Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 uncovered for Super GT

Set to take on the recently-revealed Honda NSX Concept-GT racer in the 2014 Super GT series is the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500, which as its name suggests, will also compete in the GT500 class.

From next year, cars in the Super GT series’ GT500 class will be developed based on the same new technical regulations as the DTM (German Touring Car Championship), with the exception of engine-related regulations. They will use turbocharged 2.0 litre four-cylinder engines, which may be hybrid-assisted.

Nismo has developed the Nissan GT-R to meet these new rules. The racer, which underwent its initial shakedown at the end of July, made a demo run at the Super GT Round 5 at Suzuka over the weekend, alongside the Honda NSX Concept-GT.

No technical details have been released as yet, but Nissan says the racer is going to the Nismo Festival at Fuji Speedway on December 1, where it is scheduled for exhibition and demo runs.

The Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 supposedly points towards the upcoming production Nissan GT-R Nismo, which is being co-developed with the Williams F1 team and that could surface at the Tokyo show in November.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi to jointly develop new charging infrastructure for EVs in Japan

4 Japanese automakers – Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi – have announced that they will be working together to increase the number of electric vehicle charging facilities in Japan as well as develop a more unified infrastructure for charging services in the country.

Currently, there are 1,700 quick chargers and just over 3,000 normal chargers in Japan, a number that’s generally recognised as insufficient. The quartet is set to work together to increase the number of normal chargers by 8,000 and quick chargers by 4,000.

Assisted by 100.5 billion yen worth of subsidies announced by the Japanese government for this purpose, the 4 automakers will bear part of the cost to installation & maintenance of these additional charging facilities.

The 4 will also address the lack of sufficient coordination among existing charging providers. Previously, each automaker assessed possible locations for charging facilities on their own – they will now work in collaboration with companies that are already providing charging services in which each of the four automakers already have a financial stake.

Collaboration among companies currently providing charging services in which each automaker has already invested (Japan Charge Network Co, Charging Network Development and Toyota Media Service) would lead to the creation of a more convenient charging infrastructure network. One example is enabling the car’s owner to charge his or her car at any charging spot with the same card.

Currently, there are 3 charging methods for EVs in Japan – basic charging, done at home; destination charging, where a car is charged at locations such as shopping malls, DIY stores or family restaurants for the return trip home; and en-route charging at locations, including expressway roadside service areas, gas stations, and convenience stores.

Nissan GT-R Nismo to hit 96 km/h in just 2 seconds

Next to nothing is known of the upcoming Nissan GT-R Nismo, at least not solid facts. Rumours are aplenty though, and the latest one coming from Auto Express is that it’ll cover the zero to 96 km/h (60 mph) sprint in 2 seconds flat. Yes, 2.

If the astonishing claim is true, that will make it the fastest accelerating production car ever, beating the 1200 hp Bugatti Veyron Super Sport that needs 2.4 seconds to get to 96 km/h (100 km/h in 2.5 seconds). Talking about giant-killing performance.

The current 545 hp GT-R’s time of 2.7 seconds is incredible enough, so for the Nismo version to substantially improve on it seems scarcely believable. As will all go-faster models, the super GT-R is likely to get more power (over 570 hp) and less weight.

Williams Advanced Engineering (a division of the British F1 team) is deeply involved in the GT-R Nismo’s development, with one engineer telling AE, “You’d be surprised at how much room for improvement there is – even with a car like the GT-R.”

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has already gone on record saying that the GT-R Nismo will be ‘special’. Two seconds; yup, that’s special alright.

Nissan Grand Livina facelift launching in September

The facelifted Nissan Grand Livina will be launched in Malaysia early September, which is a little more than a month away. This is according to Campaign Asia-Pacific, a publication covering the advertising industry.

The report says that Edaran Tan Chong Motor chose Draftfcb Malaysia as the ad agency responsible for the refreshed Livina campaign. Draftfcb won a three-way pitch that involved Leo Burnett and Bates. Besides the usual ATL TV spots and print ads, there will be a digital campaign, so keep your eyes peeled.

The facelifted Livina range, which includes the 5-seater Livina X-Gear and 7-seater Grand Livina MPV, made its motor show debut earlier this year at Auto Shanghai 2013.

In ASEAN’s largest economy, where the MPV is king, the Livina gets a new Xtronic CVT transmission with the revised HR15DE 1.5 litre engine, while the 1.8 litre variant soldiers on with the existing four-speed auto. In Malaysia, the pre-facelift Grand Livina uses either a 1.6 or 1.8 litre engine, both with four-speed autos.

We suppose the latter will stay on unchanged, but the question remains whether ETCM will adopt the new 1.5 litre/CVT combo or maintain status quo. Not long to go before all is revealed!

Tan Chong wins Nissan distributor rights to Myanmar

Nissan has given Tan Chong sole and exclusive rights to distribute Nissan completely built-up (CBU) vehicles in Myanmar, Bernama reports. Under the distribution agreement, ETCM (MM) Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd, will also have the rights to appoint any party as its dealers for sales and after-sales services there.

