VIDEO: AMS Performance�s 1,309WHP Nissan GT-R Completes � Mile in 9.05 Sec!

We�ve seen some insanely modified Nissan GT-R R35s, but Chicago-based tuning house AMS Performance, has really lifted the bar with its newest creation, the ALPHA 12.
The heavily tuned Nissan GT-R ALPHA 12, which is still in the development and testing phase, was placed on a dyno where it produced an incredible 1,309-horsepower and 994 lb-ft (1,384Nm) of peak torque at all four wheels!
The team over at AMS Performance took the real Godzilla over to a local drag strip, and despite the unfavorable conditions (90 degrees track temperature), the ALPHA 12 managed to return a record quarter mile time of 9.052 seconds with a top speed of 166.7mph (268 km/h). The V-box also recorded a 60-130mph time of 3.46 seconds.
The tuning company said that it plans to return to the drag strip under �better track and weather conditions� to further improve the GT-R ALPHA 12�s time.
AMS Performance hasn�t released details and pricing on the ALPHA 12 package, but for comparison, the ALPHA 10 kit that pushes the GT-R�s output to 1,000 horsepower on 93 octane and over 1,100 ponies on race fuel, is priced at $63,995.

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Nissan Raises 2012 Leaf Prices Between $2,420 and $3,530!

Well, that didn�t take long did it? Only a year after launch and while the Leaf is leading the eco-friendly sales race against GM�s Chevrolet Volt, Nissan today announced that it is lifting the base price of the 2012 model year version of its pure-electric hatchback between 7 and 11 percent, depending on the trim grade!
In particular, the entry-level 2012 Leaf SV is now priced at $35,200, or 7.38% more than the 2011MY�s $32,780 sticker. The higher grade Lead SL enters the 2012MY priced at $37,250, an increase of $3,530 or 11.3% more over the 2011MY.
Neither price includes an $850 destination and handling fee. Notably, US buyers can cut $7,500 off the sales price via a federal tax credit.
The monthly lease price for the 2012 Leaf has also been increased and now starts from $369, up from $349.
Nissan justified the price hike by saying that the 2012 model comes with additional standard equipment including quick charging and cold-weather features.
In Nissan�s own words, the 2012MY Leaf's added features include:

• DC Fast Charge capability standard on Nissan LEAF SL: The vast majority of MY11 consumers have opted for the DC fast charge port, which allows the vehicle to be charged at 480V � reducing charging time to under 30 minutes for charging the vehicle to 80 percent from a fully depleted state. As DC fast charge stations proliferate across the country, Nissan expects this feature to become even more popular. For 2012, fast-charging capability will be standard on the SL trim level.
• Cold weather features standard on Nissan LEAF: As the Nissan LEAF rolls out to U.S. markets with colder climates, cold weather features become standard equipment on all trim levels of the Nissan LEAF. These include a battery warmer, heated steering wheel, and heated seats in both the front and rear.

With the introduction of the 2012MY Leaf, the Japanese company is also expanding the availability of its all-electric car that will now be available for order in the Southeastern United States and Illinois.
�In the fall, orders from existing reservations and new reservations will begin in Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York,� Nissan said in a statement.
�By the end of the year, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island will be added as markets where the Nissan LEAF will be available for order,� the company added.

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Nissan Versa Hatchback Enters 2012MY

After revealing prices on its low-cost 2012 Versa sedan, today Nissan announced pricing on the five-door hatchback version of its sub-compact series. Even though the Japanese company has launched a newer version of the hatchback model in certain markets including China, in the States, the five-door variant continues in the new model year with its first-generation design.And just to add to the confusion (�), we�ll note that the U.S. market 2012 Versa sedan is based on a smaller platform architecture than the hatchback, and in particular, the Micra supermini.
With that out of the way, let�s see what�s new for the 2012 Versa hatchback. Refinements for are limited to equipment changes that include the addition of the previous Premium Package content as standard equipment on the SL model and the presentation of four new packages for the S model.
These include the Convenience Package, the 15-inch Aluminum-Alloy Wheel Package, the Nissan Navigation Package and a �Special Edition� Package that combines the three previous packages at a savings of $900 if ordered separately.
Furthermore, the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system is now standard on all models (previously SL only).
Both the 1.8 S and 1.8 SL models are motivated by a 122-horsepower 1.8-liter engine. The S is offered with a choice of 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic, while the SL is available solely with Nissan�s Xtronic CVT transmission.
Prices, including a $760 destination and handling fees, are set at $15,140 for the 1.8 S 6MT, $16,140 for the 1.8 S 4AT and $19,150 for the 1.8 SL CVT.

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New Generation Y Buyer Survey Spells Trouble for Detroit

Auto pricing website TrueCar studied the car buying behaviour of four million Gen Y (18 to 27 year-old) over a twenty-four month period and here�s what they found.

