Nissan To Invade LowCost Auto Market

Nissan To Invade Low-Cost Auto Market
By Ryan Thomas

The Nissan Motor Co., Japans third-largest auto manufacturer, is designing a $2,500 car to compete in India with the low-cost model planned by the Tata Motors Ltd, Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said. We are working on how we can make a car for $2,500, Ghosn told reporters at a dinner in Versailles, France. A Nissan advance engineering group is doing the study, he added.

Automakers are moving quickly to trail Renault SAs footsteps by offering cheaper models for the fast growing markets in Asia, the Middle East and South America. The second-largest automaker in France that owns 44 percent of Nissan will be rolling out its no-frills Logan sedan in Argentina, Brazil, India and Iran. Ghosn heads both Renault and Nissan. Tata, Indias third-biggest car maker, plans to sell a car priced at about $2,500 by the year 2008.

According to government estimates, Indias car market may triple to 3mn vehicles a year by 2015. In India one competitor has announced a car for next year at $2,500, Ghosn said. I take that challenge very seriously. The Nissan CEO already had said in April that the company intends to sell cars in India for less than $3,000.

The Japanese automaker seeks to win business from auto rivals including the Suzuki Motor Corp, whose Maruti Udyog Ltd unit commands a 50 percent market share in India. The Nissan Motor India Private, Ltd also contributes towards social activities with all the employees. The company distributes uniforms and stationeries to schools affected by the recent floods in Mumbai.

If you ask any car manufacturer if they can make money on a car that costs $2,500, the answer is always going to be no, Ghosn noted. Until somebody does it. The Tokyo-based automaker said April 26 that its profit decline 46 percent to 82.2bn yen in the quarter ending March 31 on weak American sales.

In connection with Nissans struggle to alleviate its sales, it will be introducing its next-generation Maxima, which is said to be a true 4DSC (short for 4-Door Sports Car). The new vehicle is not only equipped with the peculiar Nissan clutch master cylinder. This is because the automakers pool of engineers has made the new Maxima more mature and luxurious.

A Nissan insider described the new vehicle as, Unlike anything we've ever done before. The new Maxima will be more aggressive than ever and will flaunt a coupe-like shape, likened to the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The car will also slot from the Z and the upcoming GT-R to strengthen links to the performance machines. Aside from the legendary VQ-series engine, the new Maxima will also feature Nissan's brand new Alliance turbodiesel engine.

The automaker is sending the new Maxima with high hopes. Its striking performance and affordable price could put it back on track. The bolder and high-performance Nissan Altima is set to arrive in 2009.

Nissan will also be releasing the 2007 model year 350Z in Australia. The vehicle is equipped with a more powerful, next-generation engine, revised exterior styling and new exterior color palette. At the heart of the 2007 model year 350Z is Nissans award winning next generation engine - the designated VQ35HR.

Nissan Australias managing director and chief executive officer, Shinya Hannya, commented on the update to the companys halo model in the range: The changes are designed to not only improve on the performance of the 350Z but build on its reputation as one of our best performance sports car.

Separately, the Japanese automaker is happy to announce that its hybrid may continue to claim the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit. This fact is attested by the Internal Revenue Service. The said announcement came after the IRS concluded its quarterly review of the number of hybrid vehicles sold.

To note, Nissan sold 2,094 qualifying vehicles to retail dealers in the quarter ending March 31, 2007. The allowable credit amount for the 2007 Altima Hybrid, the automakers only certified hybrid vehicle, is $2,350. Taxpayers may claim the full amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the first calendar quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th vehicle.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car aficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine. You can visit Nissan clutch master cylinder for more information.

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Nissan to Develop Advanced Auto Battery

Nissan to Develop Advanced Auto Battery
By Ryan Thomas

The growing threat of global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels has forced the auto industry to venture in the development of auto technologies which will reduce dependence on fossil fuels. One technology being explored by car manufacturers is the possible advent of electric cars.

Currently, the auto industry has successfully developed hybrid electric vehicles and fully-electric vehicles as well. These vehicles use an electric motor to aid the vehicles internal combustion engine. One major issue being faced by the auto industry when it comes to the construction of hybrid electric and even fully-electric vehicles is the battery pack which a vehicle needs to have so as to get and store power.

To address the issue, car manufacturers are partnering with other companies outside the auto industry to develop better battery packs for electric cars. One car company which has expressed its dedication to the development of better battery packs is the Japanese car company Nissan. The company recently announced that they have formed an alliance with NEC Tokin, which is a subsidiary of NEC, to develop highly efficient lithium-ion batteries for automotive application.

The partnership aims to make the electric cars more practical. A problem being faced by the electric car technology is the cost of production. If a partnership such as this can find a way to make an electric cars battery cheaper, then electric cars can be within the reach of an even larger number of consumers.

