Twin Turbo 350z vs Lamborghini Gallardo Street Race.
If you put twin turbo to your car you can make, you can bit any fancy car…
Check this…

2003 Nissan Serenity - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Serenity is a next-generation multipurpose saloon with seating for six occupants, combining the sporty luxury of a sedan with minivan roominess. Offering an optimal balance of driving performance, luxuriousness and spaciousness, Serenity proposes an advanced fusion of sport sedan and multipurpose vehicle (MPV) that thoroughly pursues comfort for all occupants.

2003 Nissan Serenity - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The design theme of Serenity is “Japanese DNA.” Both the exterior and interior are inspired with a unique Japanese feeling that projects a refined tranquility characteristic of Japanese culture.

Along with its pursuit of a stress-free interior ambiance, Serenity also comes with a wealth of cutting-edge IT technologies reflecting innovative ideas. Serenity proposes a future image of enriched motoring experiences that all occupants can enjoy in complete comfort.

2003 Nissan Serenity - www.robson.m3rlin.org

The side windows are designed with a distinctive shape reminiscent of a folding fan. While securing excellent visibility, the shape also gives the impression of enveloping and protecting those inside, thus combining beauty with function. In addition, the front mask, suggestive of Kabuki facial make-up, has resulted from a fusion of essential functionality with a distinct Japanese pattern like that seen in latticework.

2003 Nissan Serenity - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Conveying an image of purity and fine quality, the interior was inspired by Japanese elements such as ink paintings, cherry blossoms and wave-like patterns. The two-tone interior color coordination scheme is based on a bright, colorful cherry beige that is combined with a subdued dark gray. The scheme expresses a relaxing ambiance that comes from a neatly ordered and decorous dynamic balance.

2003 Nissan Serenity - www.robson.m3rlin.org

Ergonomically designed, stress-free seats provide comfortable interior roominess. Based on the concept of neutral posture, the seats recline to disperse a seated occupant’s body pressure so as to avoid putting any strain on the lower back.

-Human-machine interfaces (HMI) and cutting-edge Information Technologies include the magical 4 HMI concept that facilitates stress-free, centralised control and the Horizontal Meter Unit for optimal and timely presentation of information to the driver.

Nissan Effis unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Show

Effis city commuter car combines Nissan’s newly developed Super Motor and Compact Lithium-ion Battery with a fuel cell stack. Effis shows one possibility for future fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) that will require an ultra-small, lightweight design. An all-new concept is incorporated in the multiconfigurable arrangement of the instrument panel and seats. This arrangement secures comfortable seating space for three occupants plus enough room for one more person. The three-meter overall length allows agile maneuverability.

Nissan is vigorously researching and developing hybrid vehicles, FCVs and other next-generation powertrain system technologies that offer outstanding environmental friendliness and are focused squarely on future needs. The unique technologies embodied in Effis are some examples of the latest fruits of Nissan’s R&D activities.

Nissan’s unique technologies for a compact, high-efficiency powertrain
The revolutionary new Super Motor is a compact, high-efficiency unit that features two output shafts, both of which can be controlled independently. Because the power obtained from the two shafts can be controlled separately, driving force can be distributed to the right and left wheels independently. On Effis, one Super Motor each is positioned in the front and rear axles to allow independent control of all four wheels for a further enhancement of dynamic performance and stability.

The adoption of Nissan’s unique Compact Lithium-ion Battery with its thin, space-saving design increases packaging efficiency to achieve a smaller size and a lighter weight, attributes that are indispensable to a city commuter car.

Locating the fuel cell stack, inverter and Compact Lithium-ion Battery under the floor not only enhances interior roominess and comfort, it also contributes to optimizing the car’s weight balance. The auxiliary units are housed in the front nose while the hydrogen tank is located under the rear seat, making it possible to engineer an FCV with an overall length of just three meters.

Minimalist commuter car design focused on future urban life
‘3.5 seater concept’ that is freely adaptable to various urban life needs Effis embodies versatile multifunctionality resembling that of Japanese ‘furoshiki,’ or wrapping cloth. Though minimal in its original form, a furoshiki can be freely transformed in shape depending on the object to be wrapped, while always retaining its functionality regardless of how its shape is changed. Seating space for three persons plus additional room for still another occupant has been achieved within the limited overall length by adopting the ‘3.5 seater concept,’ featuring a flexibly configurable instrument panel and seating arrangements.

When the interior is configured for just one person aboard, the rotational instrument panel, which expands and retracts in an arc shape, can be pulled out for use as a rotary table that incorporates a cup holder and places for storing small items. When configured for two occupants in the front seats, the seatback of the rear seat is folded down to allow full use of the space for luggage. In the three-seater configuration, the rotational instrument panel is retracted toward the front, the passenger’s seat is slid forward (maximum travel of 240 mm) to allow the rear seat to be raised, and the head restraint is pulled up. This arrangement seats three adults comfortably, plus it also provides ample additional space behind the driver’s seat to accommodate a fourth occupant of small stature.

The steering wheel incorporates a mechanism for tilting it upward, which expands the effective space of the driver’s seat and also allows the driver to enter easily from the passenger’s side.

Lightweight body and seats incorporating state-of-the-art technologies
One of the notable features of Effis is the extensive application of aluminum and plastic to the body as weight reduction technologies. The body panels adopt electrolitically colored aluminum. This technology for coloring aluminum combines a chemical surface treatment with dyeing, rather than using paint that would increase the weight. The body features flexible application of coloring to accentuate the perceived quality of the metal itself.

As a result of thoroughly considering convenience of use in urban life and vehicle weight reductions, Effis is built with one driver-side door, two double-hinged doors on the passenger’s side and only an openable glass hatch at the rear. The passenger-side rear door provides access to the rear seat and is also used for loading and unloading cargo.

The front seats are manufactured in an integrated molding process by injecting foamed resin into the mold in which the frame has already been placed. This material provides a pleasant tactile sensation without requiring any covering, while also achieving a lighter weight and high recyclability.

Nissan unveiled it’s Nissan GT-R PROTO yesterday at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. This model will be the concept where the next Nissan Skyline R35 GT-R will be based on.

It’s more of a design concept than a full-blown concept car though. No engine specifications or other tidbits about the new car have been revealed so far.
At first glance it looks much like the original Nissan Skyline GT-R R35 Concept unveiled at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show.

Nissan’s designer team led by Shiro Nakamura have created a sleek looking mean machine. The body design flows pretty well, looks very aerodynamic. Of course, you have the trademark Skyline round taillamps at the back.

The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is a legend before it even enters production.

Born from a long line of Skyline GT-Rs dating back to 1969, this latest version — “R36″ to the hard-core — promises to pack more turbocharged power, more all-wheel-drive technology and more sheer speed than any Japanese car ever to come to America.
Editorial Coverage

For six years the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R has been the subject of intense rumors and frenzied speculation. Frequent sightings of GT-R test mules help fuel the excitement. We’ve caught GT-R prototypes on the streets of L.A. and the Nürburgring test track in Germany. Nissan’s engineers also made a trip to a couple California racetracks, bringing the GT-R to both Laguna Seca and Sears Point.

Why is this car followed so closely? Because the Skyline GT-R R36 is expected to be the ne plus ultra of Japanese performance machinery; and after 30 years of waiting, it’s finally America’s turn to officially take part in all the fun.

The Allure of Forbidden Fruit
The original Nissan Skyline GT-R
might have hit the street in 1969, but it wasn’t until 1990 that the GT-R legend would be solidified. That was the year the Skyline GT-R was introduced to an utterly stunned Japanese market. It was the first of three twin-turbocharged, all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering Skylines (R32, R33 and R34) and it’s the generation upon which the Skyline GT-R legend rests.

Though the R34 left production after the 2003 model year, it was so beloved that Nissan’s Nismo division actually bought 20 used Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec models during 2005 and completely rebuilt them into what is currently considered the greatest GT-R of them all — the $170,000, 500-horsepower Skyline GT-R Z-Tune.

Although Nissan never imported the Skyline GT-R to the United States, the supercar still found its way into America’s automotive consciousness. In fact, buying one in the U.S. became relatively easy. By the dawn of the 21st century, several hundred had been imported.

So prominent had the Nissan Skyline GT-R become that in 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious, the film’s hero drove and raced one through the streets of Miami. And the actor Paul Walker, who played the role, bought his own and modified it.

America’s GT-R
At the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan showed the GT-R Concept as the prospective successor to the R34. By early 2005, modified G35 coupes with Infiniti badges, oversize wheels and tires, big rear wings, hood scoops and bodywork protrusions big enough to hide exotic exhaust systems in back or intercoolers up front were spied at the Nürburgring.

These weren’t just tuner cars, but full-fledged prototypes of the next GT-R.

Then in the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, another GT-R showcar appeared called the GT-R Proto; and the new, innovative shape of the next GT-R was apparent. Obviously based on Nissan’s FM-code front midengine chassis, this GT-R would apparently use a turbocharged version of the VQ V6 with a seven-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.

And at the 2006 New York Auto Show, Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that, yes finally, the new Skyline GT-R R36 would be sold in the United States and it would be sold worldwide exclusively through Nissan, and not Infiniti. And apparently without the Skyline name.

That’s right, it’ll officially be called the Nissan GT-R. Yeah, right, just like the 2007 Mazda Miata is the MX-5.

Almost Ready To Rock
Since then, more prototypes of the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R with sheet metal nearly identical to the GT-R Proto have been often seen at the Nürburgring and in America’s Southwest, usually in the company of at least one Porsche 911 Turbo. It’s that 480-hp, all-wheel-drive Porsche that Nissan is obviously using as its performance benchmark for this car.

But when the new production GT-R R36 goes on sale after its debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, we don’t expect it to carry a price tag near that Porsche’s $122,000 chit. Instead the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is expected to run somewhere around $70,000, making it a contender to take the title of best value supercar from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

No wonder it’s the most eagerly anticipated car in a generation. And to feed that anticipation, we’ll be updating this page with new information, photos and anything else related to the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R R36 until the official unveiling at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

Like oil and water, families and sports cars have typically been at odds with each other, neither one complementing the other with great success. Automobile manufacturers have struggled at length to find a solution that can accommodate enthusiast drivers, along with their children.

For people who dont want to sacrifice performance for pragmatism, Nissan may just have the ideal fusion of sports car performance and practicality. The Tone concept, which was displayed at this years Paris Motor Show, is a crossover hatchback cum mini-minivan, biased heavily toward those passionate about driving. While forecasting the future of crossover vehicles, even more importantly the Tone foreshadows a similar production vehicle available
for consumers as soon as 2006. Nissan may just have the ideal fusion of sports car performance and family hauling practicality.

When production of this vehicle begins, purchasers will be treated to one of the smallest Nissans in an expansive model range. This one, however, is definitely not short on style, pulling cues from the entire range of Nissan cars, sport utilities and previous concept vehicles. Nissan followed a strict regime of deliberate masculinity when designing the Tones interior, necessary to extract the stigma of the dreaded minivan. Some of the highlights of this change include real, brushed aluminum inserts featured on the semi-circular center console and the navigation display on the upper dashboard. In addition, the contoured, sport bucket seats with metallic-effect black, purple and silver leather trim belong in the sports car realm rather than in the minivan segment. Air vents that duplicate the styling of the front grille, while red LED mood lighting and a black and purple weave headliner set the interior apart – the latter matching the seating surfaces and exterior paint.

The Tones cabin is practical and efficient, ideal for running daily errands with the family. The rest of the Tones cabin is practical and efficient, more suitable for the family side of the transportation equation. A pair of wide-hinged doors allows easy access to the rear seating areas, while two oblong glass panels on the Tones roof follow Nissans recent unorthodox sunroof trend – the Maxima and Quest come immediately to mind – allowing the interior to be bathed in natural light. This helps to provide a sense of roominess in what is otherwise a predominantly dark interior; a nice, family-friendly feature. The Tone also comes with a built-in tissue dispenser and several hidden storage spaces, including a large cubby in the center console. If the standard trunk space isnt enough, the concepts rear seats fold,providing a flat space for extra storage along the floor of the trunk.

Like the Micra, not available in North America, the Tone uses Smart Key, which automatically locks and unlocks the car via proximity sensors, while preparing the car for ignition without the use of the key.

Aside from comfort and convenience, Nissan stylist Taiji Toyota (thats truly his name) has certainly addressed the issue of exterior styling in this sporty crossover. Attempting to convey an athletic character, Toyota included 17-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in low-profile rubber, complimented by a wide front and rear track.

The shape of the upright HID headlamps, which bulge above the fenders surface, is derived from the charismatic look of Nissans subcompact Micra. The roofline peaks just above the drivers window, another element of the design language carried over from the Micra in addition to a high window-line and short bumpers that seemingly integrate into the body.

Nissan seems proud of its own cleverness in past designs, as evidenced by the integration of a grinning, two-tier chrome front radiator grille, which is immediately recognizable as being partially derived from the Murano. Nissans Qashqai concept car, which had its debut in Geneva earlier this year, also had a direct influence on the Tones styling. Borrowed from the concept are several features, including the triangular shape of the rear windows, as well as the boomerang-style LED taillamps which wrap around to the roof. In the end, the design of the Tone is a refreshing change, especially for a segment that rarely produces anything particularly tempting when it comes to appearances.

Another breath of fresh air inherent in the Tone concept is less noticeable, its chassis architecture. Making clear its production intentions Nissans crossover is based on the recently introduced European-division B-segment platform, developed and shared by Nissan and Renault. The advanced chassis made its debut on the Renault Modus mini-MPV earlier this year, and will be used by Nissan to underpin the next generation of Micra subcompacts. In contrast to the Modus, which occupies the same market segment as the Tone, Nissans version is longer and larger than its French counterpart. At 159.6 inches in length, the Tone is roughly the same size as Toyotas Echo Sedan, but it features a massive 102.4 inch wheelbase, which is a mere 0.98 inches shorter than the X-Trail. Height, at 60.7 inches is quite low, to reduce the center of gravity in order to maintain ideal driving manners.

Though this spirited vehicle was exhibited for the first time as a concept car at the recent Paris Motor Show, Nissan officials have already given a production version the green light. It could be likely that we will see real aluminum in the cockpit, following in the tire tracks of bigger brother Murano, its highly unlikely the fancy silver and purple, weave-leather seating will make it to a showroom near you anytime soon. Nevertheless, the Tones overall cockpit design should carry over to production, with a few minor changes. The Tone will be built at Nissans Sunderland plant in England, home to the Micra and Primera, which was recently awarded the title of Europes most productive automotive assembly facility. Though production has been set for 100,000 units globally, dont get your hopes up as the U.S.A. isnt on the export list. Its unfortunate for us, as this vehicle might just be the car to provide the vision to other entry-level manufacturers of what the enthusiast driver truly wants: the utopian dream being a no-sacrifice-family-hauler. Whats unfortunate for Nissan is the fact that Mazda has already promised its upcoming 7-occupant Mazda5 mini-minivan will be coming to the U.S. next spring. Nissan may want to reconsider its position if the Mazda5 sees success.

According to project chief designer Taiji Toyota, Tone is: “…tall, but not so tall. We wanted a roomy interior and the benefits of a high driving position but we did not want to make the car look top heavy. With the long wheelbase and body we feel we have achieved a shape that will appeal on both a practical and emotional level.”

Tone has been given a deliberately ‘masculine’ feel with extensive use of brushed aluminium for interior fittings and a sophisticated dark grey exterior body colour. Inside, a hint of purple shows through the perforated ‘metallic’ black and silver leather upholstery while light grey headlining contrasts with the predominantly black trim.

Dramatically shaped sports seats are designed to keep the driver and front seat passenger firmly in place during cornering, enhancing the sporting concept and fun to drive philosophy which is at the heart of Tone.

Twin glass strips run the length of the roof – another feature seen on many recent Nissan show cars – and bathe the interior with natural light.

Accentuating its ‘driver appeal’, Tone has a dramatic and futuristic dashboard. Two deep set dials can be found behind the sporting three spoke steering wheel, but the centre of the dashboard is dominated by a brushed aluminium display panel housing a satellite navigation screen and controls for the climate control system.

Although designed as a car for the enthusiast, Tone’s designers have not forgotten the practical needs of a parent. The glove box features a neat slot that doubles as a tissue dispenser – ideal for keeping sticky fingers off the upholstery – while the brushed aluminium centre console-cum-armrest houses a deep storage area beneath its lid.

The backrest folds in an uncomplicated fashion to create a roomy and flat load area. Extra storage space can be found beneath the boot floor, which lifts to reveal a deep well, with a storage capacity of 90 litres, where valuables can be stowed out of sight.

Taiji Toyota, whose previous designs include X-TRAIL, Murano and the Chappo concept which led directly to the innovative Nissan Cube, says: “Tone is a dynamic, sophisticated car with strong emotional appeal that also answers a parent’s practical needs.

Like the Micra, not available in North America, the Tone uses Smart Key, which automatically locks and unlocks the car via proximity sensors, while preparing the car for ignition without the use of the key.

Aside from comfort and convenience, Nissan stylist Taiji Toyota (thats truly his name) has certainly addressed the issue of exterior styling in this sporty crossover. Attempting to convey an athletic character, Toyota included 17-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in low-profile rubber, complimented by a wide front and rear track.

The shape of the upright HID headlamps, which bulge above the fenders surface, is derived from the charismatic look of Nissans subcompact Micra. The roofline peaks just above the drivers window, another element of the design language carried over from the Micra in addition to a high window-line and short bumpers that seemingly integrate into the body.

Nissan seems proud of its own cleverness in past designs, as evidenced by the integration of a grinning, two-tier chrome front radiator grille, which is immediately recognizable as being partially derived from the Murano. Nissans Qashqai concept car, which had its debut in Geneva earlier this year, also had a direct influence on the Tones styling. Borrowed from the concept are several features, including the triangular shape of the rear windows, as well as the boomerang-style LED taillamps which wrap around to the roof. In the end, the design of the Tone is a refreshing change, especially for a segment that rarely produces anything particularly tempting when it comes to appearances.

Another breath of fresh air inherent in the Tone concept is less noticeable, its chassis architecture. Making clear its production intentions Nissans crossover is based on the recently introduced European-division B-segment platform, developed and shared by Nissan and Renault. The advanced chassis made its debut on the Renault Modus mini-MPV earlier this year, and will be used by Nissan to underpin the next generation of Micra subcompacts. In contrast to the Modus, which occupies the same market segment as the Tone, Nissans version is longer and larger than its French counterpart. At 159.6 inches in length, the Tone is roughly the same size as Toyotas Echo Sedan, but it features a massive 102.4 inch wheelbase, which is a mere 0.98 inches shorter than the X-Trail. Height, at 60.7 inches is quite low, to reduce the center of gravity in order to maintain ideal driving manners.

