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Infiniti ESQ is a Chinese Nissan Juke Nismo

Take a Nissan Juke Nismo, replace all of its suede and Alcantara interior with leather and cross-stitching, replace all of its badging with the words "Infiniti ESQ," and boom! You've got a made-for-China crossover aimed at "the new millennials." Infiniti teased the coming of the ESQ last month, and today, we're treated to pictures taking it in from various toothsome angles.
Whippersnappers with anywhere from 200,000 yuan ($33,507 USD) to 300,000 yuan to spend will get the same 197 horsepower, 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, sport-tuned CVT and all-wheel drive that we know in the Juke Nismo. We haven't tracked down any other official information about it yet, but potential buyers will get their first look at it during the Chengdu Motor Show that opens later this month, where it will share market-specific notes with Infiniti Q50 L.

Nissan says Leaf battery packs are nearly bulletproof

Like the old 1970s Schoolhouse Rock song (and an early-90s remake from hip-hop artists De La Soul), three, indeed, is the magic number. That's how many Nissan Leaf batteries have conked out in Europe during the past four-plus years. Out of about 35,000. I'd hate to be a member of that unlucky trio. The Japanese automaker says it has shut up the naysayers who once crowed that electric motors may be less reliable than gas- or diesel-powered engines. Nissan has done so by maintaining a 99.99 percent "battery success rate" in Europe. With only an on-board charger, inverter and motor, the Leaf's electric motor costs 40 percent less to maintain that gas- or diesel-powered engines. Nissan does seem to be getting more converts across the Pond. Nissan boosted European sales of the Leaf by about 33 percent last year to more than 15,000 units. Meanwhile, here in the States, sales jumped 34 percent last year to more than 30,000 vehicles, though early 2015 sales appear to be down as lower gas prices are leading American car shoppers to larger, more gas-swilling vehicles. Still, Nissan recently said it surpassed sales of 75,000 units in the US and we expect the March sales numbers to show that the Leaf has become the top-selling plug-in vehicle in US history. Take a look at Nissan Europe's press release below. Related Videos: Nissan LEAF battery reliably outperforms cynics, critics and alternatives Five years on, Nissan reports 99.99% battery success rate across Europe More reliable than a petrol or diesel engine, according to industry averages Nissan LEAF is the world's best-selling all-electric car, with over 165,000 sold globally Rolle, Switzerland, 23 March 2015: Five years and more than 35,000 European sales since the launch of its all-electric LEAF, proprietary data released by Nissan for the first time shows that 99.99 percent of its battery units remain entirely fit for purpose. The failure rate of the battery power unit is less than 0.01 percent - or just three units in total - a fraction of the equivalent industry-wide? figure for defects affecting traditional combustion engines. To prove the long-term reliability of the battery technology, Nissan tracked down a rather infamous early model, whose owner is still enjoying fault-free motoring in her LEAF three years on: http://youtu.be/6V1bJJwJhEg Electric vehicle advocate and presenter of online TV channel Fully Charged, Robert Llewellyn commented: "This comes as no surprise.

2016 Nissan Titan XD arrives with diesel V8 power

Feels like this one's been coming soon (or is that #CumminsSoon?), forever. Over a decade since the Nissan Titan launched, the Japanese fullsize pickup has finally been given a full redesign, and it looks to be a worthy – and interesting – competitor in the light-duty pickup class. First and foremost, the truck debuting here in Detroit is the Titan XD – it's not a trim level, but a totally different version of the standard Titan, despite looking the same. The best way to explain the difference is that if the Titan competes with a Silverado 1500, the XD competes with something a step higher, but not a full 2500. Think of it as a Silverado 2000 or something – a step between light and heavy duty. Nissan truly thinks there's a white space in this pickup segment. The company isn't ready to release details on the standard Titan just yet, and the XD with the diesel engine will be the first version to come to market. The diesel in question is the long-awaited 5.0-liter V8 from Cummins, producing 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, the Titan XD can tow up to 12,000 pounds, and has a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds. Nissan has confirmed that gasoline V6 and V8 options will be available on both Titan and Titan XD models, but has not released any details at this time. The 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8 will only be offered on the XD. Nissan is upgrading its Around View Monitor with features to aid with towing, too. Shown here as a Crew Cab, the Titan will be offered in King Cab and Single Cab configurations, as well, with three bed lengths (a 6.5-foot bed is seen here). Nissan has also told us that a lower-grade work truck will be available, as well. As the models roll out, the Titan and Titan XD will be offered in several trims, including a rugged-looking Pro-4X model and a new, top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve. All except the Pro-4X can be had with two- or four-wheel drive. Speaking of looks, we have to say, this is a pretty nice looking truck. Its appearance is fresh and modern, if awfully reminiscent of other trucks in the segment (hard to offer a unique design with that shape, of course). Up front, there are premium elements like available LED headlamps with LED running lamps, and out back, those same modern bulbs are used for the taillamps.