Nissan has done a little reshuffling before the start of 2018 in the form of appointing Hideyuki Sakamoto to executive vice president, manufacturing, supply chain management, and Denis Le Vot to senior vice president and chairman of the management committee for Nissan North America.
Sakamoto will be vacating his position as executive vice president, product engineering, in order to take on his new role. Despite this change, which will be effective January 1st 2018, he will continue to report to Chief Competitive Officer, Yasuhiro Yamauchi.
Since 1980, Sakamoto has been at Nissan and has served a number roles including multiple chief vehicle engineer positions, as well as corporate vice president, Nissan PV Product Development Division. Le Volt on the other hand, has enjoyed a fulfilling career at Nissan’s sister company, Renault since 1990.
Throughout his career at the French automaker, Le Volt has held several aftersales positions as well as that of vice president, marketing and sales for the Eurasia region and chief operating officer of Renault Russia. Evidently, both men bring a substantial amount of experience and expertise to their new roles at the company.
Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury sub-brand has released a teaser image of a new sleek concept car. It will officially be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, January 2018. The automaker says that the car will take the look of a traditional sedan to the next stage of evolution.
Based on first impressions, the car should have angular contours that builds upon Infiniti’s sporty design language. Blessed with fluidic contours that seem to be concentrated toward the front fascia, the new car is poised to be a show stopper.. Sporting a muscular stance, this Infiniti will herald in a new era for the brand.
Though details surrounding performance are a bit sketchy at the moment, Infiniti did say that it that will have smarter, more compact and less intrusive powertrains. This could lead many to suspect that the new car will have some sort of hybrid powertrain.
Whatever the case maybe, we will know for sure next month when the car graces the auto show in Detroit alongside its retro-modern cousin, Prototype 9, another special creation. If Infiniti keeps this momentum going, it could be on its way to win several awards in 2019.
Contrary to popular belief, some automakers utilize odd methods to determine paintwork durability. Nissan USA, has a miniature car wash about the size and shape of a popcorn machine that serves an important role at its Technical Centre in Michigan, USA.
As its name suggests, it is equipped with a spinning brush that has vibrant blue bristles, which whisk away at paint samples. For illustration purposes, a red 1:16 scale model of the 370Z is passed through the machine to study the damage that a regular car wash would do to the paint that Nissan uses.
In practice, paint is applied to rectangular plates, which are placed into the miniature car wash and tested multiple times to ensure a top-quality finish that lasts. Nissan’s little contraption is said to mimic the real thing, its brush rotates at 180rpm, causing the bristles to pelt the painted samples repeatedly as water jets spray water.
A special layer, called the ‘Arizona Dirt’ is applied to paint samples to replicate real-world grit, and allow for more practical understanding of the abuse that vehicle paintwork have to endure, especially when it comes time to wash them clean.
Testing methodology differ between manufacturers, but at Nissan, a miniature car wash is what they prefer. In reality, car wash centres may not use the best of tools when cleaning customers’ cars, which is why test such as these are conducted. Rough cloths or bristles can scratch clear coats and abrade paint, so durability is important.
Renault has annoounced a new efficient engine that was co-developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Daimler. This new engine will power the Scénic and Grand Scénic line-up but will eventually make its way into other models in the Renault range from 2018.
According to the automaker, what sets this new powerplant apart from the rest is that it offers a significant improvement in terms of driving pleasure and availability of torque throughout the rev band. It is able to accomplish this without detriment to fuel consumption or CO2 emissions.
The engine will be made available with three different power outputs, which are the Energy TCe 115, TCe 140 and TCe 150. The numbers of their nomenclature denote engine horsepower. The TCe 140 replaces the older TCe 130 and offers 35Nm more torque that is available across a broader range of the rev band.
Philippe Brunet, Alliance Global VP – Powertrain & Electric Vehicles, said, “Our new petrol engine embodies all the expertise of Groupe Renault’s engineers, the Alliance and our partner Daimler. It meets the quality standards of both the Alliance and Daimler, with more than 40,000 hours of testing.”
The engine block, coupled with manual and EDC dual-clutch automatic transmissions, is available in a variety of power ratings from 115hp to 160hp. It utilizes a number of different technologies including Bore Spray Coating, a cylinder coating technology from the Nissan GT-R engine, which reduces friction and optimises heat transfer.
Other features of the engine are higher pressure of the direct fuel injection, which is 250 bar and a unique combustion chamber design that optimizes the fuel/air mix. Adding to that, Dual Variable Timing Camshaft technology manipulates the intake and exhaust valves depending on engine load at any given time. The is what allows for better torque levels across the rev range.
