August 2008

2009 Nissan Rogue Named TOP SAFETY PICK BY IIHS
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Posted by: Matt

08.20.2008
The Nissan Rogue has earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The Rogue, as well as nine other small SUVs, was evaluated for front, side and rear crash protection. The Top Safety Pick award recognizes vehicles that provide superior overall crash protection among vehicles in their class and only includes vehicles with available electronic stability control, the Rogue comes standard with Nissan’s electronic stability control system, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).

About the safety features of the Nissan Rogue:
The 2008 Nissan Rogue offers a full complement of standard safety features, including vehicle dynamic control with a traction control system, multiple standard air bags, featuring the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and an occupant classification sensor, roof-mounted curtain supplemental side-impact air bags for front-and rear-seat occupant head protection, along with a standard Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and driver/passenger seat belt warning lamps. Also standard are front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchors and tether system, front seats with active head restraints and Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones to help dissipate crash energy away from the passenger compartment.

Contact Info: Matt

Official announcement of 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Posted by: Matt

All-New Infiniti G37 Convertible Readies For Debut. Infiniti offers the first look at the upcoming 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, which makes its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The new G Convertible features a fully automatic 3-piece folding top – providing a coupe-like silhouette and all-weather protection when up and exhilarating open-air motoring when in the down position.
The G37 Convertible will be powered by a 3.7-liter V6 producing 320-plus horsepower. It goes on sale at Infiniti retailers nationwide in early 2009.

For more information on the complete lineup of Infiniti vehicles, visit: http://www.infiniti.com.


Contact Info: Matt

INFINITI ELEVATES 2009 G LINEUP WITH INSPIRIN
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Posted by: Matt

When you have a vehicle line – say the Infiniti G – that has chalked up award after award, topped comparison test after comparison test, and endeared itself to a growing legion of passionate owners, what do you do for an encore? If you happen to be a world-class performance luxury brand – say like Infiniti – the answer is simple: Everything. The popular Infiniti G roars into the 2009 model year with an extensive array of changes, including:

  • The addition of an all-new Infiniti G37 Convertible model, slated to launch in the first quarter of 2009


  • A new 328-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine for the Infiniti G Sedan – now designated the G37 Sedan


  • A new all-wheel drive model for the Infiniti G Coupe, the G37x


  • A new 7-speed automatic transmission for all Infiniti G models (6-speed manuals transmissions also available)


  • “A little success makes you want to try harder. A lot of success makes you want to blow the doors off the competition again – which we’re poised to do with the new, intensified Infiniti G lineup for 2009,” said Ben Poore, Infiniti’s vice president of marketing. “Year after year we strive to offer our customers one of the freshest product lineups in the industry – which we’ve done again in 2009 with the new second-generation Infiniti FX, upcoming G Convertible and the enhanced G37 Coupe and G37 Sedan.”

    2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
    The all-new G37 Convertible, the first-ever open-air G, is set for a mid-2009 model year introduction. Based on the current G37 Coupe, the G Convertible promises stunningly seductive styling and G-worthy dynamic performance. The new G37 Convertible will feature a three-piece automatic retracting hardtop, to keep a coupe-like roofline, and available unique interior treatment. Audio and HVAC systems have been enhanced to provide an inviting experience with the top up or down.

    The all-new Infiniti G37 Convertible is set to make its world debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

    2009 Infiniti G37 Sport Sedan
    The Infiniti G premium high-performance sport sedan receives a significant upgrade under the skin in 2009 with the addition of a new VQ37VHR “VVEL” 3.7-liter V6 rated at 328 horsepower. It is mated to a new 7-speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission.

    Now designated as the Infiniti G37 Sedan, other major changes include new available sport brakes with 4-piston front/2-piston rear calipers and large 14-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors, a new sport 18-inch wheel design and standard Scratch Shield paint (self-healing clearcoat finish).

    The 2009 G37 Sedan is available in four models – G37, G37 Journey, G37S Sport 6MT and G37x AWD. It goes on sale in September 2008.

    2009 Infiniti G37 Sport Coupe
    For 2009, the G37 Coupe’s performance envelope expands with the addition of a new G37x AWD model with advanced ATESSA E-TSÔ all-wheel drive system. Also new for 2009 is a 7-speed automatic transmission with Drive Sport (DS) Mode and Downshift Rev Matching (the G37 Coupe is also available with a 6-speed manual transmission).

    All 2009 G37 Coupes receive standard Scratch Shield paint (self-healing clearcoat finish). The 2009 G37 Coupe is available in four models – G37, G37 Journey, G37S Sport 6MT and G37x AWD – each with standard 330-horsepower 3.7-liter VQ-series V6 with VVEL technology. It goes on sale in September 2008.

    About Infiniti
    Infiniti continues to lead the industry with an extensive list of available equipment and technology designed to create an exhilarating and rewarding driving experience, including VVEL (for Variable Valve Event & Lift) engine technology, ATTESA E-TSä Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, Rear Active Steer, 4-Wheel Active Steer, Continuous Damping Control (CDC)®, Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA), Distance Control Assist (DCA), Intelligent Cruise Control (Full Speed Range), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system and Around View Monitor.

