nissan

Japan's Nissan Motor formally launched today its zero emissions Leaf vehicle, an electric car boasting a range of 124 miles and billed as the first of its type to be sold on a large scale.

Nissan is counting on an aggressive push into the nascent electric car market to boost its brand image--much as the Prius hybrid did for Toyota.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered a promising alternative to internal combustion engine cars as governments seek to cut the world's dependency on fossil fuels, but their relatively short range and high price challenge the industry.

"When you … Read more

Well, the Nissan Leaf has done it again. It's garnered another award.

This time, the Leaf has been named 2011 European Car of the Year. The Leaf beat out 40 contenders including Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, Opel/Vauxhall, and Volvo.

In the 47-year history of the annual competition, this is the first time the award has gone to an electric vehicle. This comes on the heels of the Leaf being rated at 99 MPGe by the Environmental Protection Agency.

"This award recognizes the pioneering zero-emission Nissan Leaf as competitive to conventional cars in terms of safety, performance, … Read more

Now that the electric Nissan Leaf has gotten an official fuel economy rating, all eyes are on the Chevy Volt, the other high-profile electric vehicle soon coming to market. Although there's no definitive rating just yet, Chevy Volt drivers will experience a wide range of mileage regardless of what's on the sticker.

The Environmental Protection Agency is using "miles-per-gallon equivalent" (MPGe) as it top-line metric when evaluating battery-powered cars in order to help consumers make comparisons among gas, diesel, all-electric, and hybrid options.

In the case of the Nissan Leaf, which will be available for sale … Read more

Everything is come up roses for the all-electric Nissan Leaf.

The Environmental Protection Agency just named the Leaf best in the midsize vehicle class for fuel efficiency and best for the environment.

The EPA tested the Leaf for an MPGe, or MPG equivalency, rating. After five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls, the EPA gave the Leaf a rating of 106 city, 92 highway for a combined 99 MPGe. The EPA's formula of 33.7kW-hrs being equivalent to one gallon of gasoline energy, Nissan said in a press release.

The 99 MPGe rating will be added to … Read more

We'd just gotten the seared afterimage of the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet to fade from our retinas, and today Nissan releases more information about the vehicle that it is calling the first-ever all-wheel drive, crossover-based convertible.

You may remember the CrossCabriolet's 2010 LA Auto Show reveal, where we learned of the Murano-based convertible. Now we have pricing. According to Nissan's Web site, a 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet will start at $46,390 plus an $800 destination charge. That base price technically makes the CrossCabriolet the second most-expensive Nissan-badged vehicle that money can buy (the technicality being that, with options, … Read more

When Nissan unleashed its latest version of the GT-R in 2007, it seemed there was no room for improvement. Engineered to extreme levels, this GT-R used a high-power twin turbo V-6, essentially a racing engine, a dual-clutch six-speed automated manual transmission, and a very advanced all-wheel-drive system.

But Nissan demonstrates with the 2012 model that technology can always be improved, increasing engine output by 45 horsepower. And what looks like a minor bodywork update also increases downforce by 10 percent. For a cosmetic update, Nissan added LED running lights.

We also found a slight mystery on the all-wheel-drive control switch. … Read more

When we took a sneak peek at the world's first all-wheel drive crossover convertible, we knew that its looks would be polarizing. Now fully unveiled at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, Nissan's Murano CrossCabriolet has us scratching our heads. Is it a brilliant creation of a new vehicle segment or an experiment in packaging gone horribly wrong?

As we already knew, Nissan started with its Murano crossover, which featured the automaker's 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to an Xtronic continuously variable transmission sending power through an all-wheel drive system. The crossover featured a high driving position, … Read more

We've been seeing a number of four-door coupes hitting the market, relying on their steeply sloped rooflines to create a sporty look. Nissan takes a different tack at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show with its Ellure concept, a vehicle that embraces its "sedan-ness" with a more traditional profile and a modified hybrid drive system that features components from Nissan's luxury-branded Infiniti M45h.

Starting with the striking exterior, the Ellure features an evolution of Nissan's now trademark boomerang headlamps and taillights. Severe angles and dramatic curves characterize the sedan, which draws inspiration from Japanese imagery, … Read more

Renault/Nissan expects to produce 500,000 electric cars annually worldwide at the end of 2013 and does not need a successful launch of the General Motors Volt to help spur interest in the newest green technology and sell its vehicles, Renault/Nissan's chief executive said yesterday.

Carlos Ghosn told reporters that the Nissan Leaf, the alliance's signature all-electric vehicle due out in the United States and Japan in December, will be capacity-constrained in the first years.

But the company expects to ramp up production as battery costs come down and believes that, within several years, its electric … Read more