Shanghai 2015: 2016 Nissan Murano Hybrid unveiled

The 2016 Nissan Murano Hybrid has been unveiled at the Auto Shanghai 2015 exhibition. Based on the conventionally-powered third-generation Murano (pictured above), the Murano Hybrid retains most of the design cues found on the regular variant save for a few badges plastered around the car.
This will also mark the first time that the Murano is offered with a hybrid powertrain. Under the bonnet, a supercharged 2.5 litre, four-cylinder QR25DER engine is augmented by a 20 hp electric motor – powered by a lithium-ion battery. The petrol engine displaces a total of 250 hp and 329 Nm of torque.
The 2016 Nissan Murano Hybrid employs Nissan’s Intelligent Dual Clutch System – a one-motor, dual-clutch parallel hybrid system. What this means is that the system isn’t exactly a dual-clutch gearbox in its truest sense as one clutch is located between the engine and the electric motor while the other slots in between the electric motor and the actual transmission – likely the Xtronic CVT.
According to Nissan, the Murano Hybrid offers performance that betters an equivalent 3.5 litre V6 while official fuel consumption figures are said to be similar to a 2.0 litre engine. Full performance figures will probably be divulged closer to the car’s market launch in China, set for the second quarter of this year.

Shanghai 2015: Venucia VOW Concept revealed

Venucia, a budget name under the Dongfeng Nissan brand, has unveiled the VOW Concept at the Auto Shanghai 2015 show. Developed as a “trendy sport crossover” for the young and young at heart, the VOW is an abbreviation for “Venucia Over Wonder”, which signifies a “complete breakthrough in excellence.”
The coupe-like show car features a raised ride height, roof rails and flared wheel arches along with a “textured” front grille flanked by slim LED headlight assemblies. A sole, horizontal chrome bar and LED daytime running lights fill out the lower half of the show car’s front fascia.
Moving further back, massive wheels (unlikely to feature on a yet-to-be-confirmed production version) are present. At the rear, the car’s namesake is etched across the tailgate while stylised LED taillights further help to highlight the concept car’s looks. Lower down, a diffuser-like element rounds things off.

The Venucia VOW Concept is painted in a bright blue scheme that is said to be “inspired by Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, a high plateau near the crest of the Andes Mountains.” As of now, technical details remain a complete mystery as no production plans for the concept has been motioned in the first place.
In China, the Venucia brand markets models based on Nissan models such as the e30 (Nissan Leaf), R30 (Nissan Micra/March) and R50 (first-generation Nissan Latio).

Shanghai 2015: Production Nissan Lannia for China

No, this is not a concept car and you’re looking at a production Nissan sedan. Conceived for the Chinese consumer in his 20s and 30s, the Nissan Lannia’s design development was led by Nissan Design China, riding on the experience and capabilities of the Nissan Global Design Center. In short, it’s by the Chinese for the Chinese. The name lan niao is in honour of the Nissan Bluebird.
The Lannia evolved from the Friend-ME Concept and Lannia Concept which debuted in China in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Inspired by the “smooth, muscular movements of wild animals” the sedan features “dynamic, tensional, yet edgy surfaces” and highlights such as the V-motion grille, kick-up C-pillar, floating roof and boomerang-shaped LED lights, cues also seen on the bold 2016 Nissan Maxima.

It’s a little more conventional inside, where there’s a driver-centric cockpit with plenty of red trim. Connectivity was a key focus in the Lannia’s development, and it features integrated infotainment tech including an “advanced audio system” with smartphone connectivity and a seven-inch display. The system was developed by Nissan’s R&D team in China and it will be available exclusively in the world’s biggest car market.
To also feature Nissan’s Safety Shield tech and achieve competitive levels of fuel efficiency, the Nissan Lannia sedan will go on sale in China towards the end of 2015.
Wacky one-offs aside, Nissan has never really been associated with bold designs, but the new Maxima and this Lannia are signs of the company’s new design focus on the young and young at heart, moving away from today’s safe, inoffensive designs. Like what you see?

