About Nissan

RyanThomas asked:


After announcing that the boxy Nissan Cube will make its appearance in showrooms in the United States for the 2008 model year, the Japanese car manufacturer introduced yet another boxy car but only for the Japanese car market. The third largest Japanese car manufacturer announced that the Clipper Rio one-box mini-wagon is now available in dealerships across its home market of Japan.

The said boxy van, according to the car manufacturer, comes in different variations to suit the demand of their consumers. The company expects that the Clipper Rio will be patronized by different individuals, each with their own preferences. That is the reason why the carmaker made different versions of the Clipper Rio.

According to Nissan, the Clipper Rio is suited for daily driving as well as long range driving. This allows the vehicle to have flexibility which Nissan hopes to attract customers with. One of its most notable features is its roomy interior which, according to the car manufacturer, leads its class. The oversized tailgate of the Clipper Rio emphasizes Nissan’s effort to make the Clipper Rio a flexible vehicle. With the size of the rear door, loading and unloading of cargoes is made easier.

As far as its styling is concerned, the Clipper Rio is undoubtedly a Nissan with its standard Nissan grille accented by the Nissan emblem. The front door is also as large as the rear door of the vehicle in proportion. This offers passengers of the vehicle the convenience they need when boarding the Clipper Rio. For children or small grownups, assist grips and door steps are provided for ease in boarding the vehicle.

According to the maker of the boxy vehicle, it comes in a variety of color which includes Black Pearl, Medium Blue Pearl, Cool Silver Metallic, and plain White.

The flexibility of the Clipper Rio is more apparent inside the vehicle with its re-configurable seats. The passenger seats of the Clipper Rio can be arranged in many ways to suit the demand of its passengers. The rear seats of the Clipper Rio can be folded down to increase the luggage space of the vehicle. This flexibility of the vehicle is expected to be welcomed by Americans if and when the vehicle is introduced in the North American auto market.

As for performance, the Clipper Rio is offered with two engine choices. One of these engines is an in-line three-cylinder SOHC (single overhead camshaft) 12-valve turbocharged and intercooled engine. Nissan claims that the internal combustion engine which can be equipped with a Nissan PCV valve can provide adequate power to push the vehicle over hills even when loaded to its full capacity.

The second engine choice for the Clipper Rio is a naturally-aspirated in-line three-cylinder SOHC 12-valve engine. The advantage of this naturally aspirated engine is that it consumes less fuel than the other engine choice. This is because the turbocharged engine produces more power and thus increasing the amount of fuel that it needs to burn.

Nissan announced that they will sell the Clipper Rio with a starting price of 1,254,750 yen. Nissan expects to sell at least 40,000 units of the Clipper Rio per year.



Patricia

Luke B. asked:


Looking to buy one or the other, a 1996 through 2000, people tell me nissan pathfinder is better, want to know why these models are better than the ford explorer.

Charlotte

RyanThomas asked:


The Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) unveiled the new trio at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show. The Powerful trio which is composed of the Titan full-size pickup, Pathfinder mid-size SUV and the Armada full-size SUV boasts of cutting-edge enhancements and upgrades. This is done to attract more aficionados in and to receive a greater slice of the auto market.

The upgrades and enhancements made include the addition of the new Titan Long Wheelbase King Cab and Crew Cab models. The new Pathfinder is also given the new 5.6-liter V8 engine. For Armada, the automaker gave it new exterior and interior designs. The powerful trio of the Nissan is set to be delivered this spring.

“The addition of the Titan Long Wheelbase models and the first-ever V8 engine ever offered in the 22-year history of Pathfinder expand the available choices for buyers of these two popular vehicles,” said Larry Dominique, the vice president for Product Planning of the Nissan North America, Inc.

Dominique added, “The extensive makeover of Armada, which has topped J.D. Power and Associates’ APEAL study for the Large SUV class in 2005 and 2006, adds up to an even more attractive, more premium and more complete Armada package for 2008 – one that we think will continue to make Armada stand out in the full-size SUV class.”

