Nissan Archives

Nissan IMx showcases automaker’s tech of tomorrow

Nissan IMx, an all-electric crossover concept vehicle is the automaker’s vision of future mobility. It’s angular design coupled with the signature V-shaped grille give the car a menacing stance. The long curved bonnet and sophisticated fin shaped front fascia seems to have been inspired by the aeronautics industry.

The car is powered by Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which is the company’s approach to changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated with society. Built on the automaker’s EV platform, the IMx has a flat under body and floor, which not only lowers the centre of gravity for better driving dynamics, but increases cabin space and luggage carrying capacity.

A pair of electric motors power the front and rear wheels, giving the car AWD capabilities. Their combined power is rated at 320kW and an amazing 700Nm of torque. Juice is supplied via a high capacity battery that has been engineered for increased energy density. On a full charge, Nissan says that the IMx is able to travel 600km before needing to be recharged.

This vehicle also has autonomous driving capabilities too, thanks to a system called ProPILOT. Once engaged, the IMx stores away the steering wheel and recline all seats, leaving ample room for the driver and passengers to rest and enjoy a relaxing journey. When disengaged, the steering wheel is propped back up and the driver can than resume control over the vehicle.

Adding to that, the car is also able to drop off its driver at his/her destination then search for a suitable parking spot to recharge. Once he or she returns, the IMx unplugs from the charger and heads on over to the pick up point. It is also able to pick a suitable charging time depending on tariffs, and when possible, return power to the power grid.

The whole process is carried out efficiently, thanks in part to the increased battery capacity and connected-car technologies, including Seamless Autonomous Mobility. It’s a future that many sci-fi movies have envisioned for years and now, Nissan might be able to bring it to reality in the not so distant future.

Speaking of the car, Daniele Schillaci, executive vice president for global marketing and sales, zero-emission vehicles and the battery business, said, “Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility, Nissan is committed to changing the way people and cars communicate, as well as how cars interact with society in the near future and beyond.”

Inside, the car has a panoramic OLED instrument display panel that allows for a view of the external environment in the background. Despite seeming a bit gimmicky, Nissan has also fitted a separate, wood grain-patterned display, which is positioned below the instrument panel and wraps around the interior door trims.

Through the use of artificial intelligence or AI, drivers will be able to control what’s displayed on the instrument panel with just their eye movements and hand gestures. This type of user interface negates the need for many physical buttons and switch-gear that we are accustomed to seeing in our cars today and instead, offers a less cluttered and more elegant cabin design.

We don’t know when these technologies will make thier way into mass produced Nissan vehicles, but such systems will prove to be exceptionally beneficial in our busy world. It could reduce the number of accidents resulting from inattentiveness, driver fatigue and other issues.

Nissan to reveal new all-electric delivery vehicle in Tokyo

Nissan will unveil a new electric delivery vehicle during the Tokyo motorshow. Alongside it, a new emergency response vehicle called the Paramedic Concept will be on display too, showcasing some of the company’s life-saving technology as well as other features.

The new ambulance is based on Nissan’s NV350 Caravan and boasts a capacious cabin that will provide patients increased comfort and allow for a better work environment for paramedics. Nissan says that the vehicle builds upon the success of its predecessor, which was built exclusively for the Japanese market.

Nissan’s Intelligent Around View Monitor and tech help reduce the spread of germs. In addition to that, the vehicle is also fitted with an additional lithium-ion auxiliary battery that powers life-saving medical equipment when patients are in remote areas or in need of emergency assistance.

Like the standard NV350 caravan, the ambulance version will also get a slew of safety tech that include Intelligent Emergency Braking, Vehicle Dynamic Control with traction control system functions and Hill Start Assist.

That said, the all-electric van, called the e-NV200 Fridge Concept that is based on the standard NV200, will probably steal the limelight. Meant to be the future solution to current urban delivery challenges, its compact dimensions will enable it to maneuver and park fairly easily in the tightest of spaces.

