Autoblog

Nissan rolls out Platinum edition X-Trail in the UK

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Nissan, UK, Diesel, Luxury, Off-Road

Nissan makes a whole mess of different crossovers, and not just the ones we get here in North America. Overseas, the Japanese automaker has even more, like the Qashqai, the Koleos (sold by sister-company Renault) and the vehicle you see here, the X-Trail.

Not to be confused with the Xterra, the X-Trail is a small but rugged-looking little ute built atop the same platform that underpins the Rogue and the Sentra. Though its not exactly what you'd call cheap, it is more affordable than most other crossovers on the market overseas, but Nissan is now bridging that gap by offering a new premium version called the Platinum edition.

The special model is visually distinguished by the extra protection plates on the bumpers front and rear, and the chrome side steps and door moldings. Inside the Platinum gets leather trim and motorized, heated front seats, touch-screen infotainment system and a back-up camera displayed in the rearview mirror.

A 2.0-liter diesel pulls all those luxury touches along with 170 horsepower, in a package limited to 200 examples selling for about £30,000 (depending on whether you take the automatic or manual transmission option). That's nearly $47k at current exchange rates, and includes the UK's relatively high Value-Added Tax.

Continue reading Nissan rolls out Platinum edition X-Trail in the UK

Nissan rolls out Platinum edition X-Trail in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan X-Trail gets modest refresh, new diesel

Zach Bowman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Japan, Nissan, Canada, Diesel, Off-Road

2011 Nissan X-Trail 20GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Our neighbors to the north may recall the Nissan X-Trail a little better than the rest of us. The Japanese manufacturer recently stopped sale of the SUV in Canada, which a shame considering what's on offer for 2011. Next year, buyers in other parts of the world will be able to snap up their X-Trail with an efficient clean-diesel engine bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. Power figures for the engine and auto trans combo are still MIA, but Nissan claims that the mill will be capable of power on par with a 3.5-liter V6.

The rest of the changes to the globe-wandering SUV are mostly aesthetic. Outside, the truck gets a slightly reworked front fascia, including the headlights, bumper and grille, along with LED tail lights. Inside, the driver is treated to larger gauges and a new vehicle information display, while passengers get to play with an all-new heated or cooled glove box. Looks like a little bundle of SUV joy to us. Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan X-Trail 20GT

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan X-Trail gets modest refresh, new diesel

Nissan X-Trail gets modest refresh, new diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan takes fuel cell vehicle on run of the 'Ring

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:42:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Green, Nissan

The undisputed champion of hydrogen fuel cell SUVs at the Nurburgring has been crowned: the Nissan X-Trail FCV. The winning time: 11:58. Of course, it's the winning time because it's the only time -- a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle has never ran the 'Ring before.

After piloting the 120 bhp X-Trail around the world for two years, Nissan engineer Frank Eickholt, decide it was time to take it to the track. The €1.3 million X-Trail was apparently hampered by moist tarmac, so you can expect a redo at some point in the future. Just when you thought the 'Ring craze was as hot as it could get, here come the hydro-powered vehicles to... pour some water on it...

[Source: ZerCustoms]

Nissan takes fuel cell vehicle on run of the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan's diesel Maxima may be manual only

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan, Rumormill

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan Maxima

Sales of Nissan's first clean diesel in America could be severely hampered before the car even gets a chance at life. According to Nissan, the diesel engine slated to power the Maxima could come equipped with a manual transmission as its only option. We honestly can't imagine Nissan going through with this idea. Diesels already have a mildly bad reputation in the states due to some of the not-so-great oil-burning products our market has been cursed with in the past, and Americans have a profound penchant for choosing an automatic transmission over a manual. Therefore, endowing the Maxima diesel with a stick as the only option seems like a death knell in terms of sale, although it's probably the gearbox that we'd choose as enthusiasts. Considering how well Nissan has done with its CVT transmission, we wonder if the company could find a way to pair it with the Renault-derived diesel slated for the Maxima.

For what it's worth, the Japanese market has not been properly introduced to the diesel engine, either. Nissan's first product with a new clean diesel for its home turf will be the X-Trail SUV. The assorted powers-that-be at the company have already decided that a manual tranny shall be the only option on that model due to the M9R engine's inherent turbo-lag.

Gallery: 2009 Nissan Maxima

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Nissan's diesel Maxima may be manual only originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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