Nissan

Electric, Events, News, Hatchback

Renault-Nissan to launch autonomous drive by 2020

News Editor ·

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has confirmed it will launch more than 10 vehicles with autonomous drive technology in the next four years.

The global car group confirmed the range of vehicles with autonomous capabilities will roll-out in the United States, Europe, Japan and China through 2020. The technology will be installed on mainstream, mass-market cars ‘at affordable prices’. The car group has hired new executive to oversee connectivity and connected car services globally.

Safety and efficiency of vehicles across the Renault-Nissan Alliance has ‘increased dramatically’, with fatal and serious injuries in Japanese Nissan vehicles decreasing 61 percent in 20 years. Fatal and serious injuries in Renault vehicles in France decreased 80 percent in 15 years. Autonomous drive is expected to help further reduce driver error, which is responsible for up to 90 percent of all fatalities.

2016 will mark the debut of vehicles with ‘single-lane control’ a feature that allows cars to drive autonomously on motorways, including in heavy, stop-and-go traffic. In 2018, Renault-Nissan will launch vehicles with ‘multiple-lane control’ which can autonomously negotiate hazards and change lanes during motorway driving. And 2020 will see the launch of ‘intersection autonomy’ which can navigate city intersections and heavy urban traffic without driver intervention.

Later this year the Alliance will launch a new automotive mobile app which allows remote interaction with your car. Next year, it will launch the first Alliance Multimedia System providing new multimedia and navigation features, as well as improved smartphone integration and wireless map updates.

“Renault-Nissan Alliance is deeply committed to the twin goals of ‘zero emissions and zero fatalities'” Renault-Nissan Alliance Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said at the Renault-Nissan Silicon Valley Research Center. “That’s why we are developing autonomous driving and connectivity for mass-market, mainstream vehicles on three continents.”

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a partnership between Paris-based Renault and Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan and have been strategic partners since 1999.

Electric, Hatchback, News, Technology

Spotify playlist marks 5 years of Nissan LEAF

News Editor ·

Nissan has launched a Spotify playlist specially curated by fans around the world in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the delivery of the world's first all-electric LEAF.

Users can search for the "100% Nissan LEAF 5th Birthday" playlist on Spotify and hear 10 fan-suggested songs ranging from No. 1 hits to obscure B-side tracks, all of which can be streamed via the Bluetooth connection in the LEAF or other Nissan models.

"Nissan LEAF owners are among our most enthusiastic customers, and we wanted to get them involved in a unique way as we celebrate LEAF's anniversary, so we asked followers on Facebook and Twitter which songs they would choose to honour the all-electric vehicle's five years on the road," said Andrew Speaker, director, Electric Vehicle Sales & Marketing, Nissan. 

The first all-electric Nissan LEAF was delivered on December 11, 2010, to Olivier Chalouhi of San Francisco, and since then Nissan has sold nearly 200,000 units globally.

Nissan recently introduced the 2016 LEAF in the US, equipped with a new 30kWh battery that extends the miles per charge by more than 20 percent. The new model will be launched in Japan this month and in Europe in the new year.

As the level of electric vehicle technology continues to increase, Nissan believes that this shift towards cleaner, more efficient zero emission vehicles will contribute greatly in improving air quality and lowering noise levels.

"EV technology will continue to be at the heart of Nissan's product development efforts. By combining our pioneering EV technologies and other intelligence and innovations, Nissan is moving closer to a zero-emission future for car transportation. With the technologies we are creating, mobility is becoming safer, cleaner, more connected and more exciting. That's the power of innovation.  And that's what you can expect from Nissan," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

News, Pick-up

Order books open for all-new Nissan NP300 Navara

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The new NP300 Navara pick-up is available to order at dealerships nationwide from today.

The new model will arrive in Nissan showrooms from January, priced from £18,376. The NP300 Navara recently scooped the Intentional Pick-up of the Year award, and is available in five new trim grades - Visia, Acenta, Acenta+, M-Connecta and Tekna.

The pick-up is available with either a double cab or a king cab, and a 190PS twin-turbo or 160PS single turbo version of the new 2.3-litre dCi engine. There is a choice of two or four-wheel drive and either 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission.

Built on a 'robust' chassis, the pick-up includes a range of new-features such as a five-link rear suspension for the Double Cab model and a 67mm longer roadbed. Many of the new model's safety features are incorporated across the range as standard. These include Forward Emergency Braking on all double cab models, driver, passenger, side, knee and curtain airbags and electronic Limited Slip Differential.

