Nissan Sport Sedan Concept, 2014 Detroit Auto Show (VIDEO) (Next Gen Nissan Maxima?)

by  Viknesh Vijayenthiran of www.motorauthority.com

Nissan has presented a sporty new concept at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show that previews the styling of its future sedans, starting with the 2015 Maxima due later this year. The concept’s official title is Sport Sedan Concept and it features some familiar Nissan styling cues already seen on the 2014 Rogue and prototypes for the upcoming 2015 Murano.

According to Nissan, the Sport Sedan Concept showcases a new design direction for the automaker where sports car principles are applied to regular models like sedans and crossovers. That design direction has been dubbed V-Motion and is characterized by a floating roof and boomerang-shaped lights.

Unique to the Sport Sedan Concept is a low, hunkered down stance. This is emphasized by its aggressive aero components and reduced ground clearance--elements that would be right at home in a sports car. It stretches 191.7 inches in length and has a width of 75.3 inches. Its height is a low 54.3 inches.

The profile of the vehicle is equally powerful, with its dynamic character lines adding a strong sculptural feel and connecting the wheels and tires. Those wheels are 21-inch aluminum alloys shod with 275/30 size tires. The rear is capped by a high deck which is accented by a large stretch of chrome.

The Sport Sedan Concept's interior also offers cues to future production designs. Premium materials are found throughout, with the use of diamond-shaped graphics on the quilted seats, stitching and panels. The interior also features high-contrast colors and metallic accents.

Though it’s described as sporty, the concept still comes with a front-wheel-drive layout. Its engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 putting out in excess of 300 horsepower, and this is mated to a sport-tuned version of Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. This is a similar setup to that found in the current Maxima and is likely to be the same destined for the all-new 2015 Maxima.

Joining the Sport Sedan Concept in Detroit is Nissan’s funky IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO sports car concepts from the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. For more from the show, visit our dedicated hub.

Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1089409_nissan-sport-sedan-concept-debuts-in-detroit-previews-2015-maxima-video

Honda to Nissan Bet Small Is Profitable With Minicar Push: Cars

Honda Motor Co.'s S660 concept sports car in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 16, 2013. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

By Ma Jie, Masatsugu Horie and Anna Mukai of www.businessweek.com

Japan’s automakers are betting that small will be the next big thing. 

At the Tokyo Motor Show opening this week, Honda Motor Co. will unveil the two-seat S660 convertible, its first mini sports car since 1996. Daihatsu Motor Co. has a rival model with panels that can be changed like an iPhone cover. More than a third of the show’s debuts will be mini vehicles, up from about 14 percent in 2011, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Manufacturers are jazzing up the “kei” car -- as they’re known in Japanese -- to escape their image as boxy utility vehicles driven by country bumpkins and older people, and attract new buyers into the biggest bright spot for the world’s No. 3 car market.

“People who drove minicars used to be made fun of,” said Takeshi Miyao, a Tokyo-based auto analyst at Carnorama Japan. “Now, even those who drive sedans are looking.”

Distinguished by their yellow number plates, kei cars were originally created as a cheap means of transportation as the country industrialized after World War II. Typical minicars today are narrow and boxy, with an engine no bigger than 0.66 liters. About two-thirds of drivers are women, and a third are older than 60, according to the Japan Mini Vehicle Association.

While small cars have proved popular in other countries -- think Britain’s Hillman Imp or Italy’s Fiat 500 -- they don’t come close to Japan, where mini vehicles accounted for 39 percent of new cars sold in the first 10 months of this year. Researcher IHS Automotive says it sees no sign of the market share changing.

Standing Out

Kei car sales have gained 3.4 percent this year, compared with the 6.8 percent drop for larger passenger vehicles, industry association data show.

Automakers will be competing for customers like office worker Ritsuko Yamasaki, who owns a 1.2 million-yen ($12,000) Daihatsu Tanto but wants a car that stands out from those driven by her neighbors in Okayama prefecture, 730 kilometers (450 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

“Minicars now are all alike, and don’t look cool or cute,” said Yamasaki, 50, who bought her van-type Tanto two years ago. “My next minicar should be roomy, look different from a delivery vehicle, and be something we can be proud of.”

Suzuki Motor Corp.’s offering is a curvy mini crossover that looks like an SUV. Nissan Motor Co. will display the Dayz Roox wagon, the second minicar developed with Mitsubishi Motors Corp. after its debut into the market earlier this year.