Scion took the crown for top brand, with 37.4% of the market and for top model (the tC coupe), with 21.2%, while second place went to Mitsubishi (32.1%) and their Lancer sedan (20.3%).

Mazda was the third most visited brand for Gen Y buyers, though only 17th in terms of model. The top four vehicle choices were Japanese, with a German in seventh place and a South Korean in ninth.

American carmakers secured fifth place in the model line-up with the Ford Focus Coupe, even though Ford only scored a mere 5.1% of the market overall.

Nissan and Toyota scored big on Gen Y appeal, with Hyundai and Honda following close behind. Kristen Andersson, one of TrueCar�s automotive analysts describes the generation thusly:

�Generation Y buyers want vehicles that look distinct and can be tailored to their individual tastes. Buyers from this generation are also looking for vehicles that have the technology features they are accustomed to built into the vehicle at an affordable price.�

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2012 Nissan Versa Price

According to Nissan, the second generation of its Versa sedan features �the lowest MSRP in America� at $10,990 (not including a destination fee), with the sub note that the company�s aforementioned assessment is based on �MY12 competitors at time of print�.

Some of you will say, and you�re right. But what we did learn today is the pricing of the entire Versa range that includes three more models aside from the cut price, entry-level S trim.

The 2012 Versa, which was introduced to America at the New York Auto Show this past April, is based on the latest Micra�s platform with all four variants powered exclusively by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine delivering 109-horses at 6,000 rpm and 107 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,400 rpm.

For those of you not lured by the $10,990 price tag of the based 1.6 S model that comes with a five-speed manual gearbox returning a fuel economy of 27mpg city, 36mpg highway and 30mpg combined, Nissan offers the same trim with a Xtronic CVT transmission priced at $12,760. The latter is rated at 30 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined.

The two other available and better equipped versions are the Versa 1.6 SV CVT and 1.6 SL CVT priced at $14,560 and $15,560 respectively. All the aforementioned MSRPs exclude applicable tax, title, license fees and destination charges.

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Nissan Leaf Outsells Chevy Volt in Electric Car Battle

The battle for supremacy in the electric car category has begun �even though at present there are only two prime contestants. According to Bloomberg, the Nissan LEAF sold 3,875 cars the first half of the year, compared to 2,745 of GM�s Volt over the same period.

From January through May, the Volt was only 17 cars behind the Leaf, but in the following month, sales of the Volt plunged to just 561 cars, while those of the LEAF took off with a record 1,708 units, giving Nissan�s EV the lead. The LEAF costs $33,000 before a $7,500 federal tax credit, while the Volt costs $41,000 before government incentives.

Nissan� CEO Carlos Ghosn predicted that Evs will account for 10% of global sales by 2020. He added that he expects his company to sell 12,000 LEAFs this year in the US, and predicted that this number may climb as high as 200,000 units �though he declined to specify a timetable.

Analysts, however, don�t share Ghosn�s optimism. George Peterson, president of consulting company AutoPacific in California, says that �we �re not going to see thousands of these on the roads soon. Rechargable vehicles may rise to about 3% of total US car sales in a few years�.

Nevertheless, GM plans to manufacture 16,000 Volts in 2011, with the production rising to 60,000 cars in 2012 after the Hamtrack plant upgraded is finished.

The two automakers had better hurry, because their competitors plan to enter the arena real soon. Next year Toyota will introduce a plug-in version of the very popular Prius and electric versions of the RAV4 SUV and the Scion iQ city car, and Honda plans to launch both a battery-only version of the Jazz/Fit supermini and another, yet unnamed, midsize plug-in vehicle.

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Nissan Celebrates Production of 1 Million Qashqai Crossovers

Four years, six months and 23 days after the first Qashqai small crossover rolled off the Sunderland Plant�s production line in the UK on December 5, 2006, Nissan has passed the 1 million milestone.The Japanese automaker said the Qashqai is �easily the highest-volume car produced in the UK� adding that no other car in Britain has reached the one million mark in such a short period.
�The Nissan Qashqai has been a phenomenal success since its start of production just four and a half years ago,� said Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan Vice President for Manufacturing in the UK.
The company plans to put the landmark vehicle, a silver 2.0-litre diesel TEKNA Qashqai, on display at The O₂ Arena in London and then have one lucky person win the special car. Nissan said it will soon announce further details on the competition.
Currently, around 1,200 examples of the Qashqai are built every day at the plant, or about one every minute that the production line is open, with more than 80 percent of the vehicles destined for export to 97 markets across the world.
The Qashqai is the fourth best-selling model in the C-segment, which includes cars like the VW Golf, Renault Megane and Ford Focus, across Europe in the 2010 Fiscal Year. Its top five markets were the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.