Last week’s NISMO festival that was supported by Motul, played host to an interesting display of vehicles from Nissan’s memorable past. There were Group C cars, Super GT cars, Touring Cars and even an incredible display of rally cars. Thousands of fans either attended the event at Fuji International Speedway or tuned in to NISMO.tv to witness the spectacle.
All of those cars were part of Nissan’s heritage collection, which is housed in the Zama Heritage Center in Japan. Here, the automaker houses a plethora of vehicles from its Motorsport past as well as road cars that date back to the Datsun type 12 Phaeton from 1933.
According to the automaker, it has more than 400 vehicles stored in its Zama facility and if you would like to see more of them, CLICK HERE. As portrayed by the various pictures in the gallery, Nissan has had a colourful Motorsport history that has contributed somewhat in it becoming the automotive giant it is today.
Check out the pictures below and let us know what you think of its vintage and classic cars. And should you require further information on them, check out Nissan’s online heritage site. It houses a massive collection of pictures and specifications of each individual car. It’s in Japanese though, so use Google Chrome to get the translation done in a single click.
Renault has been awarded the title of Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year at the UK’s 2017 GreenFleet awards. It also picked up another, for City Car Manufacturer of the Year thanks to its line-up of compact EVs that include the ZOE.
Annually, GreenFleet Awards recognizes manufacturers or organisations that successfully introduce fuel saving strategies and innovations that include low emission vehicles. Renault currently has several different vehicles that utilizes EV technology, which include the upgraded Kangoo Z.E.33.
Speaking of the accolade, Angela Pisanu, editor of GreenFleet magazine, said, “The winner this year has had their experts come up with new battery technology that has enabled them to increase the range on their small car and van EV offering.”
The latest ZOE has received a decent upgrade that includes an improved battery pack that allows for a 50% increase in range on a single charge. The automaker has admitted that, in real world driving conditions, the car should be able to cover a distance of 299km in warm weather conditions and 200km in areas that are subjected to winter conditions.
Through the use of its patented Chameleon Charger, the ZOE is able to charge its battery from 0-80% in an hour. In addition to that, this charger is able to adapt to a wide range of power supplies to ensure that the charging duration is kept to a minimum.
Similarly, the new Kangoo also has an upgraded battery pack that allows for a 60% improvement in range over its predecessor. This electric van is able to travel for about 274km on a single charge, which isn’t extraordinary but increases practicality.
Apart from these two vehicles, Renault also has a number of other EVs that are just as efficient, which include the Twizy quadricycle and the upcoming Master Z.E. large panel van. This line-up is responsible for spearheading the French automaker’s charge to dominate the increasingly popular EV market.
And the GreenFleet award is a testament to this very fact. However, there are several other publications that have given these vehicles the same recognition for innovation, practicality and ease of use. The following are the latest accolades picked up by Renault:
What Car? Best Electric Car 2017 – Renault ZOE
What Car? Best Used Green Car 2018 – Renault ZOE
Autocar Game Changer 2017 – Renault ZOE
Parkers Eco Car of the Year 2018 – Renault ZOE
Pure Electric and Hybrid Cars Green Apple Champion 2017 – Renault ZOE
Expect more from this French automaker in the near future because competition in the EV market is bound to increase by several orders of magnitude. Tesla has recently announced a fully electric lorry that may revolutionize the way we see freight transportation in general. All we can say is, this is a pretty interesting time for the automotive industry.
The newly launched Nissan Leaf has already caused a stir in the tech industry. It has taken top honours at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) annual ‘CES Unveiled’ ceremony, presented by the Consumer Technology Association. The show is regarded by many as being one of the top tech events in the world.
Before a crowd of tech industry experts, the Leaf bagged its first major international award since its launch. But Nissan is adamant that far more accolades will be coming its way once the car is truly been appreciated by consumers and techies around the world.
Nissan’s investment in innovative tech has certainly paid off here, because the CES awards recognized a number of them. The Japanese automaker;s ProPILOT system and e-Pedal tech were awarded the CES Best of Innovation award winner for Vehicle Intelligence and Self-Driving Technology and CES honoree for Tech for a Better World titles respectively.
Prior to the actual CES show, the Consumer Technology Association announces the Best of Innovation award winners to get more people enthusiastic about the actual event. Next year’s show will take place in sunny Las Vegas sometime in January. Held there annually, the 2018 show will have a Nissan Leaf on display for spectators to ogle.
“It is a great honour to have this early and important recognition for the new Nissan LEAF,” said Daniele Schillaci, Nissan’s executive vice president for global marketing and sales, zero-emission vehicles and the battery business, and chairman of the management committee for the Japan/A&O region.
The new Nissan Leaf is the successor to the car that has spearheaded Nissan’s charge into the developing EV market. It builds upon the success of its predecessor by adding better battery range, sleeker looks and more innovative tech that offer better everyday convenience.
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.
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 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.
