Category: Nissan

2015 Facelifted Nissan Sunny Leaked?

Images of the 2015 facelifted Nissan Sunny have been leaked on to Chinese auto site Sohu. Introduced at the 2010 Guangzhou Auto Show, the Sunny is expected to be given a mid-cycle refresh and the images shown here come from China, where the refreshed Sunny could go on sale first. According to the Chinese media, the new Sunny could make its debut at the Chengdu Auto Show in September.

From the grainy pictures, the biggest change will evidently be to the headlights with the Sunny getting boomerang-style units as seen on the new Nissan Micra. Other changes to the grille and front bumper are in the works with a new housing for fog lights and the addition of a chrome strip.

A bigger chrome strip finds its way to the rear-end of the sedan, and a restyled bumper can be seen. New alloy wheels make up all the changes to the sides, and the interiors are expected to be the same as well. All in all, as it stands, the mid-cycle refresh isn’t a major overhaul, but only time will tell whether this will really be the production model, or if more changes are yet to be executed.

[Source: Sohu via IndianAutosBlog]

July 29, 2013
Renault-Nissan Has Sold 1,00,000 Zero-Emission Cars

Allison Howard, American graduate student at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia purchased a Nissan Leaf earlier this month. That Nissan Leaf was the 1,00,000th zero-emission car sold by the Renault-Nissan alliance.

The age of the mainstream zero-emission vehicle is here. We expect demand to keep growing as the charging infrastructure develops – and we remain 100 percent committed to zero-emission technology for the long term.

– Carlos Ghosn, CEO, Renault-Nissan

Renault-Nissan has sold more zero-emission cars than all other automotive manufacturers put together. Electric cars sold by the French-Japanese alliance have driven approximately 841 million kilometers, enough to circle the earth more than 20,000 times, and they have produced no-emissions while doing so. Together, they have saved 53 million litres of oil and prevented emissions of 124 million kg of CO2.

The Nissan Leaf makes up more than half of all global sales of pure electric driven cars. More than 71,000 sales comfortably makes it the world’s best-selling electric vehicle. The Nissan Leaf won the 2011 World Car of the Year, European Car of the Year 2011 and Car of the Year Japan 2011-2012 awards.The top markets for the Leaf are the United States with about 30,000 units, Japan with 28,000 units, and Europe with 12,000 units.

Comparatively, Renault has sold 30,000 electric vehicles since late 2011, looking after other segments of the EV market with the Kangoo Z.E., Zoe, Twizy and Fluence Z.E.

July 25, 2013
Ashok Leyland Stile MPV Unveiled

Ashok Leyland has unveiled the production version of the Stile MPV. The Stile is a rebadged Nissan Evalia and is stripped down to be priced lower than the Nissan. The Stile is ‘styled’ differently to its Nissan equivalent. It also gets a lower-spec version of the 1.5-litre Renault-derived K9K turbo diesel engine, which produces 75 bhp and 185 Nm of torque. Compared to this, the Nissan Evalia produces 85 bhp and 200 Nm of torque.

The Stile is expected to gain a CNG powered variant with a petrol engine serving as the base. Ashok Leyland has many body styles in mind regarding the Stile’s usage. These include but are not limited to 7/8 seat options for the passenger variant, an ambulance and a panel van.

The Ashok Leyland Stile is expected to be launched in September and further details including pricing will be revealed at the same time. The MPV was unveiled by Carlos Ghosn, the global Chairman and CEO, of Nissan and Renault, when he was in Delhi for the unveiling of the Datsun Go. The Stile will be sold from Ashok Leyland’s dealerships but will be manufactured by Nissan at Oragadam.

July 20, 2013
Nismo Micra may be in Nissan India’s plans

The Micra has performed averagely in the Indian markets since its launch in 2010 and Nissan is well aware of it. The hatchback’s facelifted version was launched in India, immediately after its international unveiling, and with more universally attractive styling too. Reports from Autocar India suggest that Nissan is now pondering over the introduction of a hot version of the Micra, tuned by its performance division, Nismo (Nissan Motorsport).