Nissan’s concept vehicle will be able to overcome the hurdle that plagues many large delivery trucks – low height and width restrictions in urban areas. Apart from that, a sizable additional battery is packed into the cargo space to supply juice to a refrigeration unit.

This feature will allow the all-electric vehicle to deliver chilled foods to any destination without the massive carbon footprint that comes with operating a similar size diesel powered truck. The automaker believes that because of this, the vehicle will be of great value to commercial users in addition to the reduction in cost of ownership.

And since it will be able to enter areas that are strictly off-limits to larger vehicles, operators will be able to service more clients and generate better business than before. It’s a win-win situation that the Japanese automaker hopes will sway commercial users toward its all-electric van.

Mercedes-Benz release entertaining ad of upcoming X-Class

Mercedes-Benz has released a new TV ad to build more hype for its soon to be launched X-Class. The short video clip illustrates the versatility of Merc’s new pick-up truck as it tackles the toughest terrain while being docile enough to be used as an ‘elegant’ daily driver.

The vehicle is driven on some challenging terrain while being pursued by a heard of bison and rhinos, a team of hockey and rugby players, a weird looking monster, as well as a number of others. It’s a pretty entertaining 1 minute and 16 seconds, within which Mercedes-Benz tries to strongly drive home the notion that, though its a pick-up truck, it’s still a classy Merc.

https://youtu.be/Be6FLU1ny9E

Despite the fact that it is a pick-up truck, the German automaker believes that the vehicle will still appeal to a wide variety of drivers. Like the TV advert, the automaker says that the X-Class will be adored by adventure seekers, sports enthusiasts as well as those only needing utilitarian functionality.

Based on the Nissan Navara, the X-Class should reach global markets sometime next year. It shares quite a bit with its Japanese counterpart such as its wheelbase and dimensions. That said, the vehicle is more than just a Navara in a fancier suit.

https://youtu.be/MXIg3GFRNzg

https://youtu.be/7aGK4xW2jFM

The X-Class gets a Mercedes-Benz engine and transmission, typical All-Wheel-Drive capabilities and a slew of driver aids that include Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, as well as broadcasting live traffic information.

For the full scoop on the Mercedes-Benz X Class, Click Here.

Kobe Steel falsified claims of aluminium and copper specifications

Yet another scandal has hit Japan, and this time its from a company called Kobe Steel. Though this company maybe relatively unfamiliar to many, it is a key player in supplying the automotive industry with a whole host of parts that include doors and bonnets.

Based on an article posted by The Guardian, Kobe Steel has admitted that over the course a decade, it has falsified data regarding the strength and durability of its aluminium and copper products that are used in cars, aircraft, space rockets and defense equipment.

This issue affects a whole host of manufacturers that include Boeing, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Hitachi and several others. In fact, Hitachi has said that it used Kobe Steel parts in trains that it built for the UK market.

Boeing, the US based aircraft maker, has stated that it is currently inspecting Kobe Steel products that it had used, but for the moment at least, says that there is no evidence to suggest that the safety of the respective parts had been compromised in any way.

This news has many mainstream automakers scrambling to assess the extent of which Kobe Steel products were used in their vehicles. Though certain companies have said that safety may not be an issue despite the fact that Kobe Steel didn’t honour the specifications agreed upon, we won’t know for sure until further investigations are carried out.

The extent of the issue and the sectors that are affected by it are still unknown, but we hope that for the most part at least, that the issue is isolated to the Japanese market. That said, we will let you know more as this scandal begins to unravel in the coming weeks.

Source: The Guardian

Nissan take life-size remote controlled GT-R around Silverstone

You may have heard of miniature RC or remote controlled vehicles, the same machines that have brought joy to children and adults all over the world since the 1980s. In fact, special RC tournaments are conducted annually, in several parts of the world to prove who has the best reflexes at successfully maneuvering their vehicles past challenging miniature circuits.

Nissan has decided to take this one step further by introducing a full-size RC vehicle in the form of the latest iteration of the GT-R supercar. It has done this to celebrate the launch of the highly acclaimed Gran Turismo Sport game for the PlayStation 4 console.

