Nissan

Nissan Rogue 2011 car review

Now in its fourth model year as a compact sport utility vehicle, the Nissan Rogue is the smaller sibling of the Murano crossover. It comes standard with front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive is an option) and a four-cylinder, 170-horsepower engine. For 2011, the Rogue has refreshed styling, several new colors and features for the first time Bluetooth and a USB port. It’s available in three trims, S, SL and Krom — the sport model. The new styling includes a new front fascia with fog-light cut-outs, a redesigned chrome grille, the addition of chrome trim on the lower door edges, a revised rear spoiler, and a new chrome bar above the rear license-plate holder. Eight paint colors are now available, twice as

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Nissan Cube, Honda Crosstour get 2010 all-ugly honors

One car owner’s dream car is another auto enthusiast’s nightmare. In 2010, more than one model grabbed its share of attention and catapulted its way to the year’s all-ugly list — the Nissan Cube to two Honda models. Correspondingly, while the Nissan Cube and Honda Accord Crosstour have received all-ugly honors, they’ve also received auto industry innovation design awards. In its 2010 end-of-the-year compilation, Forbes.com chose eight cars for their less-than-attractive appearances. The website also features a clever image of a Nissan Cube mostly covered by a brown paper bag. In its introduction to the article, the Forbes’ writer said: “Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some consumers love the quirky angles of the (Scion) xB, or

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California customer gets delivery of first Nissan Leaf in U.S.

Nissan has delivered the all-electric Leaf to its first customer in the United States, marking what green car proponents hope will be a milestone in the automotive industry. Olivier Chalouhi, who paid a $99 deposit like about 20,000 other pending Leaf owners, took delivery of the Leaf in Petaluma, Ca. during a press conference at a Nissan delearship. Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner and a national spokesperson for Nissan, was given the first Leaf about two months ago in Texas. Chalouchi, a 31-year-old entrepreuner, plans to drive the Leaf, which has a range of between 60 and 120 miles, about 20 miles per day. He was the first person to place his order for the Nissan Leaf

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Nissan Leaf, 2011 review

The Nissan Leaf hatchback sedan — the first mass-produced all-electric car —drives like a regular, pleasant five-passenger economy car. However, some  owners may worry they’ll run out of charge before reaching their destination. However, Nissan says 90 percent of the U.S. population, on average, drives less than 100 miles a day. It says typical consumer weekday and weekend driving patterns are mostly less than 50 miles. The ran of the Leaf with a fully charged battery is touted as  100 miles. Key Takeaways First mass-produced all-electric car: The Leaf made history as the first purpose-built, mass-market battery electric vehicle, driving like a pleasant five-passenger economy hatchback with zero tailpipe emissions. 100-mile range covers 90% of daily driving: Nissan cites data

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Nissan recalling more than 600,000 vehicles with potential steering, battery defects

Nissan is recalling more than 600,000 vehicles, mostly in United States and involving Frontier pick-ups and Xterra SUVs, to fix faulty steering columns and battery cables that could result in cracked steering shafts. A lower steering column joint and shaft will be replaced on approximately 303,000 Frontier edition and 283,000 Xterra editions in 2002-2004 model years. Additionally, the positive battery cable terminal will be replaced on approximately 18,500 Sentra sedans made between May 15, 2010 to July 8, 2010 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Approximately 515,000 of the vehicles involved are in the U.S. The remaining recalls will occur in Canada and several Latin American and African countries. In the SUVs, the lower steering column joint can, in rare cases, develop corrosion

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Electric car curious? Rent a LEAF, CODA or Renault from Avis, Enterprise, Budget soon

If you’re not quite sure if you want to buy an electric car, there’s an alternative to a test drive at a dealership — renting a Nissan Leaf, a Renault Fluence, Kangoo Express of CODA sedan. Depending up rental car company preference — Avis, Budget or Enterprise — and where in the world you live, several electric vehicles will soon be available for a business trip, vacation or for fun. Avis Budget Group, which also owns Budget Rent A Car, has ordered 500 Renault Fluence Z.E.’s and Kangoo Express Z.E.’s to rent in France, Spain, Belgium, England, Germany, and Portugal in 2011. Enterprise, Avis’s rival, has signed a deal with CODA to buy as many as 100 of its sedans in

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Ten top deals on 2010 cars, Ford to Mitsubishi, BMW to Nissan

With 2011 car models now infiltrating and in some instances already saturating the market, now is a good time for a bargain on a new 2010 vehicle. Hybrids to pick-up trucks, Ford to Mitsubishi, there are at least 10 good buys on the markets, according to the web site, TheStreet.com.Dealer incentives, low interest rates and discounted sticker prices to move last year’s models are three of primary reasons substantial discounts. And in some cases, unpopular models are available for even deeper discounts. The web site TheStreet.com has a comprehensive list of 10 vehicles, all 2010 models, it believes are great bargains. The list begins surprisingly with the Ford F-150 pick-up truck, for years among the top-selling vehicles in the United

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Lance Armstrong gets delivery of country's first Nissan Leaf

