2011 Nissan NV High Roof

If you need a full size pickup, statistics show that consumers shop Ford, then Chevy, then Dodge. Way down on the List is the Toyota Tundra or the Nissan Titan; despite the Japanese companies’ best efforts to market full size pickups, Americans just don’t think of shopping for full size trucks at Toyota or Nissan.

Another day, another huge recall from a major manufacturer. Today’s bad news comes from Nissan, who is recalling 540,000 vehicles for issues related to a faulty brake pedal pin assembly and fuel gauge accuracy concerns. In three cases, the brake pedal pin worked loose, causing loss of braking ability. The fuel gauge issue is unrelated to the brake pedal recall, and effects “high mileage” vehicles only. Over time, the accuracy of the fuel gauge declines, which may cause drivers to run out of fuel unexpectedly. Details on the models included after the jump.

2011 Pathfinder in EU trim

Or it may not, we’re not really sure. Shown is the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder as it will look on the other side of the pond. Nissan will debut the new model in Geneva, and we’ve been told that it’ll probably show up in New York as well.

That’s what Mazda said about the MPV, their boxy, yet surprisingly enjoyable minivan. But they never, ever, imagined this. David Swenson over at SpeedHunters tells the tale of how he shoved a VG30DETT V-6 out of a Nissan Z car into his 1993 Mazda MPV. The end result? An MPV with 388 horsepower. As a fan of Mazdas and insane engine swaps, I wholeheartedly approve.

Source: SpeedHunters

Automobiles, like everything else evolve over time. Shapes change, designers come and go and technology and engineering move forward. Cars that were cutting edge just 20 years ago are now outdated and antiques. Take a look at the above photo and see what I mean.

Source: http://i.imgur.com

It seems that Nissan is now ready to jump into the electric car fray with the new “LEAF” Zero Emissions Vehicle. Right off the bat the little Nissan gets some points. It’s good looking for a compact has room for four and has an 80% charge rate of about 30 minutes. The problem however is the range, as it tops out at 100 miles on a single charge. Not good if you’re planning a weekend road trip.

Remember years ago when “Limited” numbers meant that it was going to be produced in small quantities? Nowadays every company out there produces a “Limited Edition” something or other. Automotive manufacturers are notorious for this. Take the current crop of “Limited Edition” vehicles for the 2010-2011 model year.

Is it me, or do all of Nissan’s recent introductions look like scaled down versions of the Murano? First came the Nissan Rogue, a three-quarter scale version of the Murano crossover. Now, we await the launch of the Juke, which at first glance appears to be the Murano, rendered in one-half scale.

Like Audi’s A1, the Juke will be offered worldwide with a turbo diesel motor option, but we won’t get that on this side of the pond. We will, however, get a gasoline powered 1.6 liter turbo motor said to be good for 190 horsepower. Watch for future updates on the Juke’s launch.

Source: Carscoop

Now, before ya’ll get all twitchy on me because your favorite car commercial isn’t on this list, listen up! THIS ISN’T YOUR LIST – it’s my list. HOWEVER – if you know of some funny or awesome stuff out there then let us know and we’ll post it up. Hell, we can just make one big bulldog database of the best automotive commercials ever made… I’ll even put it together, just make sure you get me your recommendations.

Citroen C4 – TRANSFORM!!

Ok fine, it’s a bit hokey, but I grew up in the 1980’s and I dig these guys. Plus how often do you get to see a car really let loose and boogie down?

One of the best known auto-tuners from Japan, Tommy Kaira, who has modified cars such as Nissans Skyline, has unveiled their newest package for the Nissan GT-R. Tommy Kaira cars have appeared in numerous racing video games including the Gran Turismo series. Their latest project for the Nissan GT-R is called the Silver Wolf.  Now whats different about the Silver Wolf compared to almost every other Tommy Kaira tune kit is that the engine is not touched. It was released by officials at Nissan when the GT-R was first released that the engine performace could not be improved anymore, any modifications would only reduce its supercar ability. What the Silver Wolf does include is a new carbon fiber widebody kit, and a custom interior with Tommy Kaira logos, along with new wheels, exhaust, brakes and suspension. Although no changes to the engine are going to be made, it is expected that the new suspension and a new exhaust will add a few horsepower to the 480 horsepower engine, as almost every Tommy Kaira packages brings out that extra little performacne that any speed junky would be looking for. If you are interested in getting the full Tommy Kaira Silver Wolf edition, just remember the body kit alone will run you $18,000, plus the GT-R’s $80,000 price tag. However, if you want to see Godzilla breathe fire, the Silver Wolf is what you are looking for.