The partnership between two of Japans biggest companies will work on the safety and stability of lithium-ion batteries. This kind of battery is seen as a better alternative to the nickel-metal hydride batteries which is being widely used currently. Lithium-ion batteries weigh less than nickel-metal hydride batteries. It is also more powerful than Ni-MH batteries. In fact, lithium-ion batteries are half the size of nickel-metal hydride batteries but they can store twice as much power as the Ni-MH battery. This battery pack can efficiently power an electric car or its amenities such as power windows controlled by a Nissan window switch.

Investing in the development of an advanced battery pack will positively affect Nissan. After all, it is predicted that the rechargeable car battery market will experience a surge in the near future. The expected expansion of the said market will be the effect of the advent of electric cars. It can be expected that as car manufacturers come up with ways to bring the cost of production, the public will certainly buy these environment friendly vehicles.

Car manufacturers are already developing plug-in hybrid cars which show that the future of electric cars is coming pretty soon.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine. You can visit Nissan window switch for more information.

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Is There Such A Thing As A Trustworthy Mechanic?

Is There Such A Thing As A Trustworthy Mechanic?
By Kim Oxford

At some point everyone needs a mechanic for their car, and it's hard to find a trustworthy mechanic. However there are steps you can take to help you choose the lesser of all evils when it comes to who repairs your transportation. In the end you need to be able to trust the guy repairing your brakes, putting on your tires and monitoring your fluids.

Trusting Dealerships
Many of us just throw our hands up and take our car to the dealership when we have problems with them. If you consider that they are the experts when it comes to your specific make and model it's a smart option, unfortunately it's also a pricey one. When it comes to rare vehicles and some imports it is probably advisable to stick with dealership expertise. Same if you hold an extended warranty purchased from the dealership, at least be sure to stay within their approved mechanic circle to ensure you do not void any part of your warranty.

In reality most of us don't drive rare imports and don't want to pay the extra money the dealership will charge us. This coupled with the less than average customer service that many experience at the hands of any dealership service department make a trip there for repairs nothing short of a horror movie. Never fear, there are other options.

Chain Service Shops
There are many chain shops to choose from, which is confusing if you consider that many times mechanic shopping is done under duress. Give yourself peace of mind and research your mechanics before your car breaks down, so when something goes wrong you already know where to take it. Chain mechanics can be tricky, some franchise locations may employ better mechanics than others under the umbrella of the same name. This is generally a trial and error process, so if you find one you think you like, be sure to always have a plan B.

Neighborhood Mechanic
Not all of us are lucky enough to be in the car business, or even know anyone with any mechanical skill. However, many times a local neighborhood mechanic can be your best bet. Often they are mom and pop shops and that makes every customer an important one. This can also mean much more personalized service from someone who wants to get your future business. Lacking the impersonality of chain store mechanics just working for their hourly, this option may cost more than the chain stores do, but could just prove to be worth it in the long run.

No Matter Where You Go, Do These 3 Things First

Finding the good stuff is never easy, but if you follow the few simple steps below you can at least start off with the best to choose from

1. Look them up with the Better Business Bureau. Right away you can eliminate mechanics who have had negative reports filed about them. Our lives are busy, if someone took the time to report them, they aren't worth a second glance.

2. Utilize organizations such as the ASE, start off with options that are well endorsed.

3. Ask your friends. Everyone knows how hard it is to find a trustworthy mechanic, so be sure to ask around. Usually people are happy to share a good mechanic, lets keep the good ones in business folks.

Kim is a Creative writer for Cash4UsedCars.com and loves to write about cars. Check out more used vehicle information at Cash4UsedCars.com.

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Nissan Begins New Altima Coupe Production

Nissan Begins New Altima Coupe Production
By Ryan Thomas

Following the launch of the all-new Altima and its hybrid variant, production started last Monday on the new coupe version which is a sportier version of Nissan's best-selling model that was primarily designed to draw in new customers to their abode.

The Japanese automaker celebrated the Altima's third launch in seven months at its Smyrna plant which is located just 20 miles south of its relocated headquarters in Nashville. Dubbed as rue coupe, the Altima comes as a two-door model that has a shorter wheelbase and a lower profile than its four-door counterpart.

The 2008 Nissan Altima coupe is set for release on the 25th of this month. The coupe, which was officially launched at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, is engineered to compete against the Toyota Camry Solara, Honda Accord coupe and the Pontiac G6 coupe. The coupe is equipped with reliable Nissan brake pads, and a sport suspension that is mated to two engine choices - the updated VQ35DE, a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 or the QR25DE, a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder. Also, the driver-centered interior offers a 6.5-inch traffic navigation screen, a rearview monitor, as well as a keyless entry and ignition and hands-free phone system.