Nissan Pulsar SSS revealed – 190 hp Australian Sylphy

As part of an exercise to streamline the range of the Nissan Pulsar (known as the Nissan Sylphy to Malaysians), Nissan Australia is set to introduce the Pulsar SSS variant as part of the Pulsar Series II update at the end of April.
Aside from the introduction of the aforementioned variant, the entire Pulsar range will witness a price reduction as well as the inclusion of added safety and standard features. Beginning from the bottom, the range now kicks off with the Pulsar ST with the mid-range ST-L sitting above. At the very top, the Pulsar SSS replaces the slow-selling Ti variant – all three trim levels are offered on the sedan and hatch models.
The highlight of the SSS variant is the inclusion of the 1.6 litre DIG turbocharged petrol engine. Said mill pumps out a total of 188 hp and 240 Nm of torque and is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or Nissan’s trademark Xtronic CVT.

Spec-wise, the SSS model carries over the same amount of kit from the Ti while adding on a bodykit and reverse sensors. Prices begin at AUD$25,990 (RM73,120) for the manual-equipped hatch and tops out at AUD$29,290 (RM82,404) for the CVT-equipped sedan.
Further down the range, the mid-range ST-L sedan receives a 5.8-inch touchscreen head unit with navigation and Bluetooth connectivity from the SSS variant. The cheaper ST-L hatch loses out on most of the goodies bar the reverse sensors. The ST-S variant, on both body styles, has been dropped from the range.
On the local front, the CBU (from Thailand) B17 Nissan Sylphy was launched more or less a year ago with a single engine option – a 1.8 litre MRA8DE four-cylinder mill with 131 PS and 174 Nm of torque was hooked up to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Two variants are on sale with prices beginning at RM119,900 OTR without insurance for the base E-spec, the VL goes for RM121,900.

Cycling great Chris Hoy wins car race at Silverstone

He has plenty of leg power, but cycling great Sir Chris Hoy can also handle lots of horsepower masterfully. The man with six Olympic gold medals and teammate Charlie Robertson took a class victory in the opening round of the European Le Mans Series at Silverstone over the weekend. It was Hoy’s first win in international motorsport and his first win with Nissan.
Driving the #3 Ginetta-Nissan in the four-hour race, Hoy and Robertson took a brilliant victory, setting the pace for a stunning new season of Le Mans racing. This race marks the next step on Hoy’s road to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours with Nissan.
It was Robertson who took the start in the #3 car and he made a great getaway from the back of the grid, setting Hoy up for the drive of his life in the middle stint of the race. Behind the wheel for almost two hours, Hoy learnt a great deal about the nuances of endurance competition.

“I knew we had a good chance of making the podium when Charlie got that great start and extended the lead. I knew I had to hang onto it. I had some scary moments – a couple of spins when the tyres started to go off – but other than that I had a great time and I really enjoyed it.
“It’s the longest stint I’ve done in a racing car and I have the new challenge of the GT cars and the P2 cars around me too. Everything was new to me and it was an amazing experience. The car is great to drive, especially when it’s on fresh tyres and for a novice like me to be able to come and race it, it shows how well the car is built,” Hoy said.
“It’s a stepping stone towards competing at Le Mans as it bridges the gap from GT3 to the LM P2 car that I want to race at Le Mans. I’m just trying to take in as much information and experience as I can from guys like Charlie and from GT Academy and this has been a great start!” the Brit added.

In the #2 sister Ginetta-Nissan, 2014 GT Academy Europe winner, Gaetan Paletou came home in second place on his LM P3 debut with his team-mate Mike Simpson. Paletou made a late switch to LM P3, a decision that paid off for Nissan when he showed off his talents in today’s race, only a few months after winning Nissan’s virtual-to-reality competition.
The debut of the LM P3 cars, exclusively powered by Nissan, has been a success. “Making the commitment to take an Olympian to Le Mans and supply engines for a brand new unproven category continues to show that we innovate and take calculated risks to push this sport on. I want to extend my huge thanks to all at Ginetta cars for making an early commitment to this championship. This partnership will grow and grow,” said Nissan’s Darren Cox.