Group 1 Nissan Blog

News, Reviews and Interesting Facts on all Nissan Cars

Welcome to the Group1 Nissan blog. This is where you can read personal opinions about any new vehicle releases, see reviews on various models, download free product brochures and gather any other worthwhile information regarding Nissan cars, bakkies, SUV’s and commercial vehicles.

Nissan SA could increase production and create jobs

By Group1 Nissan April 30, 2012

According to Nissan SA MD, Mike Whitfield, the company is in the final stages of negotiations with its Japanese parent company regarding the production allocation of a new Nissan pick-up range set to replace the Hardbody and Navara.

Local production of the new model is expected to start in 2014, with Africa remaining a pivotal export destination. Nissan SA is lobbying to expand production from last year’s 54 000 to a number closer to 100 000 units. In order to accomplish this target, Whitfield says they’ll have to take the plant to two shifts, which will require an additional 800 new employees.

Nissan Japan’s decision to send higher volumes to South Africa will be influenced by four factors – cost competitiveness, flexibility of the labour force, lower logistics costs and parts localisation. An answer is expected by the end of the year.

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Sneak Peek: The All New 2013 Nissan Sentra

By Group1 Nissan April 23, 2012

We thought we’d share this little 2013 Nissan Sentra sneak peek with you! Hope you enjoy:

Watch this space for more info…

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Get your ticket to ride in New York’s new Nissan taxi

By Group1 Nissan April 2, 2012
New York Nissan Taxi

New York City is set to launch the new Nissan Yellow Cab Taxi

Start spreading the news… Yes, New York’s future taxi, the Nissan NV200 has just been revealed in its production form, complete with signature bright yellow and black finishes as well as a few little extras.

The 2.0L front-wheel-drive Nissan NV minivan will take over from the Ford Crown Victoria towards the end of 2013 and is expected to transport 600 000 passengers daily around the Big Apple. As the new official NY taxi the NV200 will be fitted with ample airbags, convenient sliding doors, driver and passenger intercoms as well as a USB/12-volt charging point to allow passengers to power up their laptops, iPhones and other electronic devices.

But Nissan has more than just a 10-year contract worth about 40 000 units to be excited about. As Automotive News pointed out, the Nissan NV200 taxi will receive free media exposure as it will feature in almost every television series and Hollywood movie set in New York – that’s a decade’s worth of free advertising!

Please Note! The image is of the Nissan Leaf and is used for illustrative purposes only.

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Nissan Concepts turn heads at Geneva Motor Show

By Group1 Nissan April 1, 2012
Nissan South Africa Logo

Nissan has unveiled 3 new concept cars at the Geneva Motor Show.

Nissan has made its presence felt at this year’s Geneva Motor Show with a vehicle line-up featuring three new concept cars…

Nissan Invitation Concept
The next generation compact hatchback boasts class-leading aerodynamics, generous interior space and energetic styling. Besides offering a dynamic drive and responsive handling it’s also said to be extremely fuel efficient with low CO2 emissions.

New Nissan Invitation Concept

The NEW Nissan Invitation concept vehicle was launched at the Geneva Motor Show

Nissan Hi-Cross Concept
The 7-seater Hi-Cross Concept promises all the expected Nissan crossover attributes like a compact exterior and spacious interior. Furthermore it’s also powered by a hybrid drivetrain allowing for big engine performance coupled with small engine fuel economy.

Nissan Hi-Cross Concept

The Nissan Hi-Cross Concept turned heads in Geneva as well...

Nissan Juke Nismo Concept
The performance version of the popular production Juke will be even lower, faster and more sporty and muscular in design. Its retuned engine delivers more power and better efficiency while no detail was spared to ensure an unparalleled and dynamic driver experience.

The Nissan Juke NISMO Concept

The Nissan Juke NISMO Concept gives this popular car a sporty new look!

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Nissan GT-R and Juke-R hit the track…

By Group1 Nissan March 23, 2012

What do you get when you pit the Nissan Juke-R against its inspiration, the Nissan GT-R? A few minutes of exhilarating racetrack video footage that will leave you guessing till the very end…

The Juke-R concept has been driven and reported on by various parties. This time round, it was British car magazine AutoExpress’ turn to put the crossover through its paces. And it did just that and more. The 485hp Juke-R got to strut its stuff against its big brother, the 545hp GT-R on the south circuit at the Bedford Autodrome. We could tell you the results, but since action speaks louder than words, rather watch the video clip and see for yourself.

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Nissan News: Datsun returns after 3 decades…

By Group1 Nissan March 16, 2012

3rd Generation Datsun Sunny

Yes, it’s no longer just a rumour. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced in an official statement that the iconic Datsun brand name would be making a comeback. But it won’t be appearing in showrooms across the world. For now it’s been reserved for very specific emerging markets including India, Indonesia and Russia.

