Autoblog

Nissan releases official sketch of NV200-based electric commercial vehicle

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Nissan, Electric

Nissan Light Commercial Electric Vehicle sketch - Click above to enlarge

Nissan has electricity on the brain. The Japanese automaker is readying its opening salvo in the alternative propulsion wars in the form of its electric Leaf compact hatchback. Carlos Ghosn, though, announced at the Tokyo Motor Show that there would be plenty more to come, including an unnamed Infiniti model, something like the unique leaning Land Glider concept and an electric version of the NV200 light commercial van that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show.

Naturally, there needs to be some sort of differentiation between the standard-fare NV200 and its battery-powered sibling, and Nissan has just released the first official sketch of that new electric commercial vehicle. As you can see from the above image, the vehicle will take plenty of inspiration from the Leaf, including its steeply-raked windshield, flowing headlamps, front-located plug receptacle and general bottom-feeder shape.

No real details besides the sketch have so far been provided, but you're more than welcome to click past the break to read the sparsely-worded press release.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan releases official sketch of NV200-based electric commercial vehicle

Nissan releases official sketch of NV200-based electric commercial vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan NV200 Vanette rolls out for sale carrying new images, info

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Japan, Work, Nissan

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Nissan NV200

Last month, Nissan unveiled the production compact NV200 minivan (Nissan still refers to the vehicle as a Vanette, seriously) at the Geneva Motor Show, and today, the Japanese automaker has officially announced that sales have begun. The first deliveries in Japan, which is the first market getting access to the van, will happen in mid-May.

Nissan will offer two separate styles of NV200, one for commercial use, called DX, and one to haul people and their belongings called the Wagon 16S. Both machines use the same exterior sheetmetal, featuring an oddly arrayed set of character lines that break up the slab-sided and top-heavy proportions dictated by the van's shape.

Differences between the two models are most apparent inside. The Wagon model offers seating for seven, while the DX can swallow 4.1 cubic meters (145 cubic feet) of stuff. We'd be surprised if the NV200 didn't make it to the U.S. market within the next few years, as Nissan has made it clear that it has global aspirations for this vehicle. Check out our galleries below and see the official press release after the break.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan NV200 Vanette rolls out for sale carrying new images, info

Nissan NV200 Vanette rolls out for sale carrying new images, info originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200 gets its tippy on

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Nissan

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Nissan NV200

Nissan unwrapped the production version of its new NV200 compact van here at the Geneva Motor Show after first showing a concept version of it back in 2007 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The basic shape and a lot of the body surface details actually survived the transition from concept to production form intact, although some were obviously subdued. Most notable among those are the wheel arches and the wheels they contain. The small wheels on the production version give the compact van a more top-heavy appearance than the concept. Viewed from the front, the narrow width to height ratio exaggerates this effect even further.

Under hood Nissan is offering a lineup of 1.5 and 1.6L gas and diesel engines to drive the front wheels. When used for cargo rather than carrying up to seven passengers, the NV200 can swallow up to 145 cubic feet and 1,700 lbs. When Nissan showed its NV2500 concept for its new U.S.-built light commercial vehicle back in December, it also showed the NV200 concept, which suggests that the NV200 will be sold in the U.S. as a competitor to the Ford Transit Connect as Nissan moves into the LCV segment.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200

Continue reading Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200 gets its tippy on

Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200 gets its tippy on originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: First official pics and details of Nissan NV200 van

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Work, Nissan

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Nissan NV200

Nissan recently announced that it would officially debut its new NV200 MPV next week at the Geneva Motor Show, and today we've been blessed with a new set of official images and a few more details to share. Three different styles will be offered, including a passenger van, a cargo van and, sitting somewhere in between, a combi.

Based on Nissan's B Platform shared with the Cube, Micra and various Renaults and Dacias, the NV200 is driven by the front wheels and offers the buyer a choice of either a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 108 horsepower, or a 1.5-liter diesel engine with 86 hp and, more importantly, nearly 150 lb-ft of torque. Unlike most vans that feature removable seats, the NV200's second row of seats will fold forward against the front seatbacks and the rearmost row will split and fold to either side.

When all the seats are properly stowed, the NV200 will accept 4.1 cubic meters (145 cubic feet) of whatever it is you need to carry. For comparison purposes, the Ford Transit Connect offers about 3.5 cubic meters (124 cubic feet), though a proper comparison will need to be made after the NV's actually go on sale. Expect the NV200 to hit the Japanese market before summer, followed by a European introduction this fall. Other markets will follow, but there's no word yet if the new MPV will make it to the U.S. Make sure to check out the gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: First official pics and details of Nissan NV200 van

Geneva Preview: First official pics and details of Nissan NV200 van originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan confirms Qazana concept, production NV200 for Geneva

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Nissan

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Nissan NV200 concept

Nissan's plans for the Geneva Motor Show include the debut of the Qazana concept crossover and the production debut of the NV200 people mover.

According to Nissan's official release, the Qazana (not Qazan, as previously reported) is a small, five-door CUV that will "challenge conventional wisdom" in the segment. Nissan hasn't released a teaser of the Qazana, instead describing the crossover as a low-slung hatch with large wheelarches and suicide doors. If the Qazana reaches production, expect it to slot in below the Murano and Qashqai in markets outside the U.S.