Called the GT-R/C the vehicle is a fully standard car with the stock V6 engine that puts out 542bhp and an all-wheel-drive system. Engineered in the UK by JLB Design Ltd, the car has been fitted with four robots that operate the steering, transmission, brakes and throttle. Six computers mounted in the boot update the controls at up to 100 times a second.

The vehicle is driven/controlled though operating an unmodified DualShock 4 controller that connects to a micro-computer which interprets the joystick and button signals and transmits them to the GT-R /C’s on-board systems. From an operator’s perspective, there is no discernible difference between the game and the real life car with the exception of the viewing angles.

This vehicle was driven around the Silverstone circuit by NISMO racing driver Jann Mardenborough. If that name sounds familiar, it is because he is one of the most successful winners of GT Academy, Nissan’s unique driver discovery and development programme.

Mardenborough controlled the GT-R/C via the DualShock controller from the cockpit of a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter. Since the controller had to be within a 1km distance of the car to safely control it, the helicopter had to fly at a very low altitude for the duration of the session.

As a safety net, the GT-R/C was fitted with two independent safety systems, operating on different radio frequencies, which allow two additional operators to apply full ABS braking and cut the engine, should there be any signal interruption from Mardenborough’s controller.

Speaking of the event, Mardenborough said, “This was once-in-a-lifetime, truly epic stuff. The GT-R /C has brought my two worlds together – the virtual of gaming and the reality of Motorsport – in a way I never thought possible.”

“The response from the car when using the controller was far more engaging than I thought it would be. JLB Design has done an incredible job at making everything respond really well,” he added.

Next year, Nissan will be taking this car on a tour to primary and secondary schools in the UK to promote future careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects. And maybe, inspire the next generation of engineers to turn to Nissan’s R&D platform.

Nissan has big plans for its electrified future

Nissan is going to be quite busy within the next several years according to its ‘Four Pillars’ plan that was revealed in Norway. This quartet signifies the company’s focus on the launch of new electric vehicles, additional infrastructure investment, battery charging and home storage advances as well as a revolutionary way of offering free power to EV owners.

The new Leaf has already gone into production and is expected to hit markets such as the UK, very soon. There will be a special variant for Europe called the 2.ZERO, which will have unique fittings that set it apart from the base car. In general, the Leaf will offer a range of 378km per charge, ProPILOT driver assist and autonomous parking systems.

Nissan will also be update its e-NV200 electric van that offers 280km range on a single charge, which is a 60% improvement over its predecessor. Despite the increase in performance, the vehicle’s battery size and weight has remained the same as the one in its predecessor – an impressive feat because storage space and payload capacity remains unchanged.

Working with the EV fast charging standard called CHAdeMO, Nissan plans on expanding its outdoor charging network by 20% over the next 18 months. As it stands, the company already has an extensive network of charging stations that includes over 4600 quick chargers. Now, it plans on installing a further 100 chargers over the course of the next 18 months.

The third area where Nissan plans on making an impact is with improvements to its range of home and office charging units with the introduction of its double speed 7kW charger and 22kW fast charger. the 7kW one is able to charge a Nissan EV to 100% charge in 5.5 hours which is about 70% faster than before.

Its 22kW charger on the other hand, which is mostly targeted at fleet and business owners, can accomplish the same feat in just 2 hours. This super-fast charger can also be purchased by the general public who want a quicker charging experience.

Supplementing this is Nissan’s smart energy storage system for EV owners that will charge connected vehicles when needed and depending on electricity tariffs. This offers customers greater control over the costs incurred for charging their EVs.

Last but not least, through its new bi-directional charging system, Nissan hopes to offer ‘free-power’ to its customers. This system allows Nissan EVs to draw power from the grid when needed and ‘sell back’ this power when the vehicle is sitting idle in a driveway. This helps offset the daily costs of charging such a vehicle.

Though not groundbreaking, Nissan’s latest steps will help shape the way we see electric mobility. Such systems are already at play in places like Denmark but it should catch on in places like the UK where the infrastructure is already available to support the future of electric mobility.

