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Japan plans real-world diesel emissions test after companies fail

Japan's transport ministry plans to start real-world diesel emissions tests after an experiment found four models from Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi that produced more nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than the nation's rules allow, according to The Japan Times. Regulators there usually only perform emissions checks in the lab. The VW diesel scandal has everyone double-checking their figures. Diesel versions of the Toyota Hiace van, Land Cruiser Prado, and Nissan X-Trail produced up to 10 times more NOx than allowed. The Mitsubishi Delica D:5 was up to five times over the limit, The Wall Street Journal reports. There was no evidence of defeat devices in the vehicles. Mazda performed well in the experiment, though. The CX-5 passed with nearly the same results on the road and in the lab. The Demio, better known as the Mazda2, did nearly as well with only slighter higher figures in the real world than in the controlled setting. The experimenters theorized the reason for the excessive emissions was that cold weather caused the engines' software to shut off the exhaust gas recirculation to prevent damage, according to the WSJ. However, this behavior also increased NOx production. Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi don't have to worry about punishment from the transport ministry because this check was just an experiment. Their models already passed the mandated lab tests, which was the only requirement, according to The Japan Times. As governments begin greater real-world emissions tests, the results suggests diesels aren't very clean. A recent check in France found models from Ford, Renault, and Mercedes-Benz that didn't perform up to the standards. Regulators in India conducted similar evaluations and ordered VW to recall over 300,000 vehicles. Related Video:

Nissan exec talks about smaller Leaf, and maybe a CUV EV as well

The Renault Zoe is a popular electric vehicle in Europe, and it gives buyers on the continent a zero-emissions option that's smaller than the Nissan Leaf. Here in the US, Nissan only offers its one all-electric passenger vehicle, but the company might be taking a page from its corporate partner to offer a smaller Leaf in the near future. According to Gareth Dunsmore, Nissan EV European head, Nissan is thinking about both a smaller EV based on the Zoe and larger, all-electric SUV/CUV. "We've invested $5.4 billion in electric cars such as the Leaf, so we need to ensure we're satisfying as many types of customer as possible," he said. "In Europe, that could mean looking towards B-segment hatches and SUVs or crossovers," according to Auto Express. "If we look towards crossovers or the B-segment for the next car, those could make perfect sense." As for what we actually know about the next-gen Leaf, details are scarce. We did get confirmation that a 200-mile range update is in the works, but information on timing and other details are still something we're waiting for. Let's throw the idea of a smaller Leaf into the rumormill and see when Nissan starts talking. The gallery above shows off the Nissan IDS concept, which was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. Related Video: Featured Gallery Nissan IDS Concept: Tokyo 2015 News Source: Auto ExpressImage Credit: Copyright 2016 Sebastian Blanco / AOL Green Nissan Renault Crossover SUV Electric renault zoe nissan ids

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.