2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Nissan puts Around View Monitor on ocean-exploring robots [w/video]

Capable as it may be, we wouldn't advise driving your crossover to the bottom of the ocean. Nissan, however, is doing the next best thing by putting its Around View Monitor on seabed-crawling robots. The partnership brings Nissan together with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Topy Industries, a leading manufacturer of robotic crawlers. Nissan supplies the Around View Monitor it usually puts in its crossovers and SUVs, which Topy installs on its Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and JAMSTEC sends to the ocean floor. The project even enjoys support from the Japanese cabinet through its Strategy Innovation Promotion program that aims to bring private-sector innovation to government projects. With Nissan's 360-degree camera technology, JAMSTEC and Topy hope to "uncover the mysteries of the oceans," and seem to be going about it a smarter way than submerging a landlubber like the Juke or Rogue to car-crushing depths. Just what they'll uncover remains to be seen, but we're looking forward to finding out, and applaud the initiative. Of course, Nissan isn't the first automaker to deploy its technologies in robots to explore undiscovered worlds: Toyota recently lent its voice-recognition system to the Kirobo project that put a pint-sized robot in orbit to converse with the astronauts in the International Space Station. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. NISSAN AVM TECH TO GO UNDERWATER FOR DEEP SEA EXPLORATION - Nissan's Around View Monitor (AVM) technology will help remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) search for natural resources in the Earth's oceans - Nissan's AVM is building block of company's autonomous drive technology - Featured across Nissan's crossover range including best-selling new Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail Nissan is providing its unique Around View Monitor (AVM) technology to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Topy Industries, Ltd., through a joint development project that may help uncover the mysteries of the oceans. The joint development contract with JAMSTEC and Topy, one of the top manufacturers of robot crawlers in Japan, will enhance the government agency's ability to search deep underwater for natural resources using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Nissan's AVM technology will help ROV operators avoid obstacles and navigate the ocean seafloor more easily.

FCA-Renault merger faces tall odds delivering on cost-cutting promises

FRANKFURT/DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Renault promise huge savings from a mega-merger, but such combinations face tall odds because of the industry's long product cycles and problems translating deal blueprints into real world success, industry veterans told Reuters. BMW's 1994 purchase of Rover, and Daimler's 1998 merger with Chrysler both made sense on paper. The companies promised to hike profits by combining vehicle platforms and engine families. Both combinations proved unworkable in reality, and were unwound. Renault and Nissan, which have been in an alliance since 1999 designed to share vehicle components, have only managed to use common vehicle platforms in 35% of Nissan's products despite an original target of 70%, according to Morgan Stanley. FCA and Renault have raised the stakes for themselves by ruling out plant closures. That increases the pressure to achieve more than $5 billion in promised annual savings from pooling procurement and research investments. The two companies have yet to fill in many of the blanks in the merger plan put forward by Fiat Chrysler. Renault's board is expected to act soon to accept the proposal, but that would lead only to a memorandum of understanding to pursue detailed operational and financial plans. A final deal and the legal combination of the two companies could take months to complete if all goes well. Pressure to cut automotive pollution is driving the latest round of consolidation. Automakers are looking at multibillion-dollar bills to develop electric and hybrid cars and cleaner internal combustion engines. Fiat Chrysler and Renault are betting they can design common electric vehicle systems, then sell more of them through their respective brands and dealer networks, cutting the cost per car. Developing all-new electric vehicles can bring more opportunities to share costs from the outset, industry experts said. "With the emergence of connected, autonomous, electric and shared vehicles, carmakers face immediate investments, so new opportunities for sharing costs have emerged," said Elmar Kades, managing director at Alix Partners. However, most electric vehicles lose money. This is a challenge for city car brands in Europe in particular. Both Renault and Fiat rely heavily on this segment for sales.

NHTSA investigating 200,000 Sentra, Versa models over brakes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a second investigation into Nissan in May. The first covered inaccurate fuel gauges in the 2007 Quest minivan. The latest affects the Sentra and Versa from the 2013 and 2014 model years and the 2014 Versa Note, because of complaints of long brake pedal travel. If NHTSA finds a problem, it could affect an estimated 200,000 vehicles.
At the moment, this is still only a preliminary evaluation "to asses the scope, frequency and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect," according to the report, but it could lead to the full recall. NHTSA is still trying to find whether or not there are accidents, injuries or fatalities related to the problem. At this time, much of the data in the document is still marked Confidential or TBD. Nissan told Reuters in a statement that the company is working with the agency on the investigation and supplying the regulator with further information.
According to NHTSA, its Office of Defects Investigation has received eight complaints about long pedal travel in these models. They allege that the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor when pressed in some cases and doesn't sufficiently slow the vehicle. Autoblog has contacted Nissan for its reaction to the investigation. We will update this story when we receive a reply. Until then, scroll down to read the current investigation report.