Following on the heels of the Cube Krom, Nissan has decided to release a Rogue SUV Krom Special Edition version of its 2010 Rogue SUV. The factory-prepped Cube Krom, that came out earlier this year, was enough of a hit for Nissan to justify the presentation of a similar special edition version of its Rogue crossover. Going on sale at Nissan’s U.S. dealers in December 2009, the upcoming Rogue Krom will feature a host of cosmetic upgrades such as a unique grille treatment and a new front bumper with fancy side air-inlets. It will also get 17-inch brilliant finish alloy wheels with P225/60R Continental 4×4 Contact tires and a new rear bumper that has been restyled with integrated center-exit twin tail pipes.

Other goodies include a body-colored rear spoiler and exterior mirrors. Nissan has tinted windows and added Krom emblems as well as installing steering wheel-mounted audio controls to complete the equipment modifications. The Krom Special Edition Rogue which is based on the ‘S’ trim model.

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Small car lovers and cheap skates rejoice! Nissan is planning to make a new model, based on the much-loved Micra, and bring it to the good ol’ U. S. of A. The Micra is this car that’s like Nissan’s bread and butter everywhere BUT America. Nissan cranks them out the way McDonald’s makes burgers, and they seem to be very practical, yet Spartan rides. Cheap too.

Nissan made it official that the automaker is going to add a new, entry-level model to its US lineup as a competitor to the Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. The as yet unnamed car will be based on the next generation Micra, also known as Nissan’s “V-platform”. It will be a hatchback (of course) but there’s also word of two additional models coming along, a four-door sedan and a multipurpose vehicle.

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Why was the mid-80’s 280ZX such a great makeout car? What was it that distinguished it? Even with the stick shift in the way and the non-existent backseat there was something about it. That theory requires some reflection because Nissan is celebrating the Z’s 40^th year with the release of a 370Z Anniversary coupe.

First conceived in 1969 as the Datsun 240Z, it was the first affordable two-seater with sports car performance for the everyman and the comparisons with the Porsche 924 and RX7 were myriad. Then came the add-ons and it began to cater to folks wanting a GT cruiser and while its fans were varied, enthusiasts included chicks blasting Def Leppard and cool Dads seeking a little more reliability.

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Wow, forty years? Has it really been that long since Nissan (then Datsun) rolled out the Z Car? Indeed it has, and as you would expect, they have a special anniversary edition to help celebrate. Through the years, the Z has seen as many twists and turns as a mountain road. It started out as a pretty good, if spare sportscar. In between now and then, it would get fatter then skinnier; more luxurious and more of a boulevardier; from straight to vee engines, with and without turbos.

So we are, forty years on, we’re still here, cars are still here, and the Nissan Z is still here. What does the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition have to offer?

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The 2010 Nissan Altima hybrid, which goes on sale this coming Monday, will have an MSRP of $26,780. This is the fourth generation Altima, and apart from the hybrid drivetrain, it is only slightly tweaked from last year’s model. Speaking of drivetrains, the 2010 Altima will use a 2.5 liter four-cylinder with and electronically-controlled CVT tranny that cranks out 198 hp. Nissan says the new Altima hybrid will get an estimated EPA rating of 35 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

Curiously, these figures aren’t all that much different form the 2009 model. Although the 09 also had a 2.5 liter inline four engine, it only put out 158 HP, and the fuel economy numbers of 35/33 city/hwy mpg were identical.

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The German tuning firms continue to crank out the modified specials, although in the case of Avus Performance, the choice of rides is a little different. They’ve decided to have a crack at Nissan’s GT-R, a car much beloved by import tuner/Fast and Furious crowd. The end results somehow make the GT-R, a car that seems massive and hulking as it sits in stock configuration even more weighty and bulky.

Sure, a lot of that has to do with the matte black paint scheme, a shade which has been all the rage for quite a while now, and first seemed to pop up in Europe. I’m not saying that it doesn’t have a certain look to it, but for starters I think calling it “matte black”, or even worse “satin” is sort of pretentious. It’s primer black. Yeah, it does lend a hot rod feel to your car, but it also seems like a lot of time trouble and money to go through to make your car look like you still have to finish the paint job.