Tax Break

To be sure, demand may suffer if the government raises the levy on minicars as part of reforms tied to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decision to raise the national sales tax next year.

Owners of minicars now pay 7,200 yen in tax a year, compared with 29,500 yen to 111,000 yen for cars with larger engines, according to the transport ministry.

Any increase will hurt lower-income families and small businesses in rural areas, where minicars are the main mode of transport, the mini vehicle association and Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said in a joint briefing on Nov. 15.

Automakers will debut a total of 157 models at this year’s show, with 76 due for global release and 81 for the domestic market. That will make it the biggest display of new models since 2007, before the onset of the global financial crisis and natural disasters in Japan, according to the organizers.

“At this Tokyo Motor Show, I want everyone to get a vision of Japan’s future,” Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, who chairs the organizing committee, said this month.

Futurology

The future, as envisioned by Toyota, may take the form of a chameleon-like vehicle that changes color according to the driver’s mood and suggests destinations based on facial expressions. The world’s largest automaker will display a concept car that uses facial and voice-recognition technology derived from its research into humanoid robots.

Toyota’s luxury Lexus division will also unveil the new-generation RC Coupe and a compact SUV concept.
Nissan, Japan’s No. 2 carmaker, will show an electric-car concept, called the “BladeGlider,” that offers a sense of glider-like piloting with a swept-back wing design and driver’s seat in the center of the vehicle.

Foreign automakers will display a total of 109 models, led by Volkswagen AG, the biggest overseas carmaker by sales in Japan. Registrations of imported vehicles are up 9.7 percent this year, the Japan Automobile Importers Association says. 

VW will display 17 models, including the all-electric compacts e-up! and e-Golf hatchback. Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, the second-biggest foreign brand in Japan, will show two models for the first time in Tokyo, including a special edition of the AMG super sports car.

Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA:US)., the electric carmaker founded by billionaire Elon Musk, will be the lone U.S. carmaker at the show. The Palo Alto, California-based company opened its second dealership in Japan this year and will exhibit its Model S.

The Tokyo Motor show will be open to the public from November 23 to December 1 at Tokyo’s Big Sight in Odaiba.

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-11-18/honda-to-nissan-bet-small-is-profitable-with-minicar-push-cars#p1

Car and Driver First Drive: 2014 Nissan Rogue

Wow, I have to say, much better than the outgoing Rogue....

by John Lamm of www.caranddriver.com

The Rogue moniker might conjure images of reprobate political figures and the status of ladies’ undergarments in some quarters, but the badge has been no barrier to sales success. Here in the U.S., the compact crossover is Nissan’s second-bestselling model, slugging it out in showrooms with popular players such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4. 

For 2014, Nissan introduces the second generation of the vehicle with this name, redone in part to use the new Common Module Family architecture, which is shared with Renault. Nissan will continue to sell the old version of the Rogue (some 650,000 have been produced since 2008), so you’ll be able to compare the new and old versions side by side come this January. The old version, to be dubbed Rogue Select, will carry a sub-$20,000 base price. That model is assembled in Japan; the new Rogues will be manufactured in Smyrna, Tennessee. 

A quick body scan of the 2014 Rogue reveals an evolutionary shape with a cleaner front, thanks to swept-back headlights and a more prominent and upscale-looking grille. LED daytime running lights are a tip of the hat to current fashion. The detailing around the greenhouse windows is crisper, the wheel arches show more muscle, and the taillights again wrap around the side but now have more character. 

The 2014 Rogue provides a larger canvas for these styling details, as it’s 1.0 inch longer, 1.5 inches wider, and 1.0 inch taller. The wheelbase is stretched by 0.6 inch. Creeping mass is kept in check, however, with elements such as an aluminum hood and a composite rear hatch. Underbody aero work, including a spoiler-type element mounted beneath the muffler, is claimed to reduce drag and increase the distance between fill-ups. 

Shining from Within
Although the exterior changes are minor, the interior takes a big step uptown. For the first time, the Rogue is available in a seven-passenger configuration, although the teensy third-row split-bench seats are rated PG-13. More important, the Rogue’s second-row seats slide fore-and-aft nine inches, and all seatbacks fold flat save the driver’s, enabling a wide range of cargo- and passenger-hauling combinations. Also new on five-seaters is the Divide-N-Hide cargo system that, once learned, does a reasonable job of keeping your stuff in the way back in place and/or hidden. 