The new Nismo Micra was revealed internationally soon after the base version and features lots of tempting updates. The Nismo Micra (or March, as it’s called in Japan) offers new bumpers, side skirts and wheels and lots of typical Nismo red accents. The international version gets a different exhaust, stiffer suspension and bigger brakes as well, but these features may not make it to India due to cost-cutting, assuming the car makes it to India at all. The Nismo Micra also has sporty and comfortable interiors.

The international model’s 114bhp, 16kgm, 1.5-litre petrol engine should however make it on to the Indian version. Nissan is working hard to make the deal go through, and introduce the Nismo Micra in the increasingly competitive Indian market, however the move has not been finalised yet. If it does go through, we can expect the car to cost upwards of Rs. 8 Lakh.

[Autocar India]

July 5, 2013
Nissan launches facelifted Micra and cheaper variant called Active

The facelifted Nissan Micra has been launched in India, and it now comes with the option of a CVT to rid you of any gear-shifting troubles you may have. For those of you who aren’t aware, a CVT or a continuously variable transmission can shift steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between specified minimum and maximum values. This rids the car of any sudden gearshifts and eliminates jerky changes which may occur in standard auto gearboxes.

Anyway, back to Nissan, who will also be offering a low-cost variant of the Micra called the Micra Active henceforth. Prices for the Micra Active start at Rs 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The new Micra has an updated front end with new headlamps, a larger grille and a deeper chin putting forth an aggressive face for the hatchback. The bonnet and front fenders have been played with as well, to accommodate the new headlamps. The overall length of the car is up by 45mm as compared to its predecessor. At the rear, there are LED tail-lamps, a new rear bumper and a plastic add-on for the tail gate lip. The new Micra also gets new alloy wheels.

Step inside and you’ll find new reshaped seats, to provide better support. The centre console is glossy black and plenty of silver highlights catch one’s eyes on the dash and doorpads. Keyless entry and go, climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and aux-in ports and a reversing camera have been added to the features list.

The CVT ’box is available only with the 1.2-litre petrol engine. The carmaker claims that the new gearbox is very fuel efficient (19.34kpl) and improves upon the standard five-speed manual’s economy (18.44kpl). The sound insulation has also been improved and the suspension has been tweaked. The 1.5-litre diesel delivers 23.08kpl (all fuel economy figures are ARAI claimed).

The 2013 Micra Diesel can be ordered in four trims, but the petrol is available in only three and the CVT ‘box option can be ordered only with the XV petrol variant.

It’s younger brother, the Micra Active is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol motor which provides 19.49kpl (ARAI claimed). Three variants are on offer, the XE, XL and XL (Safety). Dual airbags, central locking and EBD, among other features make it onto the car.

2013 Nissan Micra Prices (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Diesel

XL: Rs 5.9L
XL (Option): Rs 6.43L
XV: Rs 6.9L
XV Premium Rs 7.14L

Petrol

XL: Rs 4.79L
XL (O): Rs 5.42L
XV CVT (Auto): Rs 6.39L

Nissan Micra Active Prices (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Petrol only

XE: Rs 3.5L
XL: Rs 4.01L
XV: Rs 4.3L
XV (Safety): Rs 4.71L

July 4, 2013
Datsun reveals sketches teasing first model

Reborn Datsun has revealed design sketches of its first model in 32 years which will make its world debut on July 15^th in New Delhi. The car will mark the return of the Nissan-owned Datsun brand after it was discontinued in 1986. The first new-generation Datsun model is a five-seater hatchback designed for growing economies like India, Russia, Indonesia and South Africa, targeted at an aspirational middle class that is fast embracing car ownership.

Internally known as the K2, the first Datsun model will be based on the Nissan Micra platform and will get its three-cylinder, 1.2-liter gasoline engine but with different tuning. Although no interior pics were provided, it is believed the gear lever and handbrake will be positioned on the center console to free space between the front seats.

In direct competition with the Hyundai i10 and Maruti Wagon R, the Datsun hatch is expected with a sticker price of around Rs. 3.2 lakh when it goes on sale in mid-2014.

July 2, 2013