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Tag: Nissan

  • Nissan unveils driverless towing system

    Nissan unveils driverless towing system

    Nissan Motor Company Ltd has unveiled Intelligent Vehicle Towing (IVT), a fully automated vehicle towing system, at its Oppama Plant.

    Nissan has worked on making the relationship between people, cars and society more exciting under its Intelligent Mobility vision, a framework for how cars will be driven, powered, and integrated into society.

    This new project, which utilises mapping and communication technologies to link an intelligent and all-electric car to infrastructure, is a step towards the realisation of Nissan Intelligent Integration.

    The IVT system uses a modified Nissan LEAF to autonomously tow trolleys carrying finished vehicles between designated loading and unloading points at the plant.

    Unlike conventional automatic guided vehicle systems for transporting parts, which often require the installation of rails or extensive use of magnetic tape, this system does not need any special infrastructure to operate.

    The towing car is equipped with an array of cameras and laser scanners that detect lane markings, curbs and potential obstacles or hazards around the vehicle. By cross-referencing this information with map data, the towing car calculates its own location, negotiating the route to its destination unaided. The towing car travels within the speed limits of the factory, and automatically stops if it detects an obstacle or hazard ahead, before setting off again when it has determined that the road ahead is clear.

    The towing route can easily be altered to accommodate changes in production processes or vehicle transport routes. All driverless towing cars are connected to a central traffic control system, which can monitor the location, driving speed, remaining battery and operational status of each vehicle.

    When two driverless towing cars meet at an intersection, the control system’s algorithm determines which car should be given right-of-way, and in case of emergency, the system can stop the vehicles remotely.

    The Oppama Plant’s existing logistics system requires finished vehicles to be transported from the end of the production line to the facility’s dedicated wharf by a team of drivers, at which point they are loaded onto ships. Introducing IVT will allow Nissan to improve production efficiency.

    Since trial operations of the system began roughly a year ago, more than 1,600 test runs have been carried out at the plant. The data acquired has been utilised to ensure that the system can operate reliably within the plant’s premises.

    A safety system and a fail-safe system have been developed to counter potential risks or unexpected conditions the IVT system may face during autonomous driving, including adverse weather and low light conditions. Nissan will continue to test the system at its Oppama Plant, and will examine the possibility of implementation at other manufacturing facilities both in and outside Japan.

  • Nissan to build new models

    Japanese carmaker Nissan will build two new models in Britain despite the vote to quit the European Union (EU), giving Prime Minister Theresa May her most important corporate endorsement since the Brexit referendum in June.

    The decision to build the next generation of its popular Qashqai and X-Trail SUVs at Britain’s largest car plant, rather than elsewhere in Europe, was won with what a source described as a government promise of extra support to counter any loss of competitiveness caused by Britain leaving the EU.

    “This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation,” May said.

    Nissan employs around 7,000 people in Sunderland, where it built nearly a third of Britain’s 1.6 million cars last year.

    May’s spokesman said Nisan was offered reassurances that conditions would remain competitive, but was not given explicit promises to compensate for any tariffs that might be imposed once the country leaves the bloc. Such a step could potentially open the floodgates to ultimatums from other companies.

  • Nissan boosts Lagos security with car

    Nissan boosts Lagos security with car

    An auto firm Nissan, in collaboration with Stallion Group, yesterday donated a Nissan Almera car to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund to mitigate crimes in the state.

    Stallion NMN Managing Director Parvir Singh said during the presentation: “Having followed the organisation’s achievements in recent years,  Stallion NMN in collaboration with our principals, Nissan South Africa are pleased to extend our hands of fellowship to the society that has made our business operations more secure and attractive. And, this is largely due to the activities of the Security Trust Fund in curbing the menace of crime in Lagos State.

    “The occasion is without doubt another milestone in the annals of our young and dynamic Nissan sales and manufacturing company… and we are excited to be associated with Lagos State Security Trust Fund – an organisation that has excelled in devising potent strategies to mitigate security challenges in the state.”

    Also speaking, Director, Sales and Operations Nissan sub-Saharan Africa Jimmy Dando said: “Nigeria is Nissan’s most outstanding market in Africa Growth strategy and we will exploit the country’s strategic regional partners in the West Coast to make Nigeria the automobile hub for evolving West African markets.”