The previous-gen Rogue’s cabin kit looked lifted from an economy car; however, the new design is anything but déclassé. There are large, easy-to-read gauges ahead and a center console that appears integrated from its horizontal vents up top to convenient climate-control switchgear below. Centered between them, depending on options, is a five- or seven-inch color display, the latter of the touch-screen variety. 

Nissan sticks with its QR25DE engine in the 2014 model, a 2.5-liter twin-cam four rated at 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The automaker is also remaining faithful to the continuously variable transmission, in the interest of fuel economy—the Rogue comes in at 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway with front-wheel drive, 25/32 in all-wheel-drive versions. Those estimates are impressive compared with much of the competition but are only 1 mpg better on the highway than Mazda’s CX-5 with a more-enthusiast-friendly six-speed automatic. 

Going Rogue
The JATCO-supplied CVT makes a good starting point for our discussion of driving impressions, because as we trundled along the highways around Nashville, listening to the engine wind up through the CVT reminded us of how annoying such a transmission can be. There has been some progress in reducing the disconnect between road speed and engine rpm in CVT-equipped vehicles, and continued attention to noise isolation has made further advancements in the new Rogue. We suspect most consumers in the market for a Rogue won’t know or care about the difference between the CVT and a normal automatic gearbox, which is fair enough. But that’s not us. 

Dynamically, the Rogue is more of a cocoon than a newly sprung butterfly ready to take flight. It is quiet inside, and the ride is comfortable over the varied surfaces on which we drove. Handling is safe and secure but not well defined and certainly not inspiring, including the placid, numb electrically boosted steering. Several interesting tech bits are included, like active ride control, which applies the brakes and adjusts engine torque to reduce head toss over road undulations, especially for passengers in back. There’s also active engine braking, which engages the CVT’s lower “ratios” when the driver hits the brakes. And active trace control uses the brakes to aid stability when cornering. 

That interior is sensibly laid out, and the buttons and switches respond in the manner you’d expect, taking minimal eye time from the road. There’s plenty of connectivity via apps, hands-free text messaging, text-to-speech, and such. We do love the Around View monitor that gives a bird’s-eye view around the car when backing up. 

There are three Rogue models—S, SV, and SL—each available with front- or all-wheel drive, although only the S and SV can be had with the third-row seat, as part of the Family package. Prices for the front-drive versions range from $23,350 to $28,930; the AWDs start at $24,700 to $30,280. Third-row seats are $1190 for the S model and $940 in the SV. The new panoramic sunroof will set you back $1320. There are Premium packages that wrap up much of the cool stuff, like navigation, Around View, and the delightfully named “moving object detection” that, uh, identifies objects in motion outside the Rogue. 

For 2014, the cocoon that is the Rogue gets even cocoonier with the addition of electronic nannies. Combined with the newly available third-row seating and more flexible interior, the new Rogue should continue to fight admirably among the compact-crossover ranks, if not roguishly.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-nissan-rogue-first-drive-review

Nissan plans two sports car concepts for Tokyo show

by Steve Huntingford of www.whatcar.com

Nissan will show two sports cars at the Tokyo motor show; a crazy concept and a more realistic one that is closer to a production car.

The latter is Nissan's answer to the Toyota GT86, but rather than being a totally new concept, its styling is apparently inspired by a car from the company's past. Nissan would not confirm which model that is, but said it was 'not a Z car'.

The last sports car concept shown by Nissan was the Esflow at the 2011 Tokyo motor show.
The new concept is to be used to gauge reaction, and if the design goes down well, Nissan is likely to build a production version. This production car would be likely to feature the 197bhp, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine from the Nissan Juke Nismo.

Guillaume Cartier, the company's senior vice president for sales and marketing, admitted Nissan is still trying to build Nismo's identity in Europe. 'We mustn't do anything to dilute the brand. Nismo has to be credible.'
This means there won't be a Micra or Note Nismo in Europe, whereas Nissan feels it can get away with this sort of model in Japan where the brand is more established.
- See more at: http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/nissan-plans-two-sports-car-concepts-tokyo-show/1216827#sthash.DecIbnV8.dpuf

Nissan will show two sports cars at the Tokyo motor show; a crazy concept and a more realistic one that is closer to a production car. - See more at: http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/nissan-plans-two-sports-car-concepts-tokyo-show/1216827#sthash.DecIbnV8.dpuf

Nissan is looking to have a Toyota FT86 fighter at the next Tokyo Auto Show, one that is gets a realistic shot of getting produced and one concept that will be wayyy out there.  Not based on a Z car.

