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What does a world-class downhill skateboarder drive? Something very cool

Kevin Reimer has an interesting career and a fascinating car. The resident of Vancouver, BC is a professional downhill skateboarder - which we now know is a thing you can be - who sees a lot of commonality between his extreme occupation and his cherry 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R.
The subjects of the latest Petrolicious joint, Racing Champions, Reimer waxes philosophical about skateboarding and driving down some of the same routes. You'll not be surprised to hear that riding the curves of a mountain slope, be it on a deck or in a bucket seat, both rely on grip and nerve in various measure. Scroll down to see for yourself, and don't miss the rest of our Petrolicious library when you're done.

Recharge Wrap-up: Nissan Leaf's UK milestone, SF's renewable diesel

San Francisco's municipal fleet will use renewable diesel, according to Mayor Edwin M. Lee. Switching to the greener fuel will reduce the fleet's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 percent. "By changing our fleet's fuel from petroleum to renewable diesel, we're taking action that is good for the global climate, and at the same time promotes environmental justice in our community by leading to cleaner, healthier air for some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods," Lee says. While renewable diesel is more expensive than the petroleum-based product, with government incentives, it could end up saving the city money. Read more from Biodiesel Magazine. Nissan has sold its 10,000th Leaf in the UK. As of July 6, Nissan has tallied 10,161 Leaf sales since its 2011 launch in the UK. More than half of those were sold in the last 12 months. Nissan sold 2,964 Leaf EVs in the first half of this year, an increase of 69.4 percent over last year. "The UK's electric vehicle market is growing at an extraordinary pace," says Nissan's James Wright, "and while it may be too early to talk about tipping points, today's achievement certainly indicates we're well on our way." The Nissan Leaf is the best selling battery electric vehicle in the UK. Read more from EV Meerkat. ClipperCreek has added a new 40-amp EV charger to its lineup. Called the HCS-50, the 240-volt level 2 charger is designed to serve both residential and commercial markets. "The HCS-50's rugged design and ample 25 foot charging cable make it a perfect solution for fleet and commercial applications," says ClipperCreek Sales Manager Will Barrett. "As battery range increases, the vehicle's ability to accept power is increasing, too, and the HCS-50 offers users extra power to get their vehicles charged up and back on the road fast." The HCS-50 charging station is priced at $835. Read more in the press release below. ClipperCreek Announces Availability of HCS-50 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Top selling EVSE manufacturer releases high-powered 40 amp EV charging station AUBURN, Calif., July 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ClipperCreek has added the HCS-50 electric vehicle charging station to their product line. The HCS-50 is a powerful and rugged 40 amp station paired with a highly durable rubber overmolded cable and vehicle connector. Offering power, reliability and value, this 240 volt, level 2 electric vehicle charging station, rated for both indoor and outdoor use, is priced at $835.

Infiniti teases November debut of new QX55 crossover-coupe

Infiniti will officially unveil its new QX55 crossover-coupe via social media on Nov. 11, Nissan's luxury subsidiary announced early Wednesday. Infiniti is calling it a return to the segment which the company helped pioneer when it launched the FX crossover back in 2002.  "With a roofline and visual elements inspired by the iconic Infiniti FX, the QX55’s provocative design will fuse the stance and versatility of a premium midsize crossover with the sleek profile of a sports coupe," Infiniti's announcement said. "Beyond its provocative looks, the QX55 will also feature innovative technologies designed to empower, engage and connect luxury customers to the road ahead." The announcement was accompanied by the above teaser image, which depicts the QX55's tapered liftgate. It's quite a bit more conservative than the previously released design sketch suggested, but certainly looks the part.  The QX55 is one of five new vehicles Infiniti plans to launch in the next three years. It was first teased last August during Monterey Car Week. While Infiniti has been leaning heavily on the heritage of the original FX (which later became the QX70) since releasing that first design sketch, the QX55 will actually have little in common with its spiritual ancestor. While they may share fastback SUV looks, the QX55 will be based on the QX50 — a modern, front-wheel-drive crossover with small, efficient engines. The FX was derived from Infiniti's sport sedans and coupes, and even boasted a V8 option for much of its existence. Production of the new crossover-coupe was slated to begin in June, but was reportedly pushed back due to complications at its production facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The facility is a joint-venture project between Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler and Nissan, and produces several other front- and all-wheel-drive vehicles for both companies.  Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.