    He said the economy has strong potential of becoming Africa’s wealthiest and these core values are Nissan’s attraction to Nigeria,

    The trust fund’s Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun hailed Stallion and Nissan for their magnanimity “especially at this crucial period in the country’s economic history, and assured the organisation wouldn’t leave any stone unturned in curbing crimes in the state.”

  • Nissan unveils new GT-R

    Nissan unveils new GT-R

    • To launch eight new products in India

    Nissan has unveiled the new 2017 GT-R at the South Africa Festival of Motoring.

    The auto giant said the new GT-R posesses aggressive front fascia and an enlarged grille to cool the hand-built potent engine.

    The new chrome matte finish “V-motion” grille represents one of Nissan’s latest design signatures. It has been enlarged to provide better engine cooling and now with an updated mesh pattern.

    A new hood, which flows flawlessly from the grille, has also been significantly reinforced, contributing to stability during high-speed driving, this is in addition to a freshly-designed front spoiler lip and front bumpers with finishers situated below the headlamps  that give the new GT-R the look of a pure-bred race car, while generating high levels of front down force.

    The GT-R’s familiar wind-cutting shape defines its profile, but the side sills have been pushed out for improved air flow. The rear of the car also received a thorough makeover.

    While the GT-R’s hallmark four-ring taillights remain, Nissan has enhanced the bodywork to help improve air flow, as well as side air vents next to the quad exhaust tips. Also, the belt line that separates the lower black section from the body panel has been heightened to give the car a wider and more aggressive look from the rear.

    These exterior changes don’t result just in a sportier-looking car; they create an aerodynamically efficient vehicle, with less drag but retaining the same amount of down force as the current GT-R to keep the car stable at high speeds.

    Nissan South Africa Managing Director Sales and Marketing, Xavier Gobille, said the shift paddles are now mounted to the new steering wheel to allow drivers to change gears in mid-turn without having to take their hands off the wheel. The paddles themselves, along with the ventilation controls, have improved feel and better sound when engaged or adjusted.

    The GT-R now delivers 421kW at 6800rpm and 633Nm of torque that generates a hefty 600 horsepower.

    The cabin comes with a redesigned, premium interior, befitting a high-performance super sports car. The entire dashboard is new, including an instrument panel wrapped in a single, seamless piece of hand-selected Nappa leather artfully stitched with Takumi-style precision.

    The shape of the dashboard adopts a “horizontal flow” to deliver a sense of high stability for front seat occupants, while the line from the instrument cluster to the centre console provides a distinct driver-oriented environment for the driver.

    Meanwhile, the Japanese auto firm firm will launch eight new products in India over the next five years, enhancing its presence across the country.

    The company, which is aiming at five per cent market share in India by 2020, will launch the new products under its Nissan and Datsun brands.

    “India is a very important market for Nissan globally. The Indian market has all the attention of the top management. We will be launching eight new products by 2021,” Nissan Motor Co Chairman of Africa, Middle East and India Region Christian Madrus said.

    These new products will be equally distributed across Nissan and Datsun brands, he added.

    “This will help us position as one of the top brands in the country. We have already stated that we are looking for five per cent market share in India by 2020,” Madrus said.

    Nissan currently has around two per cent share in the Indian car market.

    While he declined to share more details of the planned new products, he said: “In recent years we have launched more Datsun products so the first one to be launched from the new ones will be a Nissan product.”

    Nissan India Operations President Guillaume Sicard said the company will launch the hybrid version of its top end Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) Xtrail within this financial year.

    On future products, Sicard said the company will focus on segments where there is latent demand.

    “In India there is appetite for large hatchback and also for sedans with big loading capacity,” he said, adding crossover SUV is also on the cards.

    “Considering Nissan’s DNA, SUV is a given but it won’t be the only one,” Sicard added.

    Apart from the Indian market, Madrus said Nissan is also making India an export hub for Africa and the Middle East.

    “The products we have developed in India are also suitable for these regions. We want India to be the base for export to these markets,” he said.

  • Nissan recalling 134,000 cars for fire risk

    Nissan Motor Co is recalling about 134,000 late-model cars, mainly in the United States and Canada, because a fluid leak in the braking system could lead to a fire, the company and U.S. regulators said on Friday.

    No one has been injured due to the potential defect but several incidents were reported to Nissan of “thermal damage” to vehicles that could include some fires, a Nissan spokesman said.