    Infiniti offers a full-line of luxury performance automobiles, including the G sports coupe and sedan, the M luxury performance sedan, FX premium crossover SUV, QX full-size luxury SUV, and the EX personal luxury crossover. More information about Infiniti and its Total Ownership Experienceâ can be found at Infiniti.com.

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    Contact Info: Matt

    NISSAN PREVIEWS ALL-AROUND "COLLISION FREE" PROTOTYPE
    Saturday, August 9, 2008
    Posted by: Matt

    - Two all-new technologies introduced: Side Collision Prevention and Back-up Collision Prevention -

    TOKYO (August 5, 2008) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has unveiled an All-Around Collision Free prototype incorporating two all-new technologies – Side Collision Prevention (SCP) and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP). Incorporating the available Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems, this latest prototype vehicle further extends Nissan’s “Safety Shield” concept to help protect the vehicle and its occupants from potential risks coming from multiple directions.





    Side Collision Prevention: When the driver decides to change lanes, the side-mounted sensors activates a warning if an approaching vehicle is detected in the drivers intended lane. A yaw mechanism is then activated through brake control of individual wheels, to help prevent a potential collision.



    Back-up Collision Prevention: During a reversing maneuver, rear and side-mounted sensors detect objects in the path of the vehicle. If an object is detected an alarm sounds followed by the activation of the brakes, to help avoid a collision in situations such as when a vehicle is backing out of a parking space.



    The DCA helps maintain an adequate following distance, while the LDP helps to prevent the vehicle from veering off its designated driving lane. Both the DCA and LDP systems complement the SCP and BCP to create the All-Around Collision Free prototype. The warning system and pre-emptive safety features are designed to help support the driver in an intuitive manner with minimal intervention.
    On a global level, Nissan is committed to build safer vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies. In Japan, the company’s safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.
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    Contact Info: Matt

    NISSAN PREVIEWS NEXT GENERATION ENVIRONMENTAL VEHICLES
    Saturday, August 9, 2008
    Posted by: Matt

    - All-electric and original hybrid electric prototypes unveiled –

    TOKYO (August 6, 2008) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled all-electric and original hybrid electric prototype vehicles, both powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries. Under the NISSAN GT 2012 business plan, the company has committed to zero-emission vehicle leadership, and has announced plans to introduce an all-electric
    vehicle in 2010 and mass market globally in 2012.



    Electric Vehicle (EV)
    Powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries, the EV prototype is part of Nissan’s substantial research and development program on zero emission vehicles. This latest generation vehicle features a front-wheel drive layout and uses a newly developed 80kW motor and inverter. The advanced laminated compact lithium-ion batteries are installed under the floor, without sacrificing either cabin or cargo space.

    The production vehicle to be introduced in 2010 will have a unique bodystyle and is not based on any existing Nissan model.

    Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
    The Nissan original HEV delivers two breakthrough technologies – a high-performance rear-wheel drive hybrid system and parallel-powertrain hybrid system. The hybrid employs Nissan’s own originally developed hybrid technology and its first rear-wheel drive hybrid powertrain.

    The parallel-powertrain system comprises an energy-optimizing system with two clutches, where one motor is directly connected to an engine and transmission via two separate clutches. Under changing driving conditions, the motor switches between the two clutches to optimize and conserve energy utilization as well as improve fuel-efficiency.
    The parallel-powertrain hybrid system eliminates the need for conventional torque converters, contributing to higher responsiveness and linear acceleration for improved driving feel.

    The dynamic characteristics of the clutches are as follows:
    Idle-stop: The battery is used to power the motor to save on fuel.
    Regular driving: The engine is used to power the motor as well as regenerate the battery.

    Acceleration: Both the engine and battery (power assist) is used to power the motor to achieve smooth acceleration.
    Deceleration: Energy from braking is conserved and re-routed back to regenerate the battery.

    Lithium-ion Battery
    The advanced lithium-ion batteries used in both prototypes are sourced from the Nissan-NEC joint-venture, AESC (Automotive Energy Supply Corporation). These advanced batteries offer superior performance, reliability, safety, versatility and cost competitiveness, compared to the conventional nickel metal-hydride batteries. Its compact laminated configuration delivers twice the electric power compared to conventional nickel-metal hydride batteries with a cylindrical configuration. The compact batteries also allow for improved vehicle packaging and a wide range of applications.

    Nissan has long experience in electric-powered vehicle development, commencing from the first EV "Tama Electric Vehicle" back in 1947. The company introduced the world’s first application of lithium-ion batteries to the Prarie Joy EV in 1996, followed by the ultra-compact electric vehicle, Hypermini, released in 2000. Nissan also introduced its first original hybrid vehicle Tino Hybrid back in 1999 in Japan. In 2006, the Altima Hybrid was introduced in North America using licensed technology.

    Under the Nissan Green Program 2010 environmental plan, the company aims to develop new technologies, products and services that can lead to real-world reductions in vehicle CO2 emissions, cleaner emissions, and recycling of resources. Nissan continues to invest substantially in a wide range of technologies including CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift), clean diesels, biofuels and fuel cell vehicles.

    Contact Info: Matt