James Wright, Managing Director of Nissan Motor UK, said: "The NP300 Navara is a strong product offer in terms of innovative technology, superior on-road and off-road capabilities, engine performance and payload capacity. Now we've made this award-winning pick-up even more desirable to customers with highly competitive deals on both finance and servicing to make ownership as attractive as it will be rewarding."

For a short time the NP300 Navara is available with three years' free servicing, while loyal customers can benefit from five years' free servicing. In addition, all models receive a full manufacturer five-year/100,000 mile manufacturer warranty.

Commercial Vehicle Prices are OTR prices, excluding VAT but include first registration fee of £55 and first year VED.

Electric, News, City Car

Nissan's European electric taxi tally tops 500

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A deal to supply a Hungarian taxi firm has brought the total number of Nissan electric taxis on European roads to over 550.

Green Lite Taxi Kft., based in Budapest, has purchased 65 Nissan LEAFs in a bid to become Hungary's largest zero emission fleet. 

Ors Levay, CEO of Green Lite Taxi Kft., which has installed seven quick chargers within the city to power the franchise, said: "We are delighted to be the first taxi company in Hungary to go 100 percent electric and the 199 km range means we only need to charge our taxis once during a shift. Along with the large savings on fuel and maintenance, the Nissan LEAF is very smooth to drive and almost silent, which means a more enjoyable journey for my customers and the drivers say typical 10 hour shifts are less tiresome."

Nissan delivered over 100 electric vehicles to taxi companies across Europe in 2015, making it the best-selling manufacturer of pure electric taxis. 

In Estonia, a LEAF owned by taxi company, Elektritakso, is said to have clocked up over 218,000 kilometres (135,459 miles) on its original battery pack, showcasing its durability and reliability.

In total, there are 80 electric taxis in Estonia, whilst in Lithuania, Nissan is set to deliver its first eight electric taxis to the Smart Taxi Company, based in the country's capital, Vilnius, for late 2015.

Nissan electric vehicles - which include the LEAF and the e-NV200, a passenger and light commercial vehicle - are becoming increasingly popular among European taxi businesses, with the Netherlands and the UK topping Nissan's e-taxi league table.

The newly launched 30 kWh LEAF is expected to be popular with taxi firms as it will enable drivers to travel 25 percent further than the standard vehicle.

Gareth Dunsmore, Director of Electric Vehicles for Nissan Europe, said: "We are so proud to be announcing this all-important milestone. Nissan has already delivered 30 percent more e-taxis this year than in 2014 and this figure is constantly increasing, as more taxi companies realise the benefits of becoming 100 percent electric."

Crossover, SUV, News

Full-scale Origami Nissan Juke

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Nissan has revealed a full size Origami Juke, celebrating 5 years of the model.

British paper artist Owen Gildersleeve collaborated with Nissan on the unique project in a nod to Nissan's Japanese heritage. Gildersleeve hand built the intricate replica model from paper to the exact dimensions of the current Juke, taking over 200 hours and folding more than 2,000 pieces of paper to create the detailed sculpture.

The Origami Juke features the same design cues - such as the wheel arches, lights and grille - that give the real-life model its distinctive character.

Artist Owen Gildersleeve said: "This was a great project to work on - hard work but very rewarding. As a celebration piece it draws on so many influences, such as the origami focus inspired by Nissan's Japanese roots. Using so many individual pieces of paper to create the overall structure also represents the thousands of people who helped bring the Nissan Juke into reality and the thousands who continue to do so right here in the UK."

The Juke, which is built in Nissan's plant in Sunderland, reaches its fifth birthday this year. Since first deliveries began in October 2010, more than 150,000 Juke models have been sold in the UK, with over 700,000 total sales across Europe.

Darryl Scriven, Design Manager at Nissan's Design Centre for Europe, said: "The first step of any car design involves putting pencil to paper. From that simple start, it's a complex journey to production involving hundreds of skilled people, thousands of man-hours and millions in investment. So we think it's very apt that on its fifth birthday, we celebrate the Nissan Juke with a tribute that harks back to that simple, but bold, first step, all carried out with Nissan's signature innovation and excitement of course."

The Origami Juke is revealed as 'World Origami Days' are celebrated across the world between 24th October and 11th November.

