Nissan powers the DeltaWing for Le Mans: Autoweek TV

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AppId is over the quota

Also in this episode: The 2005-06 Ford Taurus gets checked for a sticky throttle and Audi looks at putting Ducati in its garage.

TRANSCRIPT

Hi, I'm Andy, and this is a Tuesday edition of Autoweek TV. Here's what's making news today:

-- Nissan is the power behind the DeltaWing race car.

-- The old Ford Taurus is being checked for sticky throttles.

-- And Audi might be adding Ducati to its garage.

Let's get going:

--

The IndyCar boys passed on the radically designed DeltaWing as their race car for the future.

But the DeltaWing will be racing this year--at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

And Nissan is providing the engine--a turbocharged 1.6-liter four that should make about 300 hp.

Now, that doesn't sound like enough power for a major race such as Le Mans. But the DeltaWing's design cuts aero drag and weight, so the backers expect to be challenging for the top step of the podium.

We'll have a video look at the DeltaWing in just a minute, so stick around.

--

The government has started a probe into the Ford Taurus from the 2005 and 2006 model years. The problem? A number of people have complained that the throttle gets stuck in the open position.

Presumably, this probe would also look at the Mercury Sable, the mechanical twin of the Taurus.

NHTSA says it has at least 14 complaints about the problem. Ford says it is cooperating with the investigation.

--

We reported earlier that the investor group that owns Ducati is looking for a buyer.

Now, Audi has apparently struck a deal to give it first dibs on the Italian motorcycle maker--at least until mid-April. That's according to a report in Car magazine in Britain.

The report says the purchase price could range between $325 million and $390 million.

This is all part of Volkswagen chief Ferdinand Piech's Project Eagle program to buy a high-profile motorcycle company.

Mercedes-Benz is also said to be interested in buying Ducati.

--

That's the car news for today.

Let's end the show with this two-minute video from Nissan Europe that shows its work on the DeltaWing race car.

We'll see you back here tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the drive.

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2012 Nissan Murano SL: Review notes: A station wagon for the new millennium

A station wagon for the new millennium
The 3.5-liter V6 in the 2012 Nissan Murano is rated at 260 hp.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: Crossovers continue to be a white-hot segment of the new-car market for a variety of reasons, and this 2012 Nissan Murano SL could easily be Exhibit A as to the reason why. These vehicles are the station wagons of the new millennium, only they look a bit better. Or at least they blend in a bit better, looking like smaller knockoffs of all of the sport-utes patrolling the nation's highways.

Nissan calls the Murano a "premium crafted crossover," and while some marketing agency was probably paid tens of thousands of dollars for that line, after an hour or so behind the wheel, I understood why and started looking to see if this was an Infiniti rather than a Nissan.

The ute comes pretty well appointed, with comfortable leather seats, dual-zone temperature control, keyless entry and one of the highest-resolution backup cameras I've experienced. This tester was additionally equipped with a navigation system playing through a seven-inch, high-resolution monitor. The navigation system quickly became one of my favorites, with easy, intuitive controls that made my navigation around the Valley of the Sun so much easier. Nearly everyone today has turn-by-turn navigation capabilities on their cell phone, but I liked kicking it old-school, using a vehicle's onboard nav system, especially one with real-time traffic, as in the Murano.

If there's a downside, it would be the powertrain. The 3.5-liter V6 is stout and is one of my favorite engines that Nissan uses throughout its lineup. There's decent torque down low, and the 24-mpg highway mileage is fine in a vehicle this size. The problem here is that the fine engine is mated with a CVT, and while Nissan calls it "Intelligent Xtronic," there's no getting away from the annoying buzziness that happens when you hit the throttle at launch. The revs run up and you begin to gain speed. Maybe, if you've never experienced a good automatic or even a manual transmission, then this CVT would be just fine. But I've not met a CVT yet that I like, and frankly, if I were shopping for a vehicle, a CVT would be a deal-breaker.

And that's too bad because the Murano is more than a player in this segment. It's comfortable, quiet (once it got up to speed) on the pool-table-like smooth roads around Phoenix, and the ability to fold flat the rear seats made for more than enough room to swallow up luggage needed for a week in the sun.

2012 Nissan Murano SL

Base Price: $37,210

As-Tested Price: $39,255

Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6; FWD, continuously variable transmission

Output: 260 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 240 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,993 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA): 20 mpg

Options: Navigation package including HDD navigation with seven-inch VGA monitor, voice recognition, touch screen, streaming audio via Bluetooth, XM NavTraffic, XM NavWeather ($1,850); floor mat, carpeted cargo mat ($195)

For more information: Check out the 2012 Nissan Murano SL at shopautoweek.com.

Get more car news, reviews and opinion every day: Sign up to have the Autoweek Daily Drive delivered right to your inbox.