Though this spirited vehicle was exhibited for the first time as a concept car at the recent Paris Motor Show, Nissan officials have already given a production version the green light. It could be likely that we will see real aluminum in the cockpit, following in the tire tracks of bigger brother Murano, its highly unlikely the fancy silver and purple, weave-leather seating will make it to a showroom near you anytime soon. Nevertheless, the Tones overall cockpit design should carry over to production, with a few minor changes. The Tone will be built at Nissans Sunderland plant in England, home to the Micra and Primera, which was recently awarded the title of Europes most productive automotive assembly facility. Though production has been set for 100,000 units globally, dont get your hopes up as the U.S.A. isnt on the export list. Its unfortunate for us, as this vehicle might just be the car to provide the vision to other entry-level manufacturers of what the enthusiast driver truly wants: the utopian dream being a no-sacrifice-family-hauler. Whats unfortunate for Nissan is the fact that Mazda has already promised its upcoming 7-occupant Mazda5 mini-minivan will be coming to the U.S. next spring. Nissan may want to reconsider its position if the Mazda5 sees success.

According to project chief designer Taiji Toyota, Tone is: “…tall, but not so tall. We wanted a roomy interior and the benefits of a high driving position but we did not want to make the car look top heavy. With the long wheelbase and body we feel we have achieved a shape that will appeal on both a practical and emotional level.”

Tone has been given a deliberately ‘masculine’ feel with extensive use of brushed aluminium for interior fittings and a sophisticated dark grey exterior body colour. Inside, a hint of purple shows through the perforated ‘metallic’ black and silver leather upholstery while light grey headlining contrasts with the predominantly black trim.

Dramatically shaped sports seats are designed to keep the driver and front seat passenger firmly in place during cornering, enhancing the sporting concept and fun to drive philosophy which is at the heart of Tone.

Twin glass strips run the length of the roof – another feature seen on many recent Nissan show cars – and bathe the interior with natural light.

Accentuating its ‘driver appeal’, Tone has a dramatic and futuristic dashboard. Two deep set dials can be found behind the sporting three spoke steering wheel, but the centre of the dashboard is dominated by a brushed aluminium display panel housing a satellite navigation screen and controls for the climate control system.

Although designed as a car for the enthusiast, Tone’s designers have not forgotten the practical needs of a parent. The glove box features a neat slot that doubles as a tissue dispenser – ideal for keeping sticky fingers off the upholstery – while the brushed aluminium centre console-cum-armrest houses a deep storage area beneath its lid.

The backrest folds in an uncomplicated fashion to create a roomy and flat load area. Extra storage space can be found beneath the boot floor, which lifts to reveal a deep well, with a storage capacity of 90 litres, where valuables can be stowed out of sight.

Taiji Toyota, whose previous designs include X-TRAIL, Murano and the Chappo concept which led directly to the innovative Nissan Cube, says: “Tone is a dynamic, sophisticated car with strong emotional appeal that also answers a parent’s practical needs.

Nissan will be unveiling the Qashqai concept car for the first time at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
The Qashqai is a compact Crossover with an advanced electronic four-wheel drive system. It reflects Nissan’s belief that consumers’ tastes are changing to echo their lifestyles which are becoming more active. Buyers of compact Crossovers will want enough interior space for their family, the ruggedness of a 4×4, as well as the comfort and ease of driving of a traditional passenger car. In addition, buyers increasingly want a vehicle which is distinctive, allowing them to express themselves and to stand out from the crowd.

The concept is the first complete design project to have come from Nissan Design Europe’s new facility which opened in London in January 2003 and is now home to over 50 international designers, modellers and support staff. The studio’s mission is to design the next generation of Nissan cars for Europe.

With the Qashqai, Nissan has been concentrating on customer segmentation to improve its understanding of the lifestyles and activities of its prospective customers. As a result, Nissan is better able to identify niches which will become market segments in years to come.

Although a concept car, Nissan has recognised that prospective owners of the Qashqai would be based in an urban environment. They will be successful in their careers considering their age. As well as working hard during the week, their car will allow them to escape the city at weekends and play hard, seeking adventure with like-minded friends.

Reflecting the lifestyles of its potential owners, the Qashqai offers space and flexibility. The interior of the car reflects the varied role it will have to play, with an innovative folding seat arrangement allowing bikes, outdoor activity equipment and the weekly shopping to be easily stowed. This flexibility is aided by rear doors which are hinged on the back edge, allowing a massive loading aperture thanks to the lack of a B-pillar. Despite the lack of B-pillar, the structural strength of the Qashqai is uncompromised thanks to the individual seat mounting.

The exterior design incorporates strong Nissan DNA seen in the design of the Micra, 350Z and Primera. The Qashqai’s large wheels and exaggerated wheel-arches give the vehicle a purposeful stance, echoing the strength of a large 4×4, but with delicate design touches which endow it with a softer, less aggressive look.

Nissan is among the first manufacturers to recognise the evolution in customer tastes which will see consumers increasingly buying cars like the Qashqai and it represents an interpretation of how a future model may look.
In addition to the Qashqai, Nissan will also have one of the Rally Raid Pickups driven by Colin McRae, Ari Vatanen and Giniel de Villiers which won four of the gruelling stages of the Dakar rally in January.

As well as these two very special cars, Nissan will also have on display the 350Z, Micra, X-TRAIL, Pickup and Primera. Visitors to the Nissan stand will also be able to enjoy the relaxation zone where they can rest their tired legs.

Too Bad That Its Only a Concept

Love the unique look and character of Nissans Murano but dont want to shell out the big bucks? Or maybe its too large and plush for your needs? Well Nissan just might have the vehicle youre looking for, embodying all the character of the Murano in a more compact, efficient package.

The new Qashqai is to Nissan what the xActivity concept was to BMW, an exercise in size reduction over the current production crossover vehicle while exploring new concepts, styles and technologies. The xActivity became the new BMW X3. So whats in store for the Qashqai? While Nissan hasnt announced anything concrete, it would do well to offer something similar with the crossover market being so hot.
The new Nissan Qashqai is an exercise in size reduction over the current production Murano crossover vehicle.

This new reality was without a doubt Nissans motive for creating the Qashqai in the first place. The new concept, if built, would provide the Japanese automakers customers with a vehicle that can adapt to constantly evolving, recreational lifestyles. Sound familiar? Its the same message that Nissan has been touting in its X-Trail advertising campaign. Both are vehicles targeted at young, urban professionals,
Qashqai is a go-anywhere, do-anything SUV for young, active professionals. some with families and some without, successful in their careers for their age, who like to head out of town on the weekends to ski, snowboard and mountain bike.

In order to adapt to the adventurous lifestyles of the Qashqais potential owners, Nissan has equipped the new concept with flexibility, adaptability and space. The ultra-modern interiors minimalist look centers upon a floating metal center strip which divides the cockpit in two, forming the center console. Partitioned from the dashboard, it sweeps upward, containing
The ultra-modern interiors minimalist look centers upon a floating metal center strip which divides the cockpit in two. controls for climate and audio, while the information is displayed on an LCD monitor. Driver-focused instrumentation and ergonomics make the Qashqai seem car-like.

Through Fuga, Nissan proposes a new direction in luxury cars. Fuga’s sporty exterior suggests its superb dynamic performance, while the interior offers roominess unimaginable in the conventional concept of a sedan.

The interior abounds in Japanese imagery and is unified in a modern design taste. From the moment users enter the car, they are enveloped in a fine-quality atmosphere that also engenders expectations of stellar driving performance.

Fuga adopts the FM (Front Mid-ship) Package for new FR-L platform that has been highly acclaimed on the Skyline and the Fairlady Z for providing supple ride comfort together with sporty driving performance. Fuga’s design expresses an optimum blend of elements such as high-quality styling and superior aerodynamics while simultaneously achieving world-class safety performance.

Upon release in America, the Infiniti M45 was heralded as the return of the muscle car – a bizarre concept considering that this most compelling rear-drive V8 powered machine comes from nowhere near Detroit. It had, and still has the credentials to do hold up to this brawny image, a big burly engine, relatively large stature, handsome upright sedan exterior with clean-cut edges, long overhangs trimmed out with an intimidating, chromed grille. Sounds like a muscle car to me.

The body is essentially borrowed from the Japanese-domestic market Gloria and Cedric, but the M45 we know features a hulking 4.5 liter V8 that serves up a massive 340 horsepower. Whats more it is a wood-trimmed and leather-lined muscle car, fitted with the best of Infinitis accommodations. But despite its power and opulence
The compelling rear-wheel drive V8 powered Infiniti M45 was heralded as the return of the muscle car .
the Gloria/Cedric/M45 architecture has aged remarkably quickly with the introduction of other new large luxury sedans from Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but also including the threat of Infinitis own G35.

Nissans response to these new rivals was recently unveiled at this years Tokyo motor show. And the Fuga might just be the car thats shapes the automakers future luxury face. From the outside, its stylists have penned an evolutionary theme to the structured and slightly boxy M45 design.
Keeping with design influences of the M45, the new Fuga concept concept continues the modernized muscle car theme.
The muscular attitude of the Fuga is expressed successfully by the use of heavily arched fenders that peak to a delta shape before flowing down to the bulging hood. The chromed, slightly bulbous grille has grown in size, and is thinly capped at its top and bottom.

This tasteful styling accent has also been reflected in trim lining the lower front valance, side trim and the arch that spans the roofline starting at the base of the A-pillars and ending at the rear fascia. It encloses the cars crystal-clear reverse lights as well. From this rear end view the new concept continues the modernized
The Fugas luminous bright blue headlights are very clever, nicely detailed and oh-so cool.
muscle car theme with a smooth roofline that ends with a swift drop to the cars flush rear bumper, highlighting integrated exhaust tips.

Its amazing how headlights can thoroughly transform the look of a car. The relatively plain, rectangular units featured on the M45 have been replaced with far more stylish, modern L-shaped polycarbonate units. Here, a display of Nissans engineering creativity is expressed in gatling-gun-style high-intensity discharge beams, similar to those featured on the Infiniti Q45/Nissan Cima, but one-upped by a dual-beam system that shines a luminous bright blue. With accent rings, and a design that would emulate the ideal death ray for a space science-fiction
The Fuga is built on a chassis thats racked up quite a list of awards while endearing a clear-cut following in its short existence, film, the Fugas beams simply stun driver and passengers amazed with their forward projection. Orange stripes of LED lights stretch from the base out to the headlamps edge, forming the turn signal lights: very clever, nicely detailed and oh-so cool. If, as the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul, its headlamp clusters are a pretty good indication as to whats deep inside the Fuga.

The soul would be Nissan/Infinitis superb 340-hp 4.5-L 32-valve DOHC V8, ample for propelling the rear-wheel drive sedan to hyper speeds in the blink of a… headlight? The motor is one of the most powerful V8s in current production, and easily the most powerful standard engine in the midsize luxury class.

Controlling the power and torque is
A marvelous combination of high tech, high-end hand-crafted luxury is spread throughout the Fugas beautiful cabin.
a chassis thats racked up quite a list of awards while endearing a clear-cut following in its short existence. Using FM-L architecture, which stands for Front-Midship-Large, the actual engine location has been pushed back as far as possible to create greater overall balanced. Stretched to 194.1 inches in length, the FM-L is more or less an extended version of the platform shared with the Infiniti G35/FX35/45/Nissan 350 Z.

Details
Make     Nissan
Model     Fuga
Year Shown     2003
Event     Tokyo Motor Show
Designer(s)     n/a
Propulsion
Type     Petrol
Capacity     n/a
Dimensions
Vehicle Width (mm)     1850
Vehicle Length (mm)     4930
Seating Capacity     4
Performance
Top Speed     n/a
0-60     n/a

The Redigo (ready, go!) is purely a concept that stands little chance of making it to a showroom in your town. It is notable in that it attempts to offer open-air motoring for four occupants. The center of the roof is a thin crossmember with two slots on either side — think of it as the most massive T-top you’ve ever seen. The front-seat passenger is included in the driving experience as the gauge cluster in front of the driver is mirrored on the passenger side as well. All doors, seats and floor surfaces are water resistant.

The Redigo also includes a new e-memo feature that allows a person to write down directions on a thin, PDA-type device, then when inserted into the dash, the navigation system can offer the best route.

Mechanical features include an electronic four-wheel-drive system and a lightweight, four-cylinder engine that has been designed to fit into small spaces. The transmission is a CVT unit.

While production is unlikely, the Redigo’s durable interior, reconfigurable exterior and entertainment-oriented IT feature make it interesting. With the introduction of Honda’s Element and Toyota’s Scion line, the Redigo may offer a hint at what Nissan will offer in that segment.

Other features: the uniquely shaped twin cluster displays driving information and entertainment information, the e-Memo, a rewritable memory chip with a display function, offers Information Technology entertainment and a sound system including speakers with good directionality enables all four occupants to enjoy high-quality music.
End of Nissan Redigo Concept review.

2003 Nissan Redigo Concept
Year    2003
Make    Nissan
Model    Redigo Concept
Engine Location    Front
Drive Type    4WD (standard), Front Wheel
Engine
Engine Configuration    I
Cylinders    4
Aspiration/Induction    Normal
Displacement    1.40 L | 85.4 cu in. | 1399.7 cc.

The full-size 2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada, the newest member of Nissan’s diverse family of authentic sport utility vehicles, takes the Pathfinder name and reputation for innovation to a new dimension. Designed to be a full-size SUV for full-size lives, the Pathfinder Armada makes its world debut today at the New York International Auto Show. The new Nissan Pathfinder Armada will be available at 1,100 Nissan dealers nationwide beginning in fall 2003.

The Nissan lineup of SUVs now includes vehicles for practically every use or desire ? from the “everything you need, nothing you don’t” simplicity of the popular Xterra, to the versatile Pathfinder, to the “on-road adventurer” Murano, and now the powerful, roomy, eight-passenger Pathfinder Armada.

“The new Pathfinder Armada is designed for owners with active lifestyles, families that need all of the traditional full-size SUV strengths but who are looking for a higher level of style, rewarding features and the flexibility that encourages spontaneity and adventure,” said Bill Kirrane, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. “More than just a passive carrier for passengers and their cargo, Pathfinder Armada is a vehicle that allows ? and inspires ? larger-than-life moments.”

Expressive Exterior Styling

The new Pathfinder Armada offers a distinctive image, led by its advanced design concept. The combination of a long wheelbase and manageable overall length gives the Pathfinder Armada enhanced stability and handling, and a longer interior with plenty of cargo room – yet short front and rear overhangs for good maneuverability.

In researching the full-size SUV market, Nissan designers and product planners found that many SUV buyers are looking for fresh styling appearance beyond the current offerings in class.

“Along with improved driving dynamics and more functional flexibility, one of the key unmet needs of the segment is uniqueness and distinctiveness,” said Kirrane. “Buyers are ready for something new and different? not just another generic SUV.”

The Pathfinder Armada design starts with its wide stance, with the body gesture following from the tire sidewalls up. The headlights are straightforward but powerful, the hood massive yet refined. The sheer A-pillar design calls attention to the tight, tailored precision of the upper body with the B-, C- and D-pillars acting as a frame for the highly polished feel of the body structure. The tailgate has a substantial look without feeling heavy and the massive bumpers project the Pathfinder Armada’s strength and power.

Other exterior features include a standard body-color grille and chrome front door handles, dual power-adjustable heated chrome side mirrors (with puddle lamps on LE models), standard running boards, privacy glass for the 2nd and 3rd rows and available power rear liftgate, manual flip-out rear quarter windows (power-operated on LE models) and halogen headlights. All models are also offered with a standard proximity sensor system (back-up obstacle warning) in the rear bumper.

“From the stepped-up roofline and two-piece roof rack to the standard 18-inch wheels and tires, you get a strong sense of quality, style and individuality. There’s a familiar Nissan link without being a virtual copy of our other SUVs ? a freshness that we think will endure for a long time to come,” said Kirrane.

An Inspired Interior Design

Though the Pathfinder Armada is Nissan?s first full-size SUV, it follows in the tradition of other authentic Nissan SUVs in providing an interior environment designed for active families. Its advanced, ergonomic interior styling combines a modern appearance with traditional ruggedness.

Key to the Pathfinder Armada design concept is exceptional versatility, roominess and flexibility – including standard fold-flat 2nd and 3rd row seats, the most 2nd row leg room in the full-size, light duty SUV class, choice of 8-passenger seating or 7-passenger, ample cargo space behind the 3rd row seat, and a full-length overhead console with map lights, vents and available DVD Family Entertainment System.

In front, an 8-way power-adjustable driver?s seat and available 6-way adjustable front passenger?s seat provide a sense of comfort and luxury, while the fold-down front passenger seat features cup holders and a recessed “work area.” The large front console offers excellent storage capacity. Three 12-volt power outlets are located on the console and instrument panel for use with cellular phones and portable electronic devices.

The standard floor-mounted shifter (first in the full-size, light duty SUV class) adds a sporty appearance and enhanced shift control when towing. Also standard are adjustable brake and accelerator pedals with transmission interlock.

Seton leather-appointed seats (leather standard on LE, optional on SE) and a satellite-based navigation system with 7.0-inch LCD screen are also available. The standard full-length overhead console includes individual map lamps and ventilation outlets.

The 2nd row features a choice of a fold-flat 2nd row bench seat or available fold-flat 2nd row captain?s chairs with an innovative, removable 2nd row center console. The 2nd row leg room of 41.9 inches (best in the full-size, light duty SUV class) provides passengers room to ride in comfort, while an available DVD Family Entertainment System with two wireless headphones and remote control and 10-speaker Bose? audio system offers a variety of entertainment options. The Bose system’s dual media capability allows use of radio and CD at the same time (headphones must be used to listen to second audio source).

The fold-flat 3rd row seats are designed for easy operation and easy access. “In addition, a thoughtful design feature raises the 3rd row seats higher than the 2nd row to facilitate easier conversation and better visibility for the occupants,” said Kirrane.

