Kelly Nissan of Beverly News

From Freep.com – Nissan‘s quarterly profit rose 3.2% on healthier sales that offset production damage from flooding in Thailand and a battering from the strong yen.

Yokohama-based Nissan on Wednesday reported October-December third-quarter profit of 82.7 billion yen ($1.07 billion), up from 80.1 billion yen a year earlier.

The Japanese automaker allied with Renault of France sold 1.2 million vehicles worldwide during the quarter, an increase of 19.5% compared with the last three months of 2010.

Quarterly sales surged 10.9% to 2.331 trillion yen ($30.3 billion).

“Significant external headwinds, such as the abnormally strong yen and floods in Thailand, challenged us,” said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

“Nissan responded decisively to these challenges, boosted by the strength of our product,” he said.

Nissan, which makes the March subcompact and Infiniti luxury models, kept its profit forecast for the fiscal year through March 2012 unchanged at 290 billion yen ($3.8 billion).

Nissan also makes the Leaf electric vehicle, which it said was the best-selling electric vehicle ever, having sold 22,000 Leaf cars worldwide last year.

Nissan plans to start selling the Leaf in more places, including Europe this year.

The automaker said the dollar was trading at about 77 yen during the latest quarter, plunging dramatically from 83 yen the previous year. A strong yen erodes earnings from Japanese products sold overseas.

The past year has been a challenge for all Japanese automakers after key suppliers were shut down by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Check out all of our new and pre-owned vehicles at Kelly Nissan of Beverly, located at 420 Cabot St. (Route 1A) in Beverly, MA 01915.

From Auto-types.com’s Andreaa Conway - How can we imagine our lives without cars? We use cars for our daily transportation. Some use it for office, while some for university and some for business purposes; they have become an integral part of our lives. But so has the carbon emissions released from these cars employing diesel and petrol for fuel. So with ever increasing cars on the roads, the emissions multiply as well.

In order to address this growing concern, most automobiles corporations have started to work on developing electric cars which would emit no carbon pollutant harmful for the atmosphere.

Nissan

Nissan is one such automobile giant which has produced Nissan leaf which intends to emit zero gases. Furthermore Nissan has proposed this car to be available for the world audience. Nissan was founded in nineteen thirties and it’s headquarter are located in nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan.

Nissan Leaf

Nissan leaf is one superb car which no one can resist and is capable of hundred percent torque and promises superb performance. Another name for this kind of car is compact battery electric vehicle (BEV). Since it isn’t a hybrid car which means it uses no oil and wouldn’t emit any gas. It’s an eco friendly car.

Features

Technology used is pretty much latest here because a screen on the dashboard will show charging stations for this car and other information such as weather, temperature. For providing key information, support and entertainment a global data centre is also available. It’s all in one and one for all cars.

The battery employed in Nissan leaf is lithium ion battery and has a warranty of eight years so no extra expenditures are required. It has a maximum speed of ninety miles per hour which would be nearly 150 kilometers per hour. And most importantly with one full battery this car will cover hundred kilometers.

Quick recharge option is available by which you can attain eight percent battery power in thirty minutes. However it is inadvisable to do so as it will decrease battery life.

Structure 

The headlights are trapezoid shaped whereas the front of the car is v shaped. Five people can comfortably sit in this car. To lessen noise and smoke, the bottom of the car is built in terms of aerodynamics. The car’s battery level can be checked by your cell phone too. Interesting huh? It has climate control feature too.

Nissan leaf primarily works on electricity alone and that is a disturbing factor for other companies who still have oil compartment in their electric cars. Also this car is pretty much affordable and the government intends to setup more charging stations in the future.

Price
The car is very affordable and is priced at 32,780 dollars. It has European car of year award under its belt.

Conclusion

Electric cars would dominate the future and Nissan is taking a lead in that race.

From Nissan In the News- Developed to introduce a new generation to the proud Pathfinder name, a sleekly designed Nissan Pathfinder concept vehicle was introduced recently at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The show vehicle also provides more than a few clues about the all-new production model, which is slated to reach Nissan dealerships this fall.

