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Nissan demonstrates GT-R LM Nismo's radical aero

Nissan took a radical approach in designing its GT-R LM Nismo, turning the usual LMP1 form on its head to create a rather unusual prototype. So why did it take such a drastic approach? In a word: aero. In designing a front-engined, front-drive Le Mans prototype, Nissan was able to free itself from many of the restrictions placed on aerodynamic development. So while the likes of Toyota, Audi and Porsche struggle to create as much downforce as the regulations will allow at the rear of their cars, Nissan is finding boatloads more at the front. It's an innovative approach if we've ever seen one, and you can see and hear the team explain how it all works in this latest video clip above.

Nissan will run pilot car-sharing program with two-seat concept EVs

Nissan is using a little car to test out possible solutions to a rather big problem. The Japanese automaker will start a car-sharing program this month using its New Mobility Concept two-seat electric vehicles, which is based on the Renault Twizy platform. The cars will be the foundation of a car-sharing network called the Ultra-Compact Mobility Certification System that will take place in Yokohama's Sakonyama Danchi District. Working with housing agency Urban Renaissance, Nissan says the New Mobility Concept vehicles are part of a "method for revitalizing urban and suburban areas." Indeed, instead of the cars being used for government agencies and utility programs, they'll be used by the general public to get around. The program kicks off this month and will run for one year. Other Nissan NMC vehicles were recently put into rental service in the town of Shikano, in the east of Tottori Prefecture, for tourism purposes, at a cost of about $10 an hour plus $12 for a training license. Nissan has been running various mobility programs using the car for the better part of two years. To get an idea how small the vehicles are, their length is about a foot shorter than a Smart ForTwo. We've got Nissan's press release below. Related Video: Nissan to Test Ultra-Compact EV in Yokohama Car Sharing Project - Yokohama's Sakonyama District will start a car-sharing trial run of the Ultra Compact Mobility Certification System using the Nissan New Mobility Concept two-passenger electric vehicle (EV) - YOKOHAMA, Japan (March 23, 2015)-Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will conduct a local trial run of the Ultra-Compact Mobility Certification System, a car-sharing network for residents of the Sakonyama Danchi District in Yokohama City's Asahi Ward. Nissan will be collaborating with Urban Renaissance (UR), a semipublic housing agency associated with Kanagawa Prefecture's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's (MLIT) Kanto District Transport Bureau, to study the possibilities of using ultra-compact EVs as a method for revitalizing urban and suburban areas. This local test of the car-sharing network will be implemented from late March 2015 until the end of March 2016. The trial will assess the potential of ultra-compact electric vehicles as a catalyst in revitalizing large-scale, urban and suburban commuting methods, and will gauge the value of ultra-compact EVs as short-range modes of transport that can complement public transportation.

NHTSA probing whether to call Nissan to the carpet over Versa unintended acceleration

The Nissan Versa and Versa Note may have a carpeting problem that could make the little cars risky to drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a preliminary evaluation into the 2012-2014 model year versions of the Versa, Versa Sedan and Versa Note, affecting an estimated 360,000 vehicle. In these vehicles, it's possible that the driver's foot could be caught where the carpet meets a trim panel near the accelerator. The regulator has four reported instances of the issue, but it's still collecting data from Nissan about any further cases.
According to the complaints, the tunnel carpet cover trim panel can possibly snag the drivers' right shoe where it meets the carpet, and can either keep their foot on the accelerator or prevent moving it to the brake pedal. In one case, the problem was bad enough that the driver had to free his foot using his hand, while driving. In two of the four reported cases, the vehicles were rental cars.
This is actually the second ongoing preliminary evaluation for some of these models. In late May, NHTSA started looking into the 2013-2014 Versa and 2014 Versa Note for long brake pedal travel.