Nissan Versa named IIHS Top Safety Pick [w/video]

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Safety, Videos, Nissan

We may not have found much to like about the redesigned 2012 Nissan Versa sedan when we test drove it, but here's something in its favor: A Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

While the old Nissan subcompact never made it to the top of the IIHS rankings, the new sedan earned its award by scoring "good" ratings in front, side, rollover, and rear tests and coming equipped with standard stability control, according to the IIHS. The 2011 and earlier Versas only scored "acceptable" in side impact and roof strength tests.

Keep in mind that the Top Safety Pick only applies to the new sedan, as a redesigned version of the hatchback has not yet launched. The 2012 Versa hatchback is the same design that's been on sale since the 2007 model year.

See below for a video of the IIHS side impact test on the Versa sedan.

Continue reading Nissan Versa named IIHS Top Safety Pick [w/video]

Nissan Versa named IIHS Top Safety Pick [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Showdown: Nissan Juke-R pitted against GT-R on track

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Crossover, Nissan, UK

Now that Nissan UK is finished with the dog-and-pony promotional show for the Nissan Juke-R, it's free to do what we've all been waiting for: hand it over to The Fourth Estate for proper testing. AutoExpress was the first in line, and they didn't waste the chance, pitting Faust's CUV against the car that made it possible, the Nissan GT-R, around the Bedford Autodrome circuit.

We could tell you more, but this isn't the time for words - the long-awaited action is in the video after the jump. Still want more? There's an article to go with it over on AutoExpress.

Continue reading Showdown: Nissan Juke-R pitted against GT-R on track

Showdown: Nissan Juke-R pitted against GT-R on track originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan reveals latest glimpse at 2013 Altima as NY show approaches [w/video]

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Videos, Nissan

So where are we at with the 2013 Nissan Altima? We've seen an overhead shot teased, along with a peek at its front fascia. We've seen a shot of the car leaked in a promotional video, and of course, our spy photographers snapped the car in a conventional disguise, but got a good look at its interior in the process.

Now Nissan comes with this, a brief video that shows off the Altima's new hind end. Like most every sedan on the market these days, it looks like the fourth-best-selling vehicle of 2011 will be getting a bit of a Bangle butt. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) We do get the first really good view of the Altima's taillights, which have a bit of Lexus spindle thing going on.

We'll have to wait until the New York Auto Show on April 4-5 to see the full reveal, though we wouldn't put it past Nissan to eke out another shot or two of the car before then.

Click on the image above to enlarge, then feel free to see the very brief video yourself below.

Continue reading Nissan reveals latest glimpse at 2013 Altima as NY show approaches [w/video]

Nissan reveals latest glimpse at 2013 Altima as NY show approaches [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Invitation Concept invites Honda Fit comparisons

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Nissan, UK

Take a Nissan Micra, give it the face of a Honda Fit, let designers from Renault work on the rear and add a sweet white and orange interior and you have yourself a B-segment concept that Nissan calls the Invitation.

On the ground in Switzerland at the Geneva Motor Show, Chris Paukert agrees that the Invitation is "Fit-esque," and that it looks good in person. Not bad in photos, either. The official Nissan press release describes the design as, "The clean fluidity of the silhouette hints at its dynamic potential and showcases class-leading aerodynamics for enhanced efficiency. "

Expect a production version of the Invitation sometime in 2013 in Europe. No indication from Nissan about U.S. availability, though.

Check out the full press release below for more details.

Continue reading Nissan Invitation Concept invites Honda Fit comparisons

Nissan Invitation Concept invites Honda Fit comparisons originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan reveals more about Pathfinder's new interior [w/video]

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Nissan, Design/Style

Nissan is set to debut an all-new Pathfinder later this year, and the Japanese automaker has given us a better picture of what to expect from the vehicle's cabin. Leather heated and cooled front seats are part of the package, while occupants in the second row will enjoy heated thrones of their own. Nissan focused heavily on making the third row easier to access. The company incorporated larger rear door openings to make ingress and egress a simpler affair, and the second-row seats feature a child-seat mode that still allows rear access even with a booster seat in place.

Speaking of the way-back seats, the next-generation Pathfinder will feature a reclining 50/50 folding bench in the third row. Both the second and third row fold flat for more cargo area.

There should be plenty of technology on board, too, including a 13-speaker Bose stereo and the handy Nissan around-view monitor. Click past the jump for the full press release as well as a quick video of the SUV's cabin.

Continue reading Nissan reveals more about Pathfinder's new interior [w/video]

Nissan reveals more about Pathfinder's new interior [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Nissan Altima accidentally revealed in official video

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Nissan, Design/Style

It looks as if Nissan may have inadvertently revealed part of the 2013 Altima ahead of its debut. The keen-eyed crew over at Inside Line spotted a completely undisguised version of the four door in a promotional video on Nissan Japan's YouTube channel. While we've seen test vehicles in various states of disrobe for a few months now, this is the clearest view yet of the next-generation Altima. We can clearly see the vehicle's 370Z-inspired headlights and the hint of a more pronounced grille as well as more emotive bodywork.

You may recognize that character line as the similar to the one found on the 2013 Pathfinder. Were we the betting types, we'd say we can expect to see that detail crop up on other Nissan offerings soon as well.

Will the new lines be enough to help the Altima keep its momentum up in the family sedan marketplace? We're going to hold off judgement until we see the final product in the flesh, but we will say the vehicle will find itself nose to nose with some increasingly threatening competition. With redesigned versions of the Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Passat and Toyota Camry intent on carving out larger slices of the mid-sized pie, the 2013 Altima will have its work cut out for it.

As you might expect, Nissan has since nixed the video with the Altima in it, but Inside Line was quick enough to grab a few screen shots. Head their direction for a closer look.

2013 Nissan Altima accidentally revealed in official video originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Altima prototype gives up more of the goods, including interior

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hybrid, Sedan, Etc., Nissan, Design/Style

Nissan is busily putting the 2013 Altima prototype through its paces ahead of the vehicle's debut later this year and spy photographers spotted the vehicle on public streets wearing a new vinyl wrap designed to obfuscate the model's lines. Even so, we can clearly see a few more details about the upcoming sedan.

From the looks of things, the vehicle received more than a little inspiration from the Nissan Ellure Concept. With a contoured body line and headlights borrowed from the 370Z, the vehicle looks to have quite a bit more personality than in years past. Additionally, the same boomerang line found in the headlight housings also look to be transposed on to the vehicle's C pillars and tail lamps, though the look isn't as exaggerated as we saw on the Ellure.

The photogs also garnered a glimpse into the vehicle's cabin, giving us the first look at the dash in the 2013 Altima. The sedan will likely come with the same intelligent key system found elsewhere in the Nissan line, and the center stack and steering wheel have seen some love as well. Word has it the Altima will debut with a new hybrid drivetrain that makes use of a an electric motor paired with a supercharged four-cylinder engine and a lithium-ion battery pack.

Nissan Altima prototype gives up more of the goods, including interior originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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