Autoblog

Are you the next Nissan X-Trail?

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:16:00 EST

Patent filings have given us plenty of early glimpses at future cars recently, but generally speaking, we tend to know what we're looking at. What we're seeing here is obviously an upcoming Nissan utility vehicle based largely on the 2012 Hi-Cross Concept, but other than that, there's really no information. Our best guess is that this is a peak at the next-generation X-Trail - Nissan's small, rugged crossover that isn't currently available in the US.

From concept to the patent phase, we see the arched front fenders and stylized D-pillars are almost identical, but we also get a look at some of the production-friendly design elements such as the front and rear fascias and the liftgate. No word on when we might see a production version of this crossover, but with the Hi-Cross having debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last year, maybe Nissan will follow that up with the road-ready version of the crossover at this year's show in March.

Are you the next Nissan X-Trail? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan announces Russian expansion

Dan Roth — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan, Russia

Nissan wants to be big in Russia. Right now, the brand brand lays claim to 5.9 percent of the Russian market, and the plan is to increase share to ten percent by 2016. That means moving nearly 500,000 vehicles a year, more than triple the 161,000 total units moved in 2011. Nissan plans to muscle up its production at its St. Petersburg plant, doubling output to 100,000 vehicles for 2014.

With upgrades to the press and plastics shops, the St. Petersburg facility will produce five different models at the same time, including the Qashqai, Teana, X-Trail and Murano. The revived Datsun brand will also figure into the plans. Datsun is being ramped up in growth markets as a low-cost boutique product developed and produced locally to appeal to an emerging customer base.

For further details, check out the press release posted below.

Continue reading Nissan announces Russian expansion

Nissan announces Russian expansion originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 May 2012 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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Report: Renault Captur concept to spearhead family of CUVs

Aaron Richardson — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Renault

Renault Captur concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Renault is planning a line of crossovers based on Nissan platforms and styled after the Captur concept that debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

According to Auto Express, the new family of soft-roaders will start with Nissan Juke-based Captur, slated to be the smallest in the lineup, and offer a mid-size model based on the upcoming Qashqai, while the top-spec model will ride on Nissan X-Trail underpinnings.

Engine sizes will range from 1.6 to 1.8 liters, and there will likely be two versions of Renault's twin-turbo diesel on offer, generating 128 or 158 horsepower. Renault promises to use heavy styling cues from the Captur concept, including its huge Renault badge, curvaceous bodywork and full-width grille.

According to AE, the entire range should have debuted by 2016, with the first models arriving sometime in 2014.

Gallery: Renault Captur concept: Geneva 2011

Gallery: 2011 Renault Captur concept

Photos copyright (C)2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

[Source: AutoExpress]

Report: Renault Captur concept to spearhead family of CUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automotive X Prize: And the winners are... (spoiler alert)

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Earnings/Financials, Specialty, Electric

Automotive X-Prize vehicles line up in the Knockout Stage - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to meet the winners of the 2010 Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize. But before we get to declaring the victors, let's take one last look at the finalists:

Mainstream Class

Edison2, Very Light Car (team name, car name)

Alternative Class - Tandem

X-Tracer, E-Tracer

Alternative Class - Side-by-Side

Aptera, Aptera 2e
Li-ion Motors, Wave II
RaceAbout Association, RaceAbout
TW4XP, TW4XP
ZAP, Alias

Gallery: Automotive X-Prize Knockout Stage

Want to see the actual winners (besides the two that are rather obvious, of course)? Click past the jump.

Continue reading Automotive X Prize: And the winners are... (spoiler alert)

Automotive X Prize: And the winners are... (spoiler alert) originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automotive X-Prize: Finalists announced, X-Tracer now last team standing in Tandem class

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Electric, Diesel

Automotive X-Prize Knockout Stage - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ladies and gentlemen, meet your finalists for the Automotive X-Prize:

Mainstream Class

Edison2, Very Light Car (team name, car name)

Alternative Class - Tandem

X-Tracer, E-Tracer

Alternative Class - Side-by-Side

Aptera, Aptera 2e
Li-ion Motors, Wave II
RaceAbout Association, RaceAbout
TW4XP, TW4XP
ZAP, Alias

These are the cars that have passed all the on-track testing at the Michigan International Speedway this summer and those that will now move into the Validation Stage at the Argonne National Lab next month. As you can see, X-Tracer has joined Edison2 as a team with no one but themselves to beat, which means that these two teams are just a few in-lab tests and one more road event away from earning the $2.5 million or $5 million prize money, respectively, on September 16 in Washington, D.C.

