2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 Sv Sedan 4-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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Question of the Day: What (non-Skyline) JDM car to import?

I have been looking into the idea of bringing a four-wheel-drive kei van over from Japan, something like a Honda Street or perhaps even a Mitsubishi Minicab Bravo Route 66, and so I have been researching the various bureaucratic hoops I must jump through in order to bring such a car into my state (Colorado). When I finally tracked down the state official who knew the answers, his very first words were "OK, so what year Skyline do you want to register here?" Yes, Nissan's not-sold-over-here factory-hot-rod of the 1980s and 1990s is what gets shipped over most often, but there are other worthy JDM vehicles. Say, for example, a stunning 1990 Mitsuoka Le Seyde (above), which was far classier than the Excalibur and based on the sporty S13 Nissan Silvia, aka 240SX. Of course, the king of JDM cars is the mighty Toyota Century, and you can get nice legal-to-import examples for reasonable prices. No, you can't get the V12 Century legally – yet; the V12-powered cars don't hit the 25-year-old mark until 2022. So, what's your choice for a 1991 or earlier Japanese-market car to import, assuming that the Skyline is off the table? Related Video: Auto News Honda Nissan Toyota Car Buying nissan skyline questions

Nissan previews Juke-R Nismo for Goodwood debut

Nissan has another trick up its sleeve. The teaser image above gives us our first peek at the Juke-R Nismo which the Japanese automaker is set to unleash at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month. The Japanese automaker hasn't provided much in the way of details at this early stage, but there's plenty we can infer from the nameplate. As you may recall, the original Nissan Juke-R hit the scene several years ago, packing the powertrain from the GT-R into the compact form of the Juke. The result was a monster of a little crossover that could run to 60 in three seconds flat and put most any performance-oriented SUV to shame. The addition of the Nismo name to the end would ostensibly suggest that Nissan is preparing an even more extreme version with all the muscle of the GT-R Nismo. That would give it 600 horsepower (instead of 545) and an even meaner disposition backed by even more extreme performance capabilities. Though the image is deliberately obscured, it clearly packs even more aggressive aero than the existing Juke-R. But Nissan isn't saying yet whether this will be a strict one-off or be offered for sale like its predecessor. "Using the latest technology, styling and running gear from NISMO products," Nissan promises a "supercar beating crossover". We'll have to hold on to find out more, but we won't have to wait long as it'll be unveiled at the British automotive celebration on June 25. THE NISSAN JUKE-R IS BACK – AND NOW WITH ADDED NISMO The original was the world's first supercar crossover. Now, Nissan is set to unleash its latest evolution... the Nissan Juke-R NISMO. Using the latest technology, styling and running gear from NISMO products, the supercar beating crossover will be unveiled and unleashed at Goodwood Festival of Speed (UK) on June 25th.

48-MPG Nissan X-Trail Hybrid comes to Japan

Next month, Nissan will start selling a hybrid version of its X-Trail compact crossover in Japan. While the Japanese automaker is touting all the bells and whistles like "Intelligent Parking Assist," the model really makes its mark in fuel economy figures. The marquee number is 20.6 kilometers per liter, or about 48 miles per gallon. This is using the more lenient Japanese driving cycle, but it's still something to be proud of. The model also delivers more torque than that typically generated by a 2.5-liter engine while cutting nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent relative to the standard gas-powered version. In fact, the X-Trail Hybrid will generate tax exemptions because of its high fuel economy. The model's price in Japan will range from about $23,300 for the base two-wheel-drive version to about $27,000 for the top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive version. The Nissan X-Trail Hybrid goes on sale in Japan May 13. We'd first reported on the X-Trail when it was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013, noting at the time that the car's styling was identical to that of the Nissan Rogue. Take a look at Nissan's press release for the X-Trail is available below. Nissan Releases New X-TRAIL HYBRID YOKOHAMA, Japan (April 7, 2015) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the launch of the new Nissan X-Trail Hybrid, which goes on sale on May 13, 2015 at Nissan dealers throughout Japan. The current generation X-Trail has garnered good reviews from customers for its excellent driving performance, realized by features such as its ALL MODE 4X4-i system and advanced chassis control technologies that have been adopted as world-firsts – as well as a variety of safety features such as Emergency Brake and Around View Monitor with Intelligent Parking Assist. Equipped with the 2.0-liter MR20DD hybrid engine that enables both driving and environmental performance, the new X-Trail Hybrid delivers a comfortable driving experience with its powerful acceleration and remarkable quietness, which eclipse those of typical 2.5-liter gasoline engines. In addition, all the grades achieve tax exemptions. In addition, the new X-Trail Hybrid will have Forward Emergency Braking as standard equipment, expanding its safety technology features. Nissan is planning to introduce Forward Emergency Braking as standard on major models in Japan, by the end of autumn 2015.