 

Nissan 370Z gets mild makeover: Autoweek TV

Also in this episode: Formula One teams roll out their new cars, Mazda gets aggressive with prices for the CX-5 and Ferraris take to the ski slope.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to a Tuesday edition of Autoweek TV.

In a minute, we'll watch Ferrari do something that most Prancing Horse owners would never do--drive their cars in the snow. But it proves a point.

But first, let's drop the green flag on some car news:

--

The media preview for the Chicago auto show gets going tomorrow. And I'll be there to bring you reports from the floor of the McCormick Place convention center.

But here's an early look at one of the debuts for this year's show--the 2013 Nissan 370Z sports car.

This is not a major makeover. Nissan refreshed the front and rear fascia on the Z car and adds a new wheel design. There also are new shades of red and blue. Everything under the hood stays status quo.

Here, we've put the 2012 and 2013 models of the Z car side by side so that you can spot the differences.

--

The Formula One show is getting geared up for the 2012 season. The teams are gathering in Spain this week for the first official tests.

And that means we're getting our first look at the new cars. Among them:

-- The new Ferrari, the F2012.

-- The new McLaren, the MP4-27.

-- And the car from the defending champion, the Red Bull RB8.

The major change this year is that teams can't blow the engine exhaust onto the rear diffuser for more downforce.

--

Mazda has set the base price for the CX-5 small crossover at $21,490, including shipping charges. That means the new Mazda undercuts the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 on price.

Power comes from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, rated at 155 hp. The CX-5 can be had as a front-driver or with all-wheel drive.

And buyers get a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The CX-5 reaches dealerships later this month.

--

OK, back to Ferraris in the snow.

One of Ferrari's key selling points for the new FF is that it comes equipped with all-wheel drive and was engineered for all types of road conditions.

How best to get that message out? Well, why not get your Formula One drivers to have a little slalom race on a ski hill. Here they go.

--

So maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise that the Ferrari test track was covered in snow on the day the team rolled out its new Formula One car.

That's a wrap for Tuesday. I'll be in Chicago the next couple of days, reporting from the auto show.

Make sure you enjoy the drive.

\

Nissan NV200 compact van debuts at Chicago auto show

The Nissan NV200 compact cargo van made its North American debut at the 2012 Chicago auto show on Wednesday. The smaller utility van will go on sale in early 2013, following the full-size NV cargo van that hits dealerships this spring.

Nissan was looking for a right-size van to bring to market, with a low entry point and a low cost of ownership. The company says the NV200 is just that.

The NV200 currently sees duty in 40 countries around the world. A passenger version was chosen by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission as the Taxi of Tomorrow.

The van has a DOHC, 2.0-liter engine with Nissan's continuously variable transmission.

The NV200 has 123 cubic feet of cargo space, with a relatively small footprint measuring 186.2 inches long and 68.1 inches wide. The body was extended nearly eight inches for the U.S. market. It has a payload rating of 1,500 pounds. The cargo hold will fit a standard 40-inch-by-48-inch pallet and is available with floor-mounted cargo hooks and a 12-volt power point.

The cockpit has a six-way adjustable driver's seat with a manual lumbar adjuster. The center console has a spot for laptops, file folders, CDs and beverages. The instrument panel has more storage spaces, while the passenger seat can fold down to serve as a desktop.

Power windows are standard, along with a 12-volt power outlet on the instrument panel. A CD player with auxiliary music input is also standard, with two door-mounted speakers.

Two trims will be offered, S and SV. The SV model adds heated outside mirrors, power locks, keyless entry and a few other goodies. Optional equipment includes navigation, Bluetooth wireless communications, satellite radio, rearview monitor and prewiring for the Nissan Fleet Tracker.

The NV200 will be manufactured in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and will be available through Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealers.

 

Nissan rolls out refreshed 370Z for Chicago show

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Nissan introduced the 2013 370Z on Tuesday, ahead of the press days at the Chicago auto show. The sports coupe gets a refreshed front and rear fascia, new wheel packages and new hues of red and blue paint.

The 3.7-liter V6 engine carries over for 2013 with 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The coupe and coupe touring get a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic. The roadster and roadster touring will have the same engine, but the six-speed manual is only offered with the Touring model.

The Sports package will add revised 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, red-painted brake calipers and Euro-tuned shock absorbers.

"Since the original 1970 Z was first introduced our goal has always been to keep the design moving forward," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager of Nissan North America. "The changes for 2013, though subtle, go a long way in enhancing its appearance."

For the tuner crowd, the Nissan 370Z will once again have a Nismo option. The Nismo 370Z gets a slight bump in horsepower, to 350, and 6 lb-ft more of torque. The suspension is tuned up and sits on superlightweight forged-alloy wheels. The exhaust is switched to an H configuration, and the engine-control unit is programmed for greater performance. The only transmission available is a six-speed manual with Nissan's SynchroRev rev matching.

