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Play the Nissan X-Gear augmented reality game on your Android and iOS device, win an iPad 2 or iPod Shuffle!

November 1, 2011 at 2:45 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Nissan

Nissan has done something rather cool to commemorate the launch of the new Nissan X-Gear – they’ve developed a cool X-Gear augmented reality app for the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and your Android device where you can drive a virtual Nissan X-Gear.

Here’s how you can play the game:

  1. Download the Nissan X-Gear App from the iTunes Store.
  2. Download the Nissan marker PDF file from the Nissan Malaysia website and print it out.
  3. Run the App, tap on ‘Start Game’ and point your Apple device’s camera towards the printed Nissan marker.
  4. Once you’re in the simulated city, drive around in the X-Gear and pick up as many passengers as you can.
  5. Drop off the passengers at the Nissan showroom to redeem your points.
  6. Every 1,000 points will earn you 1 contest entry.

Ah, what contest entry you say? You could stand a chance to win either an iPad 2 or an iPod Shuffle! Just join the X-Gear, keep playing and come out at the top by the 15th of December 2011. For those with an Android device, you can also download an Android version here.

Don’t forget to check out the interactive features in the App, which includes a Garage, and Specifications tab holding all the key info on the Nissan X-Gear. It will give you a 360 degree view of the vehicle.

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Nissan Juke-R – first view of the munch monster

October 26, 2011 at 9:48 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan


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The Nissan Juke-R super crossover bandied about earlier in the month has finally been revealed in the metal – the car made its first public appearance at a Nissan crossover media launch in Malaga, Spain, at the end of the press conference.

The Juke-R of course wears the 3.8 litre twin-turbo V6 from its famous sibling, the GT-R, as well as the latter’s six-speed transaxle, with a modified four-wheel drive GT-R driveline and propshaft linking fore and aft together.

Just two versions of the Juke-R are being created, one in each of left-hand and right-hand drive. The cars are developed by Nissan and built by leading motorsports outfit RML, with input from Nissan Technology Centre for Europe (NTC-E). Testing of the car will begin in November.

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Nissan Almera launched in Thailand – it’s the Sunny!

October 10, 2011 at 1:54 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan

Nissan has launched its second eco-car in Thailand after the March, which is also the first sedan bodied eco-car in the market. Named Almera, it revives a name used by Nissan in Europe for its family cars. If it looks familiar, the Thai Almera is what we know as the new Sunny, the big B-segment sedan that made its world debut in Guangzhou last year.

Built on the V-platform also used by the March hatchback, the Almera is big bodied for a car aimed at the Vios/City segment, a similar approach chosen for the Latio sedan, although the Almera/Sunny is sleeker in shape (0.29 Cd). It is 4,425 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,500 mm tall, while wheelbase is a class leading 2,600 mm. Nissan says that rear knee room is at D-segment levels, and having sat in it before, I agree. Boot space is a large 490 litres.

The Almera comes with a rear spoiler (with LED brake light), fog lamps and chrome on the grille and door handles. Available kit includes Fine Vision instruments, MID, steering buttons, climate control and Intelligent Key with push start button.

The Almera, like the March, is powered by the HR12DE 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine. This 12-valve CVTC equipped unit makes 79 PS and 106 Nm at 4,400 rpm, and is mated to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT gearbox or a five-speed manual in basic grades. This efficient and lightweight (Almera weighs between 962 and 1,027 kg) package is boosted by Start-Stop tech to deliver claimed fuel consumption of 20 km/l and low CO2 emissions of 120 g/km.

Note that this drivetrain is different from the China spec Sunny, which comes with a larger HR15DE engine. A more efficient package is needed to comply with Thai eco-car rules. The Almera also sports a black cabin, instead of beige.

The Almera/Sunny is part of Tan Chong’s future plans, although no one knows what it will be called here. Click here to read our world debut coverage from Guangzhou, and to view a comprehensive hi res gallery.

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Nissan unveils revolutionary car battery charging tech and new, highly formable ultra high tensile strength steel

October 6, 2011 at 7:43 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan, Technology

Nissan has unveiled a couple of innovations, and the first is the development of a new technology that can fully charge an electric vehicle battery in about 10 minutes.

According to a report, researchers at Japan’s Kansai University, working together with Nissan boffins, have come up with tech to speed up the charging process. Currently, lithium-ion batteries can take up to eight hours to recharge fully.

In experiments, the researchers tweaked a capacitor – by using a composite made from tungsten oxide and vanadium oxide for the capacitor’s electrode instead of the usual carbon – to allow it to hold more power. Tests with the new capacitor resulted in it being able to fully recharge within 10 minutes, while maintaining nearly the same storage capacity and voltage as lithium-ion batteries, the report says.

Apparently, the new capacitor has endured repeated charging and discharging without durabiility issues, and the researchers are now planning to go further afield, utilising different materials and structures for the device, with the aim of bringing down the charge time to three minutes or less.

