New Fairlady Z Z35 (390Z) coming in 2013!

In the "A glimpse of upcoming Prius V, Fit Wagon & facelifted Fairlady Z (370Z)" post, I mistakably wrote that on the cover of the latest BC issue, the facelifted Fairlady Z (Z34) was shown.

Well, the particular rendering is BC's impression of the all-new Fairlady Z (Z35), which will go into production in 2013.

[Source: IMP-X's blog]

Nissan Elgrand Rider Premium Concept

One JDM model that I really like is Nissan's Elgrand (エルグランド) and those are some photos of the Elgrand Rider Premium Concept presented at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon.

More photos after the jump!

13 Japanese companies eye smooth domestic launch of FCVs

As already posted, Japan is pushing the adoption of FCVs (Fuel Cell Vehicles) by 2015 (earlier post). In order to achieve this target, more hydrogen filling stations and more cooperation between manufacturers will be needed.

Thus, 13 companies in Japan - Toyota, Nissan, and Honda along with a number of gas and utilities companies - are joining forces to enable a "smooth domestic launch" of fuel cell vehicles as soon as 2015. They hope to create about 100 hydrogen stations across the country, work to form a broader hydrogen supply network, and also educate people about FCVs in general.

The companies are the following:

Toyota Motor Corporation

Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.

Honda Motor Company, Ltd.

JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation

Idemitsu Kosan Company, Ltd.

Iwatani Corporation

Osaka Gas Company, Ltd.

Cosmo Oil Company, Ltd.

Saibu Gas Company, Ltd.

Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation

Tokyo Gas Company, Ltd.

Toho Gas Company, Ltd.

Nissan LEAF scale model by Kyosho coming soon

Kyosho will bring out a 1/43 scale model, as part of the J-Collection, of the Nissan LEAF in white and blue. The release date hasn't be disclosed yet.

More photos after the jump!

Nissan presents GT-R RC and LEAF Aero Style Concept at 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

As already posted in the past, Nissan has presented a number of concepts at the Tokyo Auto Salon, with the most interesting one being the LEAF Aero Style Concept. Oh, I do like a lot the Elgrand Rider Premium Concept as well... and the lady at the front!

The LEAF Aero Style Concept is fitted with aero parts providing better seperation of air flow and thus improving the flow from the front to the side. To be honest, I would really like to see the aero bits of the LEAF to hit the market! 

Nissan has also launched the NISMO GT-R RC production model race car.

The NISMO GT-R RC is the latest entry to the RC (Racing Competition) line of high performance, production model race cars developed and outfitted by NISMO. The body has been lightened, fitted with slick tires and equipped with safety equipment to ready it for competition use. During the car's development, it was entered in the 2010 SUPER TAIKYU Round 4 at Fuji, where it confirmed its high performance, reliability and durability.

The car runs on a VR38DETT engine that exceeds 357 kw /485 ps in power with over 588 Nm / 60 kgm of torque. To trim body weight, carbon fiber is used for the bumper, hood, trunk lid & rear wing, and the rear window is made of acrylic. Specialized aeroparts boost aerodynamic performance.

Particular attention was given to optimizing overall vehicle balance. The car was outfitted with height adjustable suspension along with large front (410mm) and rear (380 mm) brake rotors.

Safety features include an FIA standards-compliant weld-in roll cage, bucket seat & driver safety harness, fire extinguisher, ATL 120 liter safety fuel cell and air jacks, making your GT-R RC track-ready on delivery for production car races around the world.

The Nissan NISMO GT-R RC is “made to order” and will be sourced directly from NISMO. Its price is 20,790,000 ¥.

More photos after the jump!

Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R32 & R33) scale models added to my GT-R collection!!!

OK, I admit it... I really do like GT-Rs and those two are now part of my mighty GT-R collection! The first one is a BNR32 V-Spec 2 model by Kyosho with an opening bonnet (!!!), while the second one is an R33 V-Spec 1996 model by Ebbro.

More photos after the jump!

Nissan Serena's A-pillar design

Not really rocket science, but in any case I think it's a neat feature. The A-pillar design of the Nissan Serena not only features triangular windows for better visibility, but also the trim on the rear side is different between the left and right side. As you can easily understand, this is in order to provide maximum visibility from the driver's side.

[Source: Response]

A glimpse of upcoming Prius V, Fit Wagon & facelifted Fairlady Z (370Z)

New BC issue will be out soon and the front cover shows three upcoming models: The new Prius V to be unveiled at Detroit this month, the upcoming Fit Wagon (earlier post) and what appears to be the facelifted Nissan Fairlady Z (aka 370Z)!

Check out my blog soon, as some very interesting material is underway straight from Japan!!!

Yet another shot of BC's 2011 Nissan Tiida rendering

This is not a new rendering, but it's another shot from the latest issue of Best Car magazine. The new Tiida successor will make its debut in 2011 and the top version, probably badged as GT, will be powered by the 1.6 L turbocharged MR16DET engine (earlier post). The weight is expected to be around 1,100 kg and thus performance shouldn't be bad at all.

Already, some prototypes have been caught during testing and some shots revealing the interior have already been posted (earlier post).

[Source: IMP-X's blog]

Become a champion in your region by driving a LEAF...