    Models involved are certain 2016-2017 Maxima sedans, 2015-2017 Murano SUVs, and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid SUVs.

    Drivers are advised that if they notice the anti-lock brake system (ABS) warning light on the dashboard illuminated, they should stop driving the car immediately, park it outside, and call Nissan and a tow truck will be summoned to bring the vehicle to a dealership for inspection, a Nissan spokesman said.

    “A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board will result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire,” said a report posted on Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    Nissan told NHTSA that the issue of possibly defective seals stems from a third-tier supplier.

    About 120,000 of the vehicles to be recalled are registered in the United States, about 11,000 in Canada and the remainder in a handful of international markets, Nissan said.

    Nissan will replace parts of the braking system if upon inspection the parts are found to be defective, the company said.

  • Nissan takes 14 cars to Tokyo auto show

    Nissan takes 14 cars to Tokyo auto show

    Nissan is heading to the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon show with no less than 14 cars, all specially created to be showcased at the event.

    Nissan is set to display quite an impressive number of modified models at the most important tuning event in Japan, with no less than 14 special cars being created for the show. At Nissan’s crowded stand, 13 customized versions of their production vehicles will be displayed, plus the Motul Autech GT-R racer that won the series championship in the 2015 SUPER GT GT500 class.

    It is not an exclusively manly stand, as three of the models were created in collaboration with the French fashion designer Lolita Lempicka. The Micra/March, Versa/Note and Juke Lolita Lempicka Concepts feature a two-tone white and black exterior, with a possibility for these to be produced in a limited edition series.

    The Nismo performance division will be represented by the X-Trail/Rogue SUV and Serena minivan featuring performance upgrades, along with the GT-R Nismo N Attack Package and Note Nismo S.

    Other cars on show will include the Leaf EV with an Aero Style kit, Sentra S Touring (sold in Japan as the Sylphy), Dayz Bolero and Rider, and Elgrand Rider Black Line.

  • Nissan unveils self-driving car with 500km Range

    Nissan unveils self-driving car with 500km Range

    Nissan has unveiled its vision for the future: the autonomous, zero-emissions IDS Concept car. Presented at last week’s Tokyo Motor Show, the vehicle integrates control and safety technologies with artificial intelligence for the next generation of self-driving cars, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency addition.

    The 2015 Tokyo Motor Show is bursting with much of the excitement coming from Nissan. This year, the company brought along a new-to-the-world concept — the Nissan IDS. As Nissan aspires to live in a world with zero emissions, going way back to when it first introduced the LEAF, you can imagine this hot ride is electric — and it is. The IDS is the next iteraction of the mainstream consumer vehicle.

    It is the first of what Nissan hopes would be many vehicles equipped with new technology by the year 2020.

    Presenting at the show, Nissan Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn shared an excerpt about the company’s vision for the future of personal mobility.

    Ghosn boasted that Nissan’s forthcoming technologies will revolutionise the relationship between car and driver, and future mobility.

    “A key point behind the Nissan IDS Concept is communication,” design director Mitsunori Morita said in a statement.

    “For autonomous drive to become reality, as a society we have to consider not only communication between car and driver, but also between cars and people,” Morita said.

    The electric vehicle is fitted with a 60 kWh battery, and sports a low stance for better aerodynamics, allowing it to drive long distances on a single charge. Plus, sync the car with your smartphone to take advantage of Piloted Park and wireless charging technologies.

    The sleek automobile comes in two modes: Manual Drive or Piloted Drive (PD).

    This allows one to choose whether or not they feel like driving, are able to drive, or just want to relax… as needed. While PD is fully automated, safety features while in manual mode were also highlighted, indicating that the car maintains awareness and the ability to intervene even when in manual mode. This continues an exciting trend of leveraging autopilot features to improve safety. The more manufacturers start integrating these intelligent driving features into their cars, the better, as that will drive faster improvements in the technology, lower costs, and ultimately, safer roads for all.

    Another feature that is more on the fun side of things is that the car appears to have a personality that it uses to relate to the driver, passengers, and even pedestrians on the street, sending messages via its dash-mounted, scrolling, LED screen.

    This car really wants to be your friend and could most accurately be described as the personality of Jarvis from Iron Man, Siri on those i-devices, or Cortana (for the four people out there with windows phones).