There is also a large amount of storage space behind the 3rd row seat. With the 2nd and 3rd row seats folded down, the Pathfinder Armada offers a nearly flat floor. And, with the front passenger seat in the fold-down position, it is possible to carry items up to 10-feet in length with the rear liftgate closed. In addition to ample headroom, the 3rd row includes side storage bins and cupholders. The rear cargo area also includes ceiling and floor-mounted cargo hooks, while available accessories include a cargo net and cargo tray.

Up to 14 cupholders are available throughout the Pathfinder Armada, with some capable of holding 64-ounce size cups. Other storage areas include instrument panel side pockets, the center console main storage bin with side pockets, bottle holders in the front and side doors, and a driver?s seat rear pocket.

The Power To Pursue Big Adventures

The Pathfinder Armada is the most powerful Nissan SUV ever built. Utilizing an all-new platform, the Pathfinder Armada features a rugged, fully boxed high-strength steel frame for enhanced crash performance and long-term durability; an independent double-wishbone rear suspension designed for improved roominess, comfort and responsive handling; and an all-new 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve Nissan Endurance V8 engine offering one of the highest standard horsepower/torque ratings in the full-size, light duty SUV class and the highest maximum towing capacity in class (when properly equipped) of up to 9,100 pounds.

The Nissan Endurance V8, which is assembled at Nissan’s advanced engine facility in Dechard, Tenn., is shared with the all-new Nissan Titan full-size pickup. Nearly 90 percent of the engine’s impressive torque is available below 2,500 rpm ? where it’s needed for hauling, towing or slow-speed off-road driving.

The engine’s advanced design includes features such as an aluminum engine block with cast iron cylinder liners, chain-driven dual overhead camshafts with silent single-stage timing chain, microfinished forged steel crankshaft and microfinished camshafts, molybdenum-coated pistons and electronic drive-by-wire throttle for precise control.

An electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode is standard on every Pathfinder Armada. The transmission utilizes a unique gear set chosen specifically for use in high torque situations, along with an advanced torque converter design for improved fuel economy and an advanced powertrain management program for improved shift quality. The tow/haul mode revises the shift pattern when towing and hauling.

Pathfinder Armada models equipped with the towing package also receive a higher axle ratio and a transmission temperature gauge. Other tow package equipment includes a receiver hitch, heavy-duty radiator, additional 7-pin wiring harness plug, trailer brake pre-wiring, heavy-duty battery and rear suspension air levelizer.

The new Pathfinder Armada’s off-road credentials are equally impressive, with 4-wheel drive models featuring an advanced full-time automatic control system. Utilizing all-wheel drive technology derived from Nissan?s world-class Skyline GT-R sports coupe (rather than less sophisticated truck-based systems), the Pathfinder Armada 4WD system is designed to instantly distribute torque to all four wheels whenever road conditions warrant (up to 50 percent can go to the front wheels on demand), resulting in optimal traction with improved fuel economy and enhanced cornering capability.

The two-speed electronic transfer case allows the driver to select between auto, full-time 4-wheel drive and 4-Lo. The crawl ratio in 4Lo is among the best among competitors, providing enhanced low speed driving force and hill descending ability. Under normal driving conditions, 4WD Pathfinder Armadas operate in two-wheel drive mode.

The Pathfinder Armada?s Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) includes standard off-road tuning for improved braking on loose gravel. There is also a high ground clearance (9.8 inches for 2WD models 4WD models). Heavy-duty skid plates (oil pan, fuel tank and transfer case) are available as part of the Off-Road Package. The Off-Road Package also includes Rancho? off-road performance shocks.

While the Pathfinder Armada is well equipped for rugged activities, it is equally capable of tackling everyday driving tasks with comfort and style. The standard all-steel front double-wishbone suspension with coil-over shock absorbers and stabilizer bar is matched with a responsive independent double-wishbone rear suspension.

Along with compliant handling, the rear suspension design also provides a high ride quality for 2nd and 3rd row passengers and maximizes rear interior space by minimizing the intrusion of suspension components into the interior compartment.

A rear air leveling system (available with towing package) provides improved handling stability and ride comfort when towing or carrying heavy cargo. The system, which automatically adjusts the air pressure in the suspension bladders, helps maintain a uniform ground clearance and departure angle when towing or when carrying heavy cargo.

Other key platform components found on every new Pathfinder Armada include engine speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and 4-wheel disc brakes with Bosch Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system with Traction Control and Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).

BSW Conti-Trac SUV 265/70R18 tires (the largest standard tire in class) are offered with standard aluminum-alloy wheels (5-spoke on SE, 6-spoke on LE models), while off-road package equipped models feature P285/70R17 BF Goodrich Rugged Trail All-Terrain tires on 17×7.5J 7-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels. A standard 29-gallon fuel tank provides an excellent driving range.

An Emphasis on Advanced Safety Technology

The new Pathfinder Armada offers an extensive list of standard and available safety features, including standard roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags that help provide rollover and side-impact protection to all three rows and standard side-impact supplemental air bags (seat mounted).

Every Pathfinder Armada also features Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front passenger occupant classification sensor, 3-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, 3-point seat belts for all rear seat occupants (including center position), LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) child seat anchor system and Zone Body construction with front and rear crushable zones.

A Wide Range of Models and Equipment

The new Pathfinder Armada will be offered in Pathfinder Armada SE, Pathfinder Armada SE Off-Road and Pathfinder Armada LE models in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. A number of optional packages are available to allow buyers to tune their vehicles to their exact needs and desires.

The SE model, like all Pathfinder Armadas, starts with the 5.6-liter Nissan Endurance V8, 5-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel independent suspension and fold-flat 2nd and 3rd row seats. Key SE features include a body color grille, P265/70R18 tires on 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels, 8-passenger seating and full-length overhead console.

The Pathfinder Armada SE Off-Road model adds equipment specially designed for enhanced all-terrain capabilities, including Rancho? performance shock absorbers, a lower final gear ratio (3.357:1), P285/70R17 BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires mounted on unique “off-road” style aluminum-alloy wheels, fog lamps and three skid plates.

The Pathfinder Armada LE adds a higher level of luxury appointments, including a chrome grille with black mesh insert, 2nd row bucket seats with removable center console, leather-appointed seats and board-type running boards.

Available equipment packages include SE Bose Advantage Package, SE Leather Premium Package, SE/SE Off-Road Expanded Sunroof Package, SE Journey Package and SE Off-Road Adventure Package.

Pathfinder Armada LE packages include the LE 2nd Row Split Bench Seat Package, LE Upgrade Package, LE Expanded Sunroof Package and LE Technology Package with power liftgate and navigation system with 7.0-inch LCD screen.

A pair of function packages are also offered: the DVD Family Entertainment System with rear display, center console video port, two wireless headphones and DVD changer, and the Big Tow Package (SE only) with rear suspension levelizer and other special towing equipment.

Eight exterior colors are offered: Blizzard (white), Galaxy (black), Coolness (silver), Smoke (dark silver), Copper, Deep Water (blue), Sedona (red/brown) and Canteen (green). Interior color combinations include Sand/Sand, Graphite/Titanium and Steel/Titanium.

“The all-new 2004 Pathfinder Armada enters the full-size SUV market with a proud heritage and a laser-like focus on innovative solutions to customer needs,” said Kirrane. “Its standout design, unique features, advanced performance and safety technology, built on a foundation of exceptional performance, create in the Pathfinder Armada a vehicle that’s ready for anything ? a worthy flagship among Nissan’s full line of adventurous SUVs.”

With the recent introduction of its first full-sized SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, Nissan now has a comprehensive sport-utility lineup. But, other than part of its name and high-mounted rear door handles, the Nissan Pathfinder Armada has nothing in common with the familiar Nissan Pathfinder. Why the “Pathfinder” in its name when it shares more with the recently-introduced Titan full-sized pickup truck?

That just seems to be the Nissan way – when a new vehicle debuts, Nissan leverages the name of an existing one. The first Altima, over a decade ago, was officially the Stanza Altima, replacing the previous Stanza. The “Stanza” part of the name was quickly discontinued.

Expect the same of the (Pathfinder) Armada – but the smaller Pathfinder lives, with the next generation debuting for 2005, and based on the Armada platform. And the “Armada” name? While it sounds menacing and macho, in keeping with the image of a large SUV, it is a plural word. Webster defines it as “1: a fleet of warships 2: a large force of moving things (as vehicles).” “Armada” means “Navy” in Spanish-speaking countries, but the word is most familiar to Americans from European history as the Spanish Armada, soundly defeated by the British in 1588. Presumably, if the Armada is sold in the United Kingdom it will be under another name…. So, to say “The full-sized sport-utility class has just been attacked by an armada of Nissan Armadas” is perfectly correct.

Nissan was late to the full-size SUV market, but did its homework when designing the Armada. It has the power, comfort, and features demanded by today’s SUV buyers. While the Armada is based on the Titan platform and uses the same 5.6-liter V8 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, it is not merely a pickup with a full-length body. The Titan’s leaf-sprung solid rear axle is replaced by a coil-sprung independent rear suspension, for improved ride and handling characteristics and more interior space. Both trim levels, SE and LE, are very well-equipped, with the LE adding luxury appointments. A fold-flat third-row seat is standard, with a second-row bench or captain’s chairs available. Both rear- and four-wheel drive versions are offered, with a heavy-duty off-road package available.

I’ve just finished a week with an almost fully-equipped 4×4 Armada LE. I can easily forgive Nissan for the strange naming, for the Armada is an exceptionally comfortable and capable truck. Nissan’s stated goal was to build something that was “not just another generic SUV,” and the Armada is definitely not generic.

APPEARANCE:
SUVs are squarish, boring, two-box designs, right? Perhaps a bit of flash and filigree is added, but boxes are boxes. Except if the SUV is a Nissan Armada. While it broadly fits the two-box mold, the boxes are modified with a well-raked windshield and a prominent arch over the doors. The effect is high-tech stagecoach. Add the bold front and hood styling, shared with the Titan, and the Titan’s blistered fender flares, and this is a vehicle that stands out from the crowd.

COMFORT:
Space, style, and versatility are reasons to buy a sport-utility, and the Armada scores well in those categories. If its interior is not the absolute largest in its class, it is big enough to hold seven or eight people in comfort, with convenience for all. The front buckets provide good support and comfort. The driver’s seat is power-adjustable in all models, with a power passenger seat available. The driving environment is very good, with a tilt-adjustable steering wheel and power-adjustable pedals to allow the perfect driving position. Instrument panel design, while ultramodern, with more in common with an upscale sedan than a truck, does not sacrifice function to style. Storage spaces abound, with a large glove box and door pockets complemented by a huge center console with open and locking closed storage. Second-row captain’s chairs are standard in the LE and optional in the SE, with a bench available in the LE. Second-row is not second class, with best in class legroom. Headroom is good, too. The Armada is wide enough that three adults should be able to fit in the bench. My test vehicle had the reclining captain’s chairs – which come with a large console, almost a twin to the one in front. It can be removed, and each second-row seat has flip and fold or full tumble functions for third-row access or cargo ability. The third row will hold three medium-sized people. It easily folds flat into the floor when not needed, and so does not have to be removed by a weightlifter. Second- and third-row passengers have storage spaces and cupholders; a DVD entertainment system is optional. Luggage capacity with the third row up is tight, but no worse than in other short-wheelbase full-size SUVs. An optional remote-control tailgate adds convenience.

SAFETY:
Three-point safety belts are provided for all seating positions, and the Nissan Advanced Airbag system includes front-row side protection bags and supplemental roof-mounted curtain airbags that provide side-impact and rollover protection for all three rows. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes are enhanced by a standard vehicle dynamic control system.

ROADABILITY:
Like many a modern car or crossover SUV, the Armada’s wheels are pushed toward the corners for better space utilization. But it’s no lightweight (in all meanings of that word) wannbe urban poseur vehicle. With body-on-frame construction featuring a rigid, fully-boxed frame and fully-independent suspension, it’s a very capable, very serious truck. Its relatively long wheelbase and wide track enhance stability and comfort. The independent rear suspension is not the most unusual specification – the available four-wheel drive system, while of the off-road serious dual-range variety, is not your basic truck fare. Featuring rear, automatic all-wheel drive, four-high, and four-low ranges, it is based on the sophisticated, high-performance system used in the Nissan Skyline GT-R. I kept my test truck in “4-auto” most of the time, and with that and a good suspension calibration aided by the damping effect of huge P265-70 SR18 tires, it was as maneuverable and sure-footed as could be expected from a 5300-lb truck. Chassis and body rigidity not only help the ride and handling, they also help decrease noise levels. And the Armada LE is a luxuriously quiet and comfortable vehicle.

PERFORMANCE:
Nissan’s muscular twincam aluminum alloy 32-valve 5.6-liter V8 makes 302 horsepower at 4900 rpm and 385 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpm. It pulls strongly from a standstill, which should please the towing crowd, as should the Armada’s 9100-lb towing capacity. A smooth, quiet, and quick-shifting five-speed automatic transmission gives it a near-luxury ambiance, although the engine note is more muscle car. Acceleration, at seven seconds to sixty mph, is muscle car, too. I found fuel economy, at between 14 and 15 mpg average, to be typical for a vehicle of this mass and power.

CONCLUSIONS:
Nissan Armada invades full-size SUV class. Details at 11.

SPECIFICATIONS
2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada LE 4×4

Base Price $ 40,600
Price As Tested $ 45,150
Engine Type dual overhead cam 32-valve aluminum alloy V8
Engine Size 5.6 liters / 341 cu. in.
Horsepower 305 @ 4900 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 385 @ 3600 rpm
Transmission 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 123.2 in. / 206.9 in.
Curb Weight 5327 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 17.5
Fuel Capacity 28.0 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87 octane regular unleaded gasoline
Tires P265/70 SR18 Goodyear Wrangler SR-A
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, antilock, brake assist, electronic distribution standard
Suspension, front/rear four-wheel independent by double wishbones and coil springs
Ground Clearance 10.69 in.
Drivetrain front engine, full- or part-time four-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy – miles per gallon city / highway / observed 13 / 18 / 14
0 to 60 mph 7 sec
Towing capacity 9100 lbs.
Payload 1693 lbs.

Designed for “A LIFE IN TRANSITION,” the Arctic features a modular six-passenger interior, flexible information technology systems and a unique roof treatment to reflect drivers’desire for both functionality and personality

The instantly recognizable change for the Pivo 2 is the color scheme (the white and grey of the 2005 concept has been replaced with blue and silver), but looking more closely, the body design has been revised as well. The individual fenders for each wheel and a more bulbous cabin lend the Pivo 2 more than a passing resemblance to a four-tentacled cephalopod for better or worse. Mechanically, much of the original concept is still present: The rotating cabin eliminates the need for a reverse gear (forward is wherever the driver faces) and power still comes from an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries. A key new feature are integrated wheel motors that enable each wheel to rotate up to 90 degrees — giving the Pivo 2 the ability to drive sideways in addition to forward.

CLICK TO VIEW GALLERY

Also new is Pivo 2’s Robotic Agent electronic driving aid. Able to converse with the driver in both Japanese and English, Robotic Agent has a voice-activated navigation and information system, allowing the driver to get information about both the vehicle and its surroundings. Robotic Agent is physically present in the Pivo 2, molded out of what appears to be plastic and located on the front console. It looks like a starry-eyed robot-monkey head. Or an alien. Or both. We’re not sure exactly which one yet.

CLICK TO VIEW GALLERY

The original Nissan Pivo from the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show

So to sum up, we’ve got some sort of electric octopus car with a robot-monkey-alien passenger built in? Well, that seems to be pretty accurate. Other cool features include the single door that comprises the entire front section of the car — much like the classic BMW Isetta — and the McLaren F1-style three-passenger seating with central driving position.

To Nissan’s credit, this electric city car concept seems to make an honest jab at incorporating some pretty far-out features that are inspired by real-world usability. That’s not something that can be said for many concepts, and that’s why we’re looking forward to seeing the car in the flesh — er, membrane? — at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

The Dunehawk from Nissan with it features paves the way for Nissan 4×4. The car has dynamic attributes for an original SUV with off-road ability thanks to its rugged chassis, ground clearance and advanced, electronically controlled ALL-Mode 4×4 system.

In order to cross difficult areas with easiness the car was equipped with rugged ladder frame chassis, short front and rear overhangs and dramatic 20-inch wheels. The ladder frame also provides the additional strength and rigidity which is essential for towing performance. But Dunehawk has far greater depth than a typical 4×4.

Taking its lead from the highly acclaimed Nissan X-TRAIL, Dunehawk is just as at home on road as it is off the beaten track. It has been designed to perform and handle as well as a conventional car and has a luxuriously comfortable interior.

Styling

Dunehawk has bold and imposing design features smooth surfaces with iconic, angled accents. The body adopts a cylindrical design theme, with gently curving body sides that are narrower at roof and chassis level and wider at the body belt-line. This design solution helps create a feeling of strength while giving greater interior width where its needed most – at elbow level.

The cylindrical theme is repeated at the tailgate, on the extended wheel arch blisters and on interior fittings.

Contrasts can be found in the striking side window graphic, with its heavily angled C-pillar separating the deeper door glass from the shallower rear window, and in the iconic Nissan 4×4 front grille design with its balanced angle strut motif which is set off by the confident Nissan logo.

There are neither door handles nor door mirrors to disrupt the Dunehawk’s surfaces. The doors are opened electrically by brushing a pad on the flanks of the Dunehawk, while rear facing cameras with pop up screens at either end of the dashboard take care of what’s happening behind.

Interior

Dunehawk’s interior takes a quality approach. Cream leather panels and contoured seats contrast with covered active pad mid brown leather panels to signify human contact areas such as the steering wheel while the dark brown hard wearing carpet is developed to withstand all of the wear of outdoor activities. Discreet waterfall lighting cascades from the roof, from underneath the door fittings and from under the rear storage bins to bathe the interior with a subtle ambient glow.

The cockpit is dominated by an angular theme with a T-bone centre console which houses all the vital driving information systems, including a screen showing critical real-time traction information via sensors on all four wheels and within the ALL-Mode 4×4 system. Nissan’s pioneering interactive N-Form dashboard has also been adopted and reveals how it could function in the future.

The cylindrical dashboard incorporates a compass, altimeter and inclinometer – all highly useful instruments for serious off-road work.

Practical elements include ample storage space with deep bins on the doors and side panels as well as an aircraft-style overhead console which runs centrally for the full length of the roof and incorporates luggage lockers.

On either side of the console, the roof is glazed to help create an airy interior ambience – a styling feature reminiscent of Nissan’s C-MPV Evalia concept car, shown at the Geneva show earlier this year. The console also houses ventilation outlets and a DVD screen for rear seat entertainment.

