Nissan to Facelift Leaf for U.S. Production, Add a Budget Version in Early 2013 to Boost Poor Sales

That the Leaf hasn't been the success Nissan hoped for, is not a secret. This year through September, the Japanese carmaker delivered only 5,212 Leaf EVs in the United States, down 27.6 percent from the first nine months of 2011 when it sold 7,199 units.

Both these numbers are a far cry from the 20,000 Leafs Nissan wanted to sell in the car's first fiscal year on the market.

However, Nissan isn't sitting with its arms crossed waiting for a miracle to happen, as the company plans to add a lower-cost variant to the range as part of a 2013 model facelift, Autonews reported today.

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Ferrari 458 Italia Spanks Nissan GT-R in Straight-Line, but Proves No Match for +1,000Hp BMW M5 E34

It's not every day that you see the all-conquering Nissan GT-R lose a speed race, even if said model happens to come from Maranello.

The Swedes at the M5Board forums recorded the race between the Godzilla and the Ferrari 458 Italia from a rolling start.

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Nissan GT-R Bikini Run Video is Not What You Think it Is…

If you're looking for some juggling action from synthetically augmented products placed in the tiniest of holders, don't expect to find it here, well, at least not in our primary video because we did add a second clip, but only for reference purposes so you can better understand the storyline.

And unlike those real professional ladies enjoying a ride in superfast sports car as any other…normal woman would do, the unnamed blonde on the black leather seat of the GT-R has a mind and a mouth of her own.

Some of our favorite quotes include, "This GT-R has nothing on those twin-turbo Gallardo" and "No girl, he does his car like he does his woman, quarter mile a time, 10 seconds the most".

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Nissan adds New N-Tec+ Trim to X-Trail's UK Range, On Sale Now at £27,790

The Nissan X-Trail has just welcome a new member in the United Kingdom with the addition of the N-Tec+ trim. According to the company, the new grade level it is positioned between the Acenta and flagship Tekna editions.

In the standard equipment list you will find features such as the Nissan Connect system with a five-inch touch screen navigation with Bluetooth connectivity, the Around View Monitor 360 degree parking system with color front, passenger and rear cameras, keyless entry and start and an electric sunroof.

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Nissan Confirms “Dramatic” New Concept Car for the 2012 Sao Paulo Motor Show

At the forthcoming Sao Paolo Motor Show that takes place in Brazil from October 24 to November 4, Nissan Design Chief Shiro Nakamura will personally lift the covers off a “dramatic” (sic) concept car, the Japanese automaker announced.

The as-of-yet unnamed prototype was created under the direction of Nakamura by Nissan Design America in California.

The Japanese automaker makes no effort to hide the fact that the concept will enter production in some form or another, and says that this is its first ever model created specifically for the country, by cooperation with Brazilian designers and built in Brazil.

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To Charge or Not to Charge? Nissan Faces Class Action Lawsuit on Leaf's Battery Range

Nissan claims to be at the forefront of all-electric vehicles with the Leaf. Yet the Japanese company and its U.S. division are currently been accused in the U.S. that it has misled buyers about its EV's battery life and true driving range.

Humberto Klee and David Wallak say that Nissan advertises a range of 100 miles (160 km) or less, depending on a number of variables like the road conditions and the weather.

The plaintiffs claim is that the carmaker does not say that the Leaf can attain this range only if its battery is fully charged.

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Fast & Furious Nissan GT-R Driver Hits a Bump and Goes Flying Into a Field!

There is no doubt that, at some point, we have all done something stupid behind the wheel, but you would think that driving one of the fastest cars in the world like the Nissan GT-R on a side road would make you a tad more careful.

Try telling that to the...pilot of the gunmetal GT-R in the insane video that follows after the break.

In what appears to be some sort of sports car cruise, possibly in Maryland judging by the "Ballenger Creek Pike" and "Elmer Derr Road" signs, the GT-R driver passes the car filming the incident and which was already going fast, from the left hand side of the road, as if there was no tomorrow.

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New 2013 Nissan Sentra Starts at $15,990*, $440 Less than Outgoing Model

Nissan today released detailed pricing for the brand-new Sentra compact saloon before it hits U.S. showrooms on October 16.

Prices for the 2013 Sentra start at $15,990, not including a destination and handling fee (*) of $780, which is $440 less than the starting MSRP of the previous generation model (2012MY).

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Nissan Brings Revised 370Z Coupe and Roadster to Paris Motor Show

Making their first public appearance in Europe at the Paris Motor Show, are Nissan's 2013 model year 370Z Coupe and Roadster, both of which are scheduled to go on sale this October.

Already shown in North America, the faintly updated 370Z features a number of small improvements highlighted by the re-sculptured front bumper incorporating vertical LED daytime running lights ahead of the front wheel arches and a different lower grille.

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Mercedes and Renault-Nissan to Develop New 4-Cylinder Turbo Engine, Share Auto Transmission

On the sidelines of the ongoing 2012 Paris Auto Show, partners Daimler, owner of the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, confirmed plans to collaborate on two more powertrain projects, including a petrol engine and an automatic transmission.

The first project is a jointly developed 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine family. The direct-injection petrol unit is said to deliver significant improvement in fuel economy as well as low emissions.

The two automakers will jointly manufacture the new engines that will debut in Daimler, Renault and Nissan vehicles in 2016.

