house outlets, the charge time for a fully drained battery is about 14 hours – which is fine if you have a garage and can charge your car overnight. Nissan advises drivers to consider installing a 220V outlet in your garage (same as your washer/drier outlet). For those who don’t have this outlet in their garage it’s a $2500 installation. The potential set back I see here is for folks that live in high rises and might not have access to a plug point in their parking garage. However, third party electric fuel providers are stepping in to fill this market, creating fill stations with 440V plug-ins where your car can fill up in half an hour for a small single digit fee. Imagine that…filling your tank in the single digits.
In addition, Nissan thought of ways to help you stretch your dollars even further through Eco mode: through a second click of the palm shifter you can control the throttle, a feature that is not seen in any other EV or hybrid. Eco mode also takes into account the load on the car and optimizes for the best mileage while taking advantage of the regenerative braking. In a rough test, our driving team saw a 20-30% improvement in charge conservation…amazing!

This car is full of little perks and thoughtful engineering. One such perk that is standard for all LEAFs is the CarWings application available for your smart phone; it allows remote monitoring of the security system and charging status and can remotely power on the AC or heat through the solar panel charge. Goodbye car sauna and teeth chattering mornings!
In short, I told my dad that the LEAF was fun to drive, stable, quiet, and zippy. No new cars for me this year as I’m paying off my mortgage…but I did enjoy picturing myself floating about the city, happily running my errands, and filling the trunk with groceries to be unloaded in my garage where the Leaf would charge for the night, waiting for more adventures the next day.

Source : CarReview.com

Nissan GT-R with tech ATTESA E-TS

Nissan GT-R sedan considered the most bizarre in-class supercar. Just a quick defeat by the Porsche 911 Turbo S when pitted against on one circuit in Germany, the principal of Japan to expand by adding technology ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System Electronic Torque Split) at all four wheels which adopts a motion all-wheel drive (all wheel drive). Technology itself is not new for Nissan and Infiniti.

Nissan was curious about the performance of the GT-R a little below the Porsche 911 Turbo S. In fact, they both have the power 530 HP engine 6-cylinder turbo-double and double clutch transmissions. With that similarity, when accelerate from 0-100 km per hour, the GT-R needed 3.5 seconds, 0.2 seconds while its competitor more quickly. It may be because the GT-R weighs 150 kg heavier.

Another factor, which BorgWarner dual clutch transmission on Nissan, when the shift takes 200 milliseconds. While the Porsche with the gearbox MDD only 8 milliseconds.

Now, to overcome the shortage, the Nissan engineers try to add ATTESA E-TS. For the version of the GT-R which uses two parallel coupling as in front-engine, ATTESA E-TS has been in custom. With this enhancement, when the car in a stationary state, the system sends 2 percent of the available torque to the front wheels and 98 percent to the rear wheels.

When the car road, flat torque was shared 50:50. This is thanks to the use of multiple sensors (four in the ABS brakes, three in the G sensor, girbok and engine ECU) and UFO technology from Nissan. As usage of these two coupling as an almost parallel. Power is sent to the front wheels in particular through the open differential.

If one front wheel (it will spin faster than a flat on the asphalt) while maneuvering around the corner, tires that will brake automatically. Thus, the sensor that controls all four wheels, depending on driving.

Nissan 350z

Nissan 350z

                             Nissan 350z

There is something about the design of the Nissan 350Z that captures your imagination, and attracts your eye. Our test car was a  Nissan 350Z Grand Touring edition with the manual six-speed transmission bathed in Daytona Blue Metallic and wearing Brembo Brakes and lightweight forged alloy wheels. For  Nissan offers up the Z in both coupe and roadster form with a staggering 5 different models available in coupe form and three for the roadster. Our test car came in at $39,115.00 including a $605.00 destination charge. 

                              Nissan 350z            

                                           Nissan 350z

                                           Nissan 350z

                                           Nissan 350z

                                            Nissan 350z

                                           Nissan 350z

                                            Nissan 350z

                                            Nissan 350z

                                            Nissan 350z

                             Nissan 350z

Nissan gtr

Nissan gtr

                                           Nissan gtr

The Nissan GT-R blazes the Nurburgring and records jaw dropping lap times against its competitions, but rivals may have a card against the GT-R. Nissan’s new baby gets the most expensive insurance bill in the United States.Getting insurance quotes from Insurance.com using a profile of a 40-year old man, the website returns a list of the top 20 most expensive cars to insure and another line up of the cheapest. Nissan GT-R owners will have to shell out $2533 for an annual coverage.Insurance considers the choices of the consumers and they see the GT-R as the option if you feel the need for power and speed. Looking at probabilities, insure.com sees the potential for serious road accidents.The Dodge Viper is second in the list costing about $2446 per year to insure. The BMW M6 comes next at $2236.The other cars in the top 10 are the Ford Shelby GT500 ($2186), Mercedes Benz G Class ($2088), S8 Audi (($2071), M5 BMW ($2020), Hummer H2 ($1912), Lexus IS F ($1881), and Porsche 911 ($1819).Some other cars in the top 20 has a clear link between the cost of insurance and the vehicle class like the SUV’s X6 from BMW, Escalade from Cadillac, and the Land Rover.On the other end of the line were the cheapest to insure cars. They are not on the luxury side of the market but are big on safety. All top 5 were from South Korean manufacturers Kia and Hyundai. The minivan sector also had favorable insurance tags.

                                           Nissan gtr

                                           Nissan gtr

                                           Nissan gtr

                                           Nissan gtr

                                           Nissan gtr

                                            Nissan gtr

                                           Nissan gtr

                                            Nissan gtr