Minis to titanic trucks
A 660-cc, three-cylinder engine provides a whopping 50-horsepower. That sliding side door must be a huge selling feature.
n CUBE: Made in Japan, Cube looks like . . . a cube. The payoff is an amazingly spacious interior and a huge back door allows maximum use of it.
A 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine offers 107-horsepower and spirited performance. A stretched version, called the Cube Cubic actually offers three rows of seating. Rumour has it that Cube is coming to the US for the ‘09 model year.
My favourite Nissan Mini car. Made in Sunderland, England, Micra is currently Nissan’s best-selling car in Europe.
Built on the first shared platform within the Renault-Nissan Alliance, it comes in three and five door hatchback models, as well as a two-door hard-top convertible called the C+C. A fun little car to drive, Micra buyers have a choice of four small engines, including a diesel.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance goes back to 1999 and the lopsided partnership between the two companies appears to be working. Renault owns 44.4 per cent of Nissan, while Nissan has a 15-per cent-stake in Renault.
The alliance shares common goals and has led to platform and powertrain sharing, plus combined purchasing advantages, yet both companies have distinct identities and brands.
How well is it working? Combined Renault and Nissan vehicle sales were a record 6,160,046 units or 9.1 per cent of the global automotive market in calendar year 2007.
Among those on show at 360 were two new ‘09 Nissan models, the just-released Murano and yet-to-be-released Maxima.
The second-generation Murano offers new exterior and interior styling and it’s built on a new advanced D-platform, first introduced on the 2007 Altima.
A VQ-series 3.5-litre V6 rated at 265-horsepower provides power and it’s mated to a second-generation CVT (auto transmission) with ASC (adaptive shift control).
The ‘09 Maxima is the seventh generation of Nissan’s flagship sedan. Made in Smyrna, Tenn., the Maxima is designed to be a four-door sports car.
Nissan calls its new exterior-design theme “liquid motion” and describes as “a powerful and beautiful surface, like the undulation of a wave.” A new Elite Package includes a fixed, full centre console that creates four seating positions.
The km/litre fuel consumption figures used in this article are based on a Japanese government test. They may differ with Canadian fuel economy test results, which are expressed in litres/100 km.
That’s it for this week. Ever heard of a Wingroad, Clipper, Elgrand or a Kubistar?
These vehicles and more, including Nissan’s new performance superstar the GT-R, are reviewed next week.
Bob McHugh is a freelance automotive journalist, writing on behalf of BCAA.
