Nissan

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Driving the 2013 USA Pro Challenge, #1: Mixed Bag debut in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

The third edition of the USA Pro Challenge begins Monday, Aug. 19 and it will take a field of 128 pro cyclists from 16 teams around Colorado for a week. I’m making the trip in a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The compact crossover debuted in 2008 and the 2013 edition is the last year of the car’s first generation. The manufacturer announced recently a second generation will debut with the 2014 edition. I drove from the Denver International Airport to Snowmass in about 5 hours, including a lunch stop and two five-minute stops for phone calls. As a compact crossover, first impressions on the first of eight days in the Rogue were mixed. The Rogue is more carlike than an SUV

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Adam Carolla, vintage Nissan 300 set for Laguna Seca

Adam Carolla, the comedian and car enthusiast, will return to Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and compete in his 1988 Nissan 300ZX during the Aug. 16-18 event. This year, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will feature 550 historic race cars selected for their historical significance, authenticity and period-correctness. The cars are divided into 16 classes, based on type of car, displacement and era of origin. The Chevrolet Corvette, celebrating its 60th anniversary, will be this year’s marque, is the three-day event that offers vintage racing to auto-related exhibits. Carolla will also display his more humorous, off-track talents as he and Dr. Drew Pinsky team-up at the Sunset Center in Carmel on August 16 at 8 p.m. for a live performance of

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2013 Nissan Juke Nismo: Wacky look, keen power

The Nissan Juke is an odd name, but the Juke Nismo sounds even more offbeat. That is, unless you know “Nismo” is derived from “NISsan MOtorsports, which is the name of Nissan’s motorsports division. The compact four-door, five-passenger Juke hatchback differs from the fun-loving regular Juke in that it has a race-inspired exterior, specially tuned suspension, steering and transmission. It also has more power from its small, sophisticated turbocharged and intercooled 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which has goodies: direct injection, dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The Juke Nismo is rated at 197 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, versus the standard Juke’s 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Juke Nismo comes with front-wheel drive and a

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2014 Nissan Versa Note: New stylish, fuel-stingy hatchback

Nissan may grab more buyers with its redone, unusually named 2014 Versa Note hatchback economy model, judging by my test of a prototype model. For one thing, the front-drive Note looks sleeker. That’s important because nobody wants to look like they’re in an econobox. It has a steeply sloped front windshield and deeply sculpted doors. A large front spoiler combined with a “kick–up” roof shape and low aero-drag floor structure directs air under and around the body for better aerodynamics. &JSCODE% However, some shorter folks may object to the high beltline (where side windows meet the doors). The new Note has a rather long (for its class) 102.4-inch wheelbase. Although roomier than the previous Versa hatchback, it has six-inch shorter

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2013 Nissan Pathfinder: best family affair on wheels

There was a time when categorizing a car as a “family car” translated into “boring car.” But that generalization, once well-founded, is now long gone. With 2013 models, including the top-rated Nissan Pathfinder, a new definition is particularly necessary. Family cars are great for families and some great family cars, like the Honda Odyssey and Honda CR-V, are so versatile, they’re ideal for families of one, too. Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the esteemed vehicle assessment site, likes car lists and one of its best annual lists is its Best Family Car list. The editors at KBB have selected the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder their No. 1 choice. The editors reported: “This year’s number one isn’t just all-new for 2013, it’s completely

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Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda in massive global airbag recall

Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi combined will recall more than three million vehicles dating to 2000 and for an often-repeated, recent-year auto industry woe — defected safety equipment. The latest crisis involves airbag inflators made by Takata, the Japanese safety gear producer. Takata made the products from 2000 to 2002. It’s the biggest recall involving Takata since 1995, when several automakers called back a then-record almost nine million vehicles to replace faulty seat belts made by the Japanese company. “It looks like the cost of the recalls may be pretty big,” Satoru Takada, a Tokyo-based analyst at Toward the Infinite World Inc., referring to Takata, told Reuters. “It doesn’t seem like something that would be easy to identify and fix.

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The Weekly Driver: 2012 Top 10 Cars of the Year

For the sixth straight year, The Weekly Driver presents its top 10 cars of the year. Plenty of well-known auto sites announce best cars of the year lists at the beginning of the model year, which is sometimes still in the previous calendar year and sometimes before a car is available to the public. The Weekly Driver waits until the end of the calendar year. That makes more sense. It affords time to balance what might seem like a sure top-10 selection early in the year against cars reviewed at the end of the year. We admit in some instances, 2012 models were driven in late 2011. The Weekly Driver test drove 36 cars designated as 2012 models with full

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Nissan withdraws cycling sponsorship from RadioShack team

Nissan wasn’t the first carmaker to sponsor a cycling team, but it has just joined the increasing list of major companies withdrawing sponsoring from the highest level of the sport presumably in the expanding wake of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal. According to a report in the Luxembourg newspaper Le Quotidien and confirmed by officials at the manufacturer’s North American division on prominent cycling websites, the Nissan name will not appear on the jerseys or bikes the RadioShack team for the 2013 season. Nissan, which became a full-time sponsor of the squad that features prominent riders Andy Schleck, Chris Horner and Fabian Cancellara, will also no longer supply sponsor and staff vehicles to the team. Nissan has also been a

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Three Jeep, two Nissan models among 10 cars to avoid at all costs

