Report: Hertz to rent Nissan Leaf starting in 2011

For those of you who aren’t quite sure if an electric vehicle is something you can live with, you’ll have an easier way to find out early in 2011. According to The New York Times, Hertz – the same company that bid for rival Dollar Thrifty last month – will begin renting the Nissan Leaf in the United States and Europe shortly after customer deliveries begin late this year. At this point, it is unlikely the Leaf rental will available everywhere. Instead, the same regions where the car is first offered for sale will probably be in the lead for rentals. That means places like California and Hawaii will get the first batch of cars.

While tourists may be interested in renting the Leaf, they might want to check with their lodgings first to ensure there will be somewhere to plug it in. Not being able to charge the car at your hotel could put a real damper on your Hawaiian vacation.

Nissan: 6,635 customers have signed up to reserve a Nissan Leaf

How many people plunked down $99 to register for a Nissan Leaf? According to an email from Nissan, “As of this morning, 6,635 customers signed up to reserve a Nissan Leaf.” The reservation line has only been open about 70 hours (Nissan began taking reservations late Tuesday), so that’s a pretty solid rate of ~100 an hour.

Katherine Zachary, who handles PR for Nissan North America, told Autoblog that during the first three hours, 2,700 people registered for the Leaf, and that it’s been a steady flow ever since. However, if you were one of the people with an itchy trigger finger Tuesday, don’t count on getting your Leaf first. Nissan is looking at where the most demand to help determine where to roll out the vehicles. So far, Zachary said, 75 percent of the people registering for a Leaf are from the areas Nissan has targeted as early markets – places like Tennessee, Oregon, San Diego, Seattle and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona. “Through the work we have been going and what those markets have been doing, people are ready,” Zachary said. Most of the reservations are from California, but a “fair amount” are from Georgia, due in part to the extra state incentives for plug-in vehicles there.

So far, the upper SL trim is beating the SV base trim level three to one. This makes sense to us, since the extra $940 does get you quite a few nice features. As for there being any cancellations yet, Zachary said she hasn’t heard of any at this point. Someone will be the first, but apparently no one wants to do so quite yet. Nissan will continue to issue periodic statements on the number of reservations as time goes by. We’ll be ready.

Nissan Announces U.S. Pricing for LEAF EV, Buy from $25,280, Lease from $349

The all-electric Nissan Leaf will sell for $25,280 (about €18,800) including federal tax credits, the Japanese automaker announced on Tuesday, making it more expensive than conventional gasoline/diesel or hybrid cars.

The actual MSRP (not including applicable tax, title and license fees) for the Leaf is $32,780, but there’s a $7,500 federal tax credit which brings the price down to $25,280 for the entry-level version. According to the automaker, the Leaf can leased for a monthly payment beginning at $349.

Nissan said that there is an array of state and local incentives that may further reduce the costs such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.

Buyers will have to pay an additional $2,200 (including installation) for personal charging docks, which operate on a 220-volt supply. However, Nissan said that the charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50 percent federal tax credit up to $2,000.

Infiniti said to Offer G25 with Smaller 2.5-liter V6 in the States to Compete with BMW 328i and Lexus IS250

The team over at Inside Line is reporting that it has learned from an unnamed high-ranking source within Nissan that Infiniti will launch a new entry-level version of its 2011 G sedan equipped with a smaller displacement V6 engine in the U.S. this fall. According to the report, the North American Infiniti G25 will be powered by the same 2.5-liter V6 unit found in the sedan’s JDM sibling, the Nissan Skyline.

In the Skyline 250GT sedan, the VQ25HR is rated at 225 horsepower (IL says 210HP, but Nissan announces 225HP) and 26.8 kgm or 193.8 lb-ft of torque.

This means that the Japanese V6 is slightly less powerful than the BMW 328i’s 3/0-liter inline-six that generates 230HP and 200 lb-ft inline, but stronger than the Lexus IS250′s 2.5-liter V6 with 204HP and 185 lb-ft, who are the G25′s most closest rivals.