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>> Review by Danny Chang | >> Photographs by Derek Mau

Pros

• Love-it-or-hate-it looks
• Massive headroom
• Uncontrollable urge to pretend you’re 18

Cons

• Love-it-or-hate-it looks
• Failure to impress young ladies
• Uncontrollable urge to pretend you’re 18

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Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world’s first affordable, zero-emission car.  Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 100 miles (160km) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements. Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility – the zero-emission era.

“Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment – one in which all Nissan employees can take great pride,” said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.  “We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality –  the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero – not simply reduced – emissions.  It’s the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey – for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry.”

Video of the Nissan Leaf reveal event after the jump.

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Now that it seems every car maker from Mercedes on down is going to be getting into the hybrid or electric vehicle business, word is starting to filter out about not just the “whys” but more importantly, the “wheres” concerning production of the new generation of cars. The good news for autoworkers that might be looking for jobs, is that Nissan is rumored to be considering a battery or EV facility here in America.

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Two good things meant to go together: Nissan’s highly impressive GT-R and Germany’s even more impressive Nürburgring Nordschleife. It would seem that Nissan have bested their own lap record, and we have the video to prove it, after the jump.

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>> Review by Holly R. | >> Photographs by Derek Mau

Pros:

• Stiff, sports-car suspension
• Blazing acceleration
• Seriously comfortable seats
• Excellent handling ability
• Simple, clean interior (not a lot of bells and whistles)

Cons:

• Stiff, sports-car suspension (seemed to have been tuned for the track, because it barely budged)
• Blind spots that you could miss a bus in
• Not much more room inside for anything but an extra passenger, a purse and a briefcase in the back

Ruling: Z can spin doughnuts around a candlestick!  Heck, who needs a candlestick, let’s DRIVE!!!!

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By Danny Chang

Pros

• Power
• Lots of amenities and luxury features
• Roominess
• Weird styling

Cons

• Weak MPG
• Complex navigation system
• Light steering
• Weird styling

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Review by Mary-Ellen Ash | Photos by Derek Mau

Pros:

• Good suspension and steering = smooth handling
• Very spacious interior for driver and passengers
• Well insulated cabin keeps out the engine and road noise
• Convenient cup and bottle holders
• Nissan Intelligent Key system
• Good fuel economy with the 4-cylinder engine

Cons:

• Small trunk space
• Slow acceleration with 4-cylinder engine
• Hard to drop rear seats
• Nasty blind spots

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The Cube, Nissan’s answer to Toyota’s Scion xB, has finally gotten some pricing information. The imaginatively named Cube will start at just under 15 grand, which is plenty cheap, and seems like a direct financial bull’s-eye for the target market.

The Cube, which is expected to reach US showrooms by early May, and come in an assortment of trim levels.

They will all be front-wheel drive, and share the same 1.8 liter, 122hp engine. The base model, using a 1.8 liter mill, starts at $13,990, a 6-speed manual is its only tranny option. The 1.8S comes in at $14,690, also with the 6-speed, but a CVT transmission is an option. The 1.8SL, at $16,790, and Krom, at $19,360, are only available with the CVT. The Krom, by the way is pronounced like the word “chrome”

Available niceties on the Cube include Nissan’s Intelligent Key system with push button ignition, Bluetooth, audio from Rockford Fosgate, XM Radio and an iPod interface. There will be 40 individual accessories to personalize your Cube, similar to what Scion puts forward to its buyers.

Source: The Garage Blog

By Mary-Ellen

Pros:

• Perfect for weekend warriors – snow, trail, and anything in between.
• Massive and rugged cargo space
• High vantage point while driving
• No awkward blind-spots
• Respectable 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway
• Sturdy utility hooks on seats and ceiling

Cons:

• Rigid and rough on road driving - drives like a truck
• Sluggish handling

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