New Car Reviews : nissan

Sneak Peek: 2009 Nissan 370Z

Jeffrey Ross — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:15:00 GMT

Nissan recently showed the first official images of its 2009 370Z sports coupe. Building off the heritage from the original 240Z in 1970, the new Z carries a sleek, sporty design as well as replacing the aged 350Z powerplant with a bigger, more powerful engine. The new look and increased power should help make the 370Z a more refined sports car and help eliminate the stigma of being the “poor man’s Corvette”.

The 2009 Nissan 370Z is the latest addition to the infamous Z car heritage and the new design gives a noticeable nod back to the original. While the 350Z was an eye-catching design when the car launched in 2003, the 370Z actually makes the current design look a bit conservative. The new car’s proportions are more in line with the 240Z with a long hood and swept windshield, while the roofline is almost straight from the A-pillar back to the rear fascia. Short overhangs and prominent wheel arches help increase the 370Z’s sporty stance. The wheel arches are even more prominent compared to its predecessor with headlight and taillight designs in line with the design language of the 2009 Nissan Altima.

Inside, the 370Z continues its improved sporty makeover. The most appreciated change inside the 370Z is the new steering wheel. While the 350Z used a three-spoke steering wheel that was seemingly pulled out of a Pathfinder, the 370Z’s wheel is sportier and more rounded helping to give the new cabin a look deserving of a sports car. Like the previous Z car, three gauges still sit atop the center stack above a supersized navigation screen.

Under the hood, the 370Z will use the same engine Infiniti uses in its G37 coupe. No specific details are available on the new Z car, but the G37 puts out 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Like the current 350Z, expect the new car to offer sporty options for both manual and automatic transmission. Power will continue to lay rubber via the rear wheels.

The 2009 Nissan 370Z will make its official debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on Nov. 19, 2008 and will go on sale early in 2009. Stay tuned as we’ll provide more information as it’s released.

Review written by: Jeffrey N. Ross
All photos courtesy of Nissan Motors

The Chrysler Tug of War - GM vs. Nissan

Jeffrey Ross — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:39:00 GMT

By now, the bleeding that is going on at Chrysler has attracted many sharks. The two biggest reports currently involve either General Motors or Nissan consuming the privately held automotive company in the near future – near enough that Chrysler has essentially stopped development of a latest and greatest replacement for the aging V-6 engine lineup. With Nissan and GM circling the SUV and truck-heavy brand, exactly which scenario would play out best for all parties involved as well as the local job markets employed by the companies? Ironically, both situations would mark a reunion of sorts for Jeep to past owners, but here’s our take on both situations:

The most prominent story right now is of a GM acquisition. Not only would this be devastating for Chrysler, but it a huge mark in the win column for the General being able to take out a major competitor. A major disadvantage for both GM and Chrysler in this situation would be the high amount of plant closures and job loss, not only in the United States but worldwide. Most likely, the Dodge and Chrysler brands would meet the same fate as Plymouth did in 2001, leaving Jeep somewhere along the lines of a booster to the HUMMER brand. This would mark the first time that HUMMER (or more so, its heritage from AM General) and Jeep have been under the same roof since 1983. Although most of Chrysler’s unit sales would be shed, the remaining additional sales could help GM take a big enough lead ahead of Toyota for top manufacturer in the world.

If Nissan were to acquire Chrysler, this could be looked at more as a merger than an acquisition. This would be the best possible scenario for all parties. Shedding overlapping models is still a definite concern for Chrysler’s three brands, but platform sharing with Nissan could bring Chrysler smaller, fuel-efficient cars, while Nissan would benefit from the truck and SUV platforms as well as the hybrid technology that Chrysler has already invested in. Currently, Nissan’s only hybrid vehicle is the limited production Nissan Altima that uses technology borrowed from rival Toyota. With the advanced technology behind the Chrysler-GM-BMW-Daimler two-mode hybrid system, Nissan could become the leading Japanese manufacturer

Currently, Nissan is the seventh-ranked automotive manufacturer in the world and a merger of this magnitude would dramatically increase Nissan’s annual sales numbers. Although a few models would undoubtedly be shed in this arrangement, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep would continue to exist and could help put Nissan Motors in the fifth position (according to 2007 sales statistics) worldwide among automakers. If Chrysler were to become a Nissan subsidiary, it would put Jeep back in the same parts bin as Renault for the first time since Chrysler bought the Jeep brand from AMC in 1987.