“If there is one constant among the first quarter century-plus of Pathfinder’s existence, it has been its ability to innovate, with each generation evolving to meet the changing needs of the customer,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. “With the upcoming, fourth-generation model, we’re about to re-invent Pathfinder again. We’ve created a vehicle with an extraordinary balance of SUV capability, thoughtful technology and premium comfort to lead the segment once again—and help owners accomplish more in the real world, not just off-road.”

As showcased by the concept, the 2013 Pathfinder gets a comprehensive makeover that extends from its aerodynamic and more sculpted sheet metal to its lightweight, unibody construction. The former gives the Pathfinder a less utilitarian appearance that will better match the preferences of today’s customers, with front and rear spoilers, strong wheel arches, a larger greenhouse, and a more sophisticated front fascia and grille that better complement teammates like the Nissan Murano and Nissan Rogue. As for the latter, which marks a return to the unibody design of the second-gen Pathfinder, the result will be notably improved fuel efficiency and driving dynamics, but without a sacrifice in capabilities.

“With the new engine and CVT combination’s unprecedented efficiency, it maintains nearly the same horsepower as the previous generation’s larger displacement V6, as well as a similar driving feel,” added Castignetti, who went on to confirm that: “It also retains its ability to tow boats, jet skis, trailers and a variety of other recreational gear, and its role as an excellent vehicle for unfavorable driving conditions with four-wheel drive.”

The Pathfinder keeps its three-row, seven-passenger cabin, too, although it’s been upgraded for even more versatility—and increased infotainment/connectivity solutions—for the 2013 production model.

And while Nissan didn’t provide specific details, the company indicated that the Pathfinder’s refined six-cylinder engine, mated to Nissan’s next-gen CVT (continuously variable transmission), is expected to deliver a healthy 25 percent jump in fuel-economy over the previous V6.

“The new Pathfinder carries on the tradition of the adventure-ready vehicles that have come before—offering a new level of family enjoyment and engagement that is just right for today’s real-world, everyday uses,” concluded Castignetti. “After more than 25 years, Pathfinder is ready to tackle new terrain and the new challenges of modern family lives.”

Visit us today at Kelly Nissan of Beverly and take advantage of our great deals on our 2012 Nissan Pathfinder! We’re located at 420 Cabot St. (Route 1A) in Beverly, MA 01915

From PRNewswire - Nissan Americas today reported record sales of 1,561,230 in 2011 calendar year for Nissan and Infiniti brand vehicles throughout the region encompassing North, Central and South America – a record year in both market share and volume for Japan’s second largest manufacturer.

The Nissan brand alone gained 0.6 points of market share over the 2010 calendar year and advanced to become the No. 2 Asian automotive brand in the Americas. The company’s sales and share growth was consistent across each of the geographic regions throughout the Americas, with the U.S., Mexico and Brazil posting the largest single-country gains.

In total, sales of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in the Americas increased more than 229,000 units last year, or 17.2 percent, over 2010 for a combined share of 7.5 percent, a record for the company’s single largest region worldwide. These gains, coupled with the company’s ability to outpace both the overall market and key competitors, advanced Nissan’s standing to the No. 2 position among all Asian automotive brands in the Americas.

‘Big 5′ Asian Automotive Brands in the Americas

Brand CY11 Sales 

1. Toyota: 1.85m 2. Nissan: 1.46m 3. Honda: 1.29m 4. Hyundai: 1.03m 5. Kia: 659k

“2011 was a breakthrough year for Nissan in the Americas in a multitude of ways,” said Colin Dodge, chairman, Nissan Americas. “We outperformed our key Japanese competitors in every market throughout the Americas while the Nissan brand became one of the fastest-growing Asian automotive brands in the region.”

