Auto For Speed

2011 Nissan Micra DIG-S is priced at £11 150 and it will hit the market on 1st September. The new DIG-S engine boasts low-emission technology and good performance without sacrificing the fuel economy.

The new 1.2 litre three cylinder supercharged petrol engine DIG-S boasts 98PS and returns 65.7 mpg on the combined cycle and emissions of just 95g/km of CO2 for the Visia version. The engine is mated to 5-speed manual or an optional advanced CVT automatic for additional £1 000.

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Nissan car maker has unveiled new styling inside and out, and is said to be more economical than its predecessor also has debutted at New York Auto Show with a long list of changes, but the Versa 2012 is more like an evolution of the old car than a full redesign. 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan on an evolution of the platform of the last car is called V for Versatile.

The new 2012 Nissan Versa sedan wheelbase and width are unchanged from the current model, but it loses about an inch of length and height. Despite this, Nissan says that the packaging improvements for the engine and , more , . The new car will be slightly lighter than before. The 2012 Nissan Versa is further evidence of the Altima and Maxima sedans, starting with a new grille and headlamp design, oval, and continued with smooth back and redesigned tail lights that sweep the rear bumper on the back squat the Versa.

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It’s a race car with a huge wing on the back and a cool-looking body, which we like, but it also has an electric motor, which we don’t like so much. This is a car we were very conflicted about, until we saw this very video that changed our minds: the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC is very cool, electric motor and all.

“Combining the talents of NISMO, Nissan’s world renowned motorsports group, and engineers behind some of the company’s Super GT and FIA GT1 race teams, the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC will serve as a rolling laboratory for the accelerated development of EV and aerodynamic systems, as well as a platform for the development of new green motorsports series,” said Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Americas.

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“Oh, boy,” testing director Kim Reynolds said upon seeing it.

“It looks like some weird mechanical mutant,” a friend mentioned.

“There’s something oddly charming about the CrossCabriolet,” noted senior editor Jonny Lieberman. “Nissan might just be onto something here…”

This multifaceted, range-topping Murano is an attention-getter devised to fill a void you never knew existed, and that marketers hope to successfully tap.

Wait, this thing occupies a segment with actual buyers?

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Six short years ago, the minivan segment was thriving. Sales were a million strong and nameplates were as diverse as the sweet selections in a box of See’s chocolates. From Japan (Honda Odyssey, Mazda MPV, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna) and Korea (Kia Sedona) to the good ol’ US of A (Buick Terraza, Chevy Uplander, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Pontiac Montana, Oldsmobile Silhouette, Saturn Relay), the minivan menu offered savory — and, let’s face it, some unsavory — choices for every mom and dad.

And then something happened. A seed called the three-row crossover was planted, and it sprouted like bamboo on a Miracle-Gro drip. Suddenly, automakers were clamoring to harvest these hip, urban transporters and many decided to axe their no-longer-so-cool minivans. Sales of the sliding-door transporters tumbled to around 400,000 in 2009. Since then, however, the numbers have steadily increased, and they’re trending to more than 500,000 in 2011.

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