The Datsun name went into retirement in 1981, when the automaker re-established itself as Nissan in the States. Now it’s being revived to form the third brand in the Nissan family, along with its luxury sibling, Infiniti. But where exactly does it fit into the market? Datsun will offer buyers inexpensive and fuel-efficient vehicle options, i.e. budget cars.

Datsun vehicle sales in India, Indonesia and Russia are expected to start as soon as 2014. And Nissan won’t only bring new vehicles to Indonesia, it will also bring new job opportunities. In 2011 Nissan sold 60 000 units in this growing market and it expects the number to increase to 250 000 by 2014 while the workforce will expand to 3300. Will Datsun return to South Africa? It doesn’t seem likely at this stage.

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Nissan DeltaWing geared for Le Mans

By Group1 Nissan March 13, 2012

The Nissan Delat Wing looks more like the Batmobile than a racing car...

Is it a car, is it a plane… or is it in fact the batmobile? You’d be excused for confusing the Nissan DeltaWing with the superhero’s mode of transport. The 500kg racecar was just unveiled in London and will prove its powers at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans where it will compete against Audi, Toyota, Porsche and other big names in the epic endurance event to be held in June at La Sarthe.

The innovative project of designer Ben Bowlby is driven by a 1.6L turbocharged, direct injection, four-cylinder engine, based upon the petrol engine found in the Nissan Juke. Though the 300hp it delivers is modest by racing standards, Nissan is confident that the DeltaWing will achieve a lap time in the 3m 45s region. Counting in its favour is the fact that it carries only half the weight of a typical Le Mans Prototype, produces half as much drag, will go through half as many tyres and is likely to consume only half as much fuel.

Though it might be the strangest looking effort on Nissan’s part yet, the Japanese automaker believes it will “showcase the pioneering technology” of the brand which will “feed into the research and development of future technologies that will filter down to Nissan’s road car product range.”

Watch the footage to get a driver’s seat experience.

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Nissan Juke Shiro Launches at 2012 Brussels Motor Show

By Group1 Nissan March 12, 2012
Juke Shiro

A new version of the Juke called the Shiro was launched at the Brussels Motor Show

The Juke is all about individual taste and choice and Nissan has backed this statement up with the launch of the all new Nissan Juke Shiro. This new top-of-the-range version of the Nissan Juke currently available in South Africa was launched at the 2012 Brussels Motor Show in January and is a distinctive new addition to the Juke vehicle range.

What’s in a name?

The word Shiro means white in Japanese and this gives a good indication of what the new inside of this Juke model looks like. In fact, the Shiro is dominated by a number of white flashes previously unseen in a Juke. This even includes the centre motorcycle inspired centre console which is now also available in white in the Shiro.

It’s got the look!

The Nissan Juke has always looked good, but now it looks even better thanks to the addition of stylish dark grey 17-inch alloy wheels, a satin silver finish to the door handles, mirror caps and the B-pillar. It is also available in all of the current Juke colours, with one exception… There is now also the added Juke Shiro exclusive colour of Nightshade – a deep aubergine black colour.

Under the hood…

The Nissan Juke Shiro is available with 3 engine choices – the normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine, the 1.5-litre dCi and the 1.6-litre Nissan DIG-T Turbocharged Direct Injection petrol engine. All engine versions of the Juke Shiro are front-wheel drive and use the five or six-speed manual transmission depending on the engine type.

Now available in All-Mode 4×4

The new Nissan Juke Shiro 1.6-litre DIG-T version is now also available in an advanced All-Mode 4×4 drive system that incorporates torque-vectoring technology and is coupled to the next generation Nissan CVT transmission. This Torque Vectoring System (TVS) is unique to the Juke Shiro and is designed to limit all vehicle understeer. This now gives the Shiro class-leading handling in spite of the higher ground clearance found in all Juke models.

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Nissan Hi-Cross Concept Sneak Peek

By Group1 Nissan February 29, 2012

Nissan is expected to show off a host of concept vehicles at this year’s Geneva Motor show in March. To fuel curiosity, the automaker let a teaser image and video slip of its new Hi-Cross Concept. Nissan has however not released any further details of the high-riding hatchback, so the public will have to wait for its official debut at the Swiss auto show.

Another newcomer to look forward to is Nissan’s Invitation Concept. According to sources, the brand’s next small car will be derived from this modest-sized hatchback concept vehicle. Unfortunately Nissan is keeping the Invitation’s drivetrain details top secret too. For now that is…

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Juke-R faces off against supercars in Dubai streets

By Group1 Nissan February 20, 2012

What do you get when you pit Nissan’s Godzilla-powered Juke-R against a pack of the most formidable supercars on the planet? A publicity stunt that has everybody in the motor industry talking.

Nissan UK took its super-crossover all the way to Dubai for a street race face-off against a Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. And the 3.8-litre twin-turbo 480-horsepower V6 drivetrain of the one-off Juke-R proves it to be a worthy competitor as the official video, recently released by Nissan shows.

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