The report goes on to say that for the time being, the smaller V6 is planned only for the sedan and not the Coupe or hardtop Convertible variants of the G Series.

Via: Inside Line

Nissan Revises JDM Skyline Sedan and Coupe for New Era

Following in the footsteps of Infiniti and its facelifted 2010MY G37 Sedan and Coupe models, Nissan has updated the Japanese market versions of the car that is sold under the Skyline nameplate. Both the Skyline Sedan and Coupe models receive a number of changes including an updated exterior for the Sedan and a refined interior, enhanced navigation system and new air conditioning for both body configurations.

In particular, the Skyline Sedan models receive a new grille, bumper, headlamps and fog lights up front as well as a redesigned bumper at the back and new 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

Furthermore, the sport trim levels of the Skyline Sedan (370GT Type SP, 370GT Type SP, 250GT Type S) get a new unique grille, front bumper, headlights, rear bumper and use of black trim for the inner headlamp panels.

Mechanical refinements for the sedan are limited to the introduction of the 7-speed automatic transmission with the 2-wheel drive models equipped with the 2.5-liter V6 engine. Previously, this transmission was offered only with the larger and more powerful 3.7-liter V6 engine.

Nissan has made improvements to the interiors of both the Sedan and Coupe models that benefit from a new center console trim (only automatic versions) with a reshaped armrest. Other upgrades include the use of softer materials for the for the console sides and cupholder lid, new decorative trim and minor enhancements to the instrument panel.

All 2010 Skylines receive an updated navigation system, which now offers enhanced entertainment features such as a built-in digital terrestrial broadcast tuner and USB connections for iPod and other music playback devices, as well as new air-conditioning system.

Prices for the 2010 Skyline Sedan in Japan range from 2,892,000 yen to 4,410,000 yen and for the Skyline Coupe, from 3,864,000 yen to 5,019,000 yen.

New Nissan Juke Baby Crossover: Production Version of Qazana Concept Teased

Juke is the name of Nissan’s all-new small crossover that will be fully revealed online on February 10th and go on sale in Europe in October, following its global public premiere at Geneva Motor Show in March. The Juke is the production version of last year’s love-it or loathe-it Qazana concept.

And even though Nissan has darkened out the Juke in the teaser photograph, it’s not hard to see that the design has remained fairly close -toned down a notch or two of course- to the original concept. That said, the Juke may not be to everyone’s taste, but it sure won’t go by unnoticed.

Nissan said that the Juke will be the brand’s forth European crossover fitting between the Note compact family car and the Qashqai crossover.

For reference, the Qazana concept measured 4,060mm in length (110mm longer than a Ford Fiesta but 277mm shorter than a Focus), 1,570mm in height, 1,780 in width and had a wheelbase of 2530mm.

The Japanese automaker said that the Juke has been designed and developed to give customers an alternative to the traditional small hatchback in Europe.

“Nissan caught the mood of the European car-buying public with Qashqai crossover and we’ve worked hard to study the market in the same way for Juke to be sure we meet the needs of European customers.,” said Simon Thomas, Nissan’s European Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing

“We’re confident that Juke will bring a new generation of customers to Nissan, in the same way that Qashqai did. Our philosophy of challenging conventions with Qashqai has been a huge success. We’ve just reached the 500,000 landmark and we’re applying many of the lessons learned from Qashqai to Juke. We’re confident we’ll have another success on our hands,” Simon Thomas added.

As in the case of the recently facelifted Nissan Qashai crossover, the Juke will be manufactured the company’s Sunderland factory in the UK.

It remains to be seen if the Juke will make its way into other markets such as Japan, Australia and the North American region.