NISSAN AMERICAS HIGHLIGHTS

• In the U.S., Nissan gained market share for the sixth consecutive year, ending 2011 with 8.2 percent of the U.S.market, up from 6 percent just a few years ago.
• In Mexico, Nissan has been the market leader for three consecutive years and ended 2011 with a record market share of 24.8 percent, up 1.7 points from the prior year.
• In Brazil, Nissan’s business has been rapidly expanding with sales that nearly doubled in 2011. Nissan was Brazil’s fastest-growing automotive brand in 2011 and is now the 7th best-selling car brand in the country.
• In Latin America, Nissan finished 2011 with 10 percent market share for the first time, up 0.4 points from the prior year.

About Nissan Americas

In the Americas, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and was recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 and 2011. More information, including photos and video b-roll, on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

From The Indo-Canadian Voice – I’ve always been a big fan of the Nissan Murano since its introduction a few years ago. Its initial styling was years ahead of the competition and Nissan has sensibly toned and refined the exterior look over the years. The current Murano loses none of its impact and remains a stylish, good looking mid-size SUV.

Although it has a flotilla of competitors the Murano has pretty much held it own and continues to be a very attractive buy. The Murano is powered by a single engine choice, namely a 3.5-litre V6 with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that includes manual shift mode and all wheel drive.

Nissan is one of the few manufactures that are actively promoting CVT and it remains a smooth, fuel-efficient transmission system.

For 2012 the Nissan Murano has several changes in its trim line. The S now has a seven-inch information screen and includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lights, heated mirrors, black roof rails, privacy glass, splash guards, tire pressure monitoring system, vehicle information centre, electroluminescent gauges, cruise control, Intelligent Key with pushbutton ignition, power windows, tilt and telescopic steering wheel.

The 2012 Murano also has variable intermittent wipers, intermittent rear wiper, illuminated vanity mirrors, cargo cover, folding cargo organizer, cloth seats, 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks, aluminum trim, and six-CD/MP3 stereo with auxiliary input.

The SV adds automatic headlamps, dual-pane sunroof, rearview monitor, color driver information centre, Bluetooth connectivity, garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, eight-way driver and four-way passenger power-adjustable heated cloth seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, 2-GB Bose premium audio system, auxiliary audio/video input jacks, USB port, and anti-theft system.

The SL adds bi-xenon headlamps, power liftgate, rain-sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, power-return rear seatbacks, and leather seats.

The LE adds 20-inch alloy wheels, silver-accented roof rails, driver’s side memory, power tilt and telescopic steering column, heated rear seats, and wood-tone interior trim.

From The Car Connection - The dust is still settling from 2011, but early figures indicate that the U.S auto market recorded significant growth over 2010. Analysts at Polk Research say that upward trend will continue across much of the globe in 2012 — though alas, not everywhere.

THE WINNERS

China: Though some have questioned the stability of China’s auto market, Planet Earth’s most populous nation clearly has an appetite for cars. Polk expects the growth rate for 2012 to hit 16% — a far cry from the 32% seen in 2010 or the 59% bump in 2009 (both fueled by plenty of government subsidies), but nothing to sneer at. Interestingly, the strongest demand for cars in China is likely to come from consumers outside major metropolitan centers like Shanghai, implying that sales among city-dwellers have plateaued.

U.S.: While America won’t see double-digit growth, the folks at Polk do expect light vehicle sales to rise a very respectable 7.3% in 2012. The gains would’ve been bigger, but 2011 was a big year for auto sales — around 10.4% as of November —  and as a result, many shoppers won’t be back in the market for another year or two.

Luxury: Polk sees the luxury segment picking up speed, particularly in the U.S. Though the interwebs are full of headlines about the still-shaky economy, 2011 may have been just stable enough for affluent shoppers to feel confident again. According to Anthony Pratt, director of forecasting for the Americas at Polk, those individuals are ready to spend again: “More affluent buyers are returning to the market for new vehicles, after three years of spending reductions.”

Honda & Toyota: Polk expects to see Toyota and Honda make big gains in market share in 2012 — though that’s in part because 2011 was so dismal for them. Between the March 11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that crippled Japan and the Thai floods that hurt production in the latter half of the year, both automakers experienced heavy setbacks. Polk doesn’t expect Toyota and Honda to regain all the ground they lost, though, thanks to boosted competition from other automakers.