The production version of the NV200, originally seen in concept form at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, will also bow in Geneva, and will feature three rows to accommodate seating for seven, along with sliding side doors and a flexible interior to fit all the detritus a European family on the move can manage. Van and Combi versions will be offered further down the line, but Nissan hasn't announced when the NV200 will go on sale or if the mini-minivan will make it to the States. Hit the jump for the press release and look for the live in just over a month.

Gallery: Nissan NV200 Concept

Continue reading Nissan confirms Qazana concept, production NV200 for Geneva

Nissan confirms Qazana concept, production NV200 for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan to release range of commercial vehicles in U.S. in 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Work, Nissan

Click above for high-res shots of the Nissan NV200 concept

Nissan will be putting a full-court press on the small commercial vehicle market beginning in 2010, according to Joe Castelli, Nissan North America's vice president for light commercial vehicles and fleet. Specifically, the automaker will attack the smaller end of the market where the Ford E-Series vans and Super Duty trucks currently dominate.

Starting with the recently-unveiled NV2500 commercial van, Nissan will branch out to include at least one smaller urban transit vehicle, which will likely draw inspiration from the NV200 concept and do battle with Ford's upcoming Transit Connect. That van might be based on the same platform as the upcoming Cube scheduled to hit U.S. shores in 2009.

About one-third of Nissan's U.S. dealerships are planning to carry the new line of vehicles. It would be impossible to enter this market without a solid supply of diesel engines, so Nissan is believed to have contracted with Cummins for oil-burners, a convenient relationship now that the Japanese automaker has allied itself with Dodge.

Gallery: Nissan NV200 Concept

Gallery: Nissan NV2500 Concept

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Nissan to release range of commercial vehicles in U.S. in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan likely to dump Quest, Armada and Infiniti QX56

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Nissan, Rumormill

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Nissan NV2500

In what seems like a foregone conclusion to us, intraweb rumors suggest that Nissan is strongly considering dumping its Quest minivan and Armada full-size SUV along with Infiniti's version of the behemoth 'ute, the QX56. The NV2500 light commercial vehicle will take the place of the Titan pickup at Nissan's plant in Canton, Mississippi, so, putting together the trail of crumbs, it's easy to speculate that Nissan is merely getting ready to phase-out the Titan truck and its platform-mates in preparation for a new Ram-based pickup from Dodge. Although the Quest doesn't share the same underpinnings, it has consistently been an under-performing nameplate when sales figures are tallied up, so its loss from the lineup won't be terribly missed.

Considering the sorry state of affairs that full-size sport utility vehicles see themselves in, we wouldn't bet on any Ram-based replacement for the Armada and QX56 either. If a minivan replacement ever rears its head in the U.S. from Nissan, it would likely have much more in common with the NV200 concept from the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show than the current Quest, minus the sweet sliding guts, naturally.

Gallery: Nissan NV2500 Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

Nissan likely to dump Quest, Armada and Infiniti QX56 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan unveils NV2500 light commercial vehicle concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Nissan

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Nissan NV2500

Today at the Nissan Technical Center in Farmington Hills, MI, Nissan revealed its new NV2500 concept commercial van. The NV2500 is a preview of its upcoming light commercial vehicle that will debut in 2010. The NV2500 will be taking the place of the Titan pickup at the company's Canton, MS assembly plant and take Nissan into a new market segment in North America. Nissan's Communications VP Alan Buddendeck explained that the automaker competes in the commercial vehicle market around the world and wants to round that out with North America.

The NV2500 concept shows just one of many possible configurations of the vehicle. The concept and the production vehicle are based on a modified version of the current Titan F-Alpha chassis. Nissan will be partnering with Cummins to provide diesel engines for the new vehicles and ZF for the automatic transmissions. In the first three years of production, Nissan plans to introduce thee different vehicles off this platform.

In addition to the big NV2500, Nissan also showed the NV200 concept that appeared at last year's Tokyo show. The NV200 is similar in concept to Ford's upcoming Transit Connect and is built on Nissan's compact B-platform. There currently aren't any production plans for the NV200, but it is a possibility.

Gallery: Nissan NV2500 Concept

Gallery: Nissan NV200 Concept

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan unveils NV2500 light commercial vehicle concept

Nissan unveils NV2500 light commercial vehicle concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2007 Preview: Nissan NV200 concept

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:45:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Tokyo Motor Show, Crossover, Nissan, Lifestyle

Click the image above for 20 high-res pics of the Nissan NV200.

We've finally found the ideal mobile Autoblog HQ. The NV200 is aimed at small business professionals that are constantly on the move, and although the boxy, panel van exterior doesn't do much for the eyes, it's what's on the inside that counts.

The interior is a rolling job site, with everything from equipment-specific storage to a full computer workstation. This particular model is supposedly built for a professional oceanic photographer, with all the gear and toys necessary to make that hard existence livable.

We want one now, and we're taking donations. Before you start rummaging through your seat cushions to help the cause, check out Nissan's press release after the jump and our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Nissan NV200 Concept

Continue reading Tokyo 2007 Preview: Nissan NV200 concept

Tokyo 2007 Preview: Nissan NV200 concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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