Nissan produces 150 millionth car, gears up for launch of new Leaf

Nissan has achieved a major milestone this week by producing its 150 millionth vehicle. It’s a feat that has taken the Japanese automaker 84 years to accomplish, which it attributes to the conitnued support from all of its stakeholders worldwide, legion of employees, dealers, suppliers and loyal customers.

The automaker managed to produce its 100 millionth vehicle in 2006 and at the time, 76.5% of the total vehicles that Nissan made, came from Japan. In the following years, it opted to localise production based on their respective markets, which helped bolster yearly sales figures even further.

That, Nissan said, was the catalyst that allowed it to build another 50 million vehicles in the span of just 11 years. And now, 76.5% that bear the Nissan name, are made outside of Japan with 13% of them being produced in Europe.

It has been producing vehicles in Spain and the UK for the past 30 years. And since its St. Petersburg plant in Russia opened 10 years ago, Nissan has been making full use of these facilities to feed the demands of the continent.

Currently, Nissan is gearing up to introduced its second generation Leaf, a name that is remembered by many as the first mass-produced family sized electric car in the world. Introduced in 2010, the car received a lukewarm welcome, thanks to a less than stellar range and worldwide infrastructure that wasn’t ready for the EV revolution.

This new car however, will feature some of the latest safety tech and offer an improved range over the first generation Leaf. This, coupled with new infrastruce to support electric vehicles, will help increase demand for the new Leaf.

If proven true, Nissan will be on track to have an excellent year. And it wont be long before the Japanese automaker announces that its 200 millionth vehicle rolled off the production line somewhere in the world.

Nissan unveils the new Leaf for global markets

Nissan has unveiled the highly anticipated second generation EV, the Leaf. Building on the success of its predecessor that burst onto the scene in 2010, the new car aims to be the smartest electric vehicle on the market.

Though it features the same basic silhouette as its predecessor, the car has been given a completely new look. Gone is the fish eye-like front end and in its place, a more contemporary look with sharp projector headlights that meet the narrow yet prominent V motion chrome grille.

The new Leaf stills sports the swept back look of its predecessor but seems to feature a sportier side profile thanks to a pair of decent side skirts and a two-tone paint scheme. This theme is carried to the rear as well because part of the hatch has a gloss black finish.

It also features more angular but less prominent rear taillights that are smaller than its predecessor. The bottom section of the rear bumper resembles that of a diffuser, but we aren’t sure whether its fully-functional or just there for vanity purposes.

Fitted at the base of the car is a higher density battery pack that is about 40% more efficient than the one fitted to the 2010 car. As such it enables the new Leaf to cover a distance of 378km on a single charge.

Nissan is very proud of the car’s e-powertrain, which offers better efficiency and is able to deliver 148bhp and 320Nm of torque. The smart thing about the new car is that it is able to charge as and when necessary as well as when tariffs are lower.

The car can also feed power back into the power grid and power your home during the day to help reduce your electricity bill. Though these features won’t be beneficial in all global markets, it will help owners in places where sufficient infrastructure is in place to support EVs.

As expected, the new Leaf comes with all the latest tech which include ProPILOT, ProPILOT Park and e-Pedal. ProPILOT is an intelligent autonomous system that keeps the car in its respective lane as well as at a safe distance from the vehicle at the front. It uses mutiple ultrasound sensors to offer drivers extra security especially on long journeys.

ProPILOT Park, allow the Leaf to manouver into parking spots without the need for human intervention. Though this is nothing revolutionary, it still is impressive to witness. Lastly, there’s the e-Pedal. This system will enable the car to decelerate without the driver pressing the brake pedal.

When a driver lifts his/her foot off the accelerator pedal, the regenerative braking feature kicks allowing the car to gradually come to a complete stop. It works by applying regenerative and friction brakes automatically, which even works for steep inclinations.