In the end, we think the best chance for success might be with Nissan-Renault, but in this economic environment, GM may have considerably more pull. And when it comes to a tug-of-war, you always want to have more pull.

2008 Nissan Rogue

Jeffrey Ross — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:38:00 GMT

By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com

The crossover SUV market is getting about as hot now as the original SUV craze was during the late 1990s. With car-based crossovers popping up from just about every manufacturer, Nissan saw an opportunity to compliment its popular Murano with a smaller crossover.

On sale now, Nissan extended its lineup of vehicles to include a compact crossover with the all-new 2008 Rogue. Built off the same platform as the Sentra, the Rogue gives Nissan a stylish competitor in the compact SUV market.

Outside, the Rogue looks like a watered-down Murano. While the Rogue is definitely an attractive little crossover, Nissan designers obviously decided to keep it safe and stay away from any groundbreaking or unique design elements that made the Murano popular.

Most of the Rogue’s individuality are apparent once inside. Once afforded only to high-end vehicles, the Rogue’s Intelligent Key System adds a touch of luxury and convenience. The Intelligent Key is simply a transponder that allows for quick, keyless entry into the vehicle and push-button ignition features are on the inside. Storage and cargo are also easily catered to with Rogue’s interior offerings. A cavernous glove compartment, 60/40 second row seat and front passenger seat and rear cargo area storage compartment all make the interior versatile and functional. The cargo capacity is ample holding 57.9 cubic feet with the second row seat folded down (28.9 cubic feet with the seat up).

In addition to many convenient features, Nissan made sure the Rogue was a safe vehicle, too. Standard safety features include: roof mounted side-curtain air bags, seat mounted front passenger side air bags, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control and vehicle dynamic control standard.

The largest downfall for the Rogue will most certainly be its lack of powertrain options – just one engine and one transmission.

When compared to its main competitors like the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson, the lack of an optional V6 may limit sales numbers. Similar to the Honda CR-V, the Rogue will rely solely on a four-cylinder engine. Rated at 170 horsepower, the Rogue’s DOHC 2.5-liter engine outperforms its four-cylinder equipped competitors (and almost the V6-powered Tucson).

The continually variable transmission (CVT) may help improve fuel economy and produce a smooth ride, but without a conventional five- or six-speed automatic transmission or even a manual transmission, Nissan severely limits the options on the Rogue. On the upscale SL model, the Rogue drivers are given a manual shift mode thanks to steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters.

Now some good news for the Rogue’s drivetrain. The Rogue comes standard with Intuitive All-Wheel Drive System that automatically switches from powering all four wheels to just the front wheels depending on the driving situation. During initial acceleration or cornering, the Rogue has power at all four wheels for optimal handling and once the vehicle reaches a cruising speed, power is diverted to the front wheels only to help the Rogue attain its EPA estimated 21 MPG city/26 MPG highway.

The Rogue hit showrooms in September with a starting MSRP of $19,250.

Nissan Sidesteps Market Trend with 2008 Altima Coupe

Jeffrey Ross — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:43:00 GMT

By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com

When market trends change in the automotive world, manufactures must adjust accordingly or risk losing sales and revenues. Such is the case with many manufacturers who chose to stick with the large SUV trend and are now left scrambling. So with the demise of mid-size coupes such as the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Toyota Camry Solara, it is almost surprising that Nissan will begin selling a coupe version of its Altima starting in May.

Nissan stunned many automotive enthusiasts with Altima Coupe that shared many design cues from other high-end, sporty Nissans. The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offers styling similar to the G35 coupe with the sportiness of the iconic 350Z for less than the Maxima. The Altima has always been the lowly step-sibling to the larger, sportier Maxima, but the all-new, 270-horsepower Altima Coupe should help pull the Altima from the entry-level status.

Looks alone should be enough to make this a successful car for Nissan but throw in a low price and decent handling and the Altima Coupe could turn out to be quite a hit. It’s clear that Nissan didn’t want the Altima Coupe just to be a two-door version of the sedan, and in fact, the only body panel shared between the Altima Coupe and sedan is the hood. The coupe also benefits from a shorter wheelbase and overall length to increase both handling and performance. A lower ride height should give the coupe a more aggressive stance and should help handling, as well.