Hatchback, News

Nissan debuts IDS Concept in Tokyo

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Nissan has unveiled an autonomous, zero emission car - the Nissan IDS Concept - at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Nissan Intelligent Driving is the brand's concept of autonomous drive technology, and represents what Nissan says next-generation vehicles should be. "Nissan Intelligent Driving improves a driver's ability to see, think and react. It compensates for human error, which causes more than 90 percent of all car accidents. As a result, time spent behind the wheel is safer, cleaner, more efficient and more fun." said Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Even though it is a hatchback, the IDS Concept's long wheelbase enables comfortable seating space for four adults. But the cabin becomes even more spacious when the driver selects Piloted Drive. In this mode, the steering wheel recedes into the centre of the instrument panel and a large flat screen comes out. All four seats rotate slightly inward, making conversation even easier. Various driving-related operations are handled by artificial intelligence (AI) yet the car's performance - from accelerating to braking to cornering - imitates the driver's own style and preferences.

In Manual Drive mode, the driver has control with the linear acceleration and cornering described as 'pure and exhilarating'. Yet behind the scenes, the IDS Concept continues to provide assistance with sensors continually monitoring conditions and in the event of imminent danger, the concept will take evasive action. The roomy interior transforms with all seats facing forward. The steering wheel, which Nissan says takes styling cues from reins for horse riding, appears along with driving meters and a heads-up display that shows route and other driving information. Interior lighting switches to blue. Nissan's use of hollow-structure A-pillars reduces blind spots.

In addition to learning, the car's AI communicates with information ranging from traffic conditions to the driver's schedule to personal interests.

On the exterior, lights and displays convey to pedestrians and others the car's awareness of its surroundings and signals its intentions. The car's silver side body line, for example, is actually an LED that Nissan calls the 'Intention Indicator'. When pedestrians or cyclists are nearby, the strip shines red, signalling that the car is aware of them. Another electronic display, which faces outside from the instrument panel, can flash messages such as "After you" to pedestrians.

The height of the full carbon fibre body was constrained to 1,380 mm, minimising aerodynamic drag (Cd). Positioning the tyres close to the corners of the body maximises interior space while enabling a wrap-around cabin design. Large-diameter wheels offer 'high-performance and sportiness', but used very thin 175-size tyres to minimise air and roll resistance. Powered by a high-capacity 60 kWh battery, and combined with the its aerodynamics, low stance, flowing form and reduced weight due to its full-carbon-fibre body, the vehicle is designed to also meet the need to drive long distances.

By 2020, Nissan expect to see its Intelligent Driving technology deployed on cars in cities around the world.

Concept Car, News, Electric

Nissan Teatro for Dayz set to debut in Tokyo

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Nissan has previewed its 'Teatro for Dayz' ahead of a reveal at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

The innovative concept signals a new direction in mobile technology according to Nissan. Designed especially for the 'digital native generation', this vision of near-future vehicles 'departs from convention and marks a shift in perception'.

Nissan describes the target group as 'share natives' due to the nature of sharing on social media. The Teatro for Dayz is a combination of mobile technologies unlike any previously imagined in a car. Nissan's research indicated that minicars will be the vehicle of choice for share natives. "In addition to being compact, minicars remind them of the handy mobile devices they carry in their pockets," says Product Planning General Manager Hidemi Sasaki. Electric Vehicle (EV) technology is a must for this generation. "Share natives are already accustomed to recharging their devices at home, so EVs fit their lifestyles far better than cars that require regular visits to a gas station." With a driving range ample for short commutes, the concept can serve as a giant mobile battery, which can be used anywhere to recharge mobile devices.

Sasaki says that Nissan has identified some common car interests among share natives. "First, they tend to look beyond the car's basic role of transportation. They want a car to be a versatile tool for creativity like a smartphone. This is different from customising a car. It is more like the ability to modify a car to meet their mood at that moment. Share natives will use cars in ways we would never imagine. So we thought from the perspective of designing a car that would serve as a canvas for their inspiration."

From concept to interior and exterior design, the Teatro for Dayz is described as a simple, clean canvas. When the car is in drive mode, meters, controls and maps appear on a pure white instrument panel. As information illuminates on the white instrument panel, the driver can freely adjust the size and position of the meters, gauges and car navigation information on the instrument screen. Unnecessary information can be hidden.