For the other teams, results from the lab tests, as well as the standings from the combined performance and efficiency event, which will be used as a tiebreaker, will determine the winners. For teams fighting against themselves, all that's required to win now is to meet the X-Prize's minimum targets. For detailed team standings and vehicle performance details, click here and then check out even more information after the jump.

Gallery: Edison2 at Automotive X-Prize Finals Stage

[Source: Automotive X-Prize]

Continue reading Automotive X-Prize: Finalists announced, X-Tracer now last team standing in Tandem class

Automotive X-Prize: Finalists announced, X-Tracer now last team standing in Tandem class originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:28:00 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'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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Aztek flashback: Nissan UK offering custom fit tent for SUVs

Chris Shunk — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Etc., Crossover, Nissan

While the Pontiac Aztek was a sales failure, it did have the ability to quickly turn into a camping appliance with a rear end that could be converted into a tent. Nissan must love the idea since it has developed a dome-shaped tent attachment for its UK utility vehicles. The tent attaches to the back, where the rear liftgate can be left ajar to provide a more open area for additional sleepers. Four adults can sleep in the 9x9 enclosure, with a couple more campers bunking in the car. The vehicle can also be easily detached from the tent if errands need to be run.

While tent accessory is handy, it does come at a price tag well beyond most stand-alone portable living quarters. The Navara tent costs £260, and the tent for the Pathfinder, X-TRAIL, Murano or QASHQAI will run you £460. Here in the States you can get a gently-used pop-up camper for a little more than $1,000 USD. The safety of the tent may also be a question mark, as it isn't hard to imagine a Darwin candidate turning on the car to get some heat (and carbon monoxide) into the shelter. Lets hope that doesn't happen. The Nissan press release is pasted after the jump.

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: Nissan Tent UK

Continue reading Aztek flashback: Nissan UK offering custom fit tent for SUVs

Aztek flashback: Nissan UK offering custom fit tent for SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clean diesel heading to the JDM Nissan X-Trail

Alex Nunez — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:34:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Green, Japan, Nissan

Click image for gallery of the Nissan X-Trail

Nissan has announced that a clean diesel engine will be offered on its Japan-market X-Trail SUV. Based on the M9R engine co-developed with Renault (it's marketed as the 2.0dCi in the French automaker's vehicles), the Nissan version will use new catalysts and engine management developed in-house. No specifications on Nissan's version of the engine have been made public yet, but in Renault guise it's good for over 40 US mpg in the combined cycle. Nissan also issued a separate release that focused specifically on its development of a SULEV-standard clean diesel (more on that at AutoblogGreen). It's pasted in full after the jump in addition to the brief release about the diesel X-Trail. Along with bolstering its diesel offerings in Japan, Nissan is paving the way for diesel powerplants in the US, as well, with a clean-diesel Maxima slated for 2010.

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: Nissan X-Trail

Continue reading Clean diesel heading to the JDM Nissan X-Trail

Clean diesel heading to the JDM Nissan X-Trail originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan's X-Trail highlights hydrogen fuel cell development

John Neff — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Green, Nissan

Nissan's hydrogen fuel cell laboratory-on-wheels is the FCV X-Trail, and the vehicle's latest iteration highlights the company's 10-year-long commitment to the hail mary pass of automotive emissions technology. Nissan developed the fuel stack for the newest X-Trail inhouse. It's smaller, lighter and develops 120 hp, which is a significant 35 hp more than the 2003 FCV X-Trail.

AutoWeek had the opportunity to drive the new X-Trail and notes that it passes itself off as a capable commuter better than ever. The extra oomph allows the 4,100 lb. SUV to merge with adequate authority and a tougher carbon fiber tank that allows an increase in gas pressure bumps the vehicle's range to 312 miles. Nissan has the Japanese government's approval to test the FCV X-Trail on public roads and begin leasing it. The automaker's made no commitment to when hydrogen fuel cell technology might make it into its lineup, but this latest showcase of technology reveals how close we are to the day when tailpipes emit nothing but water vapor. Now if only there were a BP around with a hydrogen pump...

[Source: AutoWeek]

Nissan's X-Trail highlights hydrogen fuel cell development originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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