Dunehawk has genuine off-road ability thanks to its rugged chassis, ground clearance and advanced, electronically controlled ALL-Mode 4×4 system. It also has an exceptionally roomy interior full of useful features, making it perfect for active families who need a versatile car to fit in with their hobbies. Whether it’s a family trip away sailing, mountain biking, horse riding or simply exploring, Dunehawk would make the ideal companion: the perfect sports utility vehicle (SUV).

There are neither door handles nor door mirrors to disrupt the Dunehawk’s surfaces. The doors are opened electrically by brushing a pad on the flanks of the Dunehawk, while rear facing cameras with pop up screens at either end of the dashboard take care of what’s happening behind.

Inside, the cockpit is dominated by an angular theme with a ‘T-bone’ centre console which houses all the vital driving information systems, including a screen showing critical real-time traction information via sensors on all four wheels and within the ALL-Mode 4×4 system. Nissan’s pioneering interactive N-Form dashboard has also been adopted and reveals how it could function in the future. The cylindrical dashboard incorporates a compass, altimeter and inclinometer – all highly useful instruments for serious off-road work.

Ingress is straightforward thanks to doors that open to a full 90 degrees, while access to the rearmost seats is eased by the middle row which slides forward out of the way. All the passenger seats fold completely flat to create an intrusion-free load bay which is long and tall enough to hold two mountain bikes upright. With the front wheels removed, the bike forks can be securely locked into special fixings found on the back of the middle row of seats, while the rear wheel is strapped into a special shoe neatly integrated into the boot floor.

Details
Make     Nissan
Model     Dunehawk
Year Shown     2003
Event     Frankfurt Motor Show
Designer(s)     n/a
Propulsion
Type     n/a
Capacity     n/a
Dimensions
Vehicle Width (mm)     n/a
Vehicle Length (mm)     n/a

Seating Capacity     n/a

Performance
Top Speed     n/a
0-60     n/a

Called Evalia, the innovative design combines coup» lines with hatchback practicality. It was created by Nissan Design in Europe – now fully installed in NissanÌs newly opened design studio in London, England after its transfer from Munich, Germany.

Seen as a potential direction for a contender in the C-segment, Evalia aims to provide the practicality needed by a young family at the same time as satisfying the emotional needs of the image-conscious driving enthusiast.

Among its unique features are parallel opening front and rear doors and the lack of a central B-pillar Ò vehicle strength is channelled through the sills and roof. By removing the B-pillar, easy access to the passenger compartment is ensured.

Although extremely spacious inside, and with a host of practical storage solutions, Evalia is designed to be more sports car than mini van. With a coup»-inspired driving position and lowered sports suspension, Evalia means the move into parenthood need not coincide with the end of driving fun.

Evalia is a little bolder than the Stream, however, with its Z-like front end, trademark bluff Nissan nose and more coupe-like silhouette. There’s shades of Renault in here, too, especially around the Megane-like rear quarters (minus the buttress-style pillars) and the almost flat rear tailgate, with LED brakelights that appear to rotate under braking, at quicker speeds according to the intensity of deceleration. Those aren’t featured on the new Megane Scenic, also unveiled in Geneva, by the way, and Evalia takes the compact MPV concept a few stages further into the future than that model.

The centrally-hinged, electrically-operated doors are cleverly thought out, with rotating hinges that push the door out a few centimetres before sliding backwards or forwards parallel to the side panels, and the lack of a central door pillar – thanks to a rigid backbone structure and specially strengthened door sills and A-pillars – means excellent access to both front and rear seats.

The interior of Evalia is more interesting, though; many of the styling cues of Nissan’s innovative Fusion concept of 2000 (no relation to the distinctly un-innovative Ford Fusion) have been carried over, including the appearance of the thin, individual sculpted seats and some aspects of the cabin layout. The four seats, which have cutaway headrests to aid rearward vision, are secured on their inside edges to a rail concealed under the full-length central console, showing clear air beneath them, and careful packaging minimizes any intrusion into the cabin space. The dashboard houses a fuse box at one end and a first aid kit at the other, in what is usually ‘dead’ space, and there are a series of storage cartridges that slot into a combined fridge/microwave unit. These “can be filled with provisions such as fresh fruit, drinks or baby food enabling parents to ensure babies and toddlers can be fed at the correct times when on a long journey”, suggests Nissan helpfully, and in the lower centre console, the cup holders have been specially designed to accommodate baby feeding bottles. Ambient lighting – diffused beams emitted from the centre console, roof and doors – can be set to shine white, to calm and soothe the little darlings, or red-orange, when parents want to be a little more assertive. The cabin is, as a whole, bright and airy, with twin glass panels running the whole length of the roof.

The nicest touch, however, is the specially designed removable child seat: this doubles as a baby buggy, locking onto a three-wheeled chassis frame stored elsewhere in the car. The boot floor is also rather neat, with 99 little translucent spheres set into the floor, rotating so that you can roll a heavy object into the load bay, but locking into place when the rear tailgate is shut. These also feature on the backs of the rear seats, for loading larger items (those IKEA flatpacks) when the seats are folded flat. Less useful, however, is the pale cream leather upholstery, which could be all too easily damaged or marked by destructive small children.

Evalia is a fully working prototype, fitted with the X-Trail’s 2.5-litre petrol engine and a seven-speed CVT gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts. It “drives more like a coupe than a people-carrier”, boasts Nissan, with a lowered driving position and low-slung sports suspension, and a full array of electronic driver aids to maintain stability and keep you on the road. The dashboard and steering wheel are inspired by those of the 350Z, plus an advanced version of the N-Form layout, with dials that move with the steering wheel and a central monitor for maps and projections from the rear-view cameras. If you hate BMW’s I-Drive, beware: the auxiliary functions (climate control, audio, telecommunications, etc.) are controlled via a mouse-style track ball, mounted in the centre console, though Nissan does claim that “the system is easy to use.” Other gadgets and toys include the now-obligatory DVD player and fold-down screen, for movies or games, a TV and separate remote controls in the rear for the audio system. The central console also houses controls for the transmission (in automatic mode, plus reverse and park), for the heated seats and the heated rear window. Much of this interior design and layout will appear in production Nissans in the near future.

If all this encourages you to leap over the brink into parenthood, hold on and don’t throw away the contraceptives just yet. Evalia is only “a potential direction in the C-segment”, i.e. a hint at what the next-generation Almera Tino might look like, and even then, not all of its features will make it into a production car.

Details
Make     Nissan
Model     Evalia
Year Shown     2003
Event     Geneva Motor Show
Designer(s)     n/a
Propulsion
Type     n/a
Capacity     n/a
Dimensions
Vehicle Width (mm)     n/a
Vehicle Length (mm)     n/a

Seating Capacity     n/a

Performance
Top Speed     n/a
0-60     n/a

The Nissan Cube is a compact minivan produced by Nissan and sold in the Japanese market. Like its name suggests, the Cube is very square-like in its shape, with only the front end sticking out from the box shape of the design.

The first generation of the Cube (designated Z10) was introduced in 1998. It shared the same platform as the Nissan Micra (known as the March in Japan), as well as the same 1.3 L engine. A CVT and four wheel drive were optional. The Cube covered the gap in the Nissan lineup between the March and the Sunny.

The second generation of the Cube, released in 2002 with a more spacious interior and a modern combination of angled and curved surfaces, was based on the third generation of the March, powered by a 1.4 L engine. A CVT was optional once again, and was made available in a stretched wheelbase version with seven seats, called the Cube³. For 2005, both models were upgraded with the new HR-series 1.5 L engine from the Nissan Tiida, and are now available with the new “e4WD” system, which transfers power to the rear wheels when the front wheels spin.

With the success of the similarly-styled Scion xB in the United States, Nissan is taking under consideration exporting the third generation of the Cube as an entry-level model, which will reach the Japanese market during 2006. However, the car will not be available in Europe, as its place in the Nissan lineup is taken by the larger Note.

The Nissan Cube is a compact minivan produced by Nissan and sold in the Japanese market. Like its name suggests, the Cube is very square-like in its shape, with only the front end sticking out from the box shape of the design.

The first generation of the Cube (designated Z10) was introduced in 1998. It shared the same platform as the Nissan Micra (known as the March in Japan), as well as the same 1.3L engine. A CVT and four wheel drive were optional. The Cube covered the gap in the Nissan lineup between the March and the Sunny.

The second generation of the Cube, released in 2002 with a more spacious interior and a modern combination of angled and curved surfaces, was based on the third generation of the March, powered by a 1.4L engine. A CVT was optional once again, and was made available in a stretched wheelbase version with seven seats, called the Cube³. For 2005, both models were upgraded with the new MR-series 1.5L engine from the Nissan Tiida, and are now available with the new “e4WD” system, which transfers power to the rear wheels when the front wheels spin.

With the success of the similarly-styled Scion xB in the United States, Nissan is taking under consideration exporting the third generation of the Cube as an entry-level model, which will reach the Japanese market during 2006. However, the car will not be available in Europe, as its place in the Nissan lineup is taken by the larger Note.

The Sentra has been a giant seller for Nissan over the years. Of course, this should be expected being that in North America, where the subcompact Micra is no longer sold for reasons unknown, it is the Japanese brands entry vehicle.

But its getting time for a redo. Not just a facelift, like it received for the 2004 model year, but a complete ground up wholesale makeover. To be fair Nissan, and its premium division Infiniti, has been on an unprecedented product roll that includes so many new models its quicker to name cars that havent yet been affected. The Sentra is one of these models.

Contrary to what these photos might imply, the yellow hatchback pictured in these pages is not Nissans version of parent company Renaults Mégane II. The C-Note concept, making its debut at this years Tokyo auto show, is Nissans new idea test bed for its upcoming C-segment car, the replacement
The C-Note concept, making its debut at this years Tokyo auto show, is Nissans new idea test bed for the next-generation Sentra. (Photo: Nissan)
for the Sentra – Almera in Europe and Sunny in Japan.

With a next-generation Sentra expected just around the corner, its no surprise that a newly revitalized Nissan is eager to show what theyve got. Taller and broader than the current sedan, the 167 inche long C-Note pulls a fair bit of influence from Renaults modern hatchbacks – no bad thing being that the latest Mégane has taken its fair share of awards. Crystal-like five-sided headlamps take on a similar look to the French hatch, as does the bulbous rear end.

On the other hand, the raised hood and sweeping fenders, plus the glasshouse look, are distinctly different, seemingly borrowed from
Although it may look similar, the C-Note hatchback pictured in these pages is not Nissans version of parent company Renaults M?gane II. (Photo: Renault)
Peugeots popular 307. Mind you, it wouldnt be fair to just point out similarities to current European competitors, as a large dose of styling content comes from Nissans global divisions. The combination of beveled and curved edges is inspired by the subcompact Micra, while the thin SkyView roof looks to the 2004 Maxima.

Around back, the five-sided rear window, stretched 350Z style tail lamps, and low loading lip are similar in design to Mazdas new 3. Still, it looks good. And in North America, the brands largest market, only the Mazda will cause any comparison as Renault and Peugeot pulled out years ago.

But this presupposes that the C-Note concept will become reality, and then that it will make its way across the Pacific looking even remotely like the very Euro inspired car shown here. One likely way to tell a frivolous concept
The C-Notes cabin could easily pass for that of a production car, though some may argue that its a bit on the plain side. (Photo: Nissan)
from a production car in waiting is interior fit and finish. The C-Notes cabin could easily pass for that of a production car. Though some may argue that its a bit on the plain side, the combination of light and dark earth tones, large windows surrounding and glass sunroof above makes for an airy, welcoming place to be.

Nowadays its hardly rare to find genuine wood and leather on a car in this segment of the market, and the C-Note follows suit. Nissan uses its experience building premium Infiniti models to its advantage, creating an elegant interior design that includes especially thin air vents and chromed gauges. A simple, yet easy to navigate LCD-based infotainment system is mounted on the center console. Similar to Audis MMI system, there are six main menus activated by their respective buttons. The large knob in the center adjusts everything from navigation to the audio system.

Not quite a pure hatchback nor a multi-purpose carrier, and definitely not a sport utility vehicle, the C-Note seems to bridge the gap between
Who knows if the next-generation Sentra that hits our local showrooms will look anything like this concept? Its still fun to speculate. (Photo: Nissan)
all popular configurations currently available in the C-segment.

2003 Nissan C-Note
Year 2003
Make Nissan
Model C-Note
Engine Location Front
Drive Type Front Wheel
Weight 2544 lbs | 1154 kg

Engine
Engine Configuration I
Cylinders 4
Aspiration/Induction Normal
Displacement 2.00 L | 122 cu in. | 1999.6 cc.
Valves 16 valves.
4 valves per cylinder.
Valvetrain DOHC
Horsepower 140.00 HP (103 KW)
Torque 135.00 Ft-Lbs (183.1 NM)
HP to Weight Ratio 18.2 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter 70.0 BHP / Liter
Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight

Transmission Information
Gears 5
Transmission Manual
Dimensions Seating Capacity 4

Those are mighty highfalutin words. To oversimplify, we’d suggest this looks like a nice, comfortable car for old folks.
Which is not to say the Intima is not a handsome design. It just seems like we’ve seen this theme before, especially from some of Nissan’s rivals.

The Intima does look like a stylistic step beyond the big Teana sedan that’s sold in Japan and China (but not the U.S.). There’s a V6 clean diesel under the hood and such advanced safety technologies as distance control assist and an “around view” monitor.

But it seems that Nissan really focused on making the coziest cabin imaginable. “Refined elegance” was the development theme.

Highlights include four-zone intelligent climate control with infrared sensors, indirect lighting, a panoramic glass roof, a cool storage compartment in the rear center console, a swiveling front passenger seat and a “floating” instrument panel.

Among our favorite features are oversize door assist grips with a blue-green acrylic material that gives off a soft light, plus a pollen filter that uses polyphenol made from natural grape seed.

Last time I saw a car door opened at that angle it had been bent that way by a taxi, but here the Nissan Intima’s doors are opened to such extreme degrees “to aid access and egress.” The guy behind the concept was keen to impress that the outwardly rotating seats are not purely for use by the elderly and infirm, but are to help the rest of us in and out too. Quite how many able-bodied folk have the patience to wait 15 to 20 seconds to be dropped at the curb is open to debate however.

More likely to see production in the foreseeable future is the Intima’s clean diesel V6, outlandish lights, and perhaps even the expansive windshield cum sunroof. More pics lurk beyond the link.

The Nissan Intima concept car hints at Nissan’s new generation saloon that embodies the Modern Living Concept for car interiors. The Nissan Intima features Nissan’s Safety Shield* concept, including Around View Monitor and Distance Control Assist System (DCAS).

Intima
New-Generation Saloon Embodies Nissan’s Modern Living Concept, Providing Comfort, Relaxation, Fine Quality and Visual Enjoyment

Nissan’s “Modern Living Concept” for car interiors combines attractive design, hospitality, relaxation and high quality with
high levels of functionality and advanced technology. To date, the Modern Living Concept has been successfully featured in Nissan production cars such as the Teana, Tiida and Sylphy. Now, the Nissan Intima saloon takes the Modern Living Concept into a new dimension with an interior that invites passengers into a stimulating world of artistic forms, materials and illumination.

Nissan Intima is equipped with a number of safety systems based on Nissan’s Safety Shield* concept, including Around View Monitor and Distance Control Assist System (DCAS).
It also features a quiet, efficient, environmentally friendly V6 clean diesel engine.

Thoughtful Hospitality and Visual Sophistication

Nissan Intima is targeted towards consumers with a sophisticated, discerning eye for beauty – who enjoy spending time in refined elegance and comfort, whether traveling alone or with a partner.

“We designed Nissan Intima as a car that expresses the interior attractiveness      Gallery: Nissan Intima
Nissan proposes in the Modern Living Concept,” explains Product Chief Designer Kinichi Saito of the Product Design Department. “The inspiration came from imagining a situation where a person who has accumulated many life experiences and successes now wants to spend his or her own time, or time together as a couple, in an elegant environment.”

For example, the instrument panel padding appears to “float” in between the wood grain panels, the center console incorporates a “wave pattern” and large door armrests and assist grips combine to
give passengers a feeling of comfort and peace of mind.

Illumination is another significant element in orchestrating a sense of soothing relaxation in the Nissan Intima interior. Cabin illumination is provided by the indirect lighting incorporated in the instrument panel, center console, door trim and ceiling, and the door assist grips feature a blue-green acrylic material that gives off a soft light. The elegant mood is furthered by a lighted, convenient storage space for keeping a handbag or other small items, located on the inside of the front passenger’s door.

Nissan Intima also features a four-zone,
intelligent air conditioning system that provides a comfortable atmosphere for all passengers by independently controlling the individual temperature of each seating position through the use of infrared sensors. This advanced air conditioning system also keeps the interior of the vehicle clean by adopting a natural grape seed polyphenol filter that neutralizes pollen and other allergens. In addition, a cool storage compartment is located in the rear center console to keep beverages or snacks at an enjoyable temperature.

An Artful Expression of Relaxation

Traditionally, the expression of relaxation in a vehicle’s design focuses purely on function, such as in terms of seat comfort. Nissan Intima goes a step beyond that tradition to incorporate art extensively into the interior, thus taking the sensation of relaxation to an even higher plane.

Nissan Intima’s front passenger’s seat swivels approximately 80° to the outside as if to welcome and escort a passenger into the car and ample legroom is provided in both the front and rear seats for passenger comfort. Nissan Intima’s large glass roof, which appears to flow continuously from the car’s windshield, enables all passengers to enjoy a wide outward view, enhancing the feeling of a comfortable, relaxing drive.

An Equally Artistic Exterior

Nissan Intima’s exterior styling matches the interior’s artistic image, with a design that combines sharp-edged lines and organic panel surfaces. “The balance of these two elements creates a refined mood based on the ideas of ‘relaxation’ and ‘comfort,’” explained Saito.

Rich elegance is conveyed though Nissan Intima’s arching side character line, while the crystal-like appearance of the front and rear lamps, grille and wheels project an image of superior quality and refinement reminiscent of jewelry. The subdued luster of the chrome finish also contributes to the impression of refined quality imparted by all of the exterior embellishments.

“Nissan Intima demonstrates that art and functionality are not mutually exclusive,” said Saito. “There is a strong role of visual attractiveness in creating a comfortable, relaxing interior that is often overlooked. Nissan Intima, and Nissan’s Modern Living Concept, are leading the way in the advancement of visually stimulating interior design.”