Distribution of Nissan cars in the emerging market is expected to commence in the third quarter of this year with projected sales volume of about 300 units per year. The previously secluded nation is often described as Asia’s last frontier, as multinationals rush in to market their products to a large untapped population.

Myanmar isn’t Tan Chong’s first foray into Indochina. The Malaysian group opened its first international assembly plant in Da Nang, Vietnam, in June this year. The TCIE Vietnam plant assembles the Nissan Sunny (Almera in Malaysia) for domestic consumption. Built at a cost of US$40 million, the plant has the capacity to assemble up to 6,500 cars annually.

Nissan Almera facelift captured undisguised in China

Nissan’s B-segment contender, the Nissan Almera, was globally unveiled in December 2010 at the Guangzhou Motor Show, and following a typical five year lifecycle for a car in this class, it’s about time for a mid-life facelift soon.

Well, no need for spyshots of half disguised prototypes, as completely undisguised albeit low resolution photos have surfaced from China, on automotive site Auto Sohu.

The Nissna Almera facelift (it’s called the Nissan Sunny in China) gets reshaped headlamps, front grille, bumpers and extra chrome around the fog lamp and boot lid. Those alloy wheels look like they have a new design as well. There could be interior changes or not, we’ll have to wait and see to find out.

Nissan Serena S-Hybrid launched in Malaysia – 8-seater MPV, CBU from Japan, RM149,500

 

 

 

 

 

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) officially launched the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid this morning in Setia Alam. The hybrid Serena C26 was open for booking earlier this month.

ETCM bills the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid as first hybrid MPV to be sold in Malaysia. Imported as a CBU from Japan, where the Serena is the best selling mid-size MPV, this model takes advantage of duty exemptions on hybrid vehicles below 2,000 cc that at the moment is due to end on Dec 31, 2013.
No extension to that date has been announced by the government so far, but we understand that ETCM is ready for local assembly if CBU benefits end along with the year 2013. 
 

 

The Serena S-Hybrid is powered by a MR20DD 2.0 litre engine with 147 PS and 210 Nm (figures are from engine alone, excluding 54 Nm from electric motor). This direct injection twin-CVTC unit is paired to Nissan’s latest Xtronic CVT gearbox with Adaptive Shift Control.

An Idling Stop System shuts down the engine when idle, and restarts in just 0.3 seconds after the brake is released. There’s a timer that shows the driver how long idle stop is in use. The car’s ECO-Motor assists acceleration when moving off.

The S in S-Hybrid stands for “smart” and this Serena is actually a “micro-hybrid” of sorts. What Nissan did was beef up the ECO Motor, the Serena’s starter motor that controls Idling Stop and functions as an alternator during deceleration.
 

 

The starter motor uses a belt pulley type cranking system instead of a normal gear type unit. Even the regular Serena has this, but in the Serena S-Hybrid, the capacity of this motor is increased from 1.0kW/150A to 1.8kW/200A, and the engine bay has an extra 12V-27V-Ah battery. The main 12V-64V-Ah battery drives the motor, while the sub battery powers electrical components like the radio, wipers, etc.

Think of the extra bits as a simple F1-style KERS system. With it, the engine also does not need to move the car AND power the car’s electrical needs at the same time, resulting in fuel savings. Fuel economy is listed as best in class – 15.2 km/l in Japan’s JC08 test cycle.

On to the MPV part of the equation. The Serena is advertised as an 8-seater (8 seat belts), with a 2-3-3 formation. A variety of 14 seat configurations are available to the user, and there’s a Smart Multi Centre Seat that slides along the car’s centre aisle. It can function as additional storage for the front row, as an extra seat in the middle row, or as a tray table to be shared with third row passengers.

 

Getting in and out is easy with powered one-touch sliding doors on both sides of the MPV, which reveal the largest opening in its class. Getting into the third row is done by pushing the left second row captain’s chair against the one on the right, creating a walkway. Both middle row seats slide fore and aft.

The rearmost seats can be folded and flipped up to the sides for max cargo mode. In this case, 4 mountain bikes can fit in. With all seats in place, additional cargo room comes in the form of an under floor compartment that can swallow a golf bag or a baby stroller. There are plenty of storage spaces, including under seat boxes. Second row occupants get flip up trays with cup holders, too.

Standard equipment includes i-Key (keyless entry) with push start, auto climate control, overhead air con vents for the second and third row (temp/fan/mode control for second row), dual airbags, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, auto headlamps and cruise control.
 

 

ETCM is bringing in the Serena S-Hybrid in the sporty Highway Star trim level with unique front grille and bumpers, 16-inch alloys with sportier suspension and a dark interior theme. 4 exterior colour choices are available: Dark Purple, Super Black, Brilliant Pearl White and Brilliant Silver.

For a promotional period, ETCM will throw in a 6.5-inch head unit with navigation, USB, Bluetooth and rear view camera, worth RM3,300. Optional equipment include a 10.1-inch roof mounted LCD panel (RM700), combination leather interior (RM2,800), window tint (V-Kool or Solar Gard) and door visors (RM400).

The imported from Japan Nissan Serena S-Hybrid retails for RM149,500 on-the-road including insurance. Warranty is 3 years or 100,000 km, whichever comes first.