Revealed – New Nissan Micra @ Geneva [Pics]

   

Nissan planning Rs 2.5 Lakh for India with Ashok Leyland

Nissan has revealed that it is seriously studying the feasibility of a US$ 5000 car (approximately Rs. 2.5 lakh) for markets like China and India.

According to Colin Dodge, Executive Vice-President,  Nissan Motor Company -

"We believe there is huge potential for a car in the gap between the ultra-low cost car that Bajaj is developing and the Nissan Micra" 

Colin Dodge also indicated that the car may be developed with Indian partner Ashok Leyland.

"Our relationship with Ashok Leyland is growing and we believe there is an opportunity to develop a price entry vehicle with them"

Nissan feels that India with its unique low cost base and frugal engineering skills is well placed to develop such a car.

"In Europe or Japan engineers can no longer go back to basics and they have lost the ability to engineer products that meet the low end of the market. Indian engineers challenge everything from a cost point of view"

Nissan 370Z Fairlady Z launched in India - News, Specs Overview, Launch Photos

Nissan on wednesday launched its widely acclaimed sportscar Fairlady Z in India - the 370Z - that has already won 9 awards since its launch in early 2009. The 6-speed manual transmission model is priced at Rs. 53.5 lakh and the 7-speed automatic transmission model costs a lakh more i.e 54.5 Lakhs. (The manual comes with what Nissan calls ‘Synchrorev’ that blips the throttle automatically as you downshift through the gears.)

This speed riot has a 3.7 Litre V6 DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) petrol engine that produces a massive power of 332bhp and 37.32kgm of torque. It has a power to weight ratio of 200bhp per tonne. The engine comes equipped with Nissan’s VVEL technology, or Variable Valve Event and Lift which is said to give smoother power delivery and improved fuel efficiency.

The car is available in eight attractive colours and two interior leather colour options (Persimmon Orange and Black) The company initially hopes to sell 2-4 370Zs per month.

The launch of the iconic Sportscar was said to be of Hollywood IShtyle. With the car emerging out of a trailer for the Auto Journos who were following it in two open double-decker Buses. Which was followed by some drifts in the mean machine by Narayan Karthikeyan.

Photos from the launch –>

 

Nissan 370Z SportsCar coming to India on 20th January!

• (To be) The Most Expensive Nissan Car in India
• Known as the Fairlady Z in the Japanese Market
• Called the Poor Man's Porsche (Expected Price Range – Rs 28-35 Lakhs)
• Will be Imported as a CBU (Completely Built Unit)
• 3,696 cc V6 engine with an output of 336 PS@7000rpm and 365 Nm@5200. (More Torque than many SUVs)
• Transmission Options - 7 Speed Automatic with Paddle Shift OR 6 Speed Manual
•  Weighs over 3000 lbs inspite of the Aluminium Door Panels, Hood and Hatch which implies a very low Fuel Efficiency.
• Launch Date – 20th January 2010

Nissan Micra/March India Spy Photos

Here are the Spy photos of the new hatchback by Nissan – the Micra, that will be launched somewhere around mid-2010 in India.

 

Coming Soon - New ULC (Ultra Low Cost) Car from Bajaj-Nissan

Nano’s got competetion! A joint venture between Indian two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto and Nissan-Renault is planning to launch a ULC Car in India whose expected price is 2500$. Bajaj will have 50% stake in the JV and both Renault-Nissan will have 25% each.

The Compact Car will have 70-80% of its parts in common with those used in Bajaj’s scooters, motorcycles and three-wheelers. This will help cutting down the project cost for the new car from Rs 1,500 crore to around Rs 200-300 crore.

The mileage of the car will be well above 20 kmpl but Bajaj will be targetting 30 kmpl. The JV sees people who need an upgrade from a 2 wheeler to 4 wheeler as prospective buyers so the main focus is on lowering the monthly cost of ownership. The car is expected to hit the roads in the year 2012.

Nissan releases sketches of New Compact Car

  (Please Click on the Thumbnails to view Original Size)

Nissan, on thursday unveiled the sketches of its new global compact car which will be produced in five countries including India. The production of the car will commence from May 2010 at Nissan’s Oragadam Plant, 55 kms from Chennai. According to the sources, the car will be sold in 150 countries worldwide.

New Nissan Teana & X-Trail Coming to India on September 16

 

Nissan will be launching the Teana and X-Trail in Mumbai this wednesday i.e on 16th September. Both the models will be imported to India as CBUs (Completely Built Units) and will hence invite 104 percent import duty.

Nissan will be further launching 5 new models in India and the small car Micra/March is one of them. Other details and new prices of the models have not yet been released by the company. But we're on it. Stay tuned (=

Spy Pic – Nissan Micra spotted in Delhi

This pic was taken in the Delhi area, where the testing of the Micra is presently going on.

Nissan badly needs a Volume-Seller in its Stable, can this be the one? Lets wait and watch!

[via IAB]

Nissan’s $700 million investment in Electric Car Project

Car manufacturer Nissan will invest almost $700 million in two plants to make batteries for electric cars in Britain and Portugal after securing financial support from their governments.

Automakers around the world are exploring plans for mass electric car production as the industry seeks to haul itself out a devastating downturn.

The Nissan news comes less than a week after Toyota said it would produce its first European-built hybrid car in Britain from 2010. Nissan will invest more than £200 million ($328.6 million) in the plant near Sunderland, north east England.

Acc to Nissan,

“The two governments (UK and Portugal) have offered to extend financial assistance and other support to ensure that Nissan locates the proposed plants within their respective countries”

Nissan’s Electric Vehicle Prototype

[Source – Reuters]

One of the plants for the production of New Nissan Micra (or March) at Chennai - India

Nissan will be rolling out three different variants of its hatchback and sedan models (including the new Nissan Micra), as well as a multipurpose vehicle (MPV), from five plants across the world, one of which is coming up at Oragadam, 55 km from Chennai.

The other plants are located in Thailand and China while the locations of the remaining two are yet to be decided.

The Nissan Micra (or March, as it is sometimes called!)

Acc to the company, the proposed cars will be lighter and more fuel-efficient but will not have Nissan's newly developed fuel injection systems for small capacity petrol engines

The company plans to ship out 110,000 units from the Indian plant from 2011 onwards and later increase the export to 180,000 units to more than 100 countries

The factory has a capacity of 200,000 vehicles, & is set to become operational by June next year. Nissan predicts that European exports will account for between 60 and 70 per cent of total production.

Acc to Nissan’s senior executive,

“It’s been difficult for us to make money on small cars in Europe. But we’re not going to India just to lower costs. We want to be in the Indian market, and to be in India, you have to build cars there.”

The company hopes to achieve a five per cent market share in India through its new factory and expects Renault, its aillaince partner, to utilise the facility in due course.

[via Autocar, IANS]