Volkswagen: Look for continued growth in VW’s market share, thanks to big-selling models like the Jetta and the revamped Beetle. The company may meet its 2018 goal after all.

Chrysler, Ford, General Motors: Detroit’s Big Three have all been making steady improvements since emerging from the doldrums of 2008 and 2009. (Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne even seemed a little weepy in praising his employees’ hard work over the past couple of years.) We’ve been impressed with many of the products each company has been offering, and we hope to see their forward momentum continue.

THE LOSERS

Europe: You’re probably well aware of Europe’s financial troubles. As a result of those woes — and the austerity measures being planned to address them — European sales should be flat or down slightly for 2012. However, Polk expects to see the region bounce back slowly in subsequent years.

Japan: Polk doesn’t delve into much detail for Japan, but sales projections for the next few years are fairly flat, running between 4.5 million and 4.8 million units annually through 2016. That may be in part a result of Japan’s economic recovery from the Tohoku disaster, and it may also have something to do with the fact that Japanese youth aren’t especially interested in cars.

Hyundai/Kia: The powerhouse from South Korea has been making big strides in the U.S. and elsewhere recently. But while they’ll continue to sell a growing number of vehicles, their market share will stay relatively flat for 2012, thanks to increased competition.

Polk expects to see continued growth in global auto markets for at least the next five years. Analysts predict 77.7 million sales for 2012, surging to a stunning 96.3 million by 2016. Stay tuned…

From JS Online’s Mark Savage - Sometimes we all overindulge and that’s when plain vanilla can be refreshing, as was the case with the handsome new Nissan Altima 2.5 S.

Outwardly, this midsize sedan is not plain at all, but is one of the more attractively styled family cars on the market. But even in the tested S model – its midlevel offering – Altima is not all dolled up to coddle you too much or bust your budget.

The S checks in at a modest $22,670 complete with a strong 175-horsepower 2.5-liter engine that gets decent gas mileage. I managed 25.8 mpg and the EPA rates it at 23 city and 32 mpg highway. Much of that economy can be attributed to its Xtronic CVT, continuously variable transmission, which eliminates shift points, supplying the sedan with steady acceleration but not much oomph.

What families will like best about the Altima is its comfortable ride. The rear multilink suspension with twin-tube shocks does a fine job of eating up bumps so you get a smooth controlled ride. The lengthy 109.3-inch wheelbase also contributes to that sumptuous ride.

Steering effort is mild and steering response is fairly precise. Handling is good and you won’t feel much lean in turns if you’re pressing the car a bit.

While the Altima is quiet on the highway, making long trips pleasant, with the CVT you’ll notice the engine sounds like it’s somewhat tightly wound when you accelerate hard. There is some moan from the CVT, which takes a while to get used to. I advise anyone who has not owned a car with CVT to test drive one first to see if you like its feel.

Up front are vented disc brakes with standard discs in back, so stopping comes easily. Traction and stability control are standard, too.

While the exterior offers distinctive styling, a rarity in a midsize car, Nissan also delivers a relatively quiet and attractive interior. The test car featured a brown over tan dash and tan cloth seats. Its main gauges were black with white numbers and orange digital readouts for the trip computer.

Everything was easy to see and reach for controls and there were the usual features, power windows and mirrors, plus radio and cruise controls on the steering wheel hub. Altima also comes with a manual tilt/telescope steering wheel. Trip computer buttons are to the left of the steering wheel and easy to access.

Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Check out all of our new Nissan Altima 2.5 S models at Kelly Nissan of Beverly located at 420 Cabot St. (Route 1A) Beverly, MA 01915

From the Vancouver Courier - Exclusivity. It’s one of those things you can’t price on. Er, or rather, you can. Usually it’s ENORMOUS.

Designer purses, hand-tooled leather shoes, finely tailored suits; in the fashion world, being unique costs big. Same thing for cars… most of the time.