A quiet, environmentally friendly clean diesel engine

Nissan Intima also features an environmentally friendly, V6 clean diesel engine. Designed to be in harmony with Nissan Intima’s relaxing, high quality interior, the new-generation clean diesel offers quiet operation, as well as enhanced fuel efficiency.

At first glance, the Nissan GT-R seems a totem for everything wrong with modern sports cars. It’s much too big, way too heavy, far too complex, and damnably too expensive for mere wage earners, especially after inevitable gouging precipitated by a global struggle for the annual production run of just 12,000. Were Colin Chapman alive, he’d be on YouTube maniacally machine-gunning a GT-R to “add lightness.”
The Nissan GT-R has been the dream car of many American enthusiasts since it was introduced in the Gran Turismo series of video games. A favorite among armchair racers, the digital GT-R was a cinch to drive, with impressive all-wheel-drive handling and plenty of power. Many longed to bring this video-game car to life, and now Nissan has done just that.

Much like the virtual machine, the new GT-R seems to defy the laws of physics. According to its stats, this is one of the fastest, best handling street-legal cars available. Based on our first drive in the new GT-R, we can tell you those stats don’t lie.
Now that we’re on our third or fourth glance, and we’ve been able to slap on testing gear and hit the track, the GT-R is earning our awe. In seeking to uphold all that is Godzilla, chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno and his crew have built a simply astonishing vehicle.

It’s still big, heavy, complex, and expensive, but it’s also a holy spitfire at the drag strip and a joy to drive in every way that a big, heavy, and complex car has no right to be unless it’s way more expensive than the GT-R’s advertised base price of $70,475.

This GT-R story is about performance numbers, so we won’t dillydally: 60 mph is barbecued in 3.3 seconds, the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds at 124 mph. Braking from 70 mph takes 145 feet, and skidpad runs are 0.99 g.

Those are Olympic-qualifying stats. Indeed, with those results, the GT-R would have nuked our last $123,760 Porsche 911 Turbo and felled our last $404,410 Lamborghini LP640 roadster. Still think the GT-R is too expensive? We don’t.

If all production cars run like our 3529-mile engineering-mule tester, with its husky midrange torque and smooth ramp-ups to on-boost thrust, buyers will be getting way more than 480 horsepower for their dollars. The GT-R must have more to be haul-assing its 3908 pounds to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. That’s what the $321,956 611-hp Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano runs on game day.

Unconfirmed reports out of Japan say production GT-Rs are cremating dynos with 480 horsepower at the wheels, which means the twin-turbo, twin-intercooler, twin-intake 3.8-liter V-6 is churning out well over 500 fillies.

And it all goes to ground so effortlessly. The GT-R’s launch control requires the dual-clutch auto-manual transmission and the shock absorbers be set to the max-performance “R” setting, the stability control to be off, and feet on both the brake and gas. Do that, and the V-6 leaps to 4500 rpm and dumps the clutch when you lift the brake. There’s a brief chirp from the rear rolling pins as they deposit barely an inch of rubber, and the GT-R is gone.

Upshifts with the leather-fringed paddles are rifle-round quick but free of shock. Nissan has sweated its first dual-clutch six-speed, and it shows in the seamless ratio changes and lurch-free clutching. We conducted 15 brutal launches, and the GT-R endured them with grace, sometimes posting 60-mph sprints just 0.01 second apart.

Heavy Yet Nimble

Having established that the GT-R is preposterously and reliably fast, we shall now recite what else we noticed in this brief visit with the car. Even at full war cry the engine is muted, just a mellow warble even under full throttle. The car is also comfortable, at least for those in front.

As mentioned, the GT-R has expansive dimensions. Our tape measure revealed front-seat space that totals 54 cubic feet within the lavish 109.5-inch wheelbase. Rear seaters get woeful head- and legroom but at least enjoy more torso space than in a 911.

Nissan fits U.S.-market GT-Rs with extra-wide front buckets of perforated leather and anti-slip fabric that support and comfort.

Elsewhere in the cockpit, Italian-looking finery is present in taut, top-stitched dash upholstery and a leather-swathed hand brake fit for a Ferrari. The dash design actually seems to be one of no design, characterized by basic rectangles, circles, and squares.

The dials, the air vents, the buttons (11 on the steering wheel alone), and the multicolor nav-and-info screen stack haphazardly up a hillside like shanties in a Brazilian favela. But they prove easy to use and will appeal to those who prefer a simple functionality over art-house flourish.

Many of the “gauges” on the 11 driver-selectable info screens are inane if not suicidal to watch while in motion, such as a lateral-g meter and a front-to-rear torque-split enumerator.

However, esoteric displays such as graphs showing brake-and-accelerator-pedal movements would be useful to those who in-car-video their lapping sessions.

Lapping? The GT-R’s specs describe a luxury grand tourer, and it is one, especially with its shock selector set on comfort and the pavement cracks rolling sedately underneath the huge tires. But turned loose on a track or mountain macaroni, the GT-R flouts its size and mass handicaps.

It cements itself to corner apexes and scribes perfect lines on exit with none of the steering numbness or front-end washout we’re trained to expect from all-wheel-drive supercars.

The obvious rear torque bias pays its dividends, as does a lightning-quick 15.1:1 rack ratio when it comes time to reel in the fat derrière from the inevitable, entertaining, easily controlled power slides.

Larger, heavier, and less costly than its competition, the GT-R also charges harder and dances with lighter soles. At least so says our experience so far. Comparison tests and dyno pulls to follow.

The interior of the FORUM will be very similar to the recently unveiled Nissan Intima Concept. The FORUM features trackless sliding doors and no B-pillars, aiding in entry and exit. The Forum was penned at Nissan Design America.

Like we reported last month, the FORUM will feature swiveling second row seats — as shown in the latest sketch — similar to those found on Chrysler’s minivans. However, Nissan’s version swivels the entire second row bench at either 90 degrees — to make getting into the third row easier — or 180 degrees to face the third row bench.

While the FORUM doesn’t actually have a powerplant between its front fenders, Nissan says a clean diesel would be the engine of choice — the same powerplant that will be used in the U.S.-bound 2010 or 2011 Nissan Maxima diesel.

The FORUM is designed in consideration of the needs of adults in the front and children in the back — to be easy for Mom and Dad to drive, while simultaneously keeping control of activity in the back. Rear-seat cameras, dubbed “Kid’s Cam,” monitor the behavior of the occupants and display it to the driver, while a “Time Out” button on the steering wheel allows all audio to be muted and the driver’s voice to be broadcasted throughout the car.

A console-mounted microwave is large enough to nuke a bag of popcorn and is accessible to the first and second rows, and the single-dial Bose Media System allows for all audio, video, navigation, and hands-free phone use, along with hard-drive storage of digital media files.

In the back of the vehicle, the entire second-row seating arrangement is able to rotate a full 180 degrees to face the third-row passengers, and individual monitors are built in for movies or video games. Every seat in the FORUM features individual audio programming, allowing each passenger to listen to a different type of music.

A Bose FreeSpace audio system integrates speakers and a wireless media player into the vehicle’s exterior for audio entertainment outside the vehicle. Shag carpeting covers the interior floor for an elegant look.

A Suite of Technological Innovations. Nissan North America’s advanced minivan design study, the Nissan FORUM Concept, offers an array of innovative family communications systems – including an advanced Bose Media System with proximity sensor-based information controller, a one-button audio muting system, 2nd and 3rd row monitoring cameras, and individual seat-mounted speakers for every row. Created at Nissan Design America in La Jolla, Calif. and Farmington Hills, Mich., the FORUM Concept makes its public debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

The Nissan Qashqai (Nissan Dualis in Japan and Australasia) is a compact crossover SUV produced by Japanese automaker Nissan since 2007. The P32L automobile platform will be also used by other oncoming Nissan crossover SUVs. The Qashqai has been built at Nissan’s NMUK Washington, Tyne and Wear plant since December 2006.

It is the first model to be styled by Nissan Design Europe in London, with engineering development led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. It was globally presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

By the end of 2007, Nissan had sold about 100,000 Nissan Qashqai in Europe, including 17,554 in UK, 15,376 in Russia, and 10,746 in Italy.

The Qashqai will be exported to the Middle East and additional overseas markets.

Built on an all-new platform, the Qashqai went on sale in February 2007 and Nissan targeted more than 100,000 sales per year. Nissan said the car, named after the nomadic Qashqai tribe, will cater for those car buyers who want a more dynamic design but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a sport utility vehicle. The car slots below the X-Trail in the Nissan range and partially replaces the conventional Primera (still produced at the Sunderland plant for export markets but no longer sold in the UK), even though it took the production place of the smaller Almera. In terms of size, its 4310 mm (169.7 in) length and 1610 mm (63.4 in) height makes it fall between compact MPVs, such as the SEAT Altea and Renault Scénic, and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The top half of Qashqai has a sleek dynamic form with a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear — a design cue similar to that of the Nissan Murano. The lower portion resembles an SUV due to large, pronounced wheel arches and a slightly elevated ground clearance. The all new Qashqai uses the exact same platform as the X-Trail (the vehicle the Qashqai is based on) but will not be as functional or as off road capable as it is. Nissan is planning the Qashqai to rival such cars the Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V. Due to the cheaper building cost most of the practicability of the Qashqai will be compromised compared to the X-Trail. The seats, unlike the X-Trail, can not fold all the way down and the suspension is loud and hard on some roads. The Qashqai utilizes a 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine delivering 103 kW (138 hp) power and 196 N·m (145 ft·lbf) torque. It is equipped with a AWD/4WD system and received a five star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Four engine choices can be chosen: the petrol engines will be a 115 hp (86 kW) 1.6 L and a 140 hp (104 kW) 2.0 L, while the 106 hp (79 kW) 1.5 L and 150 hp (112 kW) 2.0 L will be the Diesel engines.

In May 2007, the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) awarded the Qashqai its best ever adult occupant score.

The Qashqai is not offered in North American markets. The Nissan Rogue, a completely different model despite some visual similarities, is offered instead.

The Qashqai name (pronounced ghash’ghāee) comes from the originally nomadic Qashqai tribe from southwestern Iran (Persia). Nissan’s designers say they believe that its buyers will be nomadic in nature too. The Chinese nameplate was to be CCUV which was short for “Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle” but since Chinese launch has been named Qashqai. In Australia, the Qashqai is named as the Dualis. This was chosen due to the fact that Australians may call it the “cash cow”, a controversial nickname which has already appeared in some markets including the UK.

Nissan today (6th September) presented for the first time its new Compact Crossover for Europe, the Qashqai, at an event hosted in Paris by Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s President and CEO. Inspired by the concept car of the same name that was presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, the Qashqai is a new vehicle for Nissan in Europe, with sales starting in February 2007.

It will cater for those car-buyers who want a more dynamic design than offered by a traditional C-segment car, but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a compact SUV.

The design of the car was led by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) and it represents the first new production vehicle to be designed at NDE since its move to London in 2003. The development programme was led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe based in Cranfield, England, with significant input from Nissan’s engineering base in Japan. Qashqai will be produced at Nissan’s factory in Sunderland, England.

As well as European sales, Qashqai will also be exported from the Sunderland factory to Japan – where it will be named Dualis – the Middle East and additional overseas markets.

The Qashqai is described as a crossover as it inhabits the area where passenger car attributes meet those of a 4×4. In terms of design, the top half of Qashqai is reminiscent of a dynamic passenger car, with a sleek, dynamic form that features a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear – a design cue similar to that of the Murano.

The lower portion of the car suggests SUV attributes of strength and solidity thanks to large, pronounced wheel arches, slightly elevated ground clearance and a purposeful stance.

The interior has been designed to give the driver a focused cockpit feeling, with a clear separation between them and their passenger. The deeply recessed instruments give a sporty feeling to the driving environment – a feeling reinforced by the raised central console. However, the front and passenger environments have been designed to feel airy, spacious and relaxing.

In terms of size, QASHQAI sits between C-segment hatchbacks and SUVs. It has a wheelbase of 2630mm, it is 1610mm tall, 1780mm wide and 4310mm long. It is about 100mm longer than a typical hatchback but 150mm shorter than a typical SUV. Similarly, it is taller than rival hatchbacks by between 100 -150mm yet up to 130mm lower than an SUV.

Four engine options will be available, two diesel and two petrol offerings. The 1.6-litre petrol offers 115PS of power and 160Nm or torque, while the 2.0-litre produces 140PS and 200Nm. The diesel engine options – 1.5- and 2.0-litre – provide 106 and 150PS, respectively and 240 and 320Nm of torque.

Several gearbox options are available, according to engine choice. These include a five- and six-speed manual, a new six-speed automatic and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) option with manual mode.

Both 2.0-litre engine options can be specified with Nissan’s advanced ALL-MODE 4×4 system which gives added security and stability in marginal conditions.

Speaking at the launch event in Paris, Mr Ghosn said: “European customers want it all: dynamic design, driving performance and attractive premium interior. Qashqai delivers it all which is why it will lead our sales growth in Europe and the growth in recognition of Nissan as a truly bold, thoughtful and innovative Japanese brand.”

“We expect Qashqai will sell more than 100,000 units a year on average across Europe – with 80% of those customers buying a Nissan for the first time. Before Qashqai, they drove a premium C-segment car, a compact 4×4 or a D-segment car,” added Mr Ghosn.

Catalyst for change:

Nissan’s new QASHQAI is a catalyst for change. An alternative to traditional choices, QASHQAI mixes elegance, agility and sheer ability in one very different package.

The QASHQAI is same size as a Ford Focus yet smaller than a typical compact SUV, and promises the driving comfort and fun of the former with the ability and practicality of the latter.

Its distinctive styling is a marriage of the sleek shape of a passenger car with the strength of a 4×4 to create something fresh and different in the new car market.

Named after a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe living near the Zagros mountains in South Western Iran, QASHQAI (say it Kash-Kai) should be seen as an ‘Urban Nomad’, says Design Director at Nissan Design Europe, Stephane Schwarz.

“It is a car of contrasts for a world of contrasts,” he says. “It is tough and compact for the city but sleek and agile for journeys away from the town. It reflects our personalities, our imagination.”

Although initial design concepts started in Japan, most of QASHQAI’s design and development work has been undertaken in Europe, notably at Nissan Design Europe in London and at Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield also in the UK. It will be built at Sunderland in Nissan’s award-winning plant in the North East of England. Full production is due to start towards the end of 2006, with sales starting early in 2007.

QASHQAI’s dynamic exterior is matched by a asymetric interior, providing a focused cockpit environment for the driver and a relaxing space for the occupants. High seating positions provide the sense of security normally found in an SUV, yet QASHQAI is a more dynamic performer with the accelerative and handling capabilities of a hatchback.

Four engines:

QASHQAI offers a choice of two and four-wheel drive and no fewer than four engines, two diesel and two petrol. The engine range starts with a 1.6-litre 115PS (84kW) petrol and 1.5 dCi diesel developing 106PS (78kW). A pair of petrol and diesel 2.0-litre engines develop 140PS (104kW) and 150PS (110kW) respectively.

Five and six-speed manual transmissions, six-speed automatic and an advanced CVT gearbox are available.

The carefully conceived interior is crammed with intelligent storage solutions for maximum functionality and flexibility, while – as is to be expected from a Nissan – only features that make a difference, rather than technology for technology’s sake, can be found either as standard or on the options list. These include a large panoramic glass roof, automatic headlights and wipers, satellite navigation, reversing camera and Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones.

Nissan’s highly praised electronically controlled ALL MODE 4×4 system – as pioneered in X-TRAIL – is available on 2.0-litre versions. Despite having greater ground clearance than an ordinary hatchback, however, QASHQAI’s four-wheel drive is there to provide greater traction for safer driving and extra control in all weathers: QASHQAI has not been designed as a go-anywhere 4×4.
Safe and secure

Safety is a key strength of the vehicle, too. A rigid bodyshell providing maximum passive safety is matched by a plethora of active safety features including the latest generation ESP which includes brake torque control and engine torque control. The braking system is similarly advanced and features hydraulic fade compensation (HFC) to provide the ultimate stopping power at all times.

Who will buy QASHQAI? In the same way the car doesn’t conform to the norm, so its customers will tend to be individuals with their own agendas. They will be open-minded and progressive with a passionate appetite for life. They are not among life’s spectators.

“QASHQAI is bold, imaginative and exciting. And it is very different to every other car currently on sale. With QASHQAI, Nissan is determined to SHIFT_ convention,” said Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President, Product Planning and Corporate Strategy, Nissan Motor Co Ltd.

Crossover thinking:

From certain angles it has the agility of a passenger car, from others the tough stance of an SUV. Put it all together, though, and it quickly becomes clear that QASHQAI is one of a kind: there’s nothing else quite like it on the road.

“QASHQAI is an alternative to the norm. A fusion of different themes and concepts, it blurs boundaries and twists expectations. Is it a compact SUV? Is it a passenger car? Is it at home in the city? The answer is ‘yes’.” Stephane Schwarz, Design Director, Nissan Design Europe

Creating a car that refuses to conform to the norm requires equally non-conformist thinking. Inspiration for QASHQAI came not from other cars on the road – with two notable exceptions – but from culture, food, fashion, art, technology and other everyday influences.

Stephane Schwarz, Design Director at Nissan Design Europe and father of the QASHQAI project, explains: “We, as consumers, are changing. We no longer want to be pigeonholed… and that applies to whatever it is we are buying. We are looking for more creative expression in everything around us.”

“We are also expecting greater duality from the things we buy: for example, we want warmth from a piece of equipment – a fusion of art and technology. These are very individual, hedonistic times and the first task we, as designers, had to understand was the mindset of the new car buyer.”

It quickly became clear to the team that the new car market was becoming more complex and that as far as many car buyers looking in the C-segment were concerned, conventional hatchbacks and sedans like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus were no longer exciting enough.

“The car has become an extension of one’s personality and fewer people are prepared to be seen as conventional any more,” says Schwarz. “To cater for them, we started to create a new type of car.”
Break with convention

Work on QASHQAI began in 2003, with the development of a show car that broke cover at the 2004 Geneva Salon. The QASHQAI concept car showed that Nissan was prepared to break with convention with its next offering in the C-segment of the market.