Click the Source below for more info.;
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/nissan-plans-two-sports-car-concepts-tokyo-show/1216827

Nissan will show two sports cars at the Tokyo motor show; a crazy concept and a more realistic one that is closer to a production car.

The latter is Nissan's answer to the Toyota GT86, but rather than being a totally new concept, its styling is apparently inspired by a car from the company's past. Nissan would not confirm which model that is, but said it was 'not a Z car'.

The last sports car concept shown by Nissan was the Esflow at the 2011 Tokyo motor show.
The new concept is to be used to gauge reaction, and if the design goes down well, Nissan is likely to build a production version. This production car would be likely to feature the 197bhp, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine from the Nissan Juke Nismo.

Guillaume Cartier, the company's senior vice president for sales and marketing, admitted Nissan is still trying to build Nismo's identity in Europe. 'We mustn't do anything to dilute the brand. Nismo has to be credible.'
This means there won't be a Micra or Note Nismo in Europe, whereas Nissan feels it can get away with this sort of model in Japan where the brand is more established.
- See more at: http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/nissan-plans-two-sports-car-concepts-tokyo-show/1216827#sthash.DecIbnV8.dpuf

TopSpeed: 2016 Nissan GT-R Rendered Speculation

The Nissan GT-R is by far Japan’s longest-running and most-talked-about supercar. Even in the face of an all-new hybrid NSX and the shrieking Lexus LF-A’s V-10, the magic of the GT-R formula continues to fascinate and captivate car guys and gals across the world.

The latest R35 Nissan GT-R is the most accomplished in the family lineage by not only dominating the press in Asia and Australia — where the previous-gen car were sold — but also taking headlines across America and Europe.

And the headlines are good. Not the standard "newcomer tries to beat Porsche, loses" we are all so familiar with. The GT-R is a machine that wins objective and subjective comparison tests against some of the absolute quickest and highest-tech machines in the world.

It has taken two generations of 911 Turbo models to get anywhere near the GT-R’s pace, and the $100,000 Nissan also regularly spanks Ferrari’s finest.

So much so that Porsche and Ferrari will no longer let one of their cars be in a comparo with the GT-R. Now that is an achievement.

So where to go with this legend of a race car? Keep the world-beating pace and all the latest component upgrades from the forthcoming GT-R Nismo, but improve the weight balance, center of gravity, aerodynamics and style.

A daunting task, to say the least. Luckily, the TopSpeed artists and graphic design team have created a few exclusive previews of where the GT-R’s styling will go in the next generations.

Tagged a 2016 Nissan GT-R, these renderings are purely speculative design studies. The ideas presented here are still quite interesting, with two distinct flavors of modern GT-R from which to select your favorite.

Source (with more info);
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/nissan/2016-nissan-gt-r-ar160541.html

All-New Nissan X-TRAIL / Rogue revealed in Frankfurt

Goes on sale Q1 2014

The all-new Nissan X-Trail/Rogue has made its world debut today at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

It has lost some of the familiar rugged looks as these were replaced by a more premium styling with sculptured muscular lines, "boomerang" taillights and modern 19-inch alloys. Nissan mentions upper-spec models will get full LED headlights with daytime running lights once the car goes on sale in the first quarter of next year.

The interior cabin is a blend of chrome, metal and piano black finishes with a "theater-style" seating arrangement and the possibility of ordering two extra seats for a seven-seat layout. Lower-spec models come with a cloth fabric but more expensive versions feature full leather upholstery with contrasting stitching.

The 2014 X-Trail's rear doors open to almost 80 degrees which enables an easy access inside the cabin, and those sitting on the middle row seat now benefit from additional knee room thanks to the elongated wheelbase. The third row of seats can be folded forward to boost cargo capacity, whereas the middle row can recline and slide.

It has received the latest generation of Nissan's ALL MODE 4x4i system controllable by using a rotary switch installed on the center console. The driver gets to choose between 2WD, Auto mode or Lock which offers permanent four-wheel drive. The 2014 X-Trail also boasts Active Ride Control capable of monitoring the road up ahead to spot undulations and will modify the damping to compensate. Active Engine Brake is also fitted and can increase engine braking during cornering or when decelerating to a standstill.

