Nissan

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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Tour de France titlist Lance Armstrong will get country's first Nissan LEAF

Nissan has provided more than 40 support vehicles for the 810-mile, eight-day Amgen Tour of California, including one Leaf which appeared at the finish line for each stage. Armstrong is also as an official spokesperson for the LEAF. Nissan representatives commented:  “Armstrong was chosen because his fitness and constant drive for perfection are a perfect match to the qualities of the LEAF.” 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

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Nissan recalling 135,000 Infiniti G35 coupes, sedans with airbags issues

The recall involves G35 coupes from the 2005 to 2007 model years and G35 sedans from the 2005 to 2006 model year. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Nissan reports the air bag unit’s wire harness under the front passenger seat could wear down and interrupt the air bag’s signal. In a crash, the air bag may not deploy and could increase the risk of injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Nissan has not yet provided the agency with a plan to fix the vehicles or a timeline of when owners will be notified. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than

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Nissan debuts mini-car March in China, hopes for 1 million global sales in 4 years

The 1,200-cc engine compact, called March in Thailand, China and Japan, and Micra in India, Europe and other markets will have a price range between $11,500 $16,500). Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said the compact would be sold in more than 160 countries, with Thailand one of four main manufacturing and export hubs with China, India and Mexico. Nissan expects production in China to begin in the second half of this year. Production of the March model would nearly double Nissan’s Thai car output to 200,000 units a year. The Micra/March, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, is the Japanese car maker’s most important model in years, the culmination of extensive experimenting with new materials and

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Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Reviews (videos)

The Tucson has received a lot praise with its all new design and estimated 31 mpg highway mileage (I got 23.5 mpg in mostly freeway mileage during my weekly test.) The Nissan Rogue is rated at 27 mpg on the highway and that’s closer to my average during my week with the car. The Nissan Rogue I tested had an exterior color of Venom Red; The Hyundai Tucson exterior I drove for a week had an exterior of color of Garnet Red. Put the SUVs side by side, and they’re the same color. Here’s what Car and Driver said about the Nissan Rogue, which it ranked 16th of 22 in the compact SUV market “On its first try, Nissan has

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Winter Olympics car commercials: Nissan raking up publicity for the green LEAF

Scheduled for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States and Europe, The LEAF, according to Nissan, “ushers in a new era of mobility.” Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales. But Nissan expects the car to be “competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle.” The Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF’s power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAF’s regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range

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