Armstrong, who has made two commercials for Nissan, a vehicle supplier to the cyclist’s cycling team, RadioShack, announced the delivery to his more than 2.6 million followers on Twitter via the following image. Nissan recently announced it’s no longer taking reservations in the U.S. for 2011 Leaf. The company had planned to keep its $99 reservation program open until December, but reservations for the 20,000 quota of cars was reached three months early. The general public is expected to begin receiving the LEAF in about three months. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004,

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GM, Nissan dominate North American best car nominees

The 18th annual awards are chosen by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars Twenty-seven new cars were eligible for the 2011 North American Car of the Year award and 14 have been selected as semi-finalists. The jurors did not vote on the trucks because there were only 14 on the original list. The North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year will be announced in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Audi A8 Buick Regal Chevrolet Cruze Chevrolet Volt Ford Fiesta Hyundai Sonata/2.0T/Hybrid Infiniti M37/56

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Seven electric cars soon plugged into U.S. automotive industry

The Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are the two most well-known and extensively promoted electric vehicles, but the list also includes five additional cars — economical-based options to high-end sports machines. Here’s an alphabetical synopsis of the seven electric vehicles: Chevrolet Volt — Expected on the market nationwide in November, the Volt has two motors, a 149 horsepower electric motor and a 74 horsepower, 4-cylinder gas engine. The electric motor has a 40-mile range with the gas engine then engaging, creating electricity extending the Volt’s range to more than 300 miles. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars The Volt is a five-door hatchback that seats four. A full charge for the

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Nissan Leaf update: Who needs Lance Armstrong when a polar bear will do?

And, sure, this is a well-trained polar bear, groomed and majestic. But a “green” polar? Sure, why not? The commercial works. Even Armstrong thinks so — I think. He recently Tweeted: “Is this what I have to look forward to when I get my new Leaf?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNeEVkhTutY James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many

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Nissan keeps Lance Armstrong as Leaf spokesman despite doping claims

Armstrong is featured in the first television commercial for the Leaf, and Nissan is sticking with the seven-time Tour de France titlist as its official spokesperson depsite the current controversy. In a recent interview with Ad Age, Jon Brancheau, Nissan‘s new marketing chief, said the manufacturer will support the cyclist while continuing to monitor the situation. Ad Age asked Brancheau: “Nissan has made a pretty big bet on Lance Armstrong . . he was featured in the first Leaf commercial, is displayed prominently on your website and you even sponsor one of his cycling teams. Now, there’s a ton of scrutiny around him with regards to doping claims. Does that worry you? Brancheau responded: “This is something we’ll continue to

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Bloom Energy (Redeux): Could it replace current electric and other alternative fuel cars?

“The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” Since its debut broadcast, more than 100 additional companies have signed up as customers for Bloom’s energy, including PG&E. Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Bloom Energy has operated for the past eight years. According to the 60 Minutes report, it has raised about $400 million from venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, and its early clients include Google, eBay and Walmart. Additional investors in Bloom Energy are diverse and its business relationships are posted on the company’s web site. But what was conspicuously absent from the 60 Minutes report was if the fuel

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Lance Armstrong debuts in new Nissan Leaf commercial

The Leaf, which will be available for lease or purchase for the first time in December in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington, is the carmaker’s first mass produced all-electric vehicle. Correspondingly, Nissan is shifting its focus to a new theme: “Innovation for All.” The initial distribution states for the Leaf were chosen because of their participation in the EV Project. It’s partnership with ECOtality that has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to create the nation’s largest electric vehicle infrastructure The Nissan Leaf will be available to customers in Texas and Hawaii in January, 2011 and to consumers in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Alabama in April 2011. Nissan will expand

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Nissan Cube (KROM), 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

Few cars have received such polarizing reviews. The Los Angeles Times called The Cube an “air-hating box ugly.” The New York Times critic wrote: “The Cube is undiluted Tokyo chic, from its asymmetrical rear window to its shag-carpet dashboard pad to the bungee cords on the doors.” Regardless of opinion, the current edition Cube is arguably the most uniquely designed new vehicle on the road. It won the 2010 Automobile Design of the Year Award. Nissan engineers say the circular-dominated interior is inspired by the enveloping curves of a Jacuzzi. There’s a ripple motif in the ceiling, seat covers and cup holders. There are appliqués for air vents and window switches, utility hooks and elastic bands and variable color LED

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Nissan Leaf will offer same battery warranty as Chevy Volt

The pending battle between the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt has intensified with the announcement Nissan will match GM and offer an 8-year/100k miles warranty on the battery pack of its LEAF electric car. The MSRP for the LEAF starts at $32,780; the full Federal tax credit of $7,500 brings that down to $25,280. In California, the LEAF is eligible for an up to $5,000 CVRP rebate, bringing the price down to close to $20,000. The LEAF will debut in December in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee. In January 2011 , LEAF will debut in Texas and Hawaii. The company currently has 17,000 reservations for the LEAF. A charging-infrastructure plan, designed in conjunction with California-based firm Ecotality and partially

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