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VIDEO: Nissan Announces New Midterm Business Plan, will Introduce a New Vehicle Every Six Weeks

Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co. revealed on Monday its new midterm business plan dubbed �Power 88�, with which it aims to boost both its global market share and profit margin to 8 percent within six years � hence the �88� reference in the name. Last year, Nissan, which is 44.3 percent owned by French partner Renault, had a 5.8 percent global market share.
The new plan calls for the introduction of 52 new cars for fiscal years 2011 to 2016, or about one new vehicle every six weeks.
Japan�s second biggest automaker in terms of sales said it will also try to capture 10% of the premium segment or about 500,000 cars today with its Infiniti brand that will be available in more than 70 markets with a range of at least 10 vehicles.
"Nissan Power 88 is the roadmap for our company's profitable growth," said Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn. "We will accelerate our growth, bringing more innovation and excitement to our products and services as well as cleaner, more affordable cars for everyone around the world, in line with the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century."
Nissan will also focus on the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The highlights of Nissan�s �Power 88� plan are:

� Nissan's extended new product plan will deliver, on average, an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years. The company's global portfolio will have 66 vehicles and will cover 92% of all markets and segments.


� The emphasis on sustainable mobility will continue, encompassing zero-emission vehicles and low-emission technologies that support PURE DRIVE. Cumulative electric vehicle sales for the Renault-Nissan Alliance will reach 1.5 million units.


� "Mobility for all" will expand with dedicated new cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) developed for entry-level segments and emerging markets.


� Nissan will introduce more than 90 new, advanced technologies, averaging 15 per year.


� In 2012, Nissan will have a production capacity of 1.2 million units in China. China has become - and will continue to be - Nissan's largest single global market. Nissan aims for a 10% share of the Chinese market. Nissan will also increase its presence in Brazil, Russia and India, as well as in the next wave of emerging markets.


� In Brazil, Nissan will build a new plant, with a capacity of 200,000 units as a first step.


� Nissan NV200's selection as New York City's "Taxi of Tomorrow" illustrates the company's momentum in the LCV field. By 2016, Nissan will be the world's leading light commercial vehicle manufacturer.


� The Infiniti premium brand will grow from its 2010 sales level of 150,000 vehicles to 10% of global market share among luxury brand segments, a level today that would represent 500,000 vehicles. Infiniti will be present in more than 70 markets with a product range of at least 10 vehicles.

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Nissan Claim Two Oddball Speed Records at Goodwood Festival

Without doubt, one of the highlights of this year�s edition of the famous Goodwood hill climb will be Nissan�s participation. And no, we�re not talking about the Sumo Power GT team�s GT1 race-winning Nissan GT-R, but for the Juke small crossover and the Leaf EV.
You see, the Japanese company has set its sights on claiming two special records at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that takes place in Britain on 1-3 July with the aforementioned models.
With the pure-electric Leaf, Nissan will attempt to set a record for the fastest car ever to be driven up the hill climb course...in reverse. And unless something goes wrong, Nissan has a very good chance at it as unlike conventional gasoline / diesel -powered models, in which reverse gear allows only low speeds, the Leaf�s electric powertrain -in theory- enables it to be driven backwards as fast as it can move forwards.
While regular production models come with an electronic feature that stops the vehicle from reversing quickly, Nissan�s engineers disabled this feature on the Leaf that will participate in the hill climb next weekend. The Japanese company said that the modified Leaf will be able to reach speeds of up to 90mph [145 km/h] in reverse.
Nissan will also try to set another odd record with the Juke crossover, which will attempt to become the first four-wheeled machine to drive up the Goodwood Hill on two wheels.
Both the Juke and Leaf will be driven by professional stunt driver, Terry Grant, who will try to set the records by performing the stunts once every day.
�I�ve experienced Goodwood before but never attempted to set a new record,said Grant. �To have the chance to grab not only one but two records at the same event will hopefully provide everyone with a very entertaining spectacle,� he added.

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Nissan Rebadges Mazda5 MPV for Japan," the New Lafesta Highway Star "

After preparing its customers with an announcement in January, Nissan today went ahead and introduced a re-badged version of the Mazda5 MPV (called Premacy in its home market) in the form of the new Lafesta Highway Star. The compact minivan is supplied to Nissan by Mazda on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis, and will be sold exclusively in Japan.
The transformation of the Mazda5 into the Lafesta Highway Star was a rather straightforward process accomplished by adding Nissan�s logos inside and out, restyling the front end that gains a new hood, lights and bumpers, smoothing out the Mazda�s swoopy profile lines and adding a chrome strip between the tail lamps.
The 7-seater model is offered with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine coupled to an automatic transmission with five-speeds in the front-wheel drive model and four-speeds in the all-wheel drive versions.
In Japan, prices for the new Lafesta Highway Star range from 1,991,850 Yen to 2,483,250 Yen (US$24,650 to $30,700) with Nissan aiming to sell around 1,200 units per month.

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