The Nismo package also includes a Bose audio system with two additional speakers and two subwoofers. The Nismo won't have the new front and rear fascia, Euro-tuned shocks or new blue exterior color.

Pricing and more information will be available closer to the June on-sale date.

Autoweek loves passionate comments and debate, but remember that you're part of a diverse community. Above all: be respectful. Critique statements, not people; talk about the automotive world, but skip the political rhetoric, hate speech, and obscenities. While we can't read every post, this site is moderated and Autoweek will remove comments as we see fit. Questions? Read our Terms of Use or email moderator@autoweek.com.

View the original article here

Nissan creates Spec Z series with National Auto Sport Association

 

 Nissan
Nissan is partnering with NASA to create a Spec Z series

Nissan is partnering with the National Auto Sport Association to create a new spec road-racing series for the 2003-08 Nissan 350Z. The company says the series will focus on close competition, parity and cost containment.

NASA Spec Z will offer a contingency prize program, while Nissan Motorsports will provide technical support. The prize program awards up to $850 for the top three finishers at regional events, and Nissan Motorsports will provide $6,500 in cash support to the top Spec Z finishers at the NASA Championships.

BFGoodrich will be the control tire for the series; the tiremaker has also created a contingency prize program. Other prizes are being finalized.

“We are very excited about Spec Z,” said Jeremy Croiset, NASA sponsorship manager. “We have been working closely with Nissan Motorsports on the creation of Spec Z, and it will be an excellent series for anyone looking to step into a spec vehicle that's fast and relatively inexpensive to build, maintain and race.”

There are plenty of rules for the spec series, including what drivers can modify and what they can't. Engines for the series are basically stock, but fuel octane can rise above 100. Lightening is not permitted, but there are a few parts that can be removed. If you're interested, check out the full Spec Z rule book here.

Other NASA spec series feature the Porsche 944, Factory Five cars, the Mazda Miata, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang and a few even higher-performance classes. There are divisions across the United States and races almost every weekend.

Nissan 370Z gets mild makeover: Autoweek TV

Also in this episode: Formula One teams roll out their new cars, Mazda gets aggressive with prices for the CX-5 and Ferraris take to the ski slope.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to a Tuesday edition of Autoweek TV.

In a minute, we'll watch Ferrari do something that most Prancing Horse owners would never do--drive their cars in the snow. But it proves a point.

But first, let's drop the green flag on some car news:

--

The media preview for the Chicago auto show gets going tomorrow. And I'll be there to bring you reports from the floor of the McCormick Place convention center.

But here's an early look at one of the debuts for this year's show--the 2013 Nissan 370Z sports car.

This is not a major makeover. Nissan refreshed the front and rear fascia on the Z car and adds a new wheel design. There also are new shades of red and blue. Everything under the hood stays status quo.

Here, we've put the 2012 and 2013 models of the Z car side by side so that you can spot the differences.

--

The Formula One show is getting geared up for the 2012 season. The teams are gathering in Spain this week for the first official tests.

And that means we're getting our first look at the new cars. Among them:

-- The new Ferrari, the F2012.

-- The new McLaren, the MP4-27.

-- And the car from the defending champion, the Red Bull RB8.

The major change this year is that teams can't blow the engine exhaust onto the rear diffuser for more downforce.

--

Mazda has set the base price for the CX-5 small crossover at $21,490, including shipping charges. That means the new Mazda undercuts the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 on price.

Power comes from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, rated at 155 hp. The CX-5 can be had as a front-driver or with all-wheel drive.

And buyers get a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The CX-5 reaches dealerships later this month.

 

Nissan rolls out refreshed 370Z for Chicago show

Nissan introduced the 2013 370Z on Tuesday, ahead of the press days at the Chicago auto show. The sports coupe gets a refreshed front and rear fascia, new wheel packages and new hues of red and blue paint.

The 3.7-liter V6 engine carries over for 2013 with 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The coupe and coupe touring get a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic. The roadster and roadster touring will have the same engine, but the six-speed manual is only offered with the Touring model.

The Sports package will add revised 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, red-painted brake calipers and Euro-tuned shock absorbers.

"Since the original 1970 Z was first introduced our goal has always been to keep the design moving forward," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager of Nissan North America. "The changes for 2013, though subtle, go a long way in enhancing its appearance."

For the tuner crowd, the Nissan 370Z will once again have a Nismo option. The Nismo 370Z gets a slight bump in horsepower, to 350, and 6 lb-ft more of torque. The suspension is tuned up and sits on superlightweight forged-alloy wheels. The exhaust is switched to an H configuration, and the engine-control unit is programmed for greater performance. The only transmission available is a six-speed manual with Nissan's SynchroRev rev matching.

The Nismo package also includes a Bose audio system with two additional speakers and two subwoofers. The Nismo won't have the new front and rear fascia, Euro-tuned shocks or new blue exterior color.

Pricing and more information will be available closer to the June on-sale date.