When parked, the concept transforms into an entirely new device. The whole interior, starting with the instrument panel, becomes a live display for a generation wired for connectivity. The interior's design can be changed to match the look to the season, as can the exterior. Externally it is fitted with LED screens that enable further self-expression, with any experience in or around the car able to be shared instantly via an onboard camera. The solid white interior suggests infinite possibilities for display, as technology evolves and share natives contribute ideas through feedback, the variety of ways the interior could serve as a 'digital native theatre' will expand, says Nissan.

The Tokyo Motor Show opens to the public on October 30 to November 8.

Electric, Hybrid, News

Nissan LEAF tests eVADER pedestrian recognition software

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Nissan has taken a leading role in the European Union-funded project 'eVADER' - to create an audible pedestrian alert system for electric cars.

With vehicles driven in electric mode, either hybrid or pure electric vehicles considerably quieter than combustion engined cars, they constitute a safety hazard for pedestrians and bicyclists in traffic. The eVADER project was founded to tackle the problem, with the help of many partners alongside Nissan including Renault, the Peugeot Citroen group and Continental tires to name a few.

In a move to assist pedestrian recognition of electric vehicles (EVs), Nissan has collaborated in the creation of a potential next generation pedestrian alert technology which produces effective and targetable audible cues to alert vulnerable road users to the presence of a nearby EV, whilst having minimal impact on noise pollution levels.

Pedestrian alert technology is currently a hot topic, as growing sales of EVs have led to discussions over the pros and cons of quiet EVs. The low sound levels have been heralded as a strong benefit, as they could contribute to a drastic reduction in noise pollution.

In 2010 Nissan introduced its LEAF - the first mass-market, all-electric EV - which has Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP), fitted as standard equipment. As a leading partner in the eVADER project, Nissan drew on its EV expertise to integrate the range of technologies provided by other consortium members and Nissan into the demonstration vehicle, and worked to ensure that the sounds created were clearly audible, whilst having as little impact as possible on ambient noise levels.

The sound created not only had to be directionally beamed at targeted pedestrians, it also had to keep annoyance levels to a minimum. Siren-like noises were ruled out at an early stage, as they were found to be irritating, loud and, in some cases, emotionally upsetting to other road users.

The final version of the system features a camera built into the windscreen, which is programmed to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. On detection of a road user, six loudspeakers directionally beam sound at the target to alert them of the presence of the EV. The sound is up to five decibels lower than the sound of a conventional petrol or diesel engine vehicle. Nissan then built this system into a LEAF for real-life trials, and the vehicle was used to showcase the completed alert system at a concluding event in Barcelona in December 2014, where it was well-received by the visually-impaired community.

David Quinn, Nissan's e-VADER Project Leader said: "Pedestrian safety is of the utmost importance to Nissan, which is why we already have a pedestrian alert installed in our EVs as a preventative measure. As leaders in the EV market, we were keen to use our considerable experience to examine possible systems for future development in this field. Our objective has been to find an optimum balance between ensuring the cars are detectable, whilst retaining the reduction in noise pollution, which is one of the great benefits that our EVs offer."

The research and results collated from this project form reference material for future research into this area, and it is likely that it will be utilised to shape future EU legislation on EV pedestrian alert sounds.

Crossover, News, SUV

Nissan X-Trail gets new frugal engine

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Nissan's new X-Trail has received a double boost with a new DIG-T 163 engine option, along with a price drop.

The introduction of the new DIG-T 163 engine simultaneously reduces the X-Trail's entry price to £21,995 - £1,460 lower than the current dCi 130 entry grade model.

Available to order now, with the first deliveries expected next month, the X-Trail's new 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit combines 'sharp performance with low CO2 output and exceptional fuel economy' says to Nissan.

Fuel consumption for Visia and Acenta models come in at 45.6mpg (44.1mpg for n-tec and Tekna), while CO2 emissions are 145g/km (149g/km for n-tec and Tekna). In terms of performance, the new X-Trail DIG-T 163 can sprint from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph.

Already a popular choice in the Qashqai range, the new DIG-T 163 engine is the most powerful engine in the new X-Trail range, and sits alongside the existing dCi 130PS unit.

With advanced turbocharging technology and features designed to maximise performance and economy, the new unit develops 163PS of power at 5,600rpm and 240Nm of torque between 2,000 and 4,000rpm. It is offered in two-wheel drive form only and a six-speed manual transmission is fitted as standard. To help drivers go further for less, the new DIG-T 163 is also equipped with Start/Stop ignition system .

The new DIG-T 163 engine is available across all standard X-Trail grades, with Acenta, n-tec and Tekna offering seven seater options.