Nissan Juke blows away domestic projections with nearly 11,000 orders in first month

t’s really difficult to pin down whether the Nissan Juke will sell well when it arrives here in the States this fall. The micro-crossover doesn’t have a lot of competition and its affordable anticipated starting price of well under $20,000; both good signs. The big unknown is whether Americans will embrace the Juke’s cartoonish looks, which could turn away potential suitors.

Unique looks and diminutive stature doesn’t appear to be affecting the little Juke in Japan, though, as Nissan says it already has orders for 10,943 little utes. We already knew Nissan was on track to best its estimate of 1,300 orders in the first month due to the fact that the Japanese automaker had already rung up 5,296 ordersin the first week the Juke went on sale.

Among the nearly 11,000 orders cataloged so far, the top color is Radiant Red, with 29 percent of all orders to date. The red interior is a big hit as well, with 59 percent of total orders. And if you’re thinking that a bunch of young kids are picking up these affordable little mini-crossovers, think again. So far, the largest demographic for the Juke is the 50 and older club, with 44 percent of all sales. The 20- to 29-year-old club accounts for 15 percent, and the vast majority of orders come from men. Hit the jump to read Nissan’s brag-tastic press release.

Nissan Murano gets first-ever diesel, snarlier new fascia… just not in the States

A perfect powertrain… for the United States, perhaps. As we all know, diesel is the name of the game across the pond in Europe, and Nissan has never offered its attractive midsize crossover with an oil burner. Until now, that is. For the 2011 model year, Nissan has fitted the Murano with an optional 2.5-liter four-cylinder diesel powerplant that musters up 190 horsepower and over 330 pound-feet of torque (450 newton meters).

This new torque-rich engine finds itself mated up to a six-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control in lieu of the gasoline-powered model’s continuously variable unit. This combination delivers estimated fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon U.S. (35.3 mpg U.K.) on the Combined Cycle while emitting 210 grams of carbon emissions per kilometer. These figures are no doubt aided by the Murano’s first electric power regeneration system.

That’s not the only update our European friends get that we’ve yet to see in the States. Taking a close look at our high-res image gallery will reveal a more aggressive front fascia that Nissan claims was engineered to provide additional cooling airflow to the new diesel engine. It remains to be seen if the new toothy grin will show up in other markets, like, uh… ours. In any case, the diesel-equipped 2011 Murano will start at £37,795 in the UK – that’s a startling $58,000 USD, although that figure includes the UK’s massive Value Added Tax, among other market-specific considerations.

First Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf doesn’t change the game, just the players

We’ve met the Nissan Leaf before. First at its coming-out party in Japan, followed by an all-too-brief stint behind the wheel of a Versa-based prototype late last year. Now we’ve had a chance to sample Nissan’s first foray into the world of electric vehicles in production form and the automaker picked one of its most important markets – the heart of Silicon Valley – to give us some seat time.

If there’s any area ripe for early-EV adoption, it’s San Jose, CA. And during a quick test loop through the tight confines of Santana Row and a run through the city’s suburban surrounds, it’s obvious that the first mass-produced EV is officially ready for prime-time.

2011 Nissan Juke starts at $18,960*

Nissan has just released pricing for the 2011 Juke – the company’s new baby CUV. Buyers looking to scramble into the driver’s seat can look forward to a base MSRP of $18,960 (*plus destination) for the Juke S when equipped with a CVT and front-wheel drive. Prices for the range-topping Juke SL with a CVT and all-wheel drive hit a ceiling of $24,550 before any options are added.

All models will come from the factory with a new direct-injection turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Nissan says that when bolted to the company’s efficient CVT, the Juke should return 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Meanwhile, six-speed manual-equipped models start at $20,260.

Buyers wanting to take advantage of the Juke’s torque-vectoring all-wheel drive can hop into the Juke S AWD. That model, which is available only with a CVT, starts at $20,460, landing it squarely in Subaru Forester andMini Countryman territory. With a low price, plenty of onboard tech and quirky, youth-oriented styling, we’re expecting to see plenty of these on the road in short order when it goes on sale this October. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Nissan Maxima, Sentra receive 2011 prices, minor changes

Nissan has released pricing for its 2011 Maxima and Sentra sedans, complete with specification changes that are more along the lines of ‘running changes’ than they are actual product freshenings. No matter, the Maxima will start at $30,810 in 3.5S CVT guise, while the sportier SV rings up at $33,530. On the more frugal side, the Sentra 2.0 6MT rings in at $15,520, spooling all the way up to $20,080 for the line-topping SE-R Spec V 2.5 model.

On the upgrade front, the 290-horsepower Maxima receives smoked headlights, darkened chrome grill and “shiny gray interior stitching” on sport models, along with a new exhaust pipe finisher. Metallic Slate and Brilliant Silver also join the Max’s paint palate. For 2011, the Sentra doesn’t really get any new features, but a six-speed manual is now available with the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder, giving the range a new entry-level model.

The 2011 model-year Nissans are available in dealers now, and you can check out the full press release after the jump.