The report adds that it is likely to take about a decade to commercialise the technology, but the breakthrough is expected to help cut production costs for electric cars and make them more popular for drivers in a hurry.

The second one involves steel, in this case what has been tagged as the world’s first ultra high tensile strength steel to be rated at 1.2 gigapascals (GPa), which Nissan has developed in collaboration with Nippon Steel Corporation and Kobe Steel.

What’s unique about this one isn’t just its stiffness, but also its formability. Until now, high tensile strength steel involved a critical trade-off – increased strength came with increased rigidity, and with that, a consequent reduction in press formability, not to mention the challenges in spot-welding the stuff. Traditionally, only high tensile steel – rated up to 980 megapascals (MPa) – has been used in cold pressing structural body parts, requiring complex press work.

The new material changes the scene. Highly formable, it will be produced from 2013 as steel plates for use in cold pressing structural body parts, and used for centre pillar reinforcements, front and side roof rails and other key structural components.

Development of the new material was realised by a breakthrough in the ability to control its structural formation at the sub-micron level, combining hard and soft layers to achieve both strength and formability. An optimal spot-welding methodology – a proprietary process which involves careful optimisation of welding pressure, current volume and power distribution – was also developed for use with it.

The steel offers the benefit of exceeding the structural body performance of previous materials, with less thickness needed. As such, it will offer weight savings, with Nissan claiming its use will reduce vehicle body weight by up to 15 kg.

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Nissan Juke-R: A crazy Juke that thinks it’s a GT-R!

October 5, 2011 at 5:09 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan


Nissan is a Japanese brand that’s doing relatively well in Europe, helped by niche creating models such as the Qashqai and Juke. Instead of foolishly going head on with Golf class hatchbacks and superminis with a like-for-like product, these crossovers offer a unique bodyshell in their respective segments. They’ve been successful with sales of more than 100,000 Jukes after just a year on sale, so now it’s time for some fun.

This work in progress is the Juke-R, the first ever super crossover. Super because this is a Juke that thinks it’s a GT-R. The flared wheel arches, revised front and rear bumpers plus a unique split rear wing hint at the GT-R’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine under the hood. Under the boot hides the Godzilla’s six-speed transaxle, with the front and rear ends joined by a modified GT-R 4WD driveline and prop shaft. Chunky 20-inch RAYS forged alloys wrap things up.


Inside, the Juke’s dashboard has been transformed to accommodate the gauges, dials and 7-inch customisable LCD display from the GT-R. The Juke’s unique bike fuel tank inspired centre console remains. Two race-seats with five-point harnesses sit inside a visible roll cage.

Unfortunately, the Juke-R is not for production. It’s a one-off, road legal concept car, developed by Nissan and built by motorsports outfit RML with input from Nissan Technology Centre for Europe (NTC-E). Built to gauge the public’s reaction to a seriously sporty Juke, first tests are expected to be done in November. Crazy stuff!

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Nissan Latio gets facelifted – range now down to two variants, a hatchback and a sedan; hatch goes 1.8L

September 29, 2011 at 9:16 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Nissan

Edaran Tan Chong Motor has announced the introduction of the facelifted Nissan Latio. The model range, which previously consisted of four variants (three sedan, one hatchback), has now been scaled down to two, a hatchback and a sedan, both in Comfort level specification.

The biggest change, aside from the cosmetic enhancements, is with the hatchback, which is now available only in 1.8 litre guise. The car gets the MR18DE mill, which offers 126 PS at 5,200 rpm and 174 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm.

As for the sedan, that which has been retained is the entry-level unit previously, and it wears the trusted HR16DE 1.6 litre engine, with 109 PS at 6,000 rpm and 153 Nm at 4,400 rpm the figures. It’s only available with an auto transmission.

For the facelift, the Latio hatchback gets a newly-designed front grille and front bumper, as well as a new rear bumper, which the company says “gives a presence of motion and energy.” The car also gets new headlamps, and in the case of the hatch, new rear lamps as well. The sedan gets the front bumper and grille job, but no changes to the rear.

Inside the cabin, the Latio hatchback now comes with steering wheel audio controls and a new audio head-unit player with an Auxiliary input for portable audio devices. It also features a new white background meter display, replete with silver trim for the instrument dial cluster. Elsewhere, the hatchback is now equipped with an automatic air-conditioner system with digital display, and the trip meter readout now offers instant and average fuel readings.

The Latio 1.8 AT hatchback is priced at RM99,800, while the 1.6 AT sedan goes for RM89,800, both on-the-road inclusive of insurance; Latio buyers will also get a Solar Gard Armorcoat tinting package worth RM1,400 thrown in for free.

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Nissan to supply Fuga sedan to Mitsubishi in Japan

September 22, 2011 at 4:21 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Mitsubishi, Nissan


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Nissan and Mitsubishi have yet again expanded the scope of their OEM supply agreements in the Japanese market. From next year, Nissan will provide the Fuga luxury sedan to Mitsubishi, to be rebadged and sold by the latter, and Mitsubishi is to provide its MINICAB-MiEV commercial mini EV to Nissan, also sometime in 2012.

