About Nissan

Lauren Woods asked:


Car manufacturers are always concerned with the safety of their customers. That is why safety features have been developed through the years. But even with these safety features, traffic accidents still happen and one of the leading cause is drunk driving. In an effort to curb this problem, Japanese car manufacturer Nissan Motor Co., Ltd announced that it will be using its CARWINGS (HDD) navigation system to warn drivers of the hazards of drunk driving.

The use of the navigational system as part of warning off drivers will only be used in Japan. The initiative is only a part of the company’s campaign to prevent drunk drivers from driving and risking their safety and the general public as well.

According to Nissan, the navigational system will be flashing warning messages against drunk driving every time the ignition is turned on. This use of the navigational system is aimed to make drunk drivers think twice before they drive their Nissan car while under the influence of alcohol.

Aside from that initiative, Nissan is also involved in other campaigns against drunk driving. In Japan, the car manufacturer is involved in the Hello Safety Campaign. The campaign is centered on educating the public as to the risks of driving while drunk. At the next campaign, Nissan will be distributing educational kits to children in Japan. The educational kit tackles traffic safety and the risks involved in driving while drunk. The educational kits are aimed to instill in the young minds of the children the fact that drunk driving is dangerous.

Apart from the Hello Safety Campaign, Nissan is also involved in the Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) Strides for Change in the United States. The charity walks are also aimed at battling drunk driving. To date, the organization has already raised millions which are used to educate children on the risks of drunk driving.

According to Nissan, the navigational system’s use as a device to warn drivers against drunk driving is the first step to use technology to battle drunk driving. With that announcement, it can be expected that the pre-emptive passive safety feature will be incorporated in Nissan vehicles in the United States regardless of whether they are equipped with a Nissan cold air intake or not.

The message alert that the navigational system will flash as the ignition is turned on will read “Do not drive after drinking!” The message automatically appears for about five seconds. This particular message will be flashed by the navigational system if the car is switched on between 5:30 PM and 5:00 AM. Between 5:00 AM and 5:30 PM, the message that the navi system will flash reads “Let’s continue safe driving today.”

Aside from the warnings, Nissan vehicles are also equipped with passive and active safety systems. Airbags and seatbelts are standard equipments for all Nissan vehicles. Other safety features include the ESP or the Electronic Stabilization Program and the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). The ESP helps the driver of the vehicle maintain control of the car. If the system senses that the driver is loosing control of the car, it will automatically activate brakes or increase traction to keep the vehicle in balance. The ABS, on the other hand, reduces the risk of locking brakes due to hard braking. Hard braking is commonly used by drivers in cases of emergencies.



Stephanie

RyanThomas asked:


The Nissan Qashqai, a compact crossover SUV, has been rated as Britain’s safest car after scoring the highest in Euro NCAP crash tests. The vehicle earned a record-breaking total of 37 points, nearly 100 percent, in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash test assessments.

The Qashqai garnered five-star scores in the front, side and pole impact assessments. It also got four stars for child occupant protection and two in the pedestrian test.

The crossover SUV, the first to be styled by the Nissan Design Europe in London, England, UK, with engineering development led by the Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, was released in Europe and Japan early this year. It will be exported to the Middle East and additional overseas markets.

The top half of Qashqai features the striking Nissan headlight, a sleek dynamic shape with a prominent shoulder line which rises at the rear and that is a design cue identical to that of the Murano. The lower portion of the vehicle resembles a SUV due to gigantic, pronounced wheel arches and a faintly elevated ground clearance. The vehicle is also given four engine choices. Gasoline engines will be a 115 horsepower 1.6 L and a 140 horsepower 2.0 L. Diesel engines include the 106 horsepower 1.5 L and 150 horsepower 2.0 L.

To bolster Qashqai’s appeal, Nissan is to add a long-wheelbase seven-seat version. “We are looking at a few things with the Qashqai, but the long-wheelbase car is the most likely to make production,” said Nissan’s spokesperson. The larger model will be designed to rival the compact MPV class, tempting purchasers out of bigger seven-seat competitors.

The vehicle will be sharing the P32L automobile platform with upcoming Nissan crossover SUVs. The Qashqai, launched at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, is built at Nissan’s NMUK Sunderland plant. “It’s arguably the most exciting family car that’s been designed, engineered and built in the UK in recent years,” added the spokesperson.

Nissan intends to roll out 500 Qashqais off its Wearside production line every day and has big ambitions to sell 15,000 examples in the UK next year. The spokesman added that additional cars will be exported to countries as far away as Japan. The third largest Japanese automaker also aims to sell more than 100,000 Qashqai units a year from February 2007.

Nissan said that the car, named after the nomadic Qashqai tribe, will cater for those car buyers who want a more dynamic design but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a sport utility vehicle. The car slots below the X-Trail in the automaker’s range. It partially replaces the conventional Almera and Primera. In terms of size, its 4310 mm length and 1610 mm makes it fall between compact MPVs, such as the SEAT Altea and Renault Scénic, and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

But the Qashqai is not the only model that the Japanese automaker is preparing to launch. Auto Express said that the previous-generation flat-bed Navara is going to be re-introduced next year as some customers do not think the current machine looks rugged enough. However, with the more luxurious Pathfinder-style Navara now using the familiar badge, the resurrected Nissan will need a new name. This prediction has yet to be decided, but could be as straightforward as pickup.

“Designing a crossover vehicle presents a real challenge for chassis engineers. A high centre of gravity has a negative effect on handling. Despite this, the Qashqai is surprisingly adept in corners,” said an auto critic. “Combine this with the slick six-speed gearbox and light but well placed pedals, and the Qashqai is a very user-friendly machine.”



Derrick