Nissan May Tap Ev Startup Hercules For Titan Pickup Powertrain

Nissan may tap EV startup Hercules for Titan pickup powertrain

As the rush to battery-powered pickups grabs more headlines, Nissan is said to be interested in getting its slow-selling Titan full-size pickup in on the action. According to a report by Bloomberg, the company is exploring a partnership with EV startup Hercules that would have the nascent Detroit-based electric-pickup manufacturer supply electric powertrains for Nissan. Nissan, in return would provide unnamed truck components for Hercules' own Alpha pickup.

It has previously been reported that Nissan would trim the Titan model range, dropping unpopular variants such as the single-cab version and the diesel, as part of a company-wide initiative to cut costs. But full-size pickups generally are huge profit centers for their makers, and Nissan surely wants to keep the Titan viable. An electric Titan would join the thundering herd of upcoming battery-powered pickups such as the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford's Electric F-150, GM's Hummer EV, the Rivian R1T, the Lordstown Endurance, and Bollinger B2 among others.

Nissan Could Sell Its 34% Stake In Mitsubishi

Nissan could sell its 34% stake in Mitsubishi

TOKYO — Nissan is looking to sell some or all of its 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing unidentified sources, a move that would reshape a three-way alliance that includes France's Renault.

Nissan shares rose 5% on the news. Mitsubishi Motors was up 3%.

2022 Nissan Rogue Sport Previews With New Design And More Tech

2022 Nissan Rogue Sport previews with new design and more tech

We concluded the new 2021 Nissan Rogue is better in every way than its predecessor, which bodes well for its smaller sibling. Known as the Qashqai globally, the Rogue Sport is preparing to return for a second generation, and cross-referencing the images of fully camouflaged prototypes released by Nissan with the changes recently made to the bigger Rogue gives us an accurate idea of what to expect from the popular crossover when it lands.

Built on a new modular platform shared with the aforementioned Rogue, the Rogue Sport remains largely a European product. It was designed in Nissan's studio in central London, and it was engineered at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe which, as the British spelling for center indicates, is also located in the United Kingdom. It's lighter than the outgoing model thanks to a number of weight-saving measures like doors, fenders, and a hood made with aluminum and a rear hatch manufactured using a composite material. It's 41% stiffer, too.

Nissan Sues Carlos Ghosn For $95 Million In Damages

Nissan sues Carlos Ghosn for $95 million in damages

TOKYO — Ousted Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn's legal woes deepened on Friday with the start of a civil trial in Yokohama, Japan, where his former employer is seeking $95 million in damages.

"The legal actions initiated today form part of Nissan's policy of holding Ghosn accountable for the harm and financial losses incurred by the company due to (his) misconduct," Nissan said in a statement.

Nissan Cuts 2020 Loss Forecast 28% To $3.2 Billion

Nissan cuts 2020 loss forecast 28% to $3.2 billion

TOKYO — Nissan on Thursday cut its forecast for an annual operating loss by 28%, albeit to a still-whopping $3.2 billion, helped by restructuring efforts and better-than-expected sales.

In a reversal from the aggressive expansion pursued by ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn, Nissan is reducing production and its vehicle line-up by a fifth, and slashing costs by 300 billion yen in three years to improve profits.

Nissan Dayz Promotion Puts Cats In Miniature Kei Cars In CafĂŠs Across Japan

Nissan Dayz promotion puts cats in miniature kei cars in cafés across Japan

While some carmakers appeal to dog lovers, Nissan is going all-in with cats, at least in Japan. The Yokohama-based company is teaming up with a chain of cat cafés across the country to promote the Nissan Dayz kei car.

If you're not familiar with cat cafés, they're essentially a coffee shop in which you sip your latte while surrounded by dozens of cats. It's supposed to deliver all the companionship and fun of cats without, you know, actually owning them. The concept began in Taiwan, blew up in Japan, and has made its way to the U.S. as well.

Nissan To Place Toyota Rav4s In Its Dealers For Customers To Compare With 2021 Rogue

Nissan to place Toyota RAV4s in its dealers for customers to compare with 2021 Rogue

Nissan is so confident in its all-new 2021 Rogue that it's bringing the best-selling Toyota RAV4 into its dealerships for customers to more easily cross-shop them side-by-side. Put up or shut up, as they say.

According to a report in Automotive News, Nissan Motor Corporation will offer dealers a rented RAV4 during December so that customers can test drive and compare against the Rogue. The company expects half of its 1,074 dealers to participate. 

2021 Nissan Frontier Previewed In Design Sketches

2021 Nissan Frontier previewed in design sketches

Nissan is finally preparing to replace the Frontier. It's not ready to show the truck yet, but it subtly gave us an early look at it by concealing its front end in a design presentation about the updated global-market Navara.

Spotted by Motor1, the image briefly appears in a 15-minute video published on YouTube by Nissan's Mexican division. Above all, it confirms the Navara sold overseas and the Frontier sold here will not look anything alike.

2021 Nissan Maxima 40th Anniversary Edition Price Revealed

2021 Nissan Maxima 40th Anniversary Edition price revealed

Pricing for the 2021 Nissan Maxima 40th Anniversary Edition and the Maxima lineup in general is out. The special edition package will cost $2,125, and you'll be able to tack it on to the $43,145 Platinum trim (price includes a $925 destination charge). That leaves the final asking price at $45,270, which is nearly spot-on with what our guesstimate pegged it at in our original reveal post.

The package includes a two-tone Ruby Slate Gray Pearl exterior with black roof, 19-inch gloss black wheels, black exterior trim and badges, black exhaust finishers, red semi-aniline leather seating with 40th Anniversary embossing, red interior stitching, satin dark chrome interior trim, white speedometer and tachometer faces to remind of past Maxima models, and heated rear seats.

2021 Nissan Rogue Luggage Test | How Much Fits In The Cargo Area?

2021 Nissan Rogue Luggage Test | How much fits in the cargo area?

I would assume that a major reason someone buys a 2021 Nissan Rogue rather than a Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4 is because of its looks. The new Rogue, like its predecessor actually, is quite the handsome thing. It's nicely proportioned with a face that's distinctively bold without being overwrought. It doesn't scream "functionality!" like the rather mumsy CR-V or the sensible-shoes Forester. 

Usually, such an emphasis on style would result in a reduction of space and versatility. Fashion and function are often at odds with each other. Yet, the Rogue bucks that trend. Though it's not quite as spacious or versatile as its fellow top sellers, it's still awfully big for something deemed a "compact" SUV. There's abundant leg- and headroom in the back seat, and since this is a luggage test, a surprising amount of cargo space. In fact, its 74.1 cubic-feet of maximum cargo capacity, which trails only the CR-V for class best. Space behind the raised back seat isn't as good as the CR-V and RAV4, however, with Nissan measuring it at 31.6 cubic-feet in the cargo area's standard formation (like the vehicle we'll be testing here) and 36.5 cubic-feet with the innovative optional Divide-N-Hide cargo floor. Let's see if that 31.6 cubic-feet is consistent with the amount of luggage you can actually cram aboard.