The production version of QASHQAI differs from the concept in a number of important areas but retains its core crossover rationale. Like the Nissan Murano – along with the concept, the only car to influence the design development of the production version – QASHQAI has been designed to appeal to buyers on more than one level.

Its clear combination of sporting attitude with the space and ability offered by a typical compact SUV makes it stand out in a segment of the market full of worthy but dull rivals.

“We have adapted some of Murano’s stance and image for QASHQAI and there are one or two design cues common to both – the upswept side window graphic for example – but QASHQAI is far from being a clone of Murano. Like brothers, they both clearly belong to the same family but have their own individual identities,” says Schwarz.

Design development began in Japan – at the time, Schwarz was Associate Product Chief Designer at Nissan Design Centre in Tokyo, where he worked with product planning, marketing and engineering for various concepts before they reached final design selection for production. QASHQAI was one of those projects.

Once it had been given the go-ahead, the project moved to the newly opened Nissan Design Europe (NDE) facility in London where Schwarz and his team took up his current post in December 2004. NDE is home to more than 60 international designers, modellers and support staff, with a mission to design the next generation of Nissan cars for Europe.
NDE’s first ground-up project

QASHQAI is the first ground-up project to have been produced at NDE and follows work undertaken at the facility to turn the Micra hatchback into the recently launched Micra C+C coupé/convertible. And rather than being a car for just Europe, QASHQAI is to be sold globally.

As the word implies, a crossover merges contradictory design and packaging influences from two or more market segments into one vehicle. The key design elements that turn QASHQAI into a crossover can be found above and below the waistline.

The sleek silhouette of the cambering roof suggests sporting agility. Dynamically angled A-pillars meet the roof at its highest point at the top of the windscreen, from where it falls away, coupé-like, towards the rear. The roofline culminates in a subtle flick up into a small spoiler integrated into the tailgate surround. To ensure a light and airy cockpit, a large panoramic glass roof has been developed
Athletic design

QASHQAI’s sportscar-inspired glasshouse proportion accentuates the athleticism of the overall design: Schwarz likens the shape of the front and side windows to a visor on a crash helmet, again promising sporting performance. The side profile follows the movement of the roofline and finishes with the small upswept triangular third window first seen on Murano.

In contrast, the high waistline suggests an inner strength, which is accentuated by strong shoulders and pronounced wheel arches. Typical SUV features include the bluff, almost vertical, nose and the contrasting colour of the sturdy bumpers and side protection panels. Higher ground clearance than conventional hatchbacks also hints at SUV capability.

Complex yet subtle curves over the wheel arches and on the doors allow constantly changing reflections to soften what would otherwise be a comparatively large expanse of metal.

Wraparound head and tail lamp assemblies provide a physical link between the side profile and the front and rear of QASHQAI. Aerodynamically shaped taillights follow the curve of the rear haunches where they provide a distinctive slash of colour. The lamp assemblies are split to maximise the loading width of the trunk and a high level brake light is incorporated into the rear spoiler at the top of the tailgate.
Four pocket headlamps

At the front, a large five-sided lamps assembly is split into four distinct ‘pockets’ for the sidelights, twin headlamps and blue tinted turn indicators. Front fog lights are integrated into the bumper.

QASHQAI’s nose is dominated by a large version of Nissan’s logo roundel, which is framed in a chromed U-shaped motif in the centre of the grille. Reinforcing the power and character of the front end, the ‘U’ element of the grille extends into the bonnet in the form of twin ‘power’ ridges in the centre of the panel.

A colour palette of 11 distinctive shades – four brand new – also help QASHQAI to stand out. The four new metallic colours are Urban Silver, described by Schwarz as a ‘sharp, icy’ silver; blue-grey Faded Denim; Hazy Gold and the intense Fired Iron, a bronze red. Door handles and mirrors are finished in body colour on Tekna and Acenta models and black on Visia grade.

Dimensionally, QASHQAI sits between C-segment hatchbacks and SUVs. Sitting on a wheelbase of 2631mm, it is 1606mm tall, 1783mm wide and 4315mm long. While the wheelbase and width match average figures for all both types of rival, QASHQAI is about 100mm longer than a typical hatchback but 150mm shorter than a typical SUV. Similarly, it is taller than rival hatchbacks by between 100-150mm yet up to 130mm shorter than an SUV.

Ground clearance is 200mm and the vehicle has approach and departure angles of 19.2 deg and 30.2 deg… better than a hatchback but unable to match the figures set by purpose designed 4×4s.

“These figures put QASHQAI in a unique position in the market place, offering more space than a hatchback at the same time as being more compact and manoeuvrable than an SUV,” says Schwarz. “As the figures show, it has not been conceived as a 4×4 and should not be thought of as one. The four-wheel drive option is mainly to provide better traction and more security in all conditions on the road.”
Contradictory impressions

“Throughout the design process we were looking to create contradictory impressions: a seductive car that turned heads at first glace yet was also obviously durable; a car with a fun to drive agility yet that due to its high seating position, would also provide occupant protection and inner strength.”

“And through it all we had to ensure the car remains resolutely usable. We benchmarked the most practical of its conventional rivals to ensure QASHQAI did not fall short in terms of occupant space and luggage room,” he adds.

If first impressions are anything to go by, NDE’s efforts have been successful. Given that QASHQAI takes Nissan into a new sector of the market – indeed, creates a new sector of the market – a number of customer clinics were held in key European markets.
Powerful and dynamic

In all of them QASHQAI was spontaneously well received. It was variously described as being distinctive, different, bold, modern and eye-catching… yet not too ostentatious. It was seen as powerful and dynamic yet safe, and as elegant and stylish yet robust and solid. Against a number of popular hatchback and compact SUV rivals, QASHQAI was first choice among the participants by some margin.

“Contrasts that at first sight appear to be mutually exclusive are, in fact, what gives QASHQAI its energy,” says Schwarz.

NDE’s high security home is near the Grand Union Canal in London’s Paddington is a unique building called the Rotunda. Constructed from reinforced concrete in 1966, its original role was as a maintenance depot for British Rail.

So striking was the design that it won an Architectural Design Project Award in 1966 and the Concrete Society’s Award three years later. Today it is considered one of the most important buildings of the post-war British Modern movement. As a result it carries a Grade II* listing from British Heritage.

Fully focused:

In the same way that QASHQAI’s exterior styling represents a series of contrasts, so the interior has been created by fusing together opposing concepts.

“In any car, the driver has totally different needs to the passenger, but this is not always recognised or appreciated. In QASHQAI we have created a distinct cockpit environment for the driver which contrasts dramatically with the lounge feeling enjoyed by the passengers,” says Stephane Schwarz, Design Director, NDE.

All QASHQAI’s major and minor controls have been wrapped around the driver, who is separated from the front seat passenger by an unusually high centre console. Incorporating a cutaway section on the driver’s side for the handbrake, the centre console also houses twin cup holders and a storage box with integrated sliding armrest.

One of QASHQAI’s most significant controls sits towards the front of the centre console just behind the short-throw gear lever – the chunky knurled switch for the ALL MODE 4×4 drive system.
Hooded cowl

Ahead of the driver, and sitting beneath a hooded cowl, is the instrument panel and trip computer. Minor controls are ergonomically sited in the centre of the dashboard above the gear lever and beneath twin chrome-ringed air vents. Remote audio controls can be found on the steering wheel.

White LED lighting illuminates the dials night and day, while a new saturated orange shade is used on all other illuminated parts, including the trip computer in the centre of the instrument panel, the power window switches and the audio and navigation controls. It is also used for diffused ambient mood lighting in the cabin. This instrument lighting method will also be used on future Nissan products.

Accentuating the different cockpit/lounge ‘zones’, the soft-feel vacuum moulded dashboard ahead of the front seat passenger is finished in a contrasting grain effect to the area in front of the driver.
Colour contrasts

In the most luxurious grade, the contrast is even more marked with the two sections being finished in different colours. Whereas entry level Visia and sporty Tekna grades have all-black dashboards, the wraparound section facing the Acenta driver is black and complemented by a chocolate shade in front of the passenger.

A similar principle applies to the high quality upholstery. Visia grade has dark grey cloth-covered seats and a predominately black interior, while Tekna’s black cloth seats have a contrasting black and grey fabric insert for the centre section. Tekna’s interior, again predominately black, features a number of metallic highlights giving the appearance of an aluminium finish to the steering wheel, gear lever surround and door handles.

Acenta, in complete contrast, uses colour in the seat as well as on the dashboard and doors to create a quite different atmosphere. Taking inspiration from sportswear, the seats use a brick-coloured ‘breathing’ mesh-style fabric for the centre section through which can be seen the black base material of the rest of the seat.

In both Acenta and Tekna grades, embossed leather upholstery is an option: chocolate in Acenta and black in Tekna.
Sculpted seats

The seats themselves are sculpted in both front and rear which adds to the purposeful feel of the interior. In keeping with QASHQAI’s sporting potential, the front seats have side bolsters with a high foam density to provide extra support when cornering. The rear seats, which fold on a 60/40 split, offer optimum comfort for two, but QASHQAI is a full five seater with three point safety belts for all occupants.

Folding the rear seats to increase load space is simplicity itself. The base of the seat is fixed and all that’s required is a single-handled operation to fold each backrest section. When folded, the load floor is flat from tailgate to the back of the front seats in cars with a full size spare wheel and virtually flat when a space saver spare is specified, thanks to a slightly lower trunk floor. There is no need to remove the head restraints before folding the seat.

Thanks to QASHQAI’s overall height and its substantial ground clearance, driver and passengers sit higher than they would in a conventional vehicle, but without the sensation of sitting on top of the vehicle as is experienced in some SUVs.

Sitting higher not only provides better visibility out of the vehicle but also promotes a sense of security. But the raised seating position is not so high as to compromise the driving enjoyment and comfort of the car: it really is the best of both worlds.

One of the other benefits of the higher roofline is that occupants sit comparatively upright which translates into more interior leg, shoulder and head room. The cargo space with the rear tonneau cover in place is 410 litres, a little more than is offered by cars like the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Opel/Vauxhall Astra. It rises to 1513 litres with the rear seats folded.

With minimal intrusion from the rear suspension components, the maximum width in the trunk is 1188mm while the loading height is 779mm. This, in line with QASHQAI’s overall dimensions, lies between the loading heights of hatchback and SUV rivals.

The huge cooled glovebox has 14 litres of storage space – large enough to hold a remarkable 15 cans of drink – as well as an integrated sunglasses holder while the front door pockets can each take a 0.5litre bottle and an A4 map book. Mesh pockets on the backs of the front seats are large enough to hold A3 sized map books.

The centre console storage box has a 3.5 litre volume and can hold up to eight CDs in their jewel cases, and there’s also a 4.0 litre sliding storage drawer under the front passenger seat.

A panoramic glass roof is an option unique in this segment of the market. Measuring 1040mm by 880mm, the fixed roof covers both rows of sets to create a light and airy interior. It is fabricated from laminated privacy glass, which filters out damaging UV rays and contains heat soak into the cabin. On top of that, temperate atmosphere in the cabin is maintained thanks to an advanced low pressure ventilation system.

A one-touch electrically operated sunshade can be used to add further protection from the sun and insulation from the elements. The use of laminated glass provides extra safety in the event of a roll-over crash and added security against unlawful intrusion.

“When creating the interior we followed exactly the same principles as we did when designing the exterior, by combining contrasting themes. For example, the cockpit area has a very technical feel, yet the interior as a whole is a stress-free environment.”

“It mirrors the influences of everyday life. Not far from NDE, for example, we experience the total contrast between places like Mayfair and London’s East End. In this way, QASHQAI captures perfectly the divergence of our surroundings,” says Schwarz.

The best of both worlds:

QASHQAI is the first European vehicle to be built on the Nissan/Renault Alliance ‘C’ Platform.

For QASHQAI, a wheelbase length of 2631mm provides the best possible interior space within an overall compact body as well as ensuring strong ride and handling dynamics.

The front suspension features a sub-frame mounted strut-type system with combined coil-over-strut assemblies and a forward lower link. The sub-frame has compliant rubber mounts to isolate road noise and vibration from the platform, improving both general refinement and ride comfort. A front anti-roll bar is attached directly to the strut assembly for more effective control of body roll under cornering, while high performance Sachs shock absorbers are fitted to maintain serene road-manners.
Front suspension on cradle sub-frame

Multi-link rear suspension:

Fully independent multi-link rear suspension has been used for precise handling and high-speed stability. Attached to the vehicle via a rigid rear subframe to keep unwanted noise and vibrations to a minimum, the compact assembly features an aluminium rear upper link to reduce weight: the saving is in the region of 4kg. In addition, the rear shock absorbers are tilted to ensure minimal intrusion into the trunk area as Nissan’ research has shown that intrusion into the trunk from suspension components is a common complaint from customers.

Compact rear suspension:

Rebound springs reduce body roll to give a greater feeling of security behind the wheel while ride comfort is enhanced by the adoption of friction control dampers. Fine tuning of the ride and handling has been carried out by engineers from Nissan Europe’s technical centres in the UK and at Barcelona in Spain.

Rear multilink suspension:

Detailed analysis of the forces passing through the suspension allowed engineers to precisely tune the platform and subframe to ensure handling precision and ride comfort are maximised.

Depending on the version, QASHQAI is equipped with 16 inch steel or alloy wheels shod with 215/65R16 tyres or 17 inch broad spoke alloys with unusual ball shaped bolt surrounds. The 17 inch wheel has 215/60R 17 tyres.

Electric power steering:

Handling and manoeuvrability are aided by the adoption of electric power steering (EPS). This state-of-the-art system offers greater assistance at lower speeds with more steering feel provided as speeds rise.

The system checks speed inputs every 40 milliseconds and is speed sensitive to 0.01 km/h. It is tuned specifically for European tastes to give a strong self-centering action at lower engine speeds for easier town driving and greater feel at higher speeds.

The system uses a brushless DC motor resulting in lower friction losses which, in turn, means reduced wear and lower service costs. And with no traditional hydraulic pump in the system, there are fuel consumptions benefits, too. Under tests, electric power steering has been shown to improve fuel consumption by 0.11litres/100kms. Helping to provide the perfect driving position, the steering column is adjustable for rake and reach.

Top braking performance:

There’s invariably a wide gap in braking performance between an SUV and a conventional car with the 4×4’s higher centre of gravity translating into less controllability in an emergency as well as longer stopping distances.

However, despite sitting higher than a rival hatchback, QASHQAI’s braking performance is competitive with a traditional hatchback thanks to the most advanced braking and traction control systems currently available.

Discs brakes all round with standard anti-lock (ABS) are boosted by Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD). Brake Assist maintains maximum deceleration during an emergency stop while EBD constantly alters the front rear balance to achieve optimum brake performance, automatically compensating for differing load conditions.

QASHQAI’s four-wheel drive system incorporates some of the most sophisticated technology available anywhere on the 4×4 market. Developed by Nissan, the ALL MODE 4×4 system allows secure and relaxed driving with advanced electronics taking care of all traction needs.

In essence, ALL MODE 4×4 ensures QASHQAI has grip at all times no matter how severe the conditions. But unlike some other automatic four-wheel drive systems, ALL MODE 4×4 uses advanced electronics rather than dual hydraulic pumps to ensure drive is transferred between wheels and axles the instant a problem arises.

Under normal conditions, the QASHQAI operates in front-wheel drive which reduces energy losses and saves on fuel. The instant wheel slippage is detected however, a centre clutch in the rear final drive is electronically activated and drive is correctly apportioned between front and rear axles.

The system has three modes, selected via a switch on the centre console. In 2WD, the system is permanently set in front-wheel drive, ideal for fine weather on-road use. When the Lock setting is pushed, however, the system switches to permanent four-wheel drive mode with drive split 50:50 front to rear.

The most often used mode, however, is ‘select-and-forget’ Auto, in which the system is left to its own devices. Sensors linking the engine’s ECU with the four-wheel drive and ABS controller constantly monitor wheel slippage and automatically send signals to the electromagnetic centre clutch mounted just ahead of the rear axle to apportion torque correctly.

Left in Auto, the system will automatically compensate for unexpected slippery conditions on-road, such as wet leaves in autumn, early morning winter ice or loose gravel at any time of the year.
Advance electronic systems

ALL MODE 4×4 is inextricably linked to Bosch’s eighth generation Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). Using sensors linked to the brakes, steering, wheels and the body itself, ESP constantly monitors the way the car is being driven.

From the steering angle and wheel speeds, ESP calculates what manoeuvres the driver intends to perform and from signals from the yaw-rate and lateral acceleration sensors ESP recognises whether the vehicle might skid off course. In an emergency ESP reacts swiftly, and by selectively applying the brakes at each wheel ESP ‘steers’ the vehicle in the desired direction.

Among the other electronic control systems that QASHQAI has in its armoury are cornering brake control (CBC) and EUC, which stands for enhanced understeer control. In the latter case, the system applies the brakes to all four wheels to reduce excessive understeer. Finally, hydraulic fade compensation (HFC) prevents brake fade after a period of heavy brake usage.

Choice of four engines:

Of the four engines available to power QASHQAI, the development of the two petrol units was led by Nissan, while Alliance partner Renault led the devlopment of the two common rail diesel engines.
Petrol offerings

The entry-level petrol engine was originally developed for the recently released Micra SR and Note. An all-aluminium unit displacing 1598cc, power and torque have increased slightly for its new application to 115PS (84kW) and 156Nm of torque: improvements of 5PS and 3Nm.

1.6-litre petrol engine:

Exceptionally light – some 25kg lighter than Nissan’s previous 1.6-litre petrol unit – and highly thermally efficient, it has four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, multi-point port injection and vane-type continuous intake cam phasing.

Performance targets include a top speed of 175km/h (110mph), with 0-100km/h (0-62mph) taking 12 seconds. Combined fuel consumption is 6.7 l/100km while major service intervals are every 30,000kms. Drive is to the front wheels through a five-speed gearbox.
Lightweight 2.0-litre

The 2.0-litre petrol unit is a new lightweight engine that currently powers models sold in Japan. Another all-aluminium 16 valve design, it displaces 1997cc and develops 140PS (104kW) and 196Nm of torque. Some 90 per cent of that torque is available from 2000rpm providing the accelerative ‘punch’ more usually expected in larger engines.