    Manual puts the driver in control of what looks like a game console accessory. But one is not alone: the car’s sensors continually monitor conditions, and offer assistance if necessary. The IDS Concept’s built-in also communicates with the motorist, highlighting traffic conditions and the day’s schedule.

    Push the glowing blue Nissan button in the middle of the wheel to switch into Piloted Drive, relinquishing responsibility to the smart vehicle, which imitates the driver’s style and preferences.

    The result of the automation and technology that is been rolled into the IDS is a seamless, quiet experience that makes life better. Feel like driving? Go ahead! Want to take a nap? Drop your seat back for a quick power nap — I ‘ll drive! Want to get some work done? Feel free to use the huge dash display to get it on! Want to talk and actually look at the person next to you? Done.

    The concept video is chalk full of features and even seems to have a super-splendulous windscreen and very thin a-pillars to further accentuate the viewing angles and maximise the panoramic views for the driver. Further accentuating the different driving modes, the car’s interior physically adapts to changes with the steering wheel moving in and out of the way, the centre console moving around, and the seats being released to swivel a little when in autopilot/PD mode. It seems like this would make driving more social, though the majority of driving in the United States takes place with only one person in the car, making it difficult to be social regardless of the context.

    All of this cool tech is wrapped in a very sporty exterior that looks like a cross between the diminutive Lexus CT200h with it’s short but sporty stance and the Chevy Bolt concept with it’s full glass ceiling and futuristic lighting enclosures.

    A similar car is in the works at Mercedes. But Nissan also just showed off its Teatro for Dayz concept, a pint-sized electric car with an interior that can project different scenes based on mood, weather, or “vibe of the day.” When parked, the Teatro’s seats, headrests, door trim, and instrument panel can be turned into a moving screen.

  • Nissan offers discounts on Altima, Sentra Sedans

    Nissan offers discounts on Altima, Sentra Sedans

    Stallion NMN Limited, the Nissan Sales Company has markdown prices of Nissan Altima and Sentra sedans in a special season sales to induce prospective buyers and admirers to buy choice Nissan cars in a limited offer that terminates as stocks last.

    Stallion NMN Managing Director Parvir Singh made this pronouncement in Lagos last week when he unveiled the offer titled: ‘Enjoy the most affordable opportunity on Nissan sedans.’

    “Starting from as low as N5.99million for Nissan Altima and N3.99million for the Sentra sedans, prospective customers can now walk into any Stallion NMN accredited dealerships to purchase one of Japan most precision engineered cars,” Mr. Singh affirmed.

    He said: “The evolving needs and preferences of prospective vehicle buyers prompted this markdown, which aims to lessen the burden of owning a serviceable car such as Altima and Sentra.”

    Singh: “We will as part of our philosophy continue to provide the best products and services to our customers to enable them to enjoy value-added experience.”

    Nissan Altima is a favourite choice among family sedans, delivering excellent fuel economy and a rare blend of comfort and exceptional capacity that compares to most premium sedans, Edmunds.com, a foremost American online journal for automotive information was recently quoted.

    Singh said: “Altima is distinctively tailored for stylish and confident individuals as well as responsible adults seeking personal and professional fulfilment on their terms.This class of people want more out of life and do not want a conservative or dull midsize sedan.”

    On the other hand, the Sentra is a mid-to-up-class sedan that unlike competitions has distinguishing features with approximately 15.2-foot-long, ample rear-seat legroom, measuring 37.4 inches, which is more than the back-seat legroom of a typical mid-to-up-scale car.

  • Nissan fortifies Altima for improved services

    Nissan fortifies Altima for improved services

    With its Maxima-like look and unique features, the Altima really does give shoppers a viable alternative to the Camry and Accord. The new Altima remains one of the most engaging family sedans that targets people who want more out of life and do not want a conservative or dull midsize sedan, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

    The 2015 Nissan Altima is a favourite choice among family sedans, delivering excellent fuel economy; a rare blend of comfort and exceptional capacity that compares to most premium sedans, says Edmunds.com, a leading online site for automotive information.

    The online resource described Nissan Altima as stylish, bold and aggressive with long body lines that distinguishes the Japanese engineered sedan from rivals like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.

    Emerging from a total model change, the new Altima offers exceptional premium experiences and high technologies that could give mid-size sedans better value proposition and keep it fresh against rivals.

