2014 Nissan Altima on 2040-cars

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2016 Nissan Leaf with 107-mile range will start at $35,050* [UPDATE]

Here we go. Without making any huge leap into a second-gen model, Nissan has upgraded the 2016 Nissan Leaf from the 2015 model with a big range increase and a more durable battery. According to the new EPA numbers, the new Leaf will go 107 miles from a 30-kWh battery pack. That's going to get people's attention, since the current Leaf has an 84-mile range from a 24-kWh pack. You will still be able to get an 84-mile Leaf in the 2016 model year, since Nissan is keeping the S trim level with the lower, 24-kWh pack size. If you opt for the more expensive SV or SL trims, then you'll not only get the 27-percent greater range, but also a battery pack that is slightly heavier (by 46 pounds) and has more modules (eight vs. four) but the same number of cells. The two packs are the same size. In the end, the EPA rates the 30-kWh with 124 city, 101 highway and 112 combined MPGe fuel economy, while the S trim keeps the 126 city, 101 highway and 114 combined MPGe of the 2015 models. All the new 2016 Leafs keep the same 80-kW AC synchronous motor from earlier models. It still offers 107 horsepower and 187 pound-feet of torque. Prices for the new Leaf start at $35,050 for the Leaf SV (up from $32,950 for the 2015), $37,640 for the Leaf SL (up from $35,970) and $28,060 for the Leaf S (no change from 2015). All prices include $850 delivery charge but not the potential federal tax incentive of $7,500. The 2016's exterior is virtually identical to the 2015, aside from some new colors with names like Forged Bronze, Coulis Red and Deep Blue Pearl. Nissan is offering a few upgrades on the inside, though. There's a new graphic interface display on the 7-inch color screen (5-inch on the S trim) and a new "beam forming microphone" that should make the car's voice recognition better. The information that is displayed on the screen has also changed, with the charging screen info being updated every 12 miles. Given that some (but not all) of the rumors of this Leaf range bump turned out to be true, what do you all think of the talk of a 250-mile Leaf in about three years? UPDATE: The original headline quoted the price of the SL model instead of the less expensive SV, and has now been changed to accurately reflect the starting price of the SV. Both SL and SV come standard with the new 30 kWh battery, while the S model comes standard with the smaller 24 kWh pack. Thanks to those who pointed out this discrepancy!

Nissan ZEOD RC on track and from behind the wheel

The Nissan ZEOD RC hybrid racecar has had mixed success in its competition life. It was invented to do a completely electric, high-speed lap at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which it was able to do in practice. However, when the big event actually came, the car lasted less than an hour before it had to bow out with transmission issues. Nissan hasn't completely given up on its experiment, though. The experience (and possibly some of the tech) is going to help with the GT-R LM racer next year, and now the ZEOD is getting its chance to see how it handles the Top Gear test track.
Unfortunately, it's not The Stig piloting the ZEOD; instead, the magazine's motoring editor Ollie Marriage is the lucky man for the job. The car's sharp shape seems to be a good metaphor for how it handles because it just seems to dart around the track. Its tiny, turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with 400 horsepower and two electric motors put out a claimed 750 horsepower, and that seems like plenty for the relatively short Top Gear course.
As usual of Top Gear, the cinematography here is fantastic, and a second video shows off a single lap of the course from around the car. It's amazing to watch, especially with its big screen constantly showing the camera view out of the rear. Scroll down to see both.

Nissan ex-Chairman Carlos Ghosn wins release from jail

TOKYO — The Tokyo District Court approved the release of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn on bail of 1 billion yen ($8.9 million) on Tuesday, although the end of his four months of detention in Japan was delayed when prosecutors appealed that decision. Prosecutors filed their objection to Ghosn's release within hours of the announcement he was going to be granted bail. But their appeal was rejected by the court, paving the way for his release. A lawyer for Ghosn said he would not be able to leave the Tokyo Detention Center until Wednesday at the earliest, because bail procedures can't be done at night. The acceptance of Ghosn's request for bail, his third, came a day after the lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, said he was confident the auto executive would gain his release. Hironaka, who recently joined Ghosn's defense team, is famous for winning acquittals in Japan, a nation where the conviction rate is 99 percent. Hironaka said Monday that he had offered new ways to monitor Ghosn after his release, such as camera surveillance. Hironaka also questioned the grounds for Ghosn's arrest, calling the case "very peculiar," and suggesting it could have been dealt with as an internal company matter. He welcomed the decision, telling reporters: "It was good we proposed concrete ways showing how he would not tamper with evidence or try to flee." The 1 billion yen bail set by the court was relatively high but not the highest ever in Japan. Among the conditions for Ghosn's release were restrictions on where he can live, a ban on foreign travel and other promises not to tamper with evidence or try to flee, the court said. The former head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Motors alliance has been detained since he was arrested on Nov. 19. He says he is innocent of charges of falsifying financial information and of breach of trust. In Japan, suspects are routinely detained for months, often until their trials start. That's especially true of those who insist on their innocence. Prosecutors say suspects may tamper with evidence and shouldn't be released. Two previous requests submitted by his legal team were denied. His previous defense lawyer, Motonari Ohtsuru, had said Ghosn's release might not come for months. Hironaka is among many critics of the Japanese justice system who say such lengthy detentions of suspects are unfair.