Rumormill: 2012 Nissan GT-R upgraded to over 500 hp

We’re beginning to hear the first rumblings about the next round of updates to the Nissan GT-R, and if the rumors are to be believed, Nissan’s goal of keeping pace with the refreshed Porsche 911 Turbo (and its S sibling) will continue through the 2012 model year.

As with its German counterpart, the R35 is expected to undergo a host of evolutionary changes, including some reworked aero bits, suspension and brake upgrades, and a retuned 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 that’s likely to output over 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.

The exterior updates will likely be limited to a new front splitter, rear diffuser and a revised wing, all in an effort to increase downforce and drop lap times. And about those lap times…

We’ve heard from our sources on the ground in Germany that the revised GT-R underwent a new round of testing at the Nurburgring last month and that the newly estimated lap times were (of course) below the original GT-R’s 7:26 run. How low? We’re hoping to find out when it arrives early next year.

Carlos Ghosn: 2011 Nissan Leaf sold out

If you aren’t already on the list to purchase a 2011 Nissan Leaf, you’re officially out of luck. During a speech to the Detroit Economic Club today, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that the U.S. market allotment for the first year’s production of Leafs is already sold out more than six months before the EV even goes on sale. Nissan has now received 13,000 orders for the $32,780 electric car – quite impressive for a vehicle almost no one’s driven.

So far, the orders are comprised of refundable $99 deposits, so it will be interesting to see how sales and orders hold up once people begin getting calls from dealers. Prior to going on sale in 2008, the Smart ForTwoalso received thousands of orders before deliveries began – and we all know how well that turned out. While the Leaf will undoubtedly be a much more pleasant and practical car to drive than the Smart, it remains to be seen how customers will react once they get used to the real world electric range.

Ghosn remains extremely bullish on electric vehicles and will be adding production capacity in both the United States and Europe over the next three years.

Nissan prices 2011 Juke in UK – What should it cost in the States?

It’s a big day for the upcoming Nissan Juke. Not only did Nissan drop UK pricing details on its little run about, but the company also dumped a smattering of new photos on the interwebs at the same time. If you happen to find yourself living in the old empire and want to lay your hands on the new crossover, get ready to shell out around £12,795 for the base model. That equates to around $18,500 at current conversion rates, but includes Britain’s 17.5 percent Value Added Tax. Subtract the VAT and the base MSRP would be around $15,250. That’s a reasonable baseline comparison, but of course, there are other market-specific factors to consider in a price comparison.

The base model packs a 117 horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine, though a 110 horsepower diesel mill is also available in ol Blighty. Step up to the 190 horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter and all-wheel drive, and you’re looking at a final price tag of £19,995 – around $23,850 after converting from the mighty pound and ditching the VAT. At that price point, buyers are treated to a new XTRONIC CVT with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.

Those numbers should give us a feel for how the 2011 Nissan Juke will be priced once it hits our shores, though don’t hold us to it. The oddly styled Juke is deceptively small and will likely straddle the various segments in the entry-level class. Off-hand, we can see it doing battle with the forthcoming Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Suzuki SX4, inexpensive ‘box’ cars like the Kia Soul, along with basic hatchbacks.

Be sure to check the gallery for the rash of new photos, hit the jump for the full press release, and most importantly, vote on where you think the Juke needs to be priced when it comes in the states in our poll below.

Remote-controlled exhaust valves now available for the Nissan 370Z

German tuner Cobra Technology and Lifestyle has developed a range of aesthetic and performance parts for the Nissan 370Z coupe and roadster. One of them is an exhaust with a remote-controlled butterfly valve that allows the driver to control how loud it bellows. Delivering the same kind of effect you’d get by revving an Aston above 4,500 rpm, you can buy 120-mm pipes with a flap that ranges from “discrete sportiness to pure racing sound.”

You can check it the sound range in the video after the jump. Even with the flaps open it doesn’t seem bad at all, but it might still come in handy for those hamlets where any kind of loud noise is a no-no.

[Source: Gizmag]

Nissan releases more 2011 Quest minivan teasers

Nissan dropped the first teaser image of the 2011 Quest minivan just before this year’s New York Auto Show, and now we’re seeing more shadowy angles of the new minivan, including the interior. Toyota’s new ”Swagger Wagon” is already off to a good start, and Honda’s angular new Odyssey will be hitting the road later this year, so the minivan segment is starting to get pretty competitive once again.

From these teasers, we see a shapely new nose and a very upright rear greenhouse that gives the illusion of wrapping all the way around the D-pillar (sort of like what Nissan has done on the Cube). Nothing too outrageous has been done to the interior, but we expect overall refinement to be substantially better than what we’ve seen in previous Quests, and the usual host of cubbies and cup holders will surely be on hand.

The 2011 Quest will make its official public debut at this December’s Los Angeles Auto Show, and those of you who are salivating at the thought of a new Nissan van can stay up to date on the newly launched Quest microsite. In the meantime, check out the gallery below to see the latest teasers, and follow the jump to read Nissan’s (very short) press release.