2011 Nissan Quest Sv 46k No Reserve Salvage Rebuildable Damaged Repairable on 2040-cars

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How and why Nissan nearly killed off Infiniti

Launched in 1990, Infiniti was expected to be Japan's answer to BMW (Lexus would end up chasing Mercedes-Benz). Yet things went awry almost right out of the gate. Overlooking the fledgling automaker's now infamous early marketing campaign, its product line over the past twenty-four years has been a roller coaster ride of strong hits (Q45, FX35 and G35) and frustrating misses (M30, I30 and QX4).
In a recent interview with Ward's Auto at the Detroit Auto Show, Nissan Executive Vice President Andy Palmer revealed that the company's luxury brand was almost cancelled by CEO Carlos Ghosn as unnecessary. Infiniti, like most premium marques owned by a volume manufacturer, had fallen into the trap of losing autonomy and pushing its high-end product just like its mainstream models.
The one obvious exception to this industry blunder, said Palmer, was VW Group's Audi brand. Realizing that Audi's impressive comeback over the past two decades shamed even that of actor Robert Downey Jr., Nissan hired Audi veteran Johan de Nysschen to bring Infiniti to its intended glory - and protect it from extinction. Check out the complete interview here.

Where the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X fits into the hierarchy of off-road trucks

The world of off-road pickups sure seems like it's getting crowded, but the reality is that half-ton trucks were always pretty capable, even with what seemed like fairly basic 4x4 packages. It wasn't until recently that manufacturers really started to carve out different off-road niches for their mainstream pickup offerings. With the introduction of the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X (alongside its mechanical twin, the Chevy Silverado ZR2), the crowd has grown even thicker. Even we have trouble keeping up with the increased segmentation of off-road pickup trucks, so we threw together this handy guide to help you understand just where these various packages fit into the broader pickup hierarchy. Let's dive in.  Your basics If we say "Z71" or "FX4" to you, both will probably ring a bell. That's because they've been around a few days short of forever and their respective customers have grown so used to these package codes that OEMs got into the habit of just plastering them on the side of so-equipped truck beds. Anybody who sells a pickup truck offers some sort of basic off-road prep package like this one. Z71 is found on GM vehicles; FX4 is Ford's. Ram just calls it "Off Road Group," but no matter what you call them, they're all pretty similar.  Typical upgrades for this category include some additional ground clearance, a basic all-terrain tire, heavy-duty suspension upgrades and likely either a limited-slip or locking rear differential. These are pretty handy for anything beyond a rutted dirt road. On newer trucks — especially on higher trim levels — you'll probably also get some dedicated off-road drive modes.  Mid-range This is where things start to get interesting. To qualify for this category, a locking rear differential is a must. Most of the names in this segment are well-established too, though some (Nissan Titan Pro-4X, anyone?) may not necessarily be on your radar. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro checks in here, as does the Ram Rebel, Chevy Silverado Trail Boss and GMC Sierra AT4 (no X!).  Realistically, if there's somewhere you need to go and one of these trucks won't do it, you might want to consider a helicopter. But it's 2021, and our thirst for capability is strong, so of course, there's a way to spend more of your money on this type of thing. Onward! Entry-hardcore Here we are, the home of the new 2022 GMC Sierra AT4X and Chevrolet Silverado ZR2. This is a tiny niche, otherwise occupied only by the Ford F-150 Tremor.

Will next-gen Nissan Leaf get CUV version?

After a first generation spent as a pioneer in the hybrid Wild West, the second-generation Toyota Prius settled down and started a family. Why can't the same happen for the next-generation Nissan Leaf? Autocar has a highly speculative report on just such an outcome, but if nothing else it shows that Nissan is open to the idea. Trevor Mann, an executive vice president at Nissan who doubles as the company's chief performance officer, said "There could be more than one Leaf," and that the brand is "still studying other opportunities." That might mean another kind of body style, but Mann's focus on making sure Nissan on properly converting "the market intelligence that we're gathering" makes it sound like any kind of decision is a long way in the future. Outsiders keep pointing at an electric crossover as the logical step, and the company has already shown the remarkably polished, seven-seater Hi-Cross Concept. Before any of that can happen, right now Nissan is still busy tweaking the formula for the current Leaf to shake off lower sales this year. Then, there remain plenty of questions swirl about the next-generation Leaf, the first being when will it get here. Sometime in 2017 is the latest rumor based on comments made by ex-product honcho Andy Palmer, but the date is really as much of a mystery as its range - which could be more than 300 miles, the way it will look, and the feature set. If they need an easy idea for some kind of utility vehicle they've already got Sparky, the Leaf pickup truck, in-house (pictured). We'd give that the thumbs up. Featured Gallery Nissan Leaf Frontier View 9 Photos News Source: Autocar Green Nissan Crossover Hatchback Electric Future Vehicles