2014 Nissan Altima 2.5 S on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Nissan Juke facelift teased before Geneva

Nissan's funky Juke mini-CUV is set to get a refresh at next week's Geneva Motor Show. If you're thinking that the Japanese automaker will take the opportunity to scale-back some of the crossover's polarizing exterior, think again: Nissan claims the new vehicle will feature an "even more striking design." And with stronger-than-expected sales worldwide for the model, we don't see the company's designers capitulating with a meek-faced mid-life update.
For now, the only look we have of this "striking design" is the teaser image shown up top (go ahead and click on it for a closer look). Nissan is also promising improvements in efficiency and refinement, although what that means for the Juke's fun-to-drive character is unclear.
Because we live in an age dominated by social media, the new Juke will perform a slow striptease on a variety of social networks, according to Nissan. It won't be a full reveal, but there should be some clues as to what the CUV's overall look will evolve into, before it's shown in all its glory in Geneva.

First new Datsun in decade sketched, set for Indian reveal

Nissan's Datsun nameplate revival will begin with two models bound for the Indian market. Nissan has released sketches of a five-door hatchback based on the Micra (codenamed K2) and a top-down view of a hood that could potentially be from a sedan.
The company's press release says all will be revealed on July 15 in New Delhi, India. The Datsun lineup will be first offered in 2014 to that country's ride-deprived residents as well as Indonesia and Russia. Later in 2014, South Africa will join the list.
We've heard Nissan plans for Datsuns to share platforms with company-owned Lada. In January, we heard the projected price tag could be around $3,000 USD to compete with Chinese imports. The official press release (which can be read in full below) says nothing about either of these reports, however.

Recharge Wrap-up: Comparing Nissan Leaf performance by climate, natural gas iffy for trucks

A new Carnegie Mellon University study looks at the effects of regional climate variations on the Nissan Leaf. The study shows (unsurprisingly) that the ambient temperatures of different regions have effects on battery performance and the use of climate control, both of which affect range. Efficiency and grid mix determine regional differences in emissions per mile. CMU enumerated many of the differences in performance across the US. For instance, on the coldest day of the year, maximum range can be 70 miles on the Pacific Coast, while it is less than 45 miles in the Upper Midwest. These differences in efficiency can also affect adoption patterns. Read more at Green Car Congress. Battery charger manufacturer CTEK has licensed WiTricity wireless charging technology. CTEK looks to commercialize the wireless power transfer tech for use with electric vehicle batteries, making the "plug-in" aspect of EV charging unnecessary. WiTricity's charging technology stands out for its ability for distance charging via magnetic near field. "We are excited to be on the forefront of the next generation of battery charging products for consumers and industry, and look forward to leveraging WiTricity's ground-breaking technology to bring a new level of convenience and ease of use to market," says CTEK CEO Jon Lind. Wireless charging is convenient for the public, but also especially useful for emergency vehicles, which need to be ready at a moment's notice but also keep electrical systems online while the car is parked. Read more at Green Car Congress or at the WiTricity website. Switching heavy trucking fleets from diesel to natural gas could make economic sense, but the environmental benefits aren't as certain, according to a new study from UC Davis and Rice University. Certain regions - particularly California, the Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic regions - could benefit from the switch with minimal investment. "But to have an environmental advantage for reducing greenhouse gas emissions would take significant policy intervention," says Amy Myers Jaffe, executive director for Energy and Sustainability at UC Davis. This would mean stricter efficiency standards for natural gas trucks, as well as stronger regulations for methane leakage. Read more in the press release from UC Davis below.