2.0-litre petrol engine:

Almost as compact as the 1.6 engine, among its key design features is a notable reduction in internal friction. A mirror-like finishing technique is applied to the surfaces of the crankshaft pin journal and the cam lobe journal and to a new machining method that ensures truly circular bores is used: this procedure is common practice in the machining of bores of racing engines but is seldom used in volume production engines.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine is available with either two or four wheel drive and six speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with manual over-ride. Performance targets for the four-wheel drive version include a top speed of 190km/h (119mph), 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 10.6 seconds and economy of 8.4l/100kms. Major service intervals, again, are 30,000kms.
CVT advantages

CVT is a computer controlled ‘stepless’ transmission providing a virtually limitless number of ratios, ensuring the engine is always working as efficiently as possible, resulting in smoother acceleration as well as better fuel economy and lower emissions. In fact, on both the two- and four-wheel drive versions, the CVT option produces lower CO2 emissions and better economy in comparison with the manual transmission.

Continuous Variable Transmission:

It’s more comfortable, too: a long uphill drive in a conventional automatic will invariably be accompanied by regular down shifts as the engine hunts for power. With CVT, the engine revs stay constant as the transmission itself adjusts seamlessly to ensure momentum is maintained. CVT also ensures less power loss, resulting in better efficiency and acceleration.

For a more sporty drive, the CVT system has a manual override. Operated via the central gear stick, six set ratios can be accessed manually by nudging the lever forward or back, motorcycle style.

Diesel is accounting for a growing proportion of sales in the C-segment, so QASHQAI has two strong diesel offerings. Both dCi units have second-generation common rail direct injection for improved performance, refinement and emissions.

The entry-level diesel uses the most powerful version of Renault’s acclaimed 16 valve 1.5 dCi (K9K) engine developing 106PS (78kW) and 240Nm of torque. Praised for its fuel efficiency and low noise, it features a flexible flywheel to filter out the effects of acyclic movements. Specifically developed to comply with Euro 4 legislation the engine has a lowered compression ratio (16:1) and a variable geometry, multi-blade turbocharger.
Advanced 2.0-litre

The 2.0 dCi is a brand new engine fitted with a Bosch piezoelectric-controlled injection system to develop 150PS (110kW) and 320Nm of torque. Piezoelectric technology gives fast, very precise control allowing a ‘five squirt’ injection cycle: two pre-squirts, one main squirt and two post-squirts.

2.0-litre diesel engine:

The pre-squirts improve engine acoustics by minimizing the characteristic diesel clatter. The post-squirts sustain the main injection combustion, to burn off soot and thus bring down pollutant emissions before the exhaust gases have even left the combustion chamber.

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) produces a controlled temperature rise in the combustion chamber to reduce pollutant emission levels (NOx) and thus enhance the engine’s overall environment performance, ensuring it complies with Euro 4 legislation.

The 2.0 dCi is equipped as standard with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) with a periodic regeneration system. When the particulates that have been collected from the engine emissions reach a specified level, the engine runs a process called thermal regeneration performing a second post-injection to overheat the exhaust gas. Above a certain temperature, the soot in the filter oxidizes off, and the filter can continue trapping particulates.

Acoustics was one of the engineering priorities for the new engine. The bottom of the engine, with its aluminium bedplate, is designed for higher efficiency and improved vibration absorption. Twin counter rotating balancer shafts cancel crankshaft rotary vibration, making a major contribution to refinement.

Performance targets for the 1.5 dCi are a 174km/h (108mph) maximum with 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 12.2 seconds and 5.4 l/100kms. Equivalent target figures for the 2.0 dCi 4WD are 190 km/h (119mph); 10.9 seconds and 6.9 l/100kms. Both engines have 20,000kms major service intervals.

The 1.5 dCi drives the front wheels through a new six-speed manual transmission. Two-wheel drive versions of the 2.0dCi also use the six-speed manual, while the four-wheel drive version offers a choice between the six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions.

Intelligent thinking:

In common with other recent new Nissan models, QASHQAI bristles with innovative and advanced features… but each has a good reason for being there. To be chosen as standard or optional equipment for QASHQAI, a feature needs to have a serious purpose or perform a useful function: looking good in the brochure doesn’t count.

Take the heating and ventilation system as an example. When air conditioning is fitted – either a manual system or a full dual zone automatic system depending on the model – it has an added refinement. At the top of the dashboard is an independently controlled mild flow vent which wafts a light breeze of cooled air around the cabin.

As well as cooling the cabin more quickly than conventional air conditioning, it does it more quietly and more comfortably. Instead of having to turn the ventilation fan to a high setting – and having cold air blown directly at your face as a result – the mild flow vent gets on with the job of lowering the temperature as efficiently, as quietly and as gently as possible.

It’s the sort of thoughtful feature that you’ll be lucky to find in a car costing a great deal more money.
Hands-free with Bluetooth.

Another is the Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones. Every QASHQAI with a factory fitted audio system has standard Bluetooth integration for hands-free use of a mobile. A high quality microphone is installed near the interior rear view mirror to improve voice quality while incoming calls are automatically heard over the car’s sound system, which mutes the audio source for the duration of the call.

Better still, total integration means incoming caller ID is displayed on the audio read-out and the system has an internal phone book which can store up to 40 numbers. Once set up, a mobile phone can stay in a pocket or handbag and its presence will be automatically discovered once the car’s ignition is turned on, boosting convenience and safety.

Audio systems differ according to the model, but include a single disc CD/radio and a CD/radio with in an in-dash six disc CD changer. Audio controls are integrated into the steering wheel.

The ultimate communications package incorporates DVD-based satellite navigation. The system, first seen in Pathfinder, is highly intuitive to use and provides map coverage of 26 countries across Europe, including Poland, Slovenia, the Canary Islands, Croatia and Hungary.

The fixed seven-inch display benefits from improved graphics, with split guidance displays showing both maps and overhead views of junctions. The system also has voice recognition in a total of seven languages.

When sat nav is specified, the package comes complete with a colour rear parking camera. The display includes static guidelines allowing millimetre perfect parking every time. The final bonus is that the six disc CD player will also play MP3 discs.

Standard audio preparation includes four speakers mounted in the door panels, with twin dashboard mounted tweeters optionally available.
Back lit instruments

Making sure that information from the instruments can be quickly assimilated at any time of day, they are permanently backlit. The trip computer, which sits between the speedometer and tachometer, is permanently lit in a saturated orange colour, which contrasts with the white LED illumination of the other dials.

Providing real-time journey information, including fuel economy, distance travelled, time and date, the computer also monitors under bonnet performance and service requirements. The same saturated orange hue can be found on illuminated switches and dials as well as in mood lighting which bathes the interior in a diffused amber light at night.
Safety first

Safety is one of QASHQAI’s key attributes. Active safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist (BAS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) while electronic stability programme (ESP) and ALL MODE 4×4 provide the ultimate traction no matter how tricky the conditions are.

Passive safety equipment starts with six airbags standard on all models. As well as dual stage driver and front passenger airbags, there are thorax side airbags mounted in the front seats and full-length curtain airbags on both sides giving extra protection for all occupants in a side impact.

Active headrests are also included on the front seats, minimising the likelihood of neck injury in the case of rear impact and the full-length panoramic glass roof is made from laminated glass to ensure it will not shatter in the event of a roll-over crash.

The front passenger airbag can be deactivated to enable a rear facing child seat to be used. The cut-off switch is located on passenger side of the dashboard and is accessible when the door is opened. It is activated using the vehicle key, so the bag cannot be switched on or off inadvertently. An audible driver’s seatbelt reminder on all models is a further safety measure.
Pre-tensioned seat belts

Front seat belts are equipped with pre-tensioners to take up any slack in the seat belt at the moment of impact. Using sensors to determine the speed of deceleration – and therefore the severity of the crash – the system triggers a pyrotechnic gas generator to rewind the retractor thus tensioning the belt. All three rear seats have full three point harnesses.
Interior storage

Providing plenty of interior storage is an area in which Nissan excels and QASHQAI doesn’t disappoint. The vast cooled glove box ahead of the passenger has a volume of 14 litres, and it’s all usable space. It will carry up to 15 standard cans of drink… beating the previous 13 can record set by Note.

Large door bins, under seat storage, seat back pockets and a centre console box capable of holding no fewer than eight CDs are all part of the package. The box lid doubles as an arm rest which, for maximum comfort and convenience, slides fore and aft. Cup holders can be found moulded into the centre console and in the rear centre armrest, where fitted.
Features for an easy life

Among the other intelligent features are perennial Nissan favourites such as automatic headlamps, auto dimming rearview mirrors and rain sensing wipers at the front and the rear. At the front, flat blade wipers are used to reduce wind noise and improve wiping efficiency. The rear wipers switch on automatically when the fronts wipers are operating and reverse gear is selected.

Nissan’s Intelligent Key makes a welcome appearance. Offering much more than just keyless entry, the Intelligent Key allows the car to locked and unlocked and the engine to be started and stopped without the key ever having to leave a pocket, briefcase or handbag. Nor can it inadvertently be locked inside the car: sensors detect its presence within the cabinand set off a warning alarm at the same time as preventing the door being locked.

Security features include a standard immobiliser and automatic locking of the doors once the car has reached 12km/h (7mph), while parking sensors are fitted on cars without a reversing camera.
Additional convenience

The QASHQAI can also be equipped with electric folding door mirrors, cruise control and turn lights which automatically flash three times when the indicator stalk is pushed gently – perfect for maximum visibility when lane changing on a motorway, for example.

Standard features on entry level Visia grade include ABS with EBD and BAS, six airbags, electric door mirrors, power windows all round, trip computer, front armrest, height adjustable driver’s seat and 16 inch steel wheels with alloy-look covers.

Tekna and Acenta add radio/CD with Bluetooth, remote audio controls, manual air conditioning, automatic lights and wipers, rear armrest, body coloured door mirrors and handles and adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat.

Subject to individual market requirements, a special option pack will add dual zone climate control, alloy wheels, panoramic glass roof, parking sensor, front fog lamps and a leather wrapped steering wheel.
Principal options

Principal options include the Intelligent Key, electric folding mirrors, leather upholstery, Xenon headlamps, cruise control, 6CD changer, ESP, navigation and reversing camera.

In addition a series of accessories are being developed for QASHQAI, allowing owners to personalise their cars to suit their own tastes. Among the features are roof rails, an extended roof spoiler, corner protectors, rear bumper guard, side steps and bars, chrome door mirror caps, illuminated sill kick plates, sun blinds and a storage box that doubles as a rear centre armrest.

“All the standard features and options available on QASHQAI have genuine practical benefits,” says Pierre Loing, Vice President, Product Planning, Nissan Europe.

A time for change:

Creating a new type of car aimed at an historically conservative sector of the market might, at first glance, appear to akin to commercial suicide. Nissan thinks otherwise.

The C-segment is Europe’s biggest market sector and although the forecast is for sales to remain static in the years ahead, the very size of the segment means there’s all to play for.
Bubbling cauldron

But underneath that serene exterior lies a bubbling cauldron. The traditional top sellers in the segment – cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Renault Megane – are under threat not just from outside, but also from within.

The segment is fragmenting with the ‘safe’ option of a five-door hatchback no longer having the appeal it once did. Customers are demanding something different, and when it’s not offered they are looking elsewhere.

A direct consequence has been the rise in sales of the compact SUV, while the compact MPV – led by the Renault Scenic, Vauxhall/Opel Zafira, Volkswagen Touran and Ford Focus C-Max – has also made an appearance.

Dissatisfaction:

But still there’s dissatisfaction. The compact MPV has trouble appealing to the heart while many QASHQAI buyers will be customers whose needs are not by compact SUVs.

The time is ripe, therefore, for something completely new: something like QASHQAI. Appealing to both the head and the heart, QASHQAI offers the best of all worlds, providing the dynamic driving experience of a hatchback, as well as the safety and security that goes hand in hand with a compact SUV.
Conquest sales

To succeed, QASHQAI has to introduce the Nissan brand to a largely new audience. It is expected that 80 per cent of sales in the car’s first two years will be conquests from other manufacturers and that the car will claim 2.5 per cent of the C-segment.

Nissan is targeting two different types of buyer for QASHQAI: those pre-family and those post-family, who together make up 67 per cent of segment buyers. These people are car enthusiasts who are always on the look out for something different.
Purchase influences

Research has shown Nissan that price, design and size are the three main influences on purchase decisions across the C-segment. A high driving position is appreciated by buyers of compact SUVs but a feeling of security is the most important attribute of any type of car in this segment. Styling, versatility and a car with a personality are also held in high esteem.

This maturity is reflected in QASHQAI’s likely model mix, which should favour models at the top end of the range. The ALL MODE 4×4 version expected to account, as a European average, for as much as 40 per cent of sales with both the 2.0-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol expected to outsell the smaller engined versions, despite the latter’s price advantage.
Unique proposition

“QASHQAI offers a genuinely unique proposition that is expected to take sales from no fewer than four market sectors: as well as attacking the traditional C-segment, the compact MPV and compact SUV sectors, it will also encroach into the lower end of the D-segment.”

“QASHQAI is a charismatic crossover that’s ready to SHIFT_ the C-segment market,” says Brian Carolin, Senior Vice President and Marketing Sales, Nissan Europe.

Building Qashqai:

When QASHQAI begins rolling off the line in December, it will represent Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK’s (NMUK) 10th new model launch since production began in Sunderland over 20 years ago.

“As well as being one of Nissan’s most productive plants and the UK’s biggest exporter of motor vehicles, our Sunderland plant is a leader in terms of production flexibility. We are looking forward to building another world beater.” Colin Dodge, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Purchasing and SCM, Nissan Europe.

QASHQAI will be built in Europe at Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK), the company’s highly productive plant in Sunderland in England’s North East. When production starts in December, QASHQAI will become the third new model in 16 months to be manufactured at NMUK.

Success story:

The Sunderland plant is an incredible success story. From a muddy field to a record-breaking facility took little more than 15 years. Nissan and the UK Government signed an agreement to build the plant in 1984 (NMUK celebrated its 21st birthday in 2005) and by 1999 it was acknowledged as Britain’s biggest car plant – a position it has held every year since.

It took just two years from that historic 1984 agreement before the first car for commercial sale – a Nissan Bluebird – rolled off the production line. By the end of that year, 1986, the plant employed 470 people and made a grand total of 5,139 Bluebirds all for home consumption. At that point it represented an investment of €70 million.

Export achievement:

From small beginnings the Sunderland facility quickly got into its stride. Exports began in 1988 with around one in every four cars produced destined for overseas. But just two years later, in 1990, exports accounted for 85 per cent of total production. Today around 250,000 of the 315,000 cars built annually – nearly eight out of every ten – are exported.

In 1990, the Bluebird was replaced by the original Primera and in 1992 the milestone half-millionth car was built. At the same time the plant in Sunderland opened a second production line, for the then current Micra.

Over the next decade NMUK really hit its stride, producing record numbers of cars and winning award after award for export achievements. By 1995, it had built one million cars and one million engines while five years later a third model, Almera, was added.

In 2003, the year in which Sunderland built a record 331,924 vehicles, NMUK was identified as the most productive plant in Europe… for the seventh successive year. Last year, 2005, a total of 315,297 vehicles were built by a force of approximately 4,400 workers. During the year, the four millionth car rolled off the lines and, perhaps more significantly, the three millionth for export.
UK’s biggest car exporter

Representing a total investment to date of more than €3 billion, NMUK has been the UK’s biggest car exporter for six years and accounts for 20 per cent of the country’s total car production. It is estimated that Nissan’s decision to locate in Sunderland has been responsible for more than 20,000 jobs being created in the UK’s North East regions in the vehicle manufacturing, component supply and service industries.

This achievement was recognised earlier this year when British Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the plant to celebrate its export achievement.

“The global car market is extremely challenging and I applaud everyone here for proving that the UK manufacturing sector has the ability to compete at the highest level,” he told workers.
400,000 unit potential

QASHQAI’s introduction will complete one of the busiest periods in the plant’s history, being the third new product launch in 16 months. The new models give Sunderland the potential to produce 400,000 cars in 2007, markets willing.

“I am very proud of the achievements of the Sunderland workforce which time and again has demonstrated its commitment to hard work, quality and productivity,” said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan President and CEO.

Standard equipment includes a continuously variable automatic transmission with paddle shifter, front stabilizer bar, torsion beam rear suspension with an integrated stabilizer bar, full power accessories, alloy wheels, deck-lid spoiler and driving lights.

Other goodies include side sill spoilers, sport appearance headlights and taillights, air conditioning, aluminum pedal pads, roof mounted side curtain air bags, moon-roof package, oil pressure meter along with an acceleration, and deceleration G-Meter.

I didn’t have the equipment to time acceleration, but Autoweek says you can expect to hit 60 in seven or eight seconds. That’s not a figure that will worry some of its competition such as the Mazdaspeed 3 and Honda’s Civic Si, but it’s certainly fast enough to be a heck of a lot of fun.

This car is quite a little handler that throws itself into corners, stops on a dime and has little or no body lean. The only fly in the performance ointment is that the paddle shifters, while fun to use, are a bit too slow in responding; so gear changes aren’t as crystal clear and sharp as I’d like.

Of course, if you really want to go full tilt on the performance scale, you’ll probably want the Sentra Spec V anyway, which comes with a manual transmission, a 200-horsepower engine and a lot more street racing character. But you’ll also spend about $500 more.

What made me unhappy, however, was the lack of traction control and stability control, either as an option or as standard equipment. Even some cars smaller than the Sentra offer these things, and there’s no excuse in these safety conscious times for Sentras not to have them.

On the plus side, the Sentra SE-R is surprisingly roomy, more so than many of its competitors, and there’s real stretch out room in the back for your legs, too. And one of my favorite features is adjustable front cup holders that take just about any container at the spin of a button.

The bottom line, though, is that Sentra SE-R allows you to have the best of many worlds — fun driving, good mileage, plenty of room and decent performance.

This little road bomb can give you a joy ride down the highway while still delivering 24 miles per gallon city and 30 on the highway from its 2.5-liter, 177-horsepower, four-cylinder engine.

Better yet, for those of us who are cost conscious, you get a whole bunch of equipment for only $21,610.

The all new, sport-tuned 2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R is inspired by the streetwise swagger of Nissan’s legendary Skyline. This car is tough, and drives like a race car on steroids. If the standard 165 horsepower isn’t enough for you, perhaps you should opt for the 2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, with its 175 horsepower, and 6-speed manual transmission. Whichever model you choose, we’re certain you’ll like what you drive. We have been so excited about this car, that we’ve been developing this 2008 Nissan 2008 SE-R for months. It is our pleasure to present this to you now, and we encourage you to check back again soon for additional information about Nissan accessories and 2008 SE-R parts.

