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Spitballs flying between Nissan and Fiat

At the 2012 LA Auto Show, Fiat brand chief and recently crowned marketing genius, Olivier François, attempted to distance the Fiat 500e from other electric vehicles, asking rhetorically, "Isn't ugliness the worst kind of pollution?" Nissan has apparently taken issue with these comments, feeling slighted for what it considers digs at the Leaf's styling. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Nissan's marketing chief Simon Sproule shot back, "Let's face it, Fiat has not shied away from controversial styling themselves," he continued, "many would describe many of their products as visual pollution." Ouch.
Sproule says that while the 500e is a "me-too" product, made only to appease US emissions regulations, the Leaf is a serious effort at producing an EV. The Nissan marketing boss points out that the Japanese automaker has invested billions in EV development and production facilities, while Fiat will lose $10,000 on every 500e sold.
However sales of the Leaf in the US are down five percent. Nissan sold just 8,330 Leaf's so far this year, but Sproule contends that it has less to do with styling, and more with the charging infrastructure. Sproule also thinks that Nissan hit a balance between styling and practicality with the Leaf: "It's still very recognizable as a five-seat hatchback, fully functioning, absolutely competitive with the packaging of the Golf of any other mainstream vehicle." For a segment where efficiency is king, isn't that what matters most?

Nissan Leaf, e-NV200 get orange treatment for Ultraman Ginga S

The automobile-as-crime-fighting-teammate concept dates back at least to the 1960s Batman television series, gained further currency during the 1980s with Knight Rider and was referenced in the recent Kia ads featuring Los Angeles Clippers basketball star Blake Griffin and Jack McBrayer of 30 Rock fame. Now, Nissan has put a bright, colorful spin on the idea by tricking out both a Leaf electric vehicle and an e-NV200 electric van for the Japanese television show Ultraman Ginga S. A far cry from the aforementioned muscle cars (the Leaf powertrain delivers just 107 horsepower), the vehicles still cut dashing figures by featuring a lot of orange, a bunch of geegaws, a body kit and cannons. Yes, cannons. They were shown off at the Tokyo Toy Show. The Ultraman Ginga series debuted on Japanese television just last year, according to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB). Nissan started making the real-world e-NV200 electric van in Spain in May. No plans have been announced for US sales, though the Japanese automaker will export the van to its home country. There's an explanatory video and Nissan's press release about the Ultraman Ginga vehicles below, but we apologize in advance, as you will need to be able to read Japanese for the PR. The video has been helpfully translated. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. ???????????????????????????? --??????????2014????????????e-NV200???????????-- ?????????(??:????????? ??:???? ???)???????????????(??:?????? ??:?? ??)??????????????????????? ???????????????100%???????????*1???6?9??????100%????????e-NV200?????????????2????????????????TV?????????????????S*2(???????????)???????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????11?5??????????????????10????????????e-NV200???????????????????????????Leaf to Home??????????????????????????????????????????? ???7?15???????????????????S??????????????????????????????????Web?????????????????????????? ???6?12???6?15????4?????????????????????????????2014???????????????e-NV200????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (*6?12??13????????????????????????????) ????????S????????????????????????> ??: 6?12?(?)11:30~ ??: ???????? ?4??? No.4-1???????

2014 Nissan X-Trail is the Rogue's identical twin [w/video]

Up until now, the Rogue and X-Trail were two different compact crossovers that competed in the same segment for Nissan, except one was sold only in the US and the other Europe. So why, Nissan asked, aren't they exactly the same? Thus, with today's reveal of the redesigned 2014 Nissan Rogue, our team on the ground at the Frankfurt Motor Show also met its new identical twin, the 2014 Nissan X-Trail.
Unlike the Rogue, the former X-Trail was a boxy thing that put on the airs of an SUV, so this new look is likely a larger departure for Europeans than it is for us 'Yanks. From what we can tell comparing their press releases, these two crossovers are practically identical save for the badge on their rear liftgates, both now offering an optional third row of seating and a slew of infotainment and active and passive safety features.
The one thing that may differ between the two are the engines on offer. While we know the Rogue has a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, Nissan's remaining mum on what will motivate the X-Trail. The prior model offered both gas- and diesel-powered models, which we feel safe in assuming will continue (perhaps opening the door for a diesel-powered Rogue in the US some day). Nissan says we'll know more closer to the X-Trail's on-sale date, which is stated simply as being "next year," whereas the Tennessee-built Rogue will be going on sale in the US this fall.