Nissan to Show Nine Models at Tokyo Auto Salon, Including Skyline Sports Sporty Package and 2010 GT-R Nismo

Nissan, together with Autech Japan and NIMSO have announced that they will be displaying a total of nine models equipped with the latest custom and after-market parts at Japan’s equivalent of the U.S. SEMA Show and Europe’s Essen Motor Show in Germany, the Tokyo Auto Salon to be held from January 15-17, 2010 at the Makuhari Messe.

Nissan’s range of standard road cars stylized with the latest factory aero body-kits will include the Roox Highway Urban Selection and the 2010 Skyline Coupe and Sedan facelift equipped with the Japanese firm’s new Sporty Package.

Autech Japan will show its Rider Series comprising of the Nissan Serena, Cube and Note cars.

Last but certainly not least, NISMO plans to exhibit the Xanavi GT-R race car, the Fairlady Z Version NISMO (370Z) and the 2010 GT-R model with the Club Sport Package and the newly developed “NISMO Data Logger Kit”, which it says, makes it possible for the driver to download their driving data via USB and view it on a computer.

Tommy Kaira Nissan GT-R R35 Ebbrezza-R Premieres at Tokyo Auto Salon

Not surprisingly, the Tokyo Auto Salon 2010 was packed with tuning proposals for Nissan’s scorching hot GT-R R35. Among the new offerings that made their debut at Japan’s equivalent of the SEMA Show is Tommy Kaira’s long awaited Ebbrezza-R sports package with styling and performance upgrades.

On the outside, there’s a new aero kit trimmed in carbon fiber that includes a redesigned front bumper with a lip spoiler, side skirts, rear wheel arch add-ons, a rear wing and a beefier rear diffuser along with an underspoiler.

Tommy Kaira’s package also includes a new set of 20-inch multispoke alloy wheel wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires size 255/40 ZR20 up front and 285/35 ZR20 at the back.

A lot of work has been performed in the cabin that has been clothed in a combination of red Alcantara and burgundy-colored, hand-stitched leather trim with contrasting white seams.

A pair of black Recaro bucket seats, unique floor mats and heaps of carbon fiber decorative trim round off the interior upgrades.

To be completely honest though, we can’t say that we find Tommy Kaira’s color and material choices even remotely tasteful…

There’s not a lot going on under the sheetmetal as the Japanese tuner’s offerings are limited to a sport titanium exhaust system, high-performance brakes and a sports suspension kit.

Full Carbon Nissan GT-R with 600HP+ Upgrade by Original Runduce

The sketch you see pictured above represents a new tuning proposal for the Nissan GT-R R35 from Japan’s Original Runduce that will certainly capture the attention of enthusiasts. The full carbon-fiber bodied GT-R will come with an overly aggressive aero kit bundling wider front and rear fenders, a new hood with several air vents and a larger rear wing plus different alloy wheels just to mention a few of the upgrades.

Original Runduce is keeping most details secret for the time being, but the Japanese tuning firm did reveal that the pumped up GT-R R35 will benefit from numerous engine mods that will lift output to over 600 horsepower.

The finished Nissan GT-R R35 is expected to make its debut at next month’s “Tokyo Auto Salon 2010″ in Japan.

Nissan Puts a Price on the Limited Run 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

Shortly after releasing MSRPs on the 2010 Rogue S Krom Edition, Nissan announced pricing for another special edition model, the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition, which is scheduled to go on sale in early spring 2010. Created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the original Datsun 240Z, the special 370Z will be produced in a limited run of 1,000 units for the States with prices, including destination and handling, starting from $39,580 (that’s about €26,800 for our Euro readers).

Based on the 370Z Touring model equipped with the Sport Package and six-speed manual transmission, the 40th Anniversary Edition adds a unique “40th Quartz” exterior color, special red leather-appointed interior along with red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and kneepads, smooth leather steering wheel with red stitching and a plaque of authenticity.

The smoke finished alloy wheels, red brake calipers and 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front shock tower brace complete the package.

Like the other 370Zs, the special edition model is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 powerplant producing 332-horsepower.