The two new OEM project agreements are part of the core agreement signed in December 2010 to expand cooperation between the two companies, and follow on a prior agreement for Nissan to provide the NV200 Vanette compact van to Mitsubishi (rebadged as the Delica D:3) beginning this October, as well as the establishment of the NMKV minicar joint venture, which was announced in June 2011.

As an interesting aside, the Fuga was being bandied about as the Perdana replacement for top-level government use only, though speculation has pretty much dissipated with the announcement of the impending Proton-MMC collaboration. To think it could somehow pop up again in the picture, as a Mitsubishi, is improbable, all very far fetched.

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Test Drive Report: New Nissan Livina X-Gear 1.6 Auto

September 7, 2011 at 4:29 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Nissan, Test Drive Reviews

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) officially unveiled the new Nissan Livina X-Gear yesterday, while also giving the media a chance to sample the new crossover in a drive from KL to Penang and back. If you missed yesterday’s launch post, click here to view it.

In a nutshell, the X-Gear is a five-door version of the Grand Livina that we’re familiar with, decked with SUV style bodywork. While it’s shorter and has one less row of seats, the five-seater X-Gear shares the same wheelbase and tracks as the Grand Livina. Offered in a single spec – 1.6-litre auto – ETCM is pitching it as a spacious alternative to typical B-segment hatchbacks such as the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Honda Jazz and Suzuki Swift.

Read the review after the jump.
[Read more...]

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Nissan Livina X-Gear is here – 5-seater, 1.6L, RM82,800!

September 6, 2011 at 10:48 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Nissan


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Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has officially unveiled the Nissan Livina X-Gear. It’s essentially a five-seater version of the Grand Livina MPV that Malaysia is very familiar with, plus tough SUV-style looks thrown in the package. Launched with the same 1.6 litre engine as the Grand Livina, the Serendah-assembled X-Gear is priced at RM82,800 OTR, including insurance.

At 4,275 mm long, the X-Gear is 145 mm shorter than the 4,420 mm Grand Livina, although both share the same 2,600 mm wheelbase and tracks. This means that all the millimetres the X-Gear loses over the Grand Livina is behind the rear axle, the length Nissan added in to accommodate a third row for the Grand.


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So while many would naturally view the two-row X-Gear as a smaller Grand Livina, it can also be viewed as a large hatchback, something like a Suzuki SX4. In fact, ETCM is pitching the X-Gear in the B-segment hatchback market (Jazz, Swift, Mazda2, Fiesta) and hopes to steal some sales from similarly priced popular sedans such as the Toyota Vios as well.

To us, the X-Gear’s macho add ons make it look quite convincing as a psuedo-SUV. The entire front bumper is new and chunkier than the standard item, with a protruding chin and prominent cut outs for the fog lamps. The grille is unique, too.


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There’s also a silver “sump guard” for full effect. From the side, one can see black body molding and overfenders. The wheels are similar in size with the Grand Livina.

The rear mirrors the changes up front. There’s a chunkier bumper in black, with a similar silver panel. The Nissan logo on the tailgate is surrounded by a black piece of plastic to match as well. The package is completed with roof rails, which are functional, stresses ETCM. No old X-Trail style lights on them, though :)


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Ground clearance is 180 mm, no difference from the Grand Livina. There’s also no raised suspension or 4WD, so owners shouldn’t take the X-Gear too far off the beaten track. As mentioned, the HR16DE is similar to that in the Grand Livina.

The 105 hp/150 Nm unit is paired to a four-speed automatic gearbox. The suspension consists of front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam. Steering is EPS while the brakes are vented discs up front, drums at the back.


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Inside, the changes are the deletion of the Grand Livina’s rear air con vents (smaller car doesn’t require it) and the strip of vent up front that directs air to the rear. In place of the former is a cupholder that folds out to make two.

The seats have a nice “tartan” pattern to it (not big checks like the GTI, but much finer in size), repeated on the door cards. There are also dark silver trim on the doors.


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I’m enjoying the X-Gear’s generous rear legroom as I type now. More updates coming your way later.

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Nissan Teana production to stop in Japan, but domestic sales to continue through imports

September 2, 2011 at 3:13 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan

In news earlier this week from Japan, Nissan says it will end domestic production of its Teana sedan by next year due to weak demand from the Japanese market as well as declining export margins that have come about from the stronger yen.

According to reports, the company, which now makes the Teana in Japan, Thailand and China, plans to move Japanese production of the Teana to the US, though domestic sales of the sedan will continue through imports.

In 2010, annual output of the model in Japan amounted to just about 26,000 units, with most of the vehicles being exported. Nissan Motor Kyushu, which makes the Teana in Japan, will take up production of the Note, a subcompact that is enjoying strong domestic demand, the reports add.

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