The 2008 Nissan Titan is built on the reputation of its predecessors. The pickup is designed for either work or driving adventure. The trucker can choose the new Long Wheelbase (LWB) version and a new Titan PRO-4X model. Now, the truck is offered in four models: XE, SE, PRO-4X and LE. The vehicle also comes in two body styles: King Cab and Crew Cab. Two drive configurations - 4×2 and 4×4 - are also given as options. The vehicle also comes with four bed sizes - 5’5”, 6’5”, 7’ and 8’. It also comes using the Flexible Fuel Vehicle capability.

The new Nissan Titan features a redefined styling which is further enhanced by sophisticated accessories and car systems that include a new seat design, refined meter clusters, a XM Satellite Radio tuner, a heated leather-appointed bench seat, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, a revised center stack, and an 8.0-inch DVD screen. Other accessories like Nissan headlight covers could also be added to the pickup to enhance longevity.

The pickup is given the powerful 5.6-liter DOHC Endurance V8 that produces 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft torque. The engine is mated to the standard 5-speed automatic transmission to yield a maximum towing capacity up to 9,500 pounds for the King Cab and 9,400 pounds for the Crew Cab.

The new Nissan Pathfinder boasts of its 5.6-liter V8 that boasts 300-plus horsepower and a remarkable torque to offer 7,000 lbs of maximum towing capacity. The SUV is also available with a 4.0-liter version of the VQ-series V6 engine that produces maximum output of 266 horsepower.

Other modifications include the new fascia and interior as well as the availability of refine entertainment technology like the revised Nissan Navigation System with 9.3-gigabyte Music Box hard drive, and 7.0-inch color display and RearView Monitor. Intelligent Key with twist start, revised cupholder design, illuminated switchgear, and Bluetooth hands-free phone system are also integrated in the SUV.

The 2008 Nissan Armada features a new exterior design, a new set of colors, more luxurious amenities and enhanced technology. New features include one-piece roof rack design, headlight and fog light designs and 20-inch wheel and Michelin tire package. For the LE, Armada will be offering a 3rd row power folding 60/40 seat, gated shifter, interior colors and fabrics, wood grain accents, heated steering wheel, Intelligent Key with twist start, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, Navigation system, and combination meter illumination. The new Armada has available Flexible Fuel Vehicle technology (FFV) to allow the use of alternative fuels like the E85.

“The 2008 model year is already shaping up to be a tremendous year for Nissan with the previously announced Altima Coupe and all-new Rogue crossover SUV – and now new Titan, Pathfinder and Armada,” said Dominique. “Attendees at the Chicago Auto Show will have five great new reasons to visit the Nissan display.”



Francisco

RyanThomas asked:


Earlier this month, it was reported that China has overtaken Germany as the second country with the most auto parts exported in the United States. The auto parts industry in the country may be on its way to further growth as Nissan showed its interest in increasing their auto parts sourcing in China.

The third largest Japanese car manufacturer, Nissan, recently announced that they will buy more auto components in China and India in the near future. The announcement came after the company suffered its first profit reduction since Carlos Ghosn took the reins of the company.

Ghosn, considered the savior of Nissan, claimed that they will increase their auto parts purchases from low-cost countries to 24 percent of the total. Currently, only 14 percent of the total auto parts used by Nissan are purchased from low-cost countries such as China and India.

“Frankly, we have no choice,” says Ghosn of the decision to increase auto components purchase from China. “If you don’t transfer part of your supply to extremely competitive countries, then there is no way you are going to be competitive in the market.”

The move to increase their purchases from countries with average wages five percent lower than Japan is a good one on the part of Nissan. According to experts, this step will give Nissan’s profit margin a boost. Currently Nissan’s profit margin trails that of fellow Japanese car makers Toyota and Honda.

Aside from benefiting the car manufacturer, a move will also give a boost to the economy of the country where they will be buying auto components in India alone, it is expected that Indian-made auto parts export will be worth $40 billion by 2015 as car manufacturers are looking to procure their auto parts from the country. In 2003, India exported approximately $6.7 billion.

