Nismo Whips up a Nissan Micra Concept for the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon

Following on from the recent presentations of the Juke Nismo Concept and the LEAF Nismo Concept, Nissan's in-house performance division has now crafted a conceptual study based on one of the Japanese firm's smallest models, the latest generation of the Micra (called March in Japan) that debuts at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Nismo used the five-door version of the Micra as a base developing a full body kit that comprises of a modified front grille incorporated into a newly designed front bumper with a separate spoiler, matching side skirts, a roof spoiler, a new rear bumper with a diffuser and finally, different exterior mirrors.

Similar to the Juke Nismo study, the supermini is painted in Nismo's signature colors with a pearl white exterior highlighted by red accents.

Inside, Nissan tells us (as we don't get any photos) that Nismo has added purpose-designed sports seats and steering wheel.

Performance modifications include a lowered sports suspension and larger diameter wheels along with a custom exhaust system.

For more news on the Tokyo Auto Salon 2012 with NAPAC, which takes place from January 13 to 15, check out our dedicated page here.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

Mitsubishi to Launch Electric Light Truck and Plug-in Hybrid Outlander in 2013

According to a report from Japan's Nikkei business daily, Mitsubishi is developing a pure-electric light truck that will be launched onto the market in the second quarter of 2013.

Mitsubishi has been one of the first carmakers to enter the EV market with its iMieV, an all-electric city car that like the Outlander SUV has also spawned PSA Peugeot Citroen variants.

Speaking of the Outlander, the report states that a plug-in hybrid version of Mitsubishi’s crossover will also hit the market at the same time as the electric truck.

The PX-MiEV II concept that was unveiled less than a month ago at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show may give us some clues to the Outlander’s replacement as well as its powertrain setup.

The plug-in hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter MIVEC gasoline engine with an output of 94HP, and sports two 60kW (80HP) electric motors, one at the front and the other at the rear. Power is transferred to all four wheels via the acclaimed Lancer Evolution X’s Super-All Wheel Drive that is mated to a new twin-motor AWD system.

The Japanese carmaker has an ambitious plan to launch eight electric or plug-in hybrids and become a global EV leader by 2016.

The i-MieV will go on sale in the States next month as the “i”, while the 2013 hybrid crossover will be a global product. It is still unclear, however, whether the electric light truck, which as Nikkei says will be priced at around 1.5 million yen (US$19,200) after government subsidies, will be available outside Japan.

Story References: Autonews

 

Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV

Read More

Toyota Says it Received 60,000 Orders for New Aqua Hybrid in Japan Before Launch

The new Aqua is off to an excellent start in Japan as Toyota revealed that it had already received pre-orders for 60,000 cars ahead of the sub-compact hybrid hatchback's launch on Monday, December 26. That's five times the company's monthly sales target of 12,000 cars in Japan.

"It will take about four months to receive the car once an order is placed," Toyota managing officer Koei Saga told reporters during a media briefing earlier this week.

The Aqua, which will be marketed around the world as the new Prius C, made its world premiere at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the beginning of December.

Roughly the same size as the latest Yaris hatchback, the Aqua pairs a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 74PS at 4,800 rpm and 111Nm (81.9 lb-ft) to an electric motor producing up to 45kW (61PS) and 169Nm (125 lb-ft), for combined output of 100PS (73kW or 98HP).

The CVT-equipped hybrid model can accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 10.7 seconds while completing the 40 km/h to 70 km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds.

Toyota says that in Japan, the Aqua returns a fuel efficiency of 35.4 km/L (equal to 83.3 mpg US or 2.8lt/100km) under the JC08 test cycle and 40 km/L (94 mpg US or 2.5lt/100 km) under the 10-15 driving cycle.

Pricing for the new Aqua in Japan starts from 1.69 million yen (US$21,770 at today's exchange rates) for the base "L" model and rises to 1.85 million yen (US$23,830) for the range-topping "G" trim level.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More