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Dongfeng-Nissan surprises with Viwa Concept EV for Venucia

Nissan has a joint venture in China with Dongfeng to make passenger vehicles, and last year the two companies created a sub-brand called Venucia that aims to roll out five cars by 2015. With the gasoline-engined D50 and R50 and a pilot program for the E30 electric car already out, this little orange beast, the Viwa EV concept, could point the way to a future offering.
Looking like a Chevrolet Spark that spent the weekend raving in Ibiza, the Venucia Viwa EV aims to be reliable, practical, efficient and accessible all in one package. Beyond the practical bit, defined as, "packaged with a compact body for easy driving," Venucia hasn't said how any of those other qualities are achieved. In fact, it hasn't even divulged the specifics of the electric powerplant. However, it does say that it will be developing more EVs under the guide of "China's new energy vehicle policy."
You can get a little more info about it in the press release below, or discover the little peach in the high-res gallery above.

Nissan Skyline Nismo gets a more powerful Z engine

Recent rumors claim the Nissan Skyline will morph into an electric crossover in the coming years. Regardless of whether or not they're true, the company isn't done with the current, gasoline-powered Skyline yet and it launched a limited-edition, Nismo-branded model in Japan. If you're experiencing deja vu, it's likely because the Nissan Skyline is sold as the Infiniti Q50 in the United States. We even get a range-topping, performance-oriented trim level, the 400-horsepower Red Sport 400. The Skyline Nismo goes further, though, by adopting an evolution of the twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 that powers the Red Sport 400 and the Z coupe. It's rated at 414 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque. For context, the Q50 and Z pack 400-horsepower and just 350 pound-feet of torque. The Nismo's engine spins just the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission, whereas America's Red Sport 400 is available with all-wheel drive. Nissan didn't settle for adding a few horses to the cavalry, slapping a couple of "Nismo" emblems to the body, and calling it a job well done. Its engineers redesigned the Skyline's suspension system, installed fade-resistant brake pads and recalibrated the various vehicle control systems, including the ABS, to deliver a sportier driving experience on and off the track. The brand even went as far as securing the windshield and the rear window with a type of adhesive normally reserved for the GT-R Nismo to improve rigidity without adding weight.  Visual updates are part of the Nismo package as well, including 19-inch Enkei wheels wrapped by tires that are wider than the ones worn by the regular-production model, an old-school "GT" emblem on each fender, and a body kit that includes a front splitter and side skirts. These updates aren't just for show: Nissan notes the redesigned grille opening helps channel additional cooling air to the radiator and the oil cooler. The Nismo treatment also permeates the cabin. The front passengers sit on Recaro sport seats with red inserts, while the driver faces a steering wheel with a red 12-o'clock mark as well as a new-look tachometer with a red ring and a small "Nismo" logo below the needle. Enthusiasts who want an even rarer version of the current-generation Skyline can try their luck at scoring the Nismo Limited.

Nissan didn't have much say in merger talks, but it had what FCA wanted

TOKYO — Nissan wasn't consulted on the proposed merger between its alliance partner Renault and Fiat Chrysler, but the Japanese automaker's reluctance to go along may have helped bring about the surprise collapse of the talks. While Nissan Motor Co. had a weaker bargaining position from the start, with its financial performance crumbling after the arrest last year of its star executive Carlos Ghosn, it still had as its crown jewel the technology of electric vehicles and hybrids that Fiat Chrysler wanted. The board of Renault, meeting Thursday, didn't get as far as voting on the proposal, announced last week, which would have created the world's third biggest automaker, trailing only Volkswagen AG of Germany and Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. When the French government, Renault's top shareholder with a 15% stake, asked for more time to convince Nissan, Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann abruptly withdrew the offer. Although analysts say reviving the talks isn't out of the question, they say trust among the players appears to have been broken. "The other companies made the mistake of underestimating Nissan's determination to say, 'No,' " said Katsuya Takeuchi, senior analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities in Tokyo. The Note, an electric car with a small gas engine to charge its battery, was Japan's No. 1 selling car, the first time in 50 years that a Nissan beat Toyota and Honda. Renault and Fiat Chrysler highlighted possible synergies that come from sharing parts and research costs as the benefits of the merger. But what Fiat Chrysler lacks and really wanted was what's called in the industry "electrification technology," Takeuchi said. With emissions regulations getting stricter around the world, having such technology is crucial. Yokohama-based Nissan makes the world's best-selling electric car Leaf. Its Note, an electric car equipped with a small gas engine to charge its battery, was Japan's No. 1 selling car for the fiscal year through March, the first time in 50 years that a Nissan model beat Toyota and Honda Motor Co. for that title. Nissan is also a leader in autonomous-driving technology, another area all the automakers are trying to innovate. "Although Nissan had no say, its cautionary stance on the merger ended up being very meaningful," Takeuchi said.