General Motors announced that they are planning to purchase about $1 billion worth of Indian-made automobile parts for the next four to five years. The announcement came from Nick Reilly, General Motors’ president in charge of the Pacific region. The reason for the step taken by General Motors is that auto parts from India costs half as much as in Europe.

Due to the demand for Indian-made auto parts from car making giant General Motors, it is expected that the Indian auto parts industry will receive a boost. The same thing could happen in China as Nissan is expected to push through with their announcement.

“Cheaper parts are key to carmakers cutting their overall costs,” said Yoshihiro Okumura, the general manager of Chiba-gin Asset Management Co. “They especially need to buy parts for cars they sell in emerging markets in the local markets - to do otherwise makes no financial sense.”

With the advantages of purchasing auto parts like Nissan steering racks in China and India fully known to Nissan, it is expected that Nissan will be able to capitalize and turn a profit increase this business year.

“When you reduce your purchasing cost, sourcing is one of the tools,” said Ghosn in an interview. “The more sourcing toward low-cost countries, the more it’s going to help you.”

With the knowledge that the strategy will be beneficial to them, it is, of course, safe to infer that Ghosn is doing his best to give Nissan shareholders the profit that they have failed to generate last year.



Cathy

Rhonda T asked:


I own a 1998 nissan quest. I need to replace my crank sensor but we are having trouble locating it. If anyone can help me I will be very greatful.

Kelly

RyanThomas asked:


The Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation will present its 2007 Manufacturing Leadership Award to Carlos Ghosn - the President and CEO of the Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - at the foundation’s banquet on Thursday, May 24, at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center.

The SAE Award is in recognition of the remarkable and meaningful contributions of individuals to the development of the automotive industry. The nominees for the award must have achieved a significant level of success in their manufacturing careers, demonstrated innovation and risk taking, and established a new direction or developed a position that challenged their industry. They also must also have made contributions outside the automotive industry, exemplified through community education, philanthropic or government activities.

“I am honored to receive this award from the SAE Foundation, and I accept it on behalf of the 220,000 talented Nissan employees around the world whose performance made this recognition possible,” said Ghosn. “Nissan is a learning company, and we commend the SAE Foundation’s mission to promote science and technology education in today’s classrooms. By supporting the foundation’s initiatives, we hope to inspire students to create value for generations to come.”

Ghosn, who graduated with engineering degrees from Ecole Polytechnique in 1974 and from Ecole des Mines de Paris in 1978, is currently serving on the board of directors of Alcoa. He was born in Brazil on March 9, 1954. He and his wife, Rita, have four children.

Ghosn joined the Japanese automaker as its chief operating officer in June 1999, became its president in June 2000 and was named the chief executive officer in June 2001. In May 2005, Ghosn was named the president and the chief executive officer of Renault S.A. in addition to his current responsibilities at Nissan. As head of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Ghosn is responsible for two separate companies with the combined annual global sales of 5.9 million vehicles.

Before joining Nissan, Ghosn was the executive vice president of the Renault Group. Aside from his supervising Renault activities in the Mercosur, he also was accountable for advanced research, car manufacturing, car engineering and development, powertrain operations and purchasing. He checks on the quality of Nissan cargo liners and other parts and accessories of the automaker.

Prior to joining Renault, Ghosn had worked with Michelin for 18 years. As the chairman and the chief executive officer of Michelin North America, he presided over the restructuring of the company after its acquisition of the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company in 1990. Previously, he had worked as the chief operating officer of Michelin’s South American activities based in Brazil; as head of research and development for industrial tires in Ladoux, France; and as plant manager in Le Puy, France.

Ghosn is dubbed as Nissan’s ace in its industry struggle. For this year, the CEO is confident about Nissan achieving annual global sales of 4.2 million vehicles. Ghosn said, “4.2 million cars isn’t an objective in itself - the real objective is the creation of value - but I think it is within the potential of the company, not 10 years down the road but in a reasonable period of time.”