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Nissan TeRRa is a Fuel Cell-Powered Study for a Compact SUV, Jay leno Checks it Out [w/Videos]

Billed as a showcase for Nissan’s upcoming zero-emissions technology, the TeRRa concept that was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show is also an impressive design study for a future SUV.

Having already being at the forefront of ZEVs with the all-electric Leaf, the Japanese automaker is also investing in other future technologies, such as fuel cells.

The TeRRa’s front axle is powered by the electric system already found in the Leaf, while each back wheel incorporates an electric motor, offering all-wheel drive when needed.

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New Nissan Juke NISMO Packs Tuned Turbo Engine with 197-Horses and Sport Chassis

Nissan is launching its re-born NISMO sub-division in Europe with a new sportier version of its successful Juke small crossover.

Following the Juke NISMO edition's first public appearance supporting Nissan's Le Mans 24hr race campaign in June, the production-ready model made its motor show debut today in Paris.

While there are plenty of cosmetic changes over the regular model, the Juke NISMO is much more than a styling package as it adds some zing to the crossover model via an engine and chassis tune.

Powering the Juke NISMO is an uprated version of the DiG-T model's 1.6-litre, direct injection turbocharged petrol engine delivering 197Hp (200PS) at 6,000 rpm and 250Nm between 2,400-4,800 rpm, an increase of 9Hp and 10Nm respectively.

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The Manchurian Candidate: Anti-Japan Protests Good News for German Automaker in China

One man’s loss is another man’s gain. That’s the way it has always been and that’s the way it is today, especially in the corporate world.

Case in point: China’s anti-Japan protests, which seem to turn uglier each passing day. Toyota, Nissan and Honda have been forced to shut down their plants after attacks on some of their operations and dealerships.

Nevertheless, Chinese consumers still buy cars. If they shy away from Japanese vehicles, then they will probably turn to other brands from nations with which they have no quarrel.

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Nissan Shows Off e-NV200 Study at IAA in Hanover, Expands Cooperative Testing with FedEx

After a world premiere at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show in January, the Nissan e-NV200 pure-electric concept is now being displayed at this week's 64th IAA Commercial Vehicle International Motor Show in Hanover, Germany.

Along with the regular concept finished in white, Nissan is also showcasing an example decorated with Nissan and FedEx graphics and logos as the two companies announced an expansion of their cooperative testing.

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Nissan's 370Z Facelift, Juke NISMO and NV200 Taxi to Make European Debuts in Paris

While the new TeRRA crossover concept will no doubt be the highpoint of Nissan's Paris Motor Show stand, the Japanese automaker will also bring several new production and prototype cars to the City of Light for their European premieres.

These include the subtly refreshed, 2013-specification 370Z Coupe and Roadster that receive a newly styled front fascia with vertical LED daytime running lights lights on both corners of the bumper along with new color options and wheel designs.

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Japanese Automakers Urge Government to Implement Measures to Counter Strong Yen

Last Thursday, the yen hit a seven-month high against the U.S. dollar. That wouldn’t be so bad if the country’s currency hadn’t strengthened so much, from under 120 yen per dollar five years ago to less than 78 at the end of last week.As a result, exports have become more expensive, thus limiting profits.

Japanese automakers have felt the strain for quite some time now. Add last year’s tsunami that seriously disrupted production and the high labor cost and corporate taxes and it is not difficult to see why the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) decided to act.

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Soaring Yen May Bring Nissan Murano Crossover Production to U.S. Plant in Tennessee

With the yen rising to new heights, Japanese car manufacturers are, naturally, willing to move production of some of their models to their plants in other countries in order to make them more cost-effective.

According to a report from Japan’s Nikkan Kogyo daily newspaper, Nissan is currently considering shifting production of its Murano mid-size crossover to its Smyrna, Tennesee US plant which currently assembles the Altima and Maxima sedans.

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Toyota Says Prius Plug-in Hybrid U.S. Sales Top 6,000 Units, Beats Volt and Leaf...or Did it?

A Toyota press release bragging about the achievements of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid variant since it went arrived in U.S. showrooms at the end of February states that the EPA-rated 95 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) Japanese hatchback has delivered 6,061 units in its first six months (March through August) on sale.

However, that's not what caught our attention; this is what did and we quote Toyota's press statement:

"This sales figure represents sales momentum that has propelled the Prius Plug-in to a stronger first full six-months sales pace (6,061 units) than Chevrolet Volt Plug-in (2,745 units) and the all-electric Nissan Leaf (3,875 units)."

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Nissan TeRRA Concept is an All-Electric 'Urban' SUV [w/Video]

We have already shown you the first pictures of the Paris Motor Show-bound Nissan TeRRA, but now we have more detailed information and an official video of the SUV prototype.

But first things first. Despite the styling references and a name that hints at a vehicle related to the Xterra, Nissan makes no mention of this in its press release, while it also points out that the TeRRA is a "purely a concept car" and is not intended for production.

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Nissan GT-R Gives L-Driver of a Perodua a Tough Crash Lesson in Malaysia

There are accidents and then there are "accidents". For example, a Nissan GT-R and a L-Plate Perodua Kancil (a rebadged version of the Daihatsu Mira Mk3) training car involved in a crash is something bound to draw our attention…

This incident took place earlier today in the Malaysian state of Johor and resulted in a heavily damaged GT-R and an overturned Kancil.

Our tipster Calvin Goh explains:

"The collision is with a locally manufactured car, the Perodua Kancil. This car is widely used as a learning car (manual transmission) for first time drivers in Malaysia"

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