Nissan Juke

Set to debut at Geneva 2010, the B-segment Nissan Juke is the latest addition to the company's line-up of urban crossover. The exterior design is based on the 2009 Qazana concept car and combines a SUV-inspired lower section with a sporty upper section.

Designed to bring innovation, masculinity and dynamism to the B-segment, Juke combines of SUV toughness and sporting style.

Juke was created at Nissan Design Europe (NDE) in London, and refined at Nissan’s Design Centre (NDC) in Japan. Principle engineering took place in Japan with significant European input and Juke will be built in Nissan’s factory in Sunderland in the north-east of England and in Oppama, Japan.

“The design shows real optimism. By combining design elements from two genres to create a small, but striking Crossover that displays a genuine confidence and style. And those are qualities we also expect to find in a Juke customer,” said Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President for Design and Chief Creative Officer.

From a design standpoint, the lower portion of Juke is pure SUV, with chunky wheels, wide tires, extended ground clearance and a robust stance.

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Nissan V2G wins LA Design Challenge 2009

The Nissan V2G has been announced as the winner of the Los Angeles Auto Show's 2009 Design Challenge. The V2G (Vehicle to Grid) Concept was chosen for its holistic approach in answering the future's design questions raised by the theme "Youthmobile 2030".

The Nissan V2G (Vehicle to Grid) [UNLMTD] Concept was voted grand winner of the Los Angeles Auto Show's 2009 Design Challenge.

This year's theme, Youthmobile 2030, asked automotive design studios to envision what a new generation of drivers - raised with cell phones, online communities and webcams - will demand from their vehicles in the year 2030.

"The scope of this year's concepts and designs - from the initial sketches to the final presentations - were very impressive," saidChuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.

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Nissan Light Commercial EV sketch

Nissan has released a concept sketch of a light commercial electric vehicle based on the newly launched NV200.

The low-cost multi-purpose vehicle would allow ambulance drivers to drive directly into the hospital or van and taxi drivers to enter urban areas where CO2 emissions are restricted.

The van is one of four electric vehicles Nissan has announced for the future. At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan, said LEAF – the world’s first mass market affordable EV – will be launched in Japan and the US in late 2010, Europe in 2011 with global mass-marketing efforts to begin in 2012.

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Nissan Land Glider Concept

Nissan has unveiled the Land Glider Concept, an original personal city commuter characterized by the ability to lean in corners, combined with a 1+1 seating layout and a width of just 1.1 meters. The powertrain adopts two rear electric motors.

Set to debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the Nissan Land Glider Concept features steering-by-wire and a lean capability when cornering - like a motorcycle - that enables the vehicle and its tires to lean by up to 17 degrees.

The Land glider is powered by two electric motors in the rearcoupled with lithium-ion batteries mounted beneath the floor.

The car also features a non-contact charging system that can be charged whilst shopping at a supermarket or stopping at a motorway service station. This system enables vehicles to be chargedcable-less at locations where the infrastructure exists.

The car-robotics style crash avoidance system integrate sensors mounted in the body that detect other vehicles in the same way as fish swim in schools without colliding. This system directs the vehicle's path away from any obstacles.

With more than 50% of the world's population living in big cities in the near future, designers latched onto motorcycles as a credible base to start the design process.

"The exterior incorporates a soft, sleek-looking body that appears to be protected by a special armor," explains Takashi Nakajima, Nissan's Project Design Director.

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Nissan Micra 2010

Nissan has revealed the first preview sketches of the fourth generation of its global compact car, which will feature a modern design with smooth surfaces and a dynamic stance. It will go on sale from March 2010.

Compared to the current model, the design sketches of the 2010 Nissan Micra reveal a completely different design direction.

The exterior design appears targeted to a wider international audience and has smoother surfaces combined with a sporty look.

The front end features two grilles and two mini power-domes on the hood surface.

The rear end is characterized by the diamond-like contour of the rear window and by the license plate integrated in the bumper - a first for the Micra model.

The proportions and the lines share some styling cues with other models of the compact and ultra-compact segments such as theOpel Corsa, the Toyota Aygo and the Renault Twingo.

The new Micra will be produced from March 2010 at Nissan's plants in China and India and will be first launched in Thailand, where it will qualify as Thailand’s first “Eco-car.” (Thai Eco-car government policy is effective today and will help promote the development of energy efficient vehicles.)

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Nissan LEAF

Nissan has unveiled its first Zero Emission production vehicle, called LEAF. The all-electric medium-size hatchback will feature a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, will reach a range of more than 160km and will be launched worldwide in late 2010.

The car is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm.

Also thanks to the regenerative braking system the car can deliver a driving range of more than 160km (100 miles) on one full charge.

The battery can be charged up to 80% of its full capacity in justunder 30 minutes with a quick charger. Charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours.

The model is expected for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe.

Masato INOUE (Product Chief Designer) said: ”Our car had to be the world’s first, medium-size, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that’s what we’ve created.

The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility.”

Additional information is available on the Nissan Zero-Emission website.

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