2000 Nissan Xterra Se Sport 4-door 3.3 Run Drive Pa Inspected Records Look!!! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Infiniti rolls out new badge, brand experience — even a brand scent

Infiniti kicked off a brand refresh Thursday, showing off a new logo (and corresponding changes to its physical emblems), dealership aesthetic and what brand representatives described as elements of its "multisensory experience." Do you know what Infiniti is supposed to smell like? Well, you're about to learn.  The alterations to the logo are subtle from dead on, but as you can see from our featured image above, its physical form is far more intricate and three-dimensional. This is the fourth generation of Infiniti's signature since the brand was launched in 1989. Yep — Nissan's upscale division is 35 years old this year. Can you believe that? The most significant visual difference is the alterations to the "road" in the center of the logo. Infiniti says this was done to emphasize the notion that the road is endless — infinite, if you will. The clipped point represents the horizon. The physical badges will be illuminated, "boldly" announcing the car's arrival.  "Our aim was to subtly evolve the INFINITI logo in support of the bright new chapter that lays ahead," said Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti SVP of global design. "Adding greater emphasis to the point where the infinite road intersects with the horizon, we are showcasing our steadfast commitment to always look forward to the future and to new horizons." The new badge will also be accompanied by a new signature scent and signature sound. The former is a blend of Japanese cypress, cedar and yuzu. The sound "creates a sense of anticipation by marrying powerful musical elements with more serene sounds to deliver a harmonious balance" and will be employed in marketing materials, advertising, dealership experiences and other consumer-facing assets.  A new architectural and interior design direction accompanies the update. The aesthetics are based on the Japanese concept of Ma — "a philosophy that considers the space between things," Infiniti said. The result looks modern, sophisticated and convincingly upscale, reminding us of a cross between a Volvo and Mercedes-Benz showroom. Not a terrible place to be.  Infiniti's new look rolls out today across its digital spaces.

Fiat contemplating sub-brand to compete with Dacia, Datsun

You can add Fiat to the admittedly short list of automakers considering a low-cost brand to rival Dacia. The inexpensive Eastern European brand from Renault-Nissan has performed on the balance sheet like a premium model line, and the money the alliance is taking off the table is encouraging other players to deal themselves in. Pretty soon Nissan's Datsun sub-brand will join the Dacia party, going on sale in Russia, Indonesia and India and will claim even more rubles, rupiahs and rupees for the parent company. Volkswagen recently said it will make a decision this year on a budget line for the Chinese market. With the euthanasia of Lancia and plans to move the Fiat brand upmarket, company CEO Sergio Marchionne wonders aloud to Automotive News Europe whether there could be room for a new budget brand underneath Fiat.
We're told that the initiative has been in the idea box for five years and even moved to the stage of name considerations, like Innocenti, but worries about profit kept it from realization. If such a range were to be developed, Marchionne says it couldn't be built in Italy and stay within budget, and the company is "analyzing its manufacturing capacity outside of Europe to see if a low-cost brand is viable."

2015 Nissan Leaf gets B mode standard, new MorningSky Blue color

The Nissan Leaf is getting a few updates for the 2015 model year, some functional, some purely aesthetic. The appearance options will be made available later than the rest, and include a new exterior color called MorningSky Blue, as well as standard 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels for the SV trim level. In terms of driving, the 2015 Leaf gets a dedicated B-mode for every trim level, including the base S car (it was formerly only available in the SV and SL levels). This provides more aggressive regenerative braking when the driver is not on the accelerator - perfect for making the most of those downhill grades. Now every Nissan Leaf includes Normal, Eco-Mode and B-Mode, regardless of trim level. SV and SL trim levels also get a couple new convenience features. For those who find it impossible to disconnect while driving, the Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant allows them to communicate without taking their eyes off the road, taking their hands off the wheel or risking a distracted driving ticket (perhaps you might want to rethink using it, though). Additionally, SV and SL customers will Voice Destination Entry to make spontaneous rerouting to the theme park a little easier. Of course, a lot of other Nissan cars got some cool upgrades this year. The Quest, NV200 Compact Cargo and V6-powered Altima, for instance, eke out another mile per gallon highway and combined. See what's new in the Leaf and the rest of the Nissan lineup in the press release below. The 2015 Nissan Lineup: Charting the Changes Nissan's U.S. sales have significantly outperformed the industry in 2014, up 12.7 percent CYTD through June. Sales have been led by the recently redesigned Altima, Rogue and Sentra – along with other models such as LEAF (+29.4%), JUKE (+44.9%), Frontier (+22.6%) and NV200 (+439.3%), which have shown strong results month after month. This gives the Nissan lineup great momentum heading into the 2015 model year. Headlining the changes for 2015 is the upcoming launch of the all-new Nissan Murano (due in late 2014). As the halo vehicle for Nissan's expanding range of bold crossovers and SUVs, the dramatic 2015 Murano features a new V-motion front end, LED boomerang lights and a unique "floating" roof. Murano's breakthrough exterior design carries into the interior, which offers an engaging social lounge feel through features such as advanced NASA-inspired Zero Gravity front and outboard rear seating and oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof.