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Nissan GT-R – the Track Pack option ramps it up

December 10, 2011 at 2:55 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan

A bog standard 2012 Nissan GT-R should suffice for most, but those seeking an edgier prospect can look towards outfitting the car with its Track Pack option, just the thing if circuit runs are your cuppa.

The package, available for the Pure Edition variant, is jointly developed with Japanese-based company NordRing, and features a suspension, air guide for both front/rear brake cooling and a set of lightweight six-spoke Rays alloys with gloss black painted centres; the wheels identify the version externally.

The brakes behind these are cooled by additional cooling ducts, built into the front bumper; these reduce the operating temperature of the front brake discs by as much as 100 degrees during track use, improving the stopping performance. Similar ducts, hidden behind the rear wheels, channel cooling air over the rear discs.

Meanwhile, the suspension’s spring rates have been revised to be optimal for track use, though like all GT-Rs, the dampers are adjustable to offer more comfort when the car is being used on the road.

Inside, going the TP route gets one Recaro front seats trimmed with blue bolsters and an innovative high grip material to help keep the driver in place during hard cornering and braking. No rear seats on this one – they’ve been removed to save weight. A ‘Track Pack’ emblem on the centre console helps remind the driver what the model is.

No changes to the output, which is 550 PS, like the regular GT-R, though going with the package adds to the total cost. A case of less is more? Definitely, however you choose to look at it.

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Nissan Leaf is 2011-2012 Japanese Car of the Year

December 7, 2011 at 1:05 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Nissan

The Nissan Leaf has added another feather to its cap – the EV has been named as the Japanese Car of the Year for 2011-2012. The announcement was made at the Tokyo Motor Show, and this is the first time in the award’s 32-year history that an electric vehicle has won.

The win makes it a hat-trick of COTY titles for the Leaf, which has also taken the 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car of the Year accolades. The last Nissan to bag both the European and Japanese Car of the Year titles was the Micra (or March), back in 1993.

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Nissan’s new 2.5 liter hybrid unit to replace 3.5 liter V6?

December 2, 2011 at 3:17 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Nissan, Technology

Nissan has introduced a brand new hybrid drivetrain which is made up by a 2.5 liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, an electric motor as well as a lithium-ion battery pack. The interesting bit is that the 2.5 four potter is supplemented by a twin-screw supercharger.

This helps the new system to produce almost similar horsepower and torque figures as the company’s VQ35 3.5 liter V6 unit. This means we are talking about approximately 260 hp and 338 Nm of torque. At the same time, fuel consumption is lower too, at least 10% lower with the continuously variable transmission. Engineers claim that the new system has plenty of low and mid-range torque.

This drivetrain will either be made available alongside the 3.5 liter V6 or it might replace it all together. It is expected to be introduced into the North American market by 2013 and many suggest that it could in the next-generation Nissan Altima.

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LIVE from Tokyo: Nissan Juke Nismo Concept is no joke

December 1, 2011 at 11:25 am By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, International News, Nissan

No GT-R engine here, but Nissan’s wacky Juke went through a Nismo transformation, and has emerged beefier in both looks and performance.

Besides the expected aesthetic treatment, the Juke Nismo gets a lowered and stiffened chassis, while the 1.6-litre direct injection turbo engine has been uprated to deliver more power, although no numbers were given.

Inside, there are changes to the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob and door trims, while leather-trimmed bucket seats have been added. Also, the tachometer dial and needle are illuminated in red, and shiny surfaces have been given a matte finish. More details in our previous post.

Like or loathe, this is the sort of design boldness that has been lacking in Japanese cars, which are normally severely toned down for production. Hats off, but still not in love with that face, though.

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Nissan Juke Nismo Concept – another juke box hero

November 29, 2011 at 4:05 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, International News, Nissan


Click to enlarge.

Nissan’s Nismo performance arm will be unveiling its latest creation in Tokyo – the Juke Nismo is the company’s take on what a premium sports version of the compact crossover would look like.

No, it’s certainly not as radical as the 480 hp Juke-R, but the Nismo version is lower, wider and has a tougher stance than the bog standard Juke, so Nissan says. The dress-it-up bit is achieved with the help of a Nismo body kit, 19-inch alloys and an exterior finished in signature Nismo colours of pearl white with red highlights.

New parts include revised lower bumpers front and rear, wider fenders and sill side skirts, and the grille pattern has been changed while the tailgate spoiler has been modified by the addition of side elements to control airflow more efficiently. The side mirrors have also been reworked on this one.


Click to enlarge.

The Nismo treatment of course extends to the chassis, which has been lowered and stiffened, while the 1.6 litre direct injection turbo gasoline engine has been uprated to deliver more power and performance – no numbers were mentioned though.

Inside, the parts that interact with the driver’s sense of sight, sound, look and feel, such as the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob and door trims, have been redesigned to provide greater involvement when driving.

