Following in the footsteps of the more established competition, Nissan is set to enter the four-door coupe market with the all-new Maxima. Previewed at this year North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the Maxima introduces an exciting new design direction for the company.

Presented as V-Motion, the new design language is characterised by heavily stylised boomerang headlights and floating roof. Combined with a low stance and ground clearance, the new Maxima cuts an aggressive profile and moves the Nissan Maxima into the premium four-door coupe segment.

The new styling is said to point towards future Nissan styling, including the 370Z which should incorporate a similar look. The official title is Sport Sedan Concept and Nissan officondos will notice elements already seen on the Nissan Rogue and 2015 Murano.

Aggressive front and rear aerodynamic elements point to the sports car intentions, as do the huge 21 inch wheels.

The new Maxima promises to bring new emotion while reflecting power, strength and innovation that excites.

Powering the sedan is the familiar 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine doing duty in the 370Z, and in the Sport Sedan Concept its said to produce in excess of 220kW.

South Africa is no stranger to the Maxima name, although never have we seen one quit like this before. Unfortunately there is no word from Nissan SA as whether the new Maxima will make to South Africa.

While all-electric vehicles are still only just catching on in South Africa, overseas sales are skyrocketing and recent figures show that the Nissan LEAF is Europes best selling all-electric car for the fourth year in a row.

In 2014, 14 658 LEAFs were registered which is an increase of 33% growth year on year.

Says Nissan Europe senior vice president of sales and marketing, Guillaume Cartie – This year the Nissan LEAF has been joined by an unprecedented number of new entrants into the EV market and has emerged as the leader on a global, US and European basis. Last year was the fourth year in a row that the electric family car has topped the zero-emission sales charts in Europe.

The Nissan LEAF was launched in early 2011 in the European market, followed by a revised version introduced in mid-2013 with over 100 improvements led by customer feedback. The Nissan LEAF is built in Sunderland, UK, with batteries constructed in a new purpose-built facility on the same site. In June 2014 the 100 percent electric Nissan e-NV200 light commercial vehicle was launched, built at Nissan Barcelona factory, with batteries from Sunderland.

Interesting Cartie also goes on to explain the power positive of word of mouth marketing in the growth of the LEAFs sales, with 95 percent of customers being happy to recommend their car to a friend and 50 percent saying that they would never go back to a diesel or petrol equivalent.

This kind of powerful advocacy, combined with an increasing awareness of the massive running cost savings electric car drivers experience, is why our Nissan LEAF sales continue to grow.

A new Nissan Qashqai rolls off the production line every minute at the Nissan manufacturing plant in Sunderland, UK. Not surprising then that recently the two millionth Qasqhai rolled off the production line and in the doing so the compact crossover vehicle has become the fastest British-built car in history to reach this milestone.

Now one of the fastest growing vehicle segments, a segment which Nissan can proudly say it pioneered with the original Qashqai eight years ago, the all-new 2015 Qashqai continues to lead the market segment in terms of space, engine technology and standard vehicle equipment. [Read more…]

Nissan Juke Review – 1.6T Tekna: Parkours free running, To move fluidly through your environment using your surrounding structures as an obstacle course. Or, those crazed enthusiasts you saw on YouTube who throw themselves off urban buildings running, jumping, rolling and vaulting. These aren’t yobbo’s with hoodies and spray paint people, they’re precision athletes. Crazy, yes, but athletes nonetheless.

It’s not something I’ve ever practiced, nor intend to, I’m just not made for it, I accept that. It all looks incredibly dangerous and if I did try it I’d probably rollover an ankle or sustain an injury far worse. Which is why, when I do pry myself from behind a steering wheel to air, I stick to running on flat surfaces like roads, or better yet, a running machine. Safe.

Like all sports, if you want to run up the side of building, jump off and land without shattering both legs you need the right gear. Now, I don’t presume to know anything about Parkour gear but I reckon Reebok Zigtech running shoes are where it’s, and if you’re not overly concerned with how they perform whilst acting like spiderman, you’ll certainly get noticed doing so. Just look at that sole, all ziggy and zaggy, ready to absorb a second story drop and propel you on to the next urban obstacle.

[Read more…]