2014 Nissan Juke Sl on 2040-cars

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2021 Hyundai Elantra vs. compact sedans | How they compare on paper

Despite the rising popularity of crossovers, the sedan market remains packed and fiercely competitive. It looks like it will stay that way with the introduction of the strikingly redesigned 2021 Hyundai Elantra. And since Hyundai was kind enough to provide plenty of specifications on the new car, we figured we ought to see how it stacks up to some of the latest and greatest small sedans on the market. For this comparison we picked the two best-sellers, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, one of the other recently redesigned sedans, the Nissan Sentra, and a perennial enthusiast favorite, the Mazda3. Below you'll find a chart with all the raw numbers for your perusal. Following that will be our usual break down and analysis of the numbers and any other noteworthy features not included in the chart. Performance and Fuel Economy While the design and chassis are all-new on the Elantra, the base powertrain isn't. It uses a version of the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder shared throughout the Hyundai and Kia line-ups, and it's again paired with a CVT. With 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, it's the second least powerful entry for conventionally-powered sedans, only ahead of the sluggish 1.8-liter base engine in the Toyota Corolla. For those looking for a peppy small sedan, the Mazda3's naturally aspirated 2.5-liter has the most power and torque, even ahead of the turbocharged Honda Civic's 174 ponies. On the other hand, the Elantra, which Hyundai says will have better fuel economy than the outgoing model, should get at least 36 mpg combined, and probably better, making it the most efficient non-hybrid of this group. For the best blend of power and efficiency, the Civic is likely the way to go, as its turbo engine can return 36 mpg combined in lower trims. If you want a manual transmission in this body shape, only the Civic and Corolla offer it. A manual transmission is available on the Mazda3 hatchback, and the turbo Civic can also be had with a manual in hatchback or Si forms. A new powertrain for the Elantra is the hybrid. It's unique compared to other hybrids in that it's coupled to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, rather than an electronically controlled CVT (which is not the same thing as a CVT) or something too complicated to describe in this sentence (the Honda Insight).

200 Nissan Leafs recalled for faulty power inverters

Nissan is going full speed ahead with strong sales for its all-electric Leaf. Unfortunately, some of those Leafs had a glitch that could stop some of those Leafs from doing the same. Credit a faulty power inverter. US Department of Transportation says the faulty power inverters may cause some Leafs to shut down unexpectedly. Thankfully, the glitch affects just 196 Leafs, all of which were produced between April 15 and 24, 2014. Official DOT information on the recall is available here and it's also pasted below. Nissan started contacting Leaf owners in late May, instructing them to bring their vehicles to certified Leaf dealers for repairs, Nissan spokesman Brian Brockman told AutoblogGreen, adding that there'd been no cases of vehicle shut downs from the power inverter. Nissan confirmed the 196-vehicle figure and isn't charging the vehicle owners for the repairs. The company is also providing loaner vehicles at no cost. The recall marks a rare bit of bad news for Nissan's electrification efforts, as the Japanese automaker has been boosting sales of the Leaf all year. Through May, Leaf sales in the US were up 36 percent from a year earlier to 10,389 units, and May sales alone had surged 46 percent from a year earlier. In May, Chrysler recalled more than 4,141 Fiat 500e models from the 2013 and 2014 model years for a similar issue. Inverter modules on those vehicles may allow coolant to seep onto electrical components, which could cause a short circuit and power loss. The recall impacted cars built between September 2012 and April 2014. Report Receipt Date: MAY 16, 2014 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V263000 Potential Number of Units Affected: 196 Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Nissan LEAF vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, through April 24, 2014. Due to a problem with the motor control circuit board, the inverter may fail, causing the vehicle shut down. CONSEQUENCE: An unexpected vehicle shut down increases the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on July 7, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Nissan Qashai gets the Juke R treatment

It would appear that we're a little behind the times on this one, but a UK-based tuner of the Nissan GT-R is creating its own take on the lustworthy Juke-R starting with the Nissan Qashqai crossover. Severnvalley Motorsport claims to be the leading authority for tuning of the current GT-R in Europe. The outfit is now turning its attention to stuffing the drivetrain of a GT-R under the body of a Qashqai+2 - a seven-passenger compact crossover similar in size to our Nissan Rogue - resulting in the Qashqai-R.
The project started back in March when Severnvalley took delivery of a new Qashqai. After stripping the crossover down to its bare essentials and building a custom jig to support the body shell, it was then transferred onto an awaiting GT-R chassis. The crew aimed to keep Qashqai's appearance as stock as possible, but fender extensions and hood vents were required to accommodate the sports car underpinnings.
The white Qashqai-R seen above will be tuned to produce 900 horsepower, while a black version will get bumped up to 1,000 hp. And, looking at the build photos, we surmise that this project will take nothing less than a herculean feat of supercar determination before it's through.