Elsewhere, special leather-trimmed bucket seats have been added, while the tachometer’s dial and needle are illuminated in red. Additionally, previously reflective surfaces have been given a matte treatment, while the centre console gets a metallic coating.

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Nissan Pathfinder spotted in Gardens Mall parking lot

November 19, 2011 at 9:34 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Nissan

We managed to sight this Nissan Pathfinder in the Gardens Mall parking lot earlier today. For those who don’t know what the Pathfinder is – it’s essentially a ladder frame chassis SUV based on the Nissan Navara, much like how the Pajero Sport and the Fortuner are derived from the Triton and the Hilux respectively.

This is most likely a grey car – we’ve seen the Pathfinder advertised by grey importers before for about RM130k. An official Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) imported Pathfinder with the same powerful engine you’ll find in the Navara would be a very interesting alternative to the Pajero Sport/Fortuner, but the volume of that segment might be too small to interest ETCM. We haven’t seen a car in this class from ETCM since the Terrano.

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Nissan Juke-R – more images of the 480 hp beast

November 18, 2011 at 2:50 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan

Nissan has released more images of the Juke-R, which is set to begin official testing later this month.The 480 hp vehicle was officially introduced by Nissan Europe in October as a special, road legal concept car, of which two versions will be built – one in left-hand-drive and one in right-hand-drive.

The urban rebel crossover, as the company tags it, wears a VR38DETT mill from the GT-R as well as the latter’s six-speed transaxle, with a modified four-wheel drive GT-R driveline and propshaft linking things together.

Exterior design cues include 20-inch RAYS forged alloy wheels, a dynamic split rear wing and twin pentagonal exhausts, which emit the GT-R’s evocative engine note, while the interior features a motorcycle-inspired console at the centre of a modified interior cabin fitted out with twin race seats, five-point harnesses and a race-spec roll cage, among others.

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Nissan Pivo 3 – urban EV concept set for Tokyo debut

November 10, 2011 at 12:49 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, International News, Nissan

Nissan will be showcasing the third incarnation of its Pivo in Tokyo later this month. If the Pivo 2 from 2007 was a bit bubbly, the Pivo 3, as it’s called, goes all angular and certainly boxier.

Tagged as the smart urban commuter EV of the near future, Nissan says the Pivo 3 features a refined exterior styling with bold surfaces and a new stance, as well as a central driving position and a high-grade interior.

The compact three-seater, in a 1+2 layout, is under three metres long, and the vehicle has narrow-tread rear tires and IWM (in-wheel motors) with a wide steering angle, allowing it to make a U-turn on a road only four metres wide. The highly manoeuvrable vehicle has a zero turn gap, so if the front wheels can make the turn, the rear wheels will follow without the body scraping anything.

Features on this one include an Automated Valet Parking (AVP) function, which enables the car to automatically drive, locate a parking space and park without driver assistance in an infrastructure-equipped parking lot envisioned in the future. It can also charge itself and return to its driver at the AVP exit when called by smartphone.

It also inherits the Robotic Agent interface from the Pivo 2 – the car acts as a partner or personal assistant to the driver, with companionship conveyed by the Robotic Agent, and a “smart” personal filter selects information relevant to the current driver, location and vehicle.

Elsewhere, side-view monitors take the place of mirrors, using Nissan’s Around View Monitor system to reveal the car’s surroundings and help minimise blind spots. The centre console, meanwhile, features an ultra-wide display for GPS and other information, and together with a sub-monitor and the Robotic Agent, is positioned to interact discreetly with the driver.

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J.D. Power Asia Pacific report finds that overall new vehicle quality in Malaysia is up notably from 2010

November 8, 2011 at 9:24 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Local News, Nissan, Toyota

According to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2011 Malaysia Initial Quality Study (IQS), overall new-vehicle initial quality in Malaysia has improved from 2010. The study – fielded between March and July this year – is based on responses from 2,858 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicle between September 2010 and May 2011. It includes 67 passenger car, pickup and utility vehicle models from 14 brands.

The study, which is in its ninth year, examines new-vehicle quality during the first two to six months of ownership, and measures more than 200 problem symptoms covering eight vehicle components, these being vehicle exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, audio/entertainment/navigation, seats, HVAC, vehicle interior and engine/transmission.

All problems are summarised as the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100). Lower PP100 scores of course indicate a lower rate of problem incidence and higher performance.

Overall initial quality in Malaysia averaged 124 PP100 in 2011, a 23 PP100 decrease from 2010. Initial quality has improved from 2010 in six of the eight problem categories: vehicle exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, audio/entertainment/navigation, vehicle interior and engine/transmission. The report says that the greatest improvements have occurred in the vehicle exterior category.