The Altima Coupe will also benefit from equal length axle shafts and having the engine sit lower in the cradle which should help to eliminate the dreaded torque steer while improving balance in the corners.

The 2008 Nissan Altima coupe hits showrooms in May with a starting MSRP for the base model of $20,490. The base 2.5 S Altima Coupe features a 175-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, while the upgraded 3.5 SE’s 270-horsepower V6 directs power to the front wheels through the standard six-speed manual transmission and has a starting MSRP of just $24,890. Both models offer an available with Nissan’s Xtronic continually variable transmission (CVT) for increased responsiveness for an additional $500.

With the addition of the Altima Coupe to the Altima sedan and Altima Hybrid, Nissan seems to have the Honda Accord dead in its sights.

Big Nissans get new look for Chicago debut

Jeffrey Ross — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:09:00 GMT

By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com

It appears that even though Nissan has decided to move its headquarters from California to Tennessee, the Japanese automaker will maintain a west coast state of mind. Nissan’s answer to a midlife crisis is remarkably close to what California is known for: facelifts.

It appears that even though Nissan has decided to move its headquarters from California to Tennessee, the Japanese automaker will maintain a west coast state of mind. Nissan’s answer to a midlife crisis is remarkably close to what California is known for: facelifts.

Nissan’s biggest vehicles, the Pathfinder, Armada and Titan, are now entering their mid-cycle crisis (too soon to be redesigned but in need of an update) to which Nissan will remedy by giving them subtle, yet much-improved looks thanks to updated headlights, fascias and grilles. The big Nissan trio will be officially unveiled at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show.

The most improved is the 2008 Pathfinder due in large part to the addition of an optional V8 in the engine bay. When Nissan completely redesigned the Pathfinder for 2005, critics were quick to point out the lacking V8. Competing with the likes of the Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer and Toyota 4Runner may seem like a daunting task, but the Pathfinder is up to the challenge with a 5.6-liter V8 that will pump out at least 300 horsepower.

To go with the new engine, the front end received a new fascia and grille. The revised front will give the 2008 Pathfinder a more rounded look, while the wider grille and bumper opening should allow more air flow to cool off the V8. The most attractive visual update is by far the new 12-spoke wheels. Inside, the biggest difference is in the center stack, which houses the radio and HVAC control unit. The new center stack is more ergonomically arranged highlighted by a large GPS display screen. The new HVAC controls are more integrated with the rest of the instruments and now use push buttons instead of dials.

Since dropping the Pathfinder moniker from its name a year after being released, the Armada has not received any updates. Three years into its cycle, the 2008 Armada will get a slight facelift (new fascia and grille) to help differentiate it from the similarly designed Titan pickup. While both vehicles add stylish flares to the wheel arches, the Armada’s new fascia eliminates the large chrome insert in the middle of the bumper and reduces the gap between the bumper and the fenders – both create an improved, clean look.

The Armada’s truck-like interior also receives a new look that aims to be more accommodating and user friendly. The instrument panel is all new and features a new, larger center stack and a new instrument cluster among, but the best interior improvement is the door panels. Previously, the window switches were up high along the window line and out of the way for a driver’s use. The new door panels have the switches at an even level with the arm rest for quick and easy access.

Unfortunately for both the Pathfinder and Armada, Nissan continues the use of the C-pillar door handle on the rear passenger doors. This unique placement of the door handle started on the first generation Pathfinder in 1986, but especially on the larger Armada, the lack of traditional door handles makes the rear portion of both vehicles look awkward from some angles.

The biggest change for the 2008 Titan is the addition of a long wheelbase version on the Crew Cab model. Previously, the long bed was available only on the King Cab model, but a longer wheelbase will allow for a Crew Cab with a larger cargo bed - allowing the Titan to compete more successfully in the lucrative full-size pickup segment. While not quite a true long bed, the new model should be a perfect blend of cargo capability and parking lot manageability.

It’s unknown whether or not the Titan will get the same interior updates as the Armada, but one major update is the addition of an optional power sliding rear window. Towing capacity is up slightly meaning that the Titan is still in the middle of the pack behind the all-new Silverado and Tundra but ahead of the Dodge Ram.