Hmm, I am really wondering where we are heading to next... Nissan has created a system, called CARWINGS (カーウイングス), which connects all LEAFs to a network, wirelessly feeding their economy statistics. The point of all that? Well, there is a regional ranking system comparing the driver's energy economy to other LEAF drivers, and the winner gets... a gold medal on the navi screen.

At the moment, CARWINGS is only available in Japan and it includes also other services, such as 24-hour driver support.

[Source: Mashable]

New Nissan Patrol exceeds sales expectations in UAE

The fourth-gen Nissan Patrol (aka Safari サファリ), codenamed Y62, is not available in Japan, but it has proved to be a big success in the UAE. Ten months after its launch, sales have exceeded the company's original expectations according to Arabian Automobiles, Nissan dealer for Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.

Local sales of the Nissan Patrol started in April 2010, and in the first eight months, more than 2,000 units have been sold in the UAE (not counting Abu Dhabi, which has a different dealer). However, I don't reckon that this number is higher than the number of Toyota Land Cruiser sold, but it's a good start.

[Source: Drive Arabia]

A rather unsusual Infiniti G25 from Taiwan

OK, back to cars... although this time I am not so sure if that's a good thing or not... 

According to Infiniti, inspired performance is about seeing power, beauty and style both on and off the road. That's why they invited artist Heidi Taillefer to turn one of a new Infiniti G25 into a... moving piece of art in celebration of the Cirque du Soleil "Varekai" show in Taiwan.

Nissan to fill LEAF orders by summer 2011

As it is already known, Nissan struggles to fill LEAF orders and therefore, even dealers are getting less demo cars. But things may not be so bad (relatively speaking...) since, in an article published by Mercury News, Nissan's spokesman Tim Gallagher indicated that Nissan tries to fill all the order by the end of summer.

Hm, imagine when you will get yours if you place in order now...

Production of GT-R Spec V to end in summer 2011

According to reports coming from Japan, the GT-R Spec V production will end in summer 2011. The successor is rumored to be lighter and with a lower price tag of around 12,000,000 ¥.

Nissan Leaf's aerodynamic design

Following the post about the Nissan Leaf's rear aerodynamic design, here is an interesting photo showing the underfloor design at the front.

A glimpse of the new Japanese models coming in 2011!!!

The latest issue of Best Car magazine has a very interesting cover showing all the important new Japanese models coming in 2011!!!

So, here is what's coming (... I am missing a couple of Nissan sedan models):

• Daihatsu's small car based on the concept e:S (earlier post)

• Honda Fit - aka Jazz - wagon (earlier post)

• Honda Freed Hybrid 

• Honda Insight (facelift with design cues from  FCX Clarity)

• Lexus CT (looks like a spicy version... a CT-F perhaps?) 

• Lexus GS-F (earlier post)

• Mazda CX-5 (Mazda's variant of the Ford Kuga)

• Nissan Tiida - aka Versa - (earlier post)

• Toyota FT-86 / Subaru 216A (related posts)
  

• Toyota Prius V (related posts)

New Mitsuoka Viewt coming in summer 2011

Mag-X has came up with this rendering of the next-gen Mitsuoka Viewt, which will be introduced in summer 2011. For those who are not aware of the Viewt, the current model is the second generation one and it's a model based on Nissan's March (aka Micra). All generations of Viewt are inspired by Jaguar's Mark 2 design.

[Source: Mag-X via Makoto Garage Illustration]

New Suzuki Landy introduced in Japan

This is basically Suzuki's version of the new Nissan Serena (related posts), called Landy, coming almost one month after the launch of the latter.

グレード	2.0S	2.0G
駆動方式	FF	4WD
トランスミッション	CVT
全長×全幅×全高(mm)	4685×1695×1865	4685×1695×1875
ホイールベース(mm)	2860
車両重量(kg)	1600	1720
乗車定員(人)	8
エンジン種類	直4DOHC
総排気量(cc)	1997
最高出力[ｋＷ(ps)rpm]	108（147）/5600	106（144）/5600
最大トルク[N・m(kg-m)/rpm]	210（21.4）/4400	207（21.1）/4400
10･15モード燃費(km/L)	14.4
ガソリン種類／容量(L)	レギュラー／60
車両本体価格(万円)	222.075	291.9

Portugal first European country to get LEAF - Prime Minister first head of state to use EV for official matters

The first 10 LEAFs have been delivered in Europe and to be more precise in Portugal, as a recognition of the country's pioneering work in the electric mobility field with the MOBI.E Program. Portugal has a a dedicated nation-wide smart grid for electric vehicles.

The Prime Minister of Portugal, Jose Socrates, has become the first head of state in the world to adopt an EV, which will be used for his official travels around Lisbon.

The MOBI.E network currently spreads over 25 municipalities throughout the country with over 50 charging points already installed. The plan is to install more than 1300 normal charging points and 50 quick charging stations by mid-2011.

[Source: Carscoop]

Nissan delivers first 10 LEAFs in Japan

Nissan today announced it has delivered the first 10 units of its 100% electric and zero-emission Nissan LEAF in Japan to the Kanagawa Prefectural Government. Six of these vehicles will be designated for official prefecture use and four will serve as rental cars to be used in the prefecture's "EV Sharing Model Business".

Kanagawa Prefecture has announced comprehensive and proactive support measures to quickly achieve the adoption of 3,000 units of EV within the prefecture.