Nissan fitted the new X-Trail/Rogue with Active Trace Control comprising an on-board sensor monitoring steering angle, speed, braking effort and throttle opening to brake the wheels individually as a method of reducing understeer. Lastly, the off-roader will be offered with Uphill Start Support and Advance Hill Descent Control.

Details about the engine lineup will be disclosed closer to the car's market launch.

Source (with a lot of pix);

http://www.worldcarfans.com/113091062750/all-new-nissan-x-trail--rogue-revealed-in-frankfurt

Carscoops!: First Photos of New 2014 Nissan X-Trail and Rogue 7-Seater SUV

A lot nicer than the existing Rogue....

The unofficial unveilings of the Frankfurt Motor Show continue with the first images of Nissan's brand new, but as of yet, unspecified production SUV, which we believe to be the 2014 X-Trail. These pictures, courtesy of China's Autohome, seem to have been shot from Nissan's booth at the Frankfurt Messe. 
 
While we're still waiting for Nissan to confirm the name of the European version, the Japanese carmaker has already told us that the same model will be marketed as the 2014 Nissan Rogue in North America.
 
We also know that it's the production-trimmed / slightly toned down version of last year's HiCross Concept and that it will be the brand's sole seven-seater (optional in Europe) SUV offering as there won't be a "+2" version of the next Qashqai, which itself is scheduled to arrive in Europe next year following a presentation this November. 
 
The X-Trail and its North American twin will make use of Nissan's new modular "CMF" chassis, offering both front- and all-wheel drive variants, and four-cylinder engines. 
 
For full details, we'll have to wait for the official release from Nissan.

Source;
http://www.carscoops.com/2013/09/first-photos-of-new-2014-nissan-x-trail.html 

Topspeed.com: 2016 Nissan Maxima Nismo

The Nissan Maxima’s replacement is finally on track for arrival next fall as a 2015 or early-2016 model, with a shift in focus toward performance to better differentiate Nissan’s flagship sedan from the popular (but bland) Altima sedan.

Exclusive TopSpeed Renderings show a speculative preview of this hot new sports sedan, which looks to shake off the front-drive proportions and goofy grin in favor of a wider, lower and meaner style like the 370Z and GT-R.

Nissan’s sports car lineup has never been this strong, and continued support for the company’s two tiers of performance cars has really helped the brand’s image, despite being diluted from selling millions of basic Sentra’s and Versa econoboxes to pay the bills.

The Maxima was really at a crossroads before this current re-alignment to its 4DSC roots. The next generation was even mooted to go the full EV route, with the cab-forward styling of the 2011 Nissan Ellure concept thought to be previewing both the just-launched Altima and next Maxima.

Another option on the table would adapt the 370Z’s latest chassis for use in a rear-drive sedan, or even a stretched GT-R of our dreams. These two scenarios are far less likely than a continued front-drive layout, but low and dramatic proportions that evolve the boring Nissan look very nicely.

Keeping the existing Maxima layout is a safe bet because it is the only way to continue the current model’s $31,000 to $36,000 price range. Nissan’s ability to sell a volume sedan for more than $40,000 is less than a sure thing, especially with Infiniti’s billion-dollar name changes and new Q50 sedan to replace the G37.

The next Maxima looks sharp, low and aggressive in these previews, which base the roofline and proportions on a brief glimpse of a future design shown to the press at a recent Nissan event.

Even with the most likely scenario of a front-drive, front-engine platform, the styling exercise shows real progress in establishing a global Nissan face. The styling woes and overlap between Nissan and Infiniti designers has created a confused and disjointed line, with too much similarity between a $15,000 Sentra’s grille and those used on the Infiniti Q70. You better believe no one would be buying BMW 750Li sedans for $100,000 if there was a $10,000 rental car that looked just like it.

The Maxima’s trend-setting place in the Nissan range was also blatantly replicated on the firm’s cheapest sedans, leaving the current Maxima without much of the cool factor enjoyed by the 370Z and GT-R.

In the exterior dimension estimates below, the dimensions of the next Maxima are likely to be lower, longer and much wider. Width is the key buying factor for many people who like a big car versus a midsize, so the Maxima will grow in size but also have a steep, rear-drive-style windshield angle and reclined racing seating position.

This is a big change versus the Nissan Ellure concept, which adds more Prius-like features for a deeply raked glasshouse and EV-hinting details.