Forbes.com can’t stay away from car lists. Best compacts to worst gas mileage, the varied online publication is more well known for its business trends than its automotive expertise. But with its automotive coverage, Forbes.com doesn’t shy away from controversy. It praises manufacturers for innovation and craftsmanship and criticizes carmakers for lousy visibility and underpowered engines. In its latest automotive list, Forbes.com selects the 10 new cars to avoid. In its assessment, Forbes.com used the facts and figures of several automotive expert organizations, including Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and Associates, the Highway Loss Data Institute, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here’s the list of 10 cars Forbes.com suggests consumers avoid as well reasons for each vehicle: Dodge Journey

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Nissan Versa keeps Cheapest Car in the U.S. title for 2013

It’s about five times more expensive than the Tata Nano, but the Nissan Versa maintains its unique position in the automotive industry. Including a $790 destination charge, the 2013 edition of the subcompact sedan is the cheapest new car in the United States with a beginning price of $12,280. The Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic all have entry level prices of less than $15,000. But the Nissan Versa retains its current status despite an increase of $1,100 from the 2012 model. The top-of-the-line 2013 Nissan Versa sedan starts at $17,380, including shipping, which places it higher than comparable models of key competitors from Hyundai, Ford, Chevrolet and Honda. Nissan recently announced improvements for the updated 2013 Nissan Versa include a

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Nissan Murano, 2012: Quick, sporty SUV fares well in tight market

The Nissan Murano debuted in 2003, but updates have kept it sharp and competitive with other mid-size SUV/crossover vehicles. It’s luxurious enough to wear a badge from Nissan’s upscale Infiniti division. Sculpted body lines and chromed exhaust pipe tips help give the Murano a sporty look, and it has definite sporty performance. The Murano was overhauled for 2009 and updated a bit for 2011, so the 2012 model has small trim changes and the addition of a new Platinum Edition equipped with such things as 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels. There are minor changes for the 2013 Murano. The 2012 Murano, which I tested, comes with front-wheel drive or an advanced all-wheel drive system that automatically adjusts to road conditions. The

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Nissan Juke, 2012: Looks funny, drives fast, best buy small SUV crossover (video)

Introduced to the North American market at the 2010 New York Auto Show, the Nissan Juke is another in the ever-evolving series of unique-looking crossover vehicles with equally ever-evolving names. With the 2012 edition, the Juke remains the same as its 2011 debut edition — a turbocharged 1.6-liter, 188-horsepower 4-cylinder with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Nissan calls the Juke "The Bold Urban Sport Cross." The Weekly Driver Test Drive Like some of its rivals, including the Kia Soul and Scion xB, the Nissan Juke gets immediate attention. One national reviewer said its distinctive exterior is reminiscent of a "horned lizard." Another critic said it was stil in its "larval stage." The Juke's fans call it sporty. During my test

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Nissan Quest, 2012: Luxurious minivan an ideal family mover

Purchasing a minivan may not inspire a lot of enthusiasm — until you're a parent. But then the beauty of the minivan concept — the heft, girth, length and uninspired steering, acceleration and cornering — no longer add up to a yawn. Minivans' interior space is handy for families. Factor in the convenience of the power doors and lift gate when your hands are full of groceries and your children are full of energy and things change. It's why I was excited to test drive the 2012 Nissan Quest. Driving Impressions Zero to 60 mph? The Quest’s 3.5 liter V6 pumps out 240 lb.-ft. of torque and 260 horespower making it among the most powerful minivans. There were no issues

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2013 Nissan GTR vs. 2012 Audi R8 vs. 2012 Jaguar XKR-S

By David Colman It isn’t often one has the opportunity to sample three of the fastest sports cars in the world back-to-back on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. But such an opportunity occurred during the recent Western Automotive Journalists’ 20th annual Media Day at Laguna Seca Raceway. The urge to compare the Nissan’s GT-R to Audi’s R8 and Jaguar’s XKR-S proved irresistible. 2013 NISSAN GT-R Even though this supercar has been on the market for a while and is in its second detail revision, I never had a chance to drive it. “That’s why we brought them out” said Nissan PR chief Tim Gallagher, “Because we know many of you haven’t been in one yet.” Gallagher requisitioned two GT-R Black Edition

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Nissan Rogue, 2012: Confidence, efficiency, keen styling for small cross-over SUV

By Mary Ellen Ash The 2012 Nissan Rogue is a new candidate in the ever popular small cross-over utility vehicle class, and the automaker hopes to attract buyers with a strong mix of attractive exterior styling, interior refinements and nimble road handling. Even though this is the kid-sister of the Nissan SUV family, the Rogue leaves a lasting impression. Build and Styling The new Rogue is an excellent blend of space and functionality with its utility styling and versatility for passengers and cargo, and it incorporates the sharper handling dynamic found in similar sized sedans. Confident and calm looking, the Rogue has its own style without flamboyance. The Rogue is a great choice for weekend warriors looking for a small

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Nissan Maxima, 2012: Flagship sedan has sports car tendencies

Now more than 35 years since it origins as the Datsun 810, the Nissan Maxim is in its seventh generation as a full-sized sedan also marketed as a four-door sports cars. The Maxima name began in 1981 when the car was primarily built in Oppama, Japan. It manufacture transitioned to Smyrna, Tennessee, in 2004 and that's where it's currently built. The Maxima remains the flagship sedan of Nissan, with the 2012 edition receiving only minor changes from last year. The exterior adjustments include tweaks to the front grille and new 18-and-19-inch alloy wheel designs. The minor interior changes include newly designed knobs and dials and new color patterns for the cabin trim and gauges. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Like

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