Who said that looks aren’t everything? As Road & Track said in its October 2001 review, “Spec V positively screams ferocity.” Standard exterior features on both models include mesh grilles, extra-big foglights, rear spoiler, side spoilers, and 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels. Standard interior features consist of amenities such as an 8-way adjustable drivers seats, 60/40 split-fold down rear seats, leather-wrapped manual-transmission shift knobs, race-type bucket seats, sport-style leather-wrapped steering wheels, and monster nine-speaker, 300-watt CD audio systems. The cars come available with a host of 2008 Nissan SE-R accessories, as well, including sunroof wind deflectors, wheel locks, floor mats, and rigid trunk organizers. Make the 2008 Nissan SE-R part of your life today. You won’t regret it.

Specs for the 2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R SE-R models read like a dream. In the 2008 Sentra SE-R, you get 165 horsepower with 175 pounds per foot of torque. In the Sentra SE-R Spec V, you’re treated to a whopping 175 horsepower with 180 pounds-per-foot of torque. A double-overhead-cam, 4-valves-per-cylinder design keeps this engine breathing at a perfect pitch. Loads of aluminum in the block, heads, and pistons, plus hollowed-out camshafts make sure you’re rolling quickly. And a sophisticated electronic drive-by-wire system eliminates the throttle cable for nearly instant acceleration.

Those are mighty highfalutin words. To oversimplify, we’d suggest this looks like a nice, comfortable car for old folks.
Which is not to say the Intima is not a handsome design. It just seems like we’ve seen this theme before, especially from some of Nissan’s rivals.

The Intima does look like a stylistic step beyond the big Teana sedan that’s sold in Japan and China (but not the U.S.). There’s a V6 clean diesel under the hood and such advanced safety technologies as distance control assist and an “around view” monitor.

But it seems that Nissan really focused on making the coziest cabin imaginable. “Refined elegance” was the development theme.

Highlights include four-zone intelligent climate control with infrared sensors, indirect lighting, a panoramic glass roof, a cool storage compartment in the rear center console, a swiveling front passenger seat and a “floating” instrument panel.

Among our favorite features are oversize door assist grips with a blue-green acrylic material that gives off a soft light, plus a pollen filter that uses polyphenol made from natural grape seed.

Last time I saw a car door opened at that angle it had been bent that way by a taxi, but here the Nissan Intima’s doors are opened to such extreme degrees “to aid access and egress.” The guy behind the concept was keen to impress that the outwardly rotating seats are not purely for use by the elderly and infirm, but are to help the rest of us in and out too. Quite how many able-bodied folk have the patience to wait 15 to 20 seconds to be dropped at the curb is open to debate however.

More likely to see production in the foreseeable future is the Intima’s clean diesel V6, outlandish lights, and perhaps even the expansive windshield cum sunroof. More pics lurk beyond the link.

The Nissan Round Box, with its compact convertible design, represents a new take on open-air motoring, providing exhilaration for all passengers – not just the driver – through its uniquely shared experience of fresh air stimulation, a sensation of speed and easy-to-use high-spec features. The Round Box features an environmentally friendly turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine mated to Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). It is also equipped with a number of safety systems based on Nissan’s Safety Shield concept, including Around View Monitor and Distance Control Assist System (DCAS).

The inspiration for Round Box’s interior, which features the ”right sized” space to facilitate communication between the four occupants, was not another vehicle, but a social environment. ”The car was inspired by the lively atmosphere of a sports bar,” explains Tatsuya Shiosaki of Nissan’s Exploratory and Advanced Product Department. ”In a sports bar everyone is focused on the game for pure enjoyment. They are totally free of the pressure and tension felt by the players who are actually playing the game on the field. A sports bar affords an enjoyable, stress-free space where friends can experience a sense of togetherness. Simultaneously, they can enjoy thrilling excitement like being on a roller-coaster yet without any risk involved. That is the sort of emotive world the Round Box is intended to provide.”

A Social, High-Spec Interior
The most striking aspect of the Round Box interior is the seating area – with front bucket and rear bench seats designed to provide support with a sense of relaxation. The design of the seating area is unique, with the comfortable bench-style seat cushions creating a sense of oneness with adjacent passengers, as well as front seatbacks that are separated to facilitate easy communication between all occupants.

”The seats have a bench-style lower half and a bucket-style upper half. Normally, such a combination would be impossible,” said Kaoru Sato, Associate Chief Designer in the Product Design Department. ”The seat design combines a casual bench seat, offering exceptional ease of entry and lateral movement from either side, with a supportive seatback that holds the body securely in place. We believe this combination is perfect for young people who want to satisfy their high-tech needs in a simple way. While the combination may appear contradictory at first glance, when you actually combine the elements, it produces a harmonious effect and represents a way of creating new value. The Round Box is full of such experimentation.”

Round Box’s relaxing ambience is enhanced by a mixture of flat and round curved surfaces throughout the interior, a motif that includes the instrument panel, steering wheel and other appointments. The name ”Round Box,” in fact, was inspired by these unique curved surfaces.

The Round Box interior also features an innovative, interactive ”Play Catch” system, which allows the driver and passengers – including those in the rear seat – to share entertainment and driving information. The system utilizes a large touchscreen display positioned in the center of the vehicle and an additional monitor located in the center of the instrument panel. The Play Catch system encourages the driver and passengers to easily exchange information with each other – just like ”playing catch.” For example, passengers can search for shops or restaurants through the Round Box’s navigation system, then send the driving route and instructions to the driver’s monitor. It’s a unique, enjoyable way of involving all the occupants, while allowing the driver concentrate on driving by carefully coordinating the two display systems.

A Unique Exterior Combining a Variety of Elements
The Round Box’s youthful design mixes a variety of design elements, from the open upper cabin area to the rugged lower body – a combination that evokes a sporty yet relaxed feeling, as well as a sense of substance. Round Box features tires placed at each corner to maximize interior room, enhance stability and to help create its unique ”wide open” look. The open-air feeling is enhanced by a three-section removable roof panel, which can be stowed away in Round Box’s ample truck. Contributing to the shared sensation of speed are unique ”road surface windows,” small glass panels placed close to the ground on both sides of the Round Box. These windows provide passengers with a view of the rapidly passing road surface, without the risks of road contact associated with a motorcycle or other non-closed vehicles.

The new Round Box is a social, exhilarating vehicle design, combining value, style and a sense of speed and open-air freedom – a totally new and unprecedented approach to the concept of enjoyable mobility.

The Nissan Round Box, with its compact convertible design, represents a new take on open-air motoring, providing exhilaration for all passengers – not just the driver – through its uniquely shared experience of fresh air stimulation, a sensation of speed and easy-to-use high-spec features.

The Round Box features an environmentally friendly turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine mated to Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). It is also equipped with a number of safety systems based on Nissan’s Safety Shield* concept, including Around View Monitor and Distance Control Assist System (DCAS).

The inspiration for Round Box’s interior, which features the ‘right sized’ space to facilitate communication between the four occupants, was not another vehicle, but a social environment. ‘The car was inspired by the lively atmosphere of a sports bar,’ explains Tatsuya Shiosaki of Nissan’s Exploratory and Advanced Product Department. ‘In a sports bar everyone is focused on the game for pure enjoyment. They are totally free of the pressure and tension felt by the players who are actually playing the game on the field. A sports bar affords an enjoyable, stress-free space where friends can experience a sense of togetherness. Simultaneously, they can enjoy thrilling excitement like being on a roller-coaster yet without any risk involved. That is the sort of emotive world the Round Box is intended to provide.’

The most striking aspect of the Round Box interior is the seating area – with front bucket and rear bench seats designed to provide support with a sense of relaxation. The design of the seating area is unique, with the comfortable bench-style seat cushions creating a sense of oneness with adjacent passengers, as well as front seatbacks that are separated to facilitate easy communication between all occupants.

‘The seats have a bench-style lower half and a bucket-style upper half. Normally, such a combination would be impossible,’ said Kaoru Sato, Associate Chief Designer in the Product Design Department. ‘The seat design combines a casual bench seat, offering exceptional ease of entry and lateral movement from either side, with a supportive seatback that holds the body securely in place. We believe this combination is perfect for young people who want to satisfy their high-tech needs in a simple way. While the combination may appear contradictory at first glance, when you actually combine the elements, it produces a harmonious effect and represents a way of creating new value. The Round Box is full of such experimentation.’

Round Box’s relaxing ambience is enhanced by a mixture of flat and round curved surfaces throughout the interior, a motif that includes the instrument panel, steering wheel and other appointments. The name ‘Round Box,’ in fact, was inspired by these unique curved surfaces.

The Round Box interior also features an innovative, interactive ‘Play Catch’ system, which allows the driver and passengers – including those in the rear seat – to share entertainment and driving information. The system utilizes a large touchscreen display positioned in the center of the vehicle and an additional monitor located in the center of the instrument panel. The ‘Play Catch’ system encourages the driver and passengers to easily exchange information with each other – just like ‘playing catch.’ For example, passengers can search for shops or restaurants through the Round Box’s navigation system, then send the driving route and instructions to the driver’s monitor. It’s a unique, enjoyable way of involving all the occupants, while allowing the driver concentrate on driving by carefully coordinating the two display systems.

The Round Box’s youthful design mixes a variety of design elements, from the open upper cabin area to the rugged lower body – a combination that evokes a sporty yet relaxed feeling, as well as a sense of substance.

Round Box features tires placed at each corner to maximize interior room, enhance stability and to help create its unique ‘wide open’ look. The open-air feeling is enhanced by a three-section removable roof panel, which can be stowed away in Round Box’s ample truck.

Contributing to the shared sensation of speed are unique ‘road surface windows,’ small glass panels placed close to the ground on both sides of the Round Box. These windows provide passengers with a view of the rapidly passing road surface, without the risks of road contact associated with a motorcycle or other non-closed vehicles.

The new Round Box is a social, exhilarating vehicle design, combining value, style and a sense of speed and open-air freedom – a totally new and unprecedented approach to the concept of enjoyable mobility.

The GT-R has landed. For the first time in the model’s history, Nissan’s sensational GT-R sportscar will be sold on US soil. And clearly for some – namely friend and industry colleague Ray Wert from Jalopnik – that news is just too hot to handle. Rear-ending aside, the GT-R is a ‘multi-dimensional’ performance vehicle – ‘for anyone, at anytime, and anywhere’ – debuted to North America at Los Angeles, post its Tokyo unveiling and ahead of the car’s showroom debut in June next year.

Styled to perform, the functional design employs advanced aerodynamics which ooze what Nissan call the athleticism of a well-trained sportsman. Its aerodynamics produce a low drag coefficient of 0.27 but maintain high downforce across the car. The body is a hybrid of steel, carbon fibre and die-cast aluminium, with the new GT-R’s platform utilising a world-first: independent rear transaxle all-wheel-drive coupled with a rear-mounted transmission and final drive for optimum weight distribution and handling abilities.

Having achieved a famed Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7:38, one of the fastest laps by a production vehicle to date, the GT-R is a performance machine whose spec sheet statistics add up on the track. The new Nissan pumps out 480 horsepower and an estimated 430 lb-ft of torque from its all-new 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 engine and is mated to an all-new paddle-shift sequential 6-speed gearbox. And yet it still manages to meet ultra low emission vehicle standards.

In the cabin, optimal driving position is provided by the specially-sculpted performance bucket seats while a cockpit-style instrument panel and centre-mounted tachometer and muti-function display provide driving feedback. A ’set-up switch’ allows for control over transmission shifts, shock absorbers and the car’s Vehicle Dynamic Control system. With three settings – Normal, Comfort or R for ultimate handling – settings can be optimised according to driver requirements.

Pricing for the North American-marketed GT-R was also unveiled, with prices starting from $69,850 for the base model and $71,900 for the Premium model, which includes heated seats, side air bags and an 11-speaker Bose sound system.

LOS ANGELES – Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO, Nissan Motor Co., today unveiled the Nissan GT-R at a press conference at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Nissan GT-R, which will be available for the first time ever in the United States beginning in June 2008, makes its North American debut at the L.A. Auto Show, following its global introduction at the Tokyo Motor Show last October.

One of the most anticipated vehicles ever created by Nissan is coming to the U.S. in June 2008 – the 2009 Nissan GT-R. No longer the unobtainable object of desire on a video game or in the movies, the GT-R will be available on sale for the first time in North American in June 2008.

GT-R is a multi-dimensional performance machine that lives up to the concept of “the ultimate supercar that can be driven by anyone, anytime, anywhere” and achieved a lap time of 7:38 around the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, one of the fastest times achieved by a production-spec vehicle to date.

Under the hood, the Nissan GT-R features an all-new 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 producing 480 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque (estimated), while meeting ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) standards. The engine is backed by an all-new, paddle-shifted GR6 sequential 6-speed dual clutch rear transaxle.

The new Nissan GT-R is built on an exclusive all-new Premium Midship platform. This new platform enables the use of a world’s first independent rear transaxle ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system, which places the transmission, transfer case and final drive at the rear of the vehicle, optimizing weight distribution and maximizing handling capability.

Suspension is a special multi-link Bilstein DampTronic system, and the braking system is made up of Brembo full-floating drilled rotors, low steel high stiffness brake pads and Brembo mono block six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers. Tires are nitrogen-filled Bridgestone high-performance run flat or optional Dunlop high-performance all-season tires, on exclusive GT-R 20-inch wheels.

The Nissan GT-R’s functional styling utilizes advanced aerodynamics, evoking the lines of a well-trained athlete. GT-R’s hybrid body construction combines steel, carbon fiber and die-cast aluminum, and features a low coefficient of drag of 0.27, while achieving high front and rear downforce.

GT-R’s interior balances functionality with a sense of ease and comfort. It features sculpted performance bucket seats for an optimal driving position, a cockpit-style instrument panel with a large center-mounted tachometer and multi-function display – which includes mechanical and driving information, as well as an on-board driving recorder.

Total vehicle adjustability is provided by a “set-up switch” located in the center of the instrument panel, enabling the driver to adjust transmission shifts, shock absorbers and the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC-R) in three settings – Normal, Comfort or “R,” for ultimate handling. Available is a specially designed 11-speaker Bose® sound system, with speakers mounted in rigid aluminum die cast panels, which provides sound quality suitable for a supercar.

Pricing of the 2009 Nissan GT-R was also announced – $69,850 for the Base model and $71,900 for the Premium model, which adds a standard Bose® audio system, heated seats and side air bags.

Powering the Rogue is a torquey 170-horsepower four-cylinder engine that provides smooth acceleration on par with other vehicles in the class. Unfortunately, it is tied to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) — a design Nissan has utilized with great success in the V6-powered Altima, but needs rethinking here. Feeling like it’s partially constructed of rubber bands, the CVT can get maddening on the freeway, constantly raising and dropping revs like a yo-yo whenever the driver moves on or off the gas. It seems that this just isn’t the right technology for a small engine.

Nissan says it has the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V in its sights, but the Rogue is significantly smaller than those models. Therefore, families or those in need of superior people-hauling and cargo versatility may find the Rogue lacking. Its rear seat doesn’t recline, slide forward or offer a center armrest, and rear visibility is hampered by a rising beltline and small rear window. Instead, the 2008 Nissan Rogue is a very good choice for suburbanites who enjoy an elevated driving position and occasionally need the utility and available all-wheel drive of a compact crossover. The Rogue may not be the largest, most family-friendly or powerful compact crossover, and in addition to the aforementioned rivals, you’ll probably want to cross-shop models like the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-7 and Saturn Vue. That said, this Nissan sets itself apart from the herd with comfortable, carlike road manners and eye-catching styling. In that way, maybe it’s a tad roguelike after all.

The 2008 Nissan Rogue is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV available in four trim levels: S, S AWD, SL and SL AWD. The AWD refers to all-wheel drive. The S and S AWD are identical save for their drivetrains, with standard equipment that includes 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, air-conditioning, full power accessories, keyless entry and a four-speaker stereo with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack. There are no factory options for the S trim levels.

The SL and SL AWD are virtually identical, but the latter offers additional optional equipment. Standard features beyond those on the S include 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, tinted windows and a height-adjustable driver seat. In typical Nissan fashion, options are lumped together into large packages. The SL Premium Package includes foglights, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, a cargo cover, a fold-down front passenger seat, a trip computer and a seven-speaker Bose stereo with in-dash six-CD changer, MP3 capability and satellite radio.

The SL AWD Premium package includes those features, but adds xenon headlights, keyless ignition and entry, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and Bluetooth. The Leather Package is only available on the SL AWD and includes leather upholstery, heated front seats and mirrors, power driver seat, one touch up/down driver window and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink. Both SL trim levels can be equipped with a sunroof.

All 2008 Nissan Rogues are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 170 hp and 175 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard, while buyers have a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. In performance testing, a Rogue SL AWD accelerated to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds, which is on par with other four-cylinder-powered compact crossovers. Fuel economy is 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for the all-wheel-drive models (22/27 for FWD Rogues), which is again on par with similarly powered competitors.
Each Nissan Rogue comes well stocked with safety equipment including antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

The Rogue’s cabin may not be as visually interesting as its exterior, but it is well-constructed with excellent materials. All controls fall readily to hand and are easy to decipher. The Rogue doesn’t have many storage areas, but what it lacks in number, it makes up for in size. The center console bin is large, while the enormous glovebox is more useful than some convertibles’ trunks. There is also a nifty under-floor organizer.

In a four-vehicle comparison test involving the Rogue, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander, we found the Nissan to have the most comfortable front seats and darn comfortable rear ones as well. Unfortunately, that rear seat only folds flat, and doesn’t recline or slide fore and aft like those other crossovers. The Rogue also comes up short in terms of cargo volume, with 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seat up and just 57.9 with it folded.

A “carlike” driving experience is often touted among crossovers, but the 2008 Nissan Rogue delivers on this description. Its long travel suspension soaks up bumps and road imperfections easily, and the Rogue is stable at speed. Short stopping distances are another Rogue plus. The electric power steering can be a little vague at times, but it is generally direct and well-tuned.

On the other hand, we’re rarely fans of CVTs, and the Rogue’s does nothing to change our minds. It’s better than some other examples, but the elastic-band throttle response and engine note gets tiresome — particularly at highway speeds. It also manages to make the Rogue feel slower than it actually is. An available manual shift mode with paddle shifters rectifies this situation somewhat by allowing the driver to select among six simulated “gear” ratios.