Pro-4x Manual Transmission Bilstein Off Road 4x4 6 Speed Locking Differential on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Nissan is optimistic about FCA partnership, but wants the right terms

BEIJING – Nissan is optimistic about partnering with a combined Renault and Fiat Chrysler (FCA), as long as it can protect the ownership of technology developed over two decades of working with Renault, a senior executive told Reuters. The executive, who declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said he was cautiously optimistic about the possibility of generating "synergies" by sharing Nissan's autonomous drive know-how, electrification and greenhouse-gas-scrubbing technologies for powertrains. But he said the possible $35 billion merger of Renault and FCA would not give FCA the automatic right to use those technologies, which it needs to meet stringent emissions regulations and better compete in a industry being transformed by electric vehicles. He also floated the possibility that Nissan could look at boosting its stake in Renault, or a merged Renault-FCA, to gain more say in shaping the future of the alliance. "We would go ahead with partnering or cooperating with FCA only if we can guarantee tangible benefits from sharing technologies with FCA and only if we can work out conditions that are satisfactory to us," the Yokohama-based executive said. "If Renault wants to pursue this deal, we feel we need to look seriously at supporting them," he said. The executive's comments highlight how Nissan could look to leverage its advanced technology to gain greater bargaining power with a merged Renault-FCA. Renault is Nissan's top shareholder with a 43.4% shareholding, while Nissan holds a 15% non-voting stake in the French automaker. That unequal partnership has long rankled Nissan, which is the bigger company by far. A Nissan spokesman referred Reuters to a statement issued on Monday, where Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa said: "I believe that the potential addition of FCA as a new member of the alliance could expand the playing field for collaboration and create new opportunities for further synergies." "That said, the proposal currently being discussed is a full merger which — if realized — would significantly alter the structure of our partner Renault. This would require a fundamental review of the existing relationship between Nissan and Renault," Saikawa said, adding that Nissan would analyze and consider its "existing contractual relationships". BOOSTING STAKE?

Nismo smartwatch concept tracks both car and driver [w/videos]

Whether you agree or not, this writer believes that every supercar needs a wristwatch to go with it. Though the Nissan GT-R has been lacking in this one regard, Nissan is keen to correct that wrong. But while most of these automotive-inspired timepieces are decidedly mechanical, Nissan has gone a suitably different direction in creating its new Nismo watch concept.
The electronic smartwatch connects driver, car, watch and phone in a sleek design. The device allows drivers to monitor such parameters as the car's average speed and fuel consumption, access performance telematics on the track, monitor their own heart rate and interface with their smartphone via Bluetooth and a dedicated app. The watch can even tell the driver when it's time to bring his car in for scheduled maintenance, post lap times and such to popular social media platforms, and of course, you know - literally give you the time of day.
Though still in the concept phase, Nissan seems keen to bring this to market, has even gone so far as to design the packaging - made of tire rubber scraped off the track - and done it up in three colors: red, white or black. In the meantime Nismo will be showcasing the smartwatch concept at the Frankfurt show this week, where we hope to get a glimpse up close, but you can delve into the press release and the pair of videos below.

Nissan paint prank involves 'world's cleanest' Leaf

If you want attention, then there's nothing like a good prank to get people looking. Nissan is taking a page from the old Candid Camera playbook to show off a new self-cleaning nano-paint technology called Ultra-Ever Dry. Turns out, when you spill a water-based paint on it, the paint just drips right off. And with enough hidden cameras, you can get the perfect passersby "Oh! Huh?" face on film. Part of the "World's Cleanest Car" campaign that Nissan had at the LA Auto Show, the stunt is meant to highlight the fact that the car is clean (i.e., zero emissions) and also clean (not dirty). Get it? Ha! Yeah, well, that's the joke. It works better on video, which you can see below. While the paint thing is mildly interesting (this isn't a production car, and Ultra-Ever Dry is just an example of what could be coming) we did find it notable that this is the first main Leaf campaign we can think of that promotes the car not as a plug-in vehicle first (remember the polar bear?) but as a car with some wacky cool new tech. Oh, and it happens to plug in. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. NISSAN'S "SELF-CLEANING LEAF" HITS THE STREETS, THEN THE WEB – "World's cleanest car" to be featured in an innovative social media campaign starting today – NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 2, 2014) –The "world's cleanest car" is daring its fans to get it dirty. Starting today, Nissan will launch a social media campaign that will include a series of online videos to showcase a zero-emissions Nissan LEAF with self-cleaning nano-paint technology. Created to demonstrate its potential use in future production vehicles, this LEAF is armed with Ultra-Ever Dry® paint to help repel almost any liquid that may come its way. Nissan first introduced the one-of-a-kind LEAF this past April. "The LEAF is already one of the cleanest vehicles around even without this incredibly innovative paint technology; that said, we're not afraid to get our hands dirty to take this to the next level," said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. "Getting fans involved via this social media campaign is a fun, creative way to show how the LEAF can stay clean no matter how dirty the world around it may be.