“I don’t like giving up on targets that I consider to be within the reach of the company,” Ghosn added. But he said that he wanted to avoid Nissan employees becoming “desperate or believing that they can never reach their target. Nissan employees are now on board to meet the new goals, although they know it’s not going to be easy. We will avoid the hole in our product renewal at the planning stage.”

But Ghosn noted that the auto manufacturing business is not always a straight-line industry and failures are frequent. “If we were hitting every single product right, we would not have seven percent of operating margin but 20 percent. One of reasons car manufacturers make only eight percent or nine percent is there’s so much shortfall because you are incapable of making sure that when you are building your car you are going to be successful on the market. That’s what makes it an unpredictable industry, where ups and downs happen often, and where turnarounds are possible, and collapses can be quick,” he stressed.



Floyd

jenna asked:


I own a 95 nissan pickup and am trying to locate the correct PSI? Anyone be able to help me or point me in the right direction?

Harold

Jason Moore asked:


With the soaring prices of gasoline, the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid is the automaker’s first entry in the gasoline-electric market, and most are asking for the reason of its late entrance.

Toyota and Honda, two huge Japanese rivals, have been marketing hybrids for years, and Nissan just recently followed the trend with this sedan.

The price of the car is pretty nice. A tester had a starting price of $24,400, which is just enough for a five-passenger, midsize sedan. But it had a “Technology Package” that added a walloping $7,250 for a bottom-line sticker price of $32,365. In the midsize class, that number is some serious money.

Equipped with quality Nissan catalytic converter, a basic 2007 Altima with a gas-powered 2.5-liter, 175 horsepower in-line 4 cylinder engine has a starting price of $17,950. On city streets, fuel economy ratings are 26 miles per gallon while 35 mpg on the highway. Those figures are not as good as the respective 42 mpg city, 36 mpg highway ratings on the Altima Hybrid. But if you do not put a lot of miles on a car every year and do very little city driving, the low-cost gas-powered Altima might make more sense than the Altima Hybrid.

Moreover, upon last year’s introduction of the Altima Hybrid, the Internal Revenue Service announced that it is eligible for a $2,350 tax credit. But that credit will progressively decrease once Nissan sells its 60,000th Altima Hybrid.

The 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid offers a smooth-cruising, attractive sedan with ample interior room for five. A rounded front and nicely sculpted back end are listed under smooth exterior styling. Its nicely laid-out interior is attractive and comfortable. Everything is within easy reach and easy to understand and has no complexity from the cockpit.

On the open road, there are no bumps on the run up to 60 miles an hour and above. Bumps are experienced when stopped at traffic lights and occasional stops are made.

Standard features include traction control, dual-zone climate control, side curtain air bags, steering-wheel mounted controls and a tire pressure monitor.

With the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid, Nissan fans will surely find a nice choice in this long-awaited hybrid option.

Nissan is the fifth major car maker to either introduce a hybrid to the US market or announce plans to do so. According to Nissan, one of the well known Japanese auto manufacturer, Nissan and Toyota signed in September 2002 a basic agreement guaranteeing that Nissan will produce 100,000 hybrid vehicles within a five-year period, and that Toyota will supply the hybrid system components such as transaxle, inverter, battery, and control unit. Nissan will come off the engine and unit adaptation.



Hazel

Chris asked:


I want to sell my 2007 Nissan Sentra and get a cheaper car that I can pay off in a year, because I will become a full time student. The car was in an minor accident and had some slight water damage that was repaired by Nissan. I currently owe $13,822.00. Anyone with experience selling their car to Carmax have any idea what kind of figure they might offer me?
I just want to sell it to them.

Mitchell

txdavid74 asked:


The vehicle is a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder. The speedometer will sit at 0 when you start driving, then move up to somewhere between 0-5mph or 0-10mph. Then it will jump to 30mph and if the vehicle is driven for an extended time - sometimes the speedometer will give an accurate reading. Or at least one that seems accurate. What could be causing this dancing speedometer?

Thanks!

Vicki