This new Leaf will go on sale in Japan in October of this year with deliveries for other parts of the world slated for the beginning of 2017. Nissan aims to sell this car in more than 60 markets globally, which should include Malaysia.

New Nissan Leaf to make debut in September

Nissan has revealed a few more details regarding its next generation all-electric vehicle, the Leaf. According to the manufacturer, the new car will feature an all new design and be packed with a slew of advanced safety tech.

Unlike the previous generation one, the new Leaf seems to take on a more angular yet functional design, which should give rise to a more aggressive overall look. And by building on the positive attributes of its predecessor, the new car is said offer a quiet and plaint ride while cruising.

The car will come with integrated ‘Intelligent Mobility’ technologies that will help enhance the vision of drivers and allow them to spot hidden dangers ahead of time. This system will also provide them with a better sense of their surroundings, which may help them be more vigilant while driving.

Regarding the interior, Nissan is still being rather vague when it comes to the layout and tech of the cabin. It was only willing to disclose that the car would have ‘Premium interiors designed to suit your taste offer a touch more comfort’.

The world premier of the Nissan Leaf will take place on September 6th, 2017 in Japan. Touted as the first mass-produced electric vehicle, the original Leaf received a lukewarm welcome from car buyers. Despite being revolutionary at the time, the car lacked the appeal and practicality that many regular petrol powered cars had at the time.

However, Nissan should have all that sorted those issues with the new car because competition is going to be ever stiffer as more and more mainstream manufactures jump on the EV bandwagon. Stay tuned and we will let you know more once the car is launched.

Prototype 9 finally revealed to the masses

Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury arm, has finally unveiled its pet project, the retro sports car that was touted for being a modern interpretation of vintage racer. Called Prototype 9, the car is said to be a celebration of Nissan and Infiniti’s ingenuity, artistry and craftsmanship.

It’s basically a 1940s racer, reimagined through the eyes of Infinit’s current designers and engineers. It began as an ‘after-hours’ project where the automaker’s employees would devote a considerable amount of their leisure time into making this car a reality.

Sporting the same basic dimensions of the racing cars of 1940s, Prototype 9 has a rather squarish tubular design at the front that morphs into more of a rounded one towards the rear. Also a nice a touch, is the massive finned front grille design that is reminiscent of custom American hot rods.

But what’s unique about it is the metallic trim panel that stretches across the entire grille and meets the bodywork of the front axles. In terms of looks, Infiniti broke convention with the car’s paint scheme. Unlike most concepts, this one has a matte silver finish that is similar to what the Silver Arrows racers used to have back in the day.

In total, the car is 4,330mm long, 1,820mm wide and 910mm high with a ground clearance of 65mm. It’s a pretty big vehicle but its overall weight, including the powertrain, weighs about 890kg, which should make it an agile vehicle around corners.

The car has a leading-arm rigid axle with transverse leaf spring front suspension and a De Dion axle with transverse leaf spring for the rear. And despite it being an electric car, it does not have power steering.

Regarding Prototype 9, Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President, Global Design, said, “Prototype 9 celebrates the tradition of ingenuity, craftsmanship and passion of our forebears at Nissan, on whose shoulders we stand today. It started as a discussion – what if INFINITI had created a race car in the 1940s?”

He then added, “If one were to imagine an open-wheeled INFINITI racer on the famous circuits of the era, such as Japan’s Tamagawa Speedway, what would that look like? The sketches were stunning and the idea so compelling that we had to produce a prototype. As other departments became aware of this, they volunteered their time to create a working vehicle.”

Under the rather suave handmade exterior sits a steel ladder frame that should be period correct for the 1940s but be more rigid thanks to modern construction methods and the use of tougher materials.

The car is powered by a single speed powertrain that delivers 148bhp and 320Nm of torque to the rear wheels. Juice is supplied to the motor via a Lithium-ion battery pack and as such, the car is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 170km/h.

Infiniti will probably use this car as a design study or a show piece of the talents and capabilities of its design and engineering teams. We doubt that Prototype 9 will be of any use to Nissan’s road-going vehicles in any point in its lifetime.