Now, if you run out and plonk down 60 or 70 grand on an E-Class Mercedes or 5-series BMW, it’s going to take all of five minutes before you find yourself parking at the mall next to somebody who bought the exact same car, except in a nicer trim level. So save your money. If you really want to stand out, buy a Nissan.

Specifically, this Nissan right here. It’s the Maxima, and it’s one of those cars that you’ll only find one or two of in stock at your local dealership, and few out on the roads. Nissan doesn’t build or sell a lot of them, although it maintains that it’s the flagship sedan for the brand.

The problem is two-fold. First, Nissan has at least two flagship cars already: for performance, the GT-R, and for green creds, the allelectric Leaf. The Maxima tends to get overshadowed by these well-publicized giants.

Second, cost. When launched in 2009, the redesigned Maxima SV had a price that lapped right up against the bottom pricing-rungs of the Infiniti G37 sedan. Add Infiniti’s often-aggressive lease rates into the mix, and the Maxima actually becomes more expensive than a comparably equipped G.

For 2012, Nissan has reduced the price of the Maxima somewhat. As tested, this SV Sport is now $40,230 before freight, and base models start at $37,880, down $1,920 since last year.

Still, that’s a lot of coin to spend on a Nissan. Is it worth it? I certainly think so, and here’s why.
Read the rest of the article after the jump.

From Metro’s Ross McGuinness - It sounds far-fetched but your car could be making your toast for you in a  few years. And boiling your kettle. And doing your washing. Nissan has just  unveiled new technology that it thinks will revolutionize the way we power our  homes, our cars and our lives.

It has developed a system in which its new electric car, the Leaf, can be  plugged into a house to provide it with another source of energy. The company’s  Smart Home Charging technology is designed to encourage consumers to move away  from using electricity provided by the main grid and use their car for more than  just motoring.

At the heart of this energy drive is the Nissan Leaf (Leading,  Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car). In a recent demonstration at  the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan showed how the car can power a home by being  connected to a power control system box (PCS) that is hooked up to the property.

In the demonstration, the Leaf was powering a specially-designed Smart House  but Nissan is confident the technology could be used with existing homes. The  power control system box will go on sale at the end of March next year in Japan,  where more than 8,000 Leafs have been sold since the car launched in December  2010. The box will cost more than £4,000.

According to Nissan, the Leaf’s 24kW per hour battery is enough to power a  home’s lights, fan, television, fridge and other appliances for two days.

In  an ideal world, the technology would operate in a smart home fitted with solar panels and fuel cells, thus free from the electrical grid.

However, until those types of homes are the norm, it could still be used to  reduce a household’s electricity bills. The car would be charged at night  through the electrical grid but homeowners might use the vehicle’s battery to  power certain appliances and devices during peak times to save money. It could  also be used to power the home during blackouts.

Energy expert Alastair Ramsay is the sustainable development manager at  Legrand, which specialises in electrical installation. He described how it might  work.

‘Basically, you would charge your vehicle up. You would decide at 7:30am that the tariff at that point of time is a bit steep because everyone is trying to make their toast at the same time, so you decide to run your toaster off your car,’ he said.

‘The car can read tariffs so it can make a judgment on whether it’s going to have enough electricity.’

Mr Ramsay thinks this type of technology – an electric car powering a home – will make an impact in four to five years, although he believes smart meters will be needed to make it possible.

Since the Leaf went on sale in Britain in March, Nissan has sold 630 models.  It costs about £26,000 after a £5,000 government grant is taken off the price and when fully charged, can drive up to 110 miles.

Earlier this year, the government announced plans to install 53 million smart meters by 2019. These will replace gas and electricity meters, providing real-time information on usage and accurate bills.

Mr Ramsay insists changes are coming in how we use our energy. ‘In 2020,  we won’t be living as we are today,’ he said. ‘Young folk…will they have their own car? Will they rent it? Will they lease it?

‘If you think about your house, increasingly you will have pieces of equipment that are rechargeable.

‘This will come with what we call the smart home. The home starts deciding where to get the electricity from, not the owner.’

Check out our Kelly Nissan of Beverly dealership here today!