Classic Cars Nissan

Every so often, a car company comes along with an additional toy or piece of technology that one can’t help but be excited about. Such is the case with Nissan’s two-wheeled mobile robot, the BR23C. While the name could be a little more catchy, the little robot apparently brings some top-end mobility technology to the forefront and could lead to further developments down the road in the automotive field.

Now here’s the fascinating part:

The “biomimetic” robot possesses a vision sensor that enables it to detect objects in a 180 degree range in the forward direction, which is typically up to 2 meters. Nissan said if a second sensor were placed at the back of the BR23C, it could even achieve an avoidance system encompassing 360 degrees. When detecting an object, the robot is able to quickly move around it or turn around.

Nissan certainly has no designs on selling the robot and doesn’t have any tricks up its sleeve in terms of world domination, but the company is looking at using the robot’s mobility and sensor technology on some of its electric vehicles. Imagine having a vehicle using smart turning technology to navigate the tricky spots on today’s roads. Car accidents could be avoided, for one thing, at a much greater and safer rate.

For more information about how Nissan’s research can help impact Nissan cars and other technology, stay tuned.

For those among us who simply can’t get enough work done, the Nissan mobile office concept car won’t arrive a moment too soon.

The atmosphere of the standard office is changing, with technological equipment offering more mobility and more individuals moving about the world with portable equipment. The changing dynamics of the office are assisting in the portability as well, as more people take their equipment on the road and, sadly, even on vacation.

Now the concept of getting work done anywhere is evolving even further with the Nissan NV200 Mobile Office concept vehicle.

A cruel joke for some and a bold reality for others, this NV200 is being dubbed “A Smart Business Tool of New Generation, for Active Professionals” by the car company. The vehicle, which looks somewhat like a van, combines storage with office space. The vehicle retracts its interior like a desk drawer, enabling the driver or operator to gain access to several compartments and workstations. When the vehicle is parked, full access is granted to a host of capabilities.

The cargo space is fully customizable, too, so users will be able to decide on what they want their space to encompass.

Whether or not the mobile office concept vehicle is for you is up for grabs, obviously. But one thing is certain: the company continues to move in bold new directions with Nissan cars for the future.

Not only is Nissan committed to making quality, fuel-efficient vehicles like the Nissan Altima, they are committed to education, as well. The release of a new website proves just that.

Recently, the Nissan plant in Barcelona launched a new website at www.fabricanissan.com. This website is aimed at children, and its purpose is to teach them about the daily operations that happen at an automotive factory. Children can take a virtual tour of the Barcelona plant,play games, answer interactive questions, learn about the history of nissan, and even view a dictionary.

The website is divided into three sections: progress, security, and environment. Each section is designed to inform students in an interesting and entertaining way about these various aspects of the automotive manufacturing process. As students take part in online activities, their understanding grows.

There is even a teacher’s sections to the site that offers educators ideas about how to integrate it into their classrooms.

During the academic year of 2008-2009, children who visit the website can participate in an online competition called ‘Draw a Nissan’ and all the necessary tools are provided to make simple illustrations. Other contests and competitions are planned for future years, as well.

Help support Nissan’s environmental and educational programs today. Visit your local Nissan dealer, and check out the great vehicles they have to offer you.

Nissan is getting set to recall about 3,400 Nissan Altimas because of alloy wheel problems.

The 2009 model year Altima sedans were made in the Canton plant and may have potentially defective alloy wheels, so Nissan has organized a partial recall of the vehicles. The recall campaign was posted today on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The campaign states that some 16-inch alloy wheels may have been constructed improperly.

The defective construction may cause five or more lug nuts to come loose. Should the lug nuts become loose, it could result in a crash or a loss of control of the vehicle, the warning says.

The recall is expected to begin this month. Nissan will notify owners, who can bring their cars to dealers for inspection. Owners can also call Nissan at 1-800-647-7261. The 3,403 Altimas in question were built between July and August.

A similar recall from Nissan took place in August with Nissan recalling about 1,018 Altimas of the 2008 model year after a loose bolt in the front suspension.

Nissan’s recall demonstrates the company’s ability to make changes and keep customers up to date on what is happening, making people feel safe with the company’s products and ultimately with the company’s commitment to safety. Nissan cars have always continued to achieve high safety ratings and this year’s 2009 Altima is no exception.

Today, Nissan announced that it would begin testing an Eco-driving Support System that would advise drivers on fuel-efficient methods of driving using real-time processes. Nissan will begin testing the service on September 24.

The service will be made available through Nissan’s CARWINGS navigation system website, will evaluate the driving behavior of drivers who are currently taking part in Nissan’s SKY Project2 in Kanagawa Prefecture. The SKY Project began in October of 2006 and aimed to develop technology that helped vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The idea behind the SKY Project is to reduce traffic congestion and to help communication between drivers on busy roads.

The idea behind eco-driving is to help reduce the CO2 on the roads. By offering drivers real-time tips while the car is in motion, Nissan’s system can help the decision-making process during operation. The new Eco-driving Support Service can potentially improve fuel efficiency by basing its advice on individual driver’s habits, giving a more personalized approach to the tips and guidelines.

Eco-driving tips offered while the system is in operation include slowing down, careful acceleration techniques, smooth deceleration techniques, and so on.