The roofline is the most drastic drop: from the previous Toyota Echo-like look of the Maxima, the new sedan is expected to chop more than 2 inches from the total height. The long and low graphic is at once both very satisfying and interesting, with a shorter-than-normal front overhang and a deeply sloping roof.

The blacked-out pillars are a key GT-R styling feature that help the car look like the Stig’s helmet with a continuous bar of black-tinted glass. The pillars themselves are also black, offering a floating roof that is anchored by a painted pillar only at the trunk.

Source (with dimensions);
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/nissan/2016-nissan-maxima-nismo-ar160220.html

2014 Nissan GT-R Nismo spied for the first time - photos

Godzilla cometh

by Michael Gauthier

After months of rumors and speculation, our spies have snapped the first photos of the 2014 Nissan GT-R Nismo.

Caught undergoing testing in Europe, the prototype is heavily camouflaged but appears to feature a new front splitter and a revised rear bumper with additional vents. We can also see a prominent rear wing - which was removed for road testing - and Nismo-branded six-spoke alloy wheels.

While the exterior doesn't look too exciting, the model is expected to feature a number of carbon fiber components. This combined with an upgraded twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine - that is rumored to produce more than 570 bhp (425 kW) - could enable the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in as little as two seconds.

The GT-R Nismo is expected to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, so stay tuned for full details.

Source (with more pix);
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113090262297/2014-nissan-gt-r-nismo-spied-for-the-first-time

2015 Nissan X-Trail (Rogue) spied testing in United States - photos

Inspired by the Hi-Cross Concept

by Adrian Padeanu

A heavily disguised prototype of the 2015 Nissan X-Trail / Rogue has been spied undergoing testing in United States.

Despite the serious amount of camo, we already pretty much now the car's design after seeing the patent photos which surfaced the web at the beginning of the year. The new "V" front grille treatment will be seen on the next-gen Qashqai and later on the third-gen X-Trail which will be influenced by the Hi-Cross Concept presented at last year's Geneva Motor Show.

The all-new X-Trail is expected to grow in size compared to the current model so it should provide more space inside the cabin, especially for rear passengers. We remind you the aforementioned Hi-Cross was 4660mm long (183.4 inches) long, 1850mm (72.8 inches) wide and 1670mm (65.7 inches) tall, with a 2780mm (109.4 inches) wheelbase.

Some form of hybridization will probably be available for the 2015 X-Trail since the concept was envisioned with a 2.0-liter gasoline mill and an electric motor working together with the company's XTRONIC continuously variable transmission.

A public reveal should occur at next year's Geneva Motor Show before going on sale in late 2014 as a 2015MY.

Source (with a few more pix);
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113081361397/2015-nissan-x-trail-rogue-spied-testing-in-united-states

AutoEvolution: 2015 Nissan Rogue/X-Trail Spyshots

 

Here is a rendering of what this vehicle may look like, keep in mind, the front lights will be different and the rims will more than likely not be 22's....

by Mihnea Radu of www.autoevolution.com 

The 2014 Nissan Qashqai has been spotted undergoing testing for the second time now, and our photographer was able to get really up-close and personal. Still wearing heavy camouflage, the second generation Qashqai looks a lot like the Hi-Cross concept revealed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The Qashqai is Nissan's best selling model and Europe, but serves as a basis for the American market Rogue crossover as well. Innovation is the key if this Japanese carmaker wants to continue doing well.

The new Qashqai will be revealed in full some three months from now at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will enter production in Sunderland in December. Engines will include an updated 1.2-liter thee-cylinder unit that's supercharged to produce 100 horsepower. Direct injection and a start/stop system will ensure a substantial improvement in economy over the 1.6-liter engine it replaces.

Earlier this week, Nissan confirmed a new version of the 1.5-liter diesel for the Juke, which will also go into the bigger crossover. This makes the same 110 PS but torque has been increased from 240 Nm to 260 Nm at 1,750rpm. The engine has been fitted with revised piezo-electric fuel injection nozzles, which now have a more precise spray pattern for better combustion (with as much as 15 percent less unburnt fuel) and a new, more responsive, low-inertia variable geometry turbocharger fed by a more direct and more efficient air intake path.

Update: One of our readers suggested this is not the Qashqai, and indeed the Michigan plates prove it's not. However, it's likely not the X-Trail either, since that's not sold in the US. As a result, we believe it's the new Rogue crossover which should hit the US market next year, probably after the Detroit or New York Auto Shows.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/spyshots-2015-nissan-rogue-or-x-trail-61355.html