There's a lot of coupes on the market, some of which are merely shorter versions of their sedan counterparts, but we didn't want to do that, said John Curl, the regional product manager for Nissan. It has the proportions of a coupe and not just a 2-door sedan.

Karl Brauer, the editor in chief of Edmunds.com, said that the coupe's almost completely new body panels add sophisticated styling that differentiates it from the sedan. My first impression was that it looked very upscale, Brauer said. It will cost you considerably less than a G35 and sends a lot of the same messages.

The Nissan Altima coupe will be priced at $20,490. Its price is far below the company's most comparable model, the Infiniti G35 luxury coupe, and the Z sports car. In less than a month, we've had a thousand orders, which is fantastic, said Michelle Erwin, a senior manager in marketing. Japan's No. 3 automaker needs the new coupe, along with the Altima hybrid, to compete with rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. as well as to use it to boost dragging profits. We're optimistic that we're going to get a lot new owners because we've not had a vehicle in this segment at this price range before, Erwin said.

With a broad base of existing Altima customers, Brauer said a coupe was the next logical step to bring in new buyers - especially when sales are down. Nissan marked its first drop in annual profit in seven years in the January-March quarter, the first such setback under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn, who salvaged the Japanese automaker from collapse. A lot of people would readily admit that they've slid, Brauer said. They've stagnated in terms of product and had some duds in terms of sales. The third largest Japanese automaker was in a product lull for over a year before the launch of the new sedan in September.

Sales for the Altima have been strong since the introduction of the new sedan model in September, said Catherine Madden, an automotive analyst with Boston-based Global Insight. Unfortunately other products have lagged.

Auto analysts expect Altimas styling to do well against models already on the market, like the Toyota Camry Solara and the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Nissan has distinguished itself with the consumer and many of their designs have been ahead of other Japanese companies, Madden said. We're expecting strong sales for that product.

Honda also plans to roll out a coupe for the 2008 model year. The production could put a cramp in Nissan's first-year sales. That's where you're going to see a pretty interesting divide among consumers, Brauer noted.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine.You can also visit Nissan brake pads for more information.

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Nissan Altima Two Doors No Waiting

Nissan Altima - Two Doors, No Waiting
By Ryan Thomas

The Altima has been one of the Nissan Motor Co.'s hot selling cars since its introduction in 2001. The second generation, introduced in 2006, toughened the sedan's popularity. To broaden its overall appeal, Nissan introduced a hybrid version of the car in January. And now the much-awaited coupe has arrived.

Compared to other coupes, the Altima is not just a two-door version of the sedan. Nissan engineers has shortened the wheelbase by 101 mm, cut the overall length by 185 mm and lowered the height by 66 mm. The modifications gave the coupe a handsome look that could turn heads.

How distinct is the coupe from the sedan? Well, the only sheet metal shared between two- and four-door Altimas is the hood. The Coupe has been endowed with a pair of idiosyncratic bucket seats with striking side bolsters for extra lateral support. In the back, a 60/40 split rear bench extends the cargo space. The feature is ideal for a weekend of skiing or to hold few odds and sods from the store. Also, a more conventional parking-brake hand lever has also been added to the Coupe, substituting the sedan's foot-operated control.

The other big difference between the models is power. The base car is equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder that generates 175 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. This is more than enough to be amusing when mated to the six-speed manual box. A significant part for the spirited drive is attributed to the transmission's close ratios and a light, progressive clutch that puts the bite point in the precise place. It makes rowing the gears an enjoyable experience notwithstanding the twisty road surface.

In terms of performance and agility, the new Coupe also has plenty to offer. The suspension is made firmer than the sedan. The steering, meanwhile, is also adequately weighted and responsive when turned off-centre. The biggest difference between the two models is the tires. The 2.5 S comes with P215/60R16 Continentals, while the 3.5 SE comes with P215/55R17 Bridgestones.

Other remarkable features of the Coupe include the Nissan headlight bulb, a push-button start, the dual-zone climate control, cruise control and heated seats, power mirrors, windows and sunroof, a six-speaker audio system with an auxiliary plug-in, six air bags and standard anti-lock brakes.

According to critics, the Altima Coupe is going to earn quite a following, simply because it blends an upscale interior with good road manners and affordability. The fact that there are shades of the Infiniti G35 coupe in its bold styling only helps the cause. It will also go a long way in legitimizing the much-maligned CVT.

Nissan recently invited some journalists to test-drive some of their new and revised product lines. Aside from the Altima Coupe, Nissan flaunted the new long-wheelbase Titan, upgraded the Pathfinder with a V8, and the quieter Armada.

The way Nissan explains it, there is a need for this vehicle in the marketplace, even if Toyota has decided to drop its Solara model because of declining sales. Main competitors for the company will be the Honda Accord coupe, Pontiac G6, and the Hyundai Tiburon - all of which the new Nissan entry beats on price in every similarly-equipped head-to-head price battle.