Despite overall improvement, the five problems reported most frequently by owners continue to be excessive wind noise, noisy brakes, excessive fuel consumption, air-conditioning which doesn’t get cold fast enough and the engine losing power when air-conditioning is on.

The study found that 44% of new-vehicle owners indicated having a problem-free experience with their vehicle. Among these owners, 51% say they “definitely woull” recommend the model they own to friends or relatives. In contrast, among the 56% of new-vehicle owners who experienced at least one problem with their vehicle in their initial six months of ownership, only 27% said they would recommend the model they own.

In terms of specific models, the Honda City ranks highest in the entry mid-size segment for a third consecutive year, with a score of 62 PP100, an improvement of 36 PP100 from 2010. Following in the segment rankings is the Toyota Vios. In the mid-size car segment, the Nissan Sylphy finished top of the heap with 39 PP100, followed by the Toyota Corolla Altis at 43 PP100 and the Honda Civic, with 55 PP100.

In the MPV/Van segment, the Toyota Avanza was class-leading for a second consecutive year, with a score of 64 PP100, with the Toyota Innova (73 PP100) and Nissan Grand Livina (107 PP100) in second and third respectively. As for the pickup category, the Toyota Hilux led the pack with 32 PP100, followed by the Isuzu D-Max at 47 PP100 and the Mitsubishi Triton at 64 PP100.

The IQS is one of three consumer-based studies that J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducts in Malaysia. This year’s Malaysia Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, which measures new-vehicle owner satisfaction with after-sales dealership service, was released in July, while the Malaysia Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study for 2011, which examines new-vehicle buyer satisfaction with the sales and delivery experience, was released in September.

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Nissan GT-R gets upgraded for 2012 – power up to 550 PS

November 8, 2011 at 12:38 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan

Nissan has announced the introduction of the 2012 model year GT-R – the car goes on sale in global markets beginning January next year. In a nutshell, the 2012 revisions have brought about more power to the VR38DETT block, to 550 PS at 6,400 rpm, with torque at 632 Nm from 3,200 to 5,800 rpm (up from 612 Nm previously), as well as improved economy and lower emissions.

As well as more power, the 2012 GT-R has a newly-developed asymmetric suspension which compensates for greater weight on the driver’s side in RHD models, enhanced transmission ‘feel’ and a stronger body for extra rigidity and better handling.

The engine response and torque at mid- and low-speeds, and power at high revolutions, has been significantly improved, primarily from improved intake efficiency as well as exhaust emissions efficiency and increased exhaust valve cooling performance. The car also has reduced air flow resistance, thanks to a more compact under floor catalyser which improves emissions efficiency and reduces weight.

As for the transmission, the shift ‘feel’ and quietness has been refined thanks to a strengthened design of the shift fork arm and a firmer fixing bearing for the flywheel housing. Also, a special differential oil – namely the R35 Competition Type 2189E, in a 75W-140 viscosity – that was developed for competition is now used in every GT-R version.

As well as greater power and torque, the reinforcing of certain areas around the rear part of the engine compartment and dash panel delivers more responsive handling, and Nissan says a greater sense of the vehicle’s grip on the road is transmitted to the driver.

At the same time, more precise production methods, accompanied by advancements made in the vehicle body, have improved the inter-vehicle detection capability. This has been achieved by a more rigid, highly-damped vehicle body and changes in the positioning of the sensor. Additionally, a more accurate acceleration sensor has been placed in areas with higher sensitivity in the vibration testing of each vehicle body.

Meanwhile, accounting for the added weight of the driver in a right-hand drive vehicle, coupled to the fact that the propeller shaft for the front wheels is located on the right side of the vehicle, the GT-R’s suspension in RHD versions has now been set asymmetrically.

For the front suspension, there’s a harder spring rate on the left side, while at the rear, the suspension arm has been installed upwards on the left side and downwards on the right. This means an imbalanced wheel load when the car is stationary, but which is equalised during driving, providing improved responsiveness, smoothness and steering feel, as well as enhanced cornering stability and riding comfort.

Elsewhere, the interior gets minor tweaks – the instruments placed in front of the driver have been enhanced by the addition of blue lighting inside the tachometer ring to match the shift position indicator light, and the Bose audio system’s woofers have been changed to Bose Precision Sound System woofers developed for the Egoist grade, for improved sound quality. Also, a rear view camera is now standard on all models.

There’s also a Track Pack custom option, available for the Pure Edition. Jointly developed with NordRing company in Japan, it features a suspension, air guide for both front and rear brake cooling and aluminium-alloy wheels made by Rays (the last with a black quartz chrome shade coating).

The front spoiler – with a carbon air duct – has been exclusively made for this edition, and is installed as a set. To reduce the vehicle’s weight, the edition features a two-seat configuration (without rear seats, with quilted fabric mats), though one can opt for combination seats made with genuine leather and high-grip fabric that have been newly developed for the “For Track Pack” option.

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