Nissan’s Green Program 2010 will continue to build on the Eco-driving Support Service and will offer drivers more tips and guidelines for saving money behind the wheel. For more information on this system and its potential availability in North America, contact your local Nissan cars dealer.

Nissan’s GT-R, an amazing two-door coupe, has been a bit of a thing of legend for a while. For most in the PlayStation generation, the GT-R has been a figment of video-gaming imagination. As a part of the video game Gran Turismo and a few others, this Nissan supercar already packs a significant following amongst the younger generation.

So when the real deal finally faces its North American release date and the car journalists get set to test drive this marvel, don’t be surprised to see a few jaws drop. The Nissan GT-R has already been cruising Japanese streets since December of 2007 and will face its international release in late 2008…which is any day now, for those of you waiting patiently.

With a starting price of $81,900, the GT-R is almost half the money of a 911 Turbo or Porsche GT3, yet it’s just as fast or faster.

The GT-R has a push-button engine start, just like all cool cars, and runs a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 under the hood, good enough to put some seriously fast times on the clock and beat most other cars on the road off of the line. Not that we’re advocating racing here, but it’s sure as hell nice to know that it can be done, isn’t it?

For more information on this and any other Nissan cars, keep it locked here for your dose of Nissan news.

When you think about the Nissan Altima, you probably think about a family car. You picture a family sedan, rolling down the road to visit relatives, hit the beach, or travel across country to a theme park. You probably think more in terms of “utility” than you do “sporty.”

Well, with the 2008 Nissan Altima coupe, that’s all about to change. This car is sporty as well as stylish. The Nissan Altima Coupe is much more comfortable cruising the strip than it is taking kids to soccer practice.

The Nissan Altima coupe offers plenty of features to enhance your lifestyle, too. The technology package, which is one of the most popular packages on the vehicle, gives you:

• A nine-speaker Bose audio system
• Satellite radio (XM or Sirius – your choice)
• Bluetooth
• A rear backup camera.

There are plenty of other options on this vehicle, as well. There are premium packages that can give you everhting from a moonroof to foglamps to leather and heated seats.

If you want to upgrade your lifestyle and do it with a sporty, stylish, reliable car, then you want to look at the Nissan Altima coupe. Visit your Nissan dealer today, and give one of these a try. You won’t be disappointed.

If you’re the parent of a teenager, you probably get at least a little bit nervous when your teen gets behind the wheel of your Nissan. It’s normal and natural to worry about your teen’s driving habits. And, while you can certainly monitor their driving habits when you’re with them, you really don’t have a way to know if they’re driving dangerously when you’re not around.

That’s where Text Them In, Inc. comes in. We’ve all seen the bumper stickers on semi trucks that say “How’s my driving?” and provide an 800 number to call if the semi is driving dangerously. Well, Text Them In takes that same principle and applies it to your teenager.

Here’s how Text Them In works. When you enroll your Nissan in the program, you will get a bumper sticker that says “How’s my Driving?” on it. That bumper sticker prompts other motorists to send a text message to Text Them In, providing information about the vehilce and what happened exactly. Once the text message is recieved by Text Them In, you will get a text message or email, whichever you prefer, alerting you of the situation.

If you’re thinking of passing your vehicle down to your teenager, consider visiting us. We’re your local Nissan dealer, and we’ll help you find a new car to replace your aging Nissan.

Nissan’s plant in Barcelona has launched a new website to coincide with the start of the school year. The intention of the website, located at fabricanissan.com, is to educate kids about the daily operations of a Nissan vehicle plant and to provide information in a friendly and understandable fashion to youngsters.

Visitors to the website will also have the opportunity to take a virtual tour of the factory at Nissan’s Zona Franca plant in Barcelona.

The site focuses on three basic points regarding manufacturing at the Nissan plant: process, security, and environment. By being mindful of all three basics, visitors to the website will get in touch with the underlying motivations and operational procedures of a typical Nissan plant.

The three basic focus areas are summarized in a section of the website, which also features a dictionary. While some might decry the website as a way to market Nissan cars to kids, other will find the value in instructing children and youngsters about the inner operations of a successful automotive facility.

Kids will learn about responsible operations and will learn how the vehicles their parents drive are made. With any luck, the Nissan operational model will cause kids to ask some serious questions from car makers and may enforce better choices later in life.

Nissan workers in Tennessee took buyouts as the offer from the company closed on September 12, 2008.

The offer to buy out 1,200 workers at the Smyrna vehicle assembly plant and at the engine plant in Decherd went out with a deadline that expired on Friday.

The buyouts include lump sum payments of $125,000, determined after Nissan North America elected that the two plants had more workers than necessary. When the deadline passed, the company refused to say exactly how many of the plants’ workers took the buyout, but added that the workers have three weeks to change their minds. Not all of the plants’ workers were eligible for the buyouts.

The lump sum payments offered by the company depending on employee tenure with the company and varied from $100,000 to $125,000 depending on terms of service. There is also a year of coverage included and a a car purchase discount. Other workers will have an opportunity for buyouts in 2009, with subsequent buyout programs planned for the next few years as well.

Nissan North America said that the buyout contract amounts would be reduced as the years pass, so employees are encouraged to snap at the first offer. Volkswagen apparently put out word to former Nissan employees for employment, but there is no word as to how that worked out as of yet.

With Nissan scaling down at some plants and improving production facilities at others, there is a sense of anticipation throughout the industry and the company as to what might be coming next for Nissan cars.