The automaker expects the coupe to be well-liked by women, many of whom will go for the more economical 2.5-liter I-4. Nissan also foresees that the average purchaser of the Coupe to be younger - those not quite ready to take the dive into the more responsible and mature sedan or minivan market. Also, the Coupe is expected to pull in some older purchasers who might want to exercise their free-spirit wings as their kids start leaving the house.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine.

You can visit Nissan headlight bulb for more information.

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Nissan Announces North American Management Changes

Nissan Announces North American Management Changes
By Ryan Thomas

The Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. earlier announced the changes at its North American Sales and Marketing Department. The changes are aimed at furthering the automakers growth in the global automotive industry. With the escalating competition, Nissans drive to sustain profitable development is also accelerating.

Indeed, changes are inevitable. And Nissan is putting its best foot forward to cope with the demands of the industry. But changes not only cover refinement of auto parts like the Nissan header. Management is also one of the crucial factors that should entertain changes as well. As a fact, Nissan Europe and Nissan Canada also announced related changes in senior positions.

The U.S. market is changing and Nissans marketing and sales group must change with it, said Brad Bradshaw, the Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing for Nissan North America. Since 1999, we have nearly doubled the number of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles we are offering and more are coming.

Bradshaw furthermore added, We have created an architecture that allows us to react faster and with more confidence to changes in the market, to become more flexible and to take advantage of opportunities to enhance the brand recognition of Nissan and Infiniti.

For the Nissan Americas, the changes are effective starting April 1 this year. Christian Meunier, presently the vice president of sales operations in Europe, will become the vice president for the Model Line marketing in North America. Beginning April, Meunier will be liable for model line management to ensure profitable growth for both Nissan and Infiniti portfolios.

Meunier is expected to formulate and develop a model-by-model strategic positioning briefs. He will also be responsible for the launch strategy, coordination, marketing, sales and other corporate communications to ensure the success of the automakers North American Model Line. Meunier will directly report to Bradshaw. Additionally, four model line marketing directors, including one from Infiniti, will report to Meunier.

Since 2002, Meunier has been working at Nissan Europe in the sales and marketing area. Meunier has already established a name in auto sales and marketing. He previously holds the sales and marketing positions with Mercedes-Benz USA, Rover France and Ford France.

Corporate structure is a framework enabling us to implement strategies through the companys greatest asset - its people, said Bradshaw. The new structure will enhance the resources we have to take on challenges and succeed. All these responsibilities are crucial to the successful fulfillment of the Nissan Value-Up business plan and our longer term success in North America.

Another change in management includes Jan Thompson, who currently is the vice president for marketing at Nissan North America. Thompson will become the vice president for marketing communications. She will be concentrating on advertising, interactive marketing as well as other marketing communications activities for Nissan and Infiniti brands. Directors who will be reporting to Thompson will account for interactive marketing and marketing communications.

Other management changes include the following: Dave Mazur, currently the vice president for market intelligence, will be having additional responsibilities of pricing, market planning and brand management. Yuhei Takahashi, who previously handles the responsibilities connected to pricing and brand management, will just finish his U.S assignment and is expected to go back to Japan for a new assignment. Mazurs group will be responsible for segment and vehicle volume forecasts and analyses. It will also be liable for product contract monitoring, pricing and brand tracking.

For Nissan Europe and Canada, changes in management include Simon Thomas, who is currently the vice president for sales and marketing for Nissan Canada, Inc., will replace Meunier as the vice president for sales operations at Nissan Europe. Thomas replacement will be announced at a later time.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine. You can visit Nissan header for more information.

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2008 Nissan Altima

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe New Nissan Coupes — Yahoo! Autos
2009 Nissan Altima Coupe — Yahoo! Autos. Read reviews, view specifications & pictures, get dealer price quotes & compare the new '09 Nissan coupe model with other cars.

2008 Nissan Altima Coupe New Nissan Coupes — Yahoo! Autos
2008 Nissan Altima Coupe — Yahoo! Autos. Read reviews, view specifications & pictures, get dealer price quotes & compare the new '08 Nissan coupe model with other cars.

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe - Nissan USA Official Site
See the 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe, compare Altima models, view interior, exterior photos, colors, 360s, and explore key features at the official Nissan web site.

2009 Nissan Altima Sedan, Altima Hybrid - Nissan USA Official Site
See the 2009 Nissan Altima Sedan and Altima Hybrid. ... CARS/MINIVAN Versa Sentra Sentra SE-R Altima Altima Coupe Maxima Z ... 2008 Nissan

2008 Nissan Altima Summary
Research and compare the 2008 Nissan Altima and get MSRP, invoice price, used car book values, expert reviews, photos, features, pros and cons, equipment, specs, options and more.