    Edmunds.com says while many manufacturers are offering different 4-cylinder engines with hybrids and diesels, the Altima sedan goes the traditional route by offering a base 4-cylinder and a V6, reaffirming Altima’s innovative features to reposition the car way ahead of competition.

    The Nissan Altima is mated to a lighter weight 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine with improved efficiency while the 3.5-litre V6 version delivers better fuel economy, placing the car way ahead of competitions.

    Both engines however drive Altima’s front wheels through Nissan’s next generation Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drives engine revs ahead of vehicle speed during strong acceleration and helps both specifications achieve tremendous fuel economy, the Japanese Automaker assured.

    Popular Mechanics, a United States classic magazine of popular technology affirmed this claim, stating in one of its recent publications that “the new Altima remains one of the most engaging family sedans, and its fuel economy approaches 16 kilometres per litre of gasoline (pms) for the 2.5 litre engine and 13 kilometres per litre of gasoline (pms) for the 3.5 litre engine, on highway driving.”

    The Altima’s driving dynamic which rarely sacrifices its mainstream family-sedan features conveys a measure of driving fun that is uncommon in the mid-size segment reaffirms Auto Trader.

    Some auto analysts have similarly applauded the distinctive features of Altima’s “multilink independent suspension and best-in-class continuously variable automatic transmission as a testimony to Nissan’s ingenuity, especially when benchmarked against premium sedans like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.”

    The Nissan Altima could in the coming few months, beat rivals like Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in a segment described as the toughest, where every automaker wants a slice of the pie, the analysts said.

    Altima has a fantastic sporty handling, making it more fun to drive than most affordable midsize cars just as its standard four-cylinder engine provides plenty of power for passing and merging highway.

    On the other hand, the V6 engine delivers robust acceleration with a responsive automatic transmission (continuously variable transmission) that operates seamlessly, giving a smoother and lag-free drive when viewed against competitions.

    Altima’s modern and attractive styling with first-rate materials make the car’s cabin one of the nicest in the class with features like ‘Nissan intelligent key and NASA-inspired zero gravity seats – proven to reduce fatigue

    Nissan intelligent key lets you tap a button on the door handle or trunk to unlock while the key stays in your pocket or purse, and subsequently allows you start your car from up to 100 feet away while you turn-on the a/c to cool down the Altima before it’s time to get in.

    Inside the car, Altima’s rear seats have generous legroom, and the trunk size of 436 litres is ambitious for the class.

    Other features include Smart Phone Connectivity (Bluetooth) and a USB/iPod input, leather upholstery, a rear-view camera, premium BOSE audio x 9 speakers, 3D display, Xenon Lamps, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).

    The Altima is distinctively tailored for “Stylish and confident individuals as well as responsible adults seeking personal and professional fulfilment on their terms. This class of people want more out of life and do not want a conservative or dull midsize sedan,” Amit Sharma, Stallion NMN head of sales and marketing said.

     

  • Nissan to invest £100m in UK plant

    NISSAN has confirmed that it will build its next-generation Juke crossover model at its Sunderland plant, a decision that will require a further £100 million invested in the factory and secure the jobs of 34,00 people.

    The Juke– originally launched in 2010 – was the 10th best-selling car in the United Kingdom last year with 39,263 sold. It is already built in Sunderland alongside the Qashqai, all-electric Leaf and Note.

    In addition, the next Juke will be designed at the Japanese carmaker’s studios in London’s Paddington and developed at its European engineering HQ in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, which will ensure that the model continues to appeal to the tastes of drivers in the UK and Europe.

    The next-generation, due in 2016, will be built on a new platform shared with Renault and feature more efficient engines and new technology.

    With the next generation Juke now confirmed for future production, customers can be assured that Nissan is going to remain the benchmark in the crossover segment for many years to come

    Nissan Europe chairman, Paul Willcox said: “The Juke’s unique design is one of the reasons Nissan is now the undisputed crossover leader, underpinning five consecutive years of sales growth in Europe.

    “This announcement also gives security to our Sunderland plant beyond 2020, which the team has earned through many years of hard work and their ability to continually raise the bar on quality.”

    The Sunderland factory has an annual output of over 500,00 cars, making it not only the biggest in the history of the UK car industry, but also larger than the whole of the current Italian car industry, according to Prof David Bailey from Aston Business School.