The National Highway Traffic Safety Association has announced the Ford will recall 140,000 Focus models that were built between August 1, 2010 and October 18, 2011. The Focus is being recalled due to a potentially missing seal in the wiring harness of the passenger side windshield wiper motor. If the seal is missing, water could build up and potentially render the windshield wiper useless which on a rainy day could cause poor visibility which could up the risk of an accident. Come check out the comparable Nissan Sentra at your 2012 Tacoma Nissan Sentra dealer. Focus owners will need to head to a Ford dealer to have the seal checked and replaced if necessary.
Nissan has announced it will launch 5 new models within 15 months. As we saw last week, one of the models will be the 2013 Altima, we also have seen the 2013 Pathfinder concept, we know the Nissan Versa Sedan was redone last year, 2013 will bring the redone Hatchback. Also under wraps is the redesigned CUV the Rogue, and compact sedan the Sentra . Come check out the Nissan Pathfinder at your 2012 Seattle Nissan Pathfinder dealer. From left to right in the picture we can see the Versa Hatchback, Pathfinder, Altima sedan, Rogue, and Sentra. The 2013 Altima will go on sale later this year, followed by the Pathfinder. As for the other three, release dates are not known.
The 2013 Chevrolet Spark has now been priced to start at $12,995 including shipping, the Spark 1LT will go for $14,495, while the 2LT will cost $15,795. The 5-door hatchback will come equipped with 1.2 liter engine that will pump 85 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque, 5-speed manual is stock, automatic transmission is an extra $925. The curb weight on this 4-seater is 2,269 pounds with expected highway mileage to be around 40. Come check out the least expensive subcompact in America, the Nissan Versa at your 2012 Seattle Nissan Versa dealer. The Spark comes standard with power windows, auxiliary audio input, air conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels and a six-month introductory subscription to OnStar. The 2LT comes with fog lights, leatherette seats and better wheels. The Spark will go on sale later this year.
Everyone remembers the Juke-R, Nissan’s super car crossover mix. Well the guys at AmericanMuscle.com have more than doubled the output of the 480-hp Juke-R on a Nissan cube. Come check out the Nissan cube at your 2012 Seattle Nissan cube dealer. While the AM guys had little experience with imports they made a video showing how they changed the funky sedan into a 1,001-hp beast. After the modifications they threw on some new badges, dragon decals, new wheel covers and a GT-R inspired wing.
Beginning in late 2013, the Nissan NV200 will begin to replace the hoards of taxi cabs in New York. The 2014 NV200 was revealed at the New York Auto Show this week. “The Nissan NV 200 unveiled today will be the safest, most comfortable and most convenient taxi the City has ever had,” said New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “New York City cabs have always been iconic, and now they will set a new standard. The 600,000 passengers who use taxis to get around every day deserve the cutting-edge technology and top-of-the-line safety features that this model delivers.”
The new taxis are front wheel drive and have a slew of features that enhance the taxi experience, including: grab handles, sliding doors, transparent roof panels, independently controlled rear air conditioning, mobile charging stations, antimicrobial upholstery, active carbon headliners that eliminate odors and a “low annoyance horn.” Come check out the NV lineup at your 2012 Tacoma Nissan NV dealer. The Nv200 will be built in Cuernavaca, Mexico and have a price starting at $29,700.
The 2013 Altima was finally revealed this week at the New York Auto show, and it has c0me out of the gate ready to win. In 2011 it was the second-best selling midsize sedan, right behind the Toyota Camry, but in 2013 the Camry better watch out. The fifth generation Altima has quite a lot to brag about including being the lightest car in its class, being 79 pounds lighter than the 2012 model, having the best highway fuel economy for a non-hybrid at 38 mpg with a 182-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four engine, new rear suspension setup, features that are class exclusive like Active Understeer Control; not to mention the price, which starts at $21,500. Come check out the Altima at your 2012 Seattle Nissan Altima dealer. The 2013 is only 0.8 inches longer and 1.4 inches taller than the 2012 but Nissan says it wants the Altima to seem “a class above” the other midsize sedans. The new Altima is loaded on the inside with an infotainment system that includes: navigation, Bluetooth (a standard feature), Pandora, Google point-of-interest location and even hands-free texting with a reply function. The 2013 Altima also carries the revamped CVT which has an extended gear ratio range and 40-percent reduced internal friction certainly piques our interest, as well as a new electric power steering system chips in to reduce fuel consumption.
The Detroit News is reporting that NTSB Chair Deborah Hersman is pushing to ban all use of phones, including hands-free devices while driving. Hersman is going head on against automakers proposing that they make their priorities “safety, not sales.” The proposed ban would ban hands-free devices, including Bluetooth which in today’s market can be integrated into a vehicle. The ban does not include OnStar which can route calls through the car. Come check out the lineup of Bluetooth integrated vehicles at your 2012 Tacoma Nissan dealer. While the fight on distracted driving has many aspects, banning hands-free devices seems a bit excessive; even National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Ray LaHood feels it goes a bit too far, who feels if hands-free devices are banned people will just go back to answering their cell phones. The ban is hard to argue if OnStar is allowed, since pushing one button on a Bluetooth is the same as one button on OnStar.
Nissan is has released the pricing for the 2012 NV3500 passenger van. Another model in their slow growing line of commercial vehicles, the NV3500 has now received a price sticker starting at $31,690, a fully loaded NV3500 SL V8 will run just under $40,000. The engine is the same as the commercial van with either a 4.0-liter V6 with 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque or a 5.6-liter V8 with 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Both engines have 5-speed automatic transmission with power delivered to the rear-wheels. Come check out the 2012 NV lineup at your 2012 Seattle Nissan NV dealer. The passenger van offers plenty of storage space, room for 12-people, infotainment system and mobile office capability. After this Nissan will launch the NV200 what they call “the taxi of tomorrow.” Overall Nissan is aiming to offer a full lineup of commercial vehicles within a few years.
We have all heard that phrase “chick car” which is usually referring to a little sporty car like the Mazda Miata, well according to Inside Line the Miata is not even on the top 10. Number one on the list of 2011 models with highest percentage of female owners is the Volvo S40, which is bad for Volvo considering they axed the model for 2012. Volvo axing the S40 could make 2012 more interesting for the Number 2 spot, the Nissan Rogue; or maybe some new competition will swoop in to fill in that spot, maybe the Fiat 500 or maybe the redesigned VW Beetle will catch up. Come check out the Nissan Rogue at your 2012 Tacoma Nissan Rogue dealer. What makes these cars so desirable to women is unclear, maybe it is the style or the price, or maybe women just love crossovers.
Nissan has released their 5th and final video revealing the 2013 Altima. This video is longer than the others and shows a quick glimpse of the car then shows the interior including “new Advanced Drive-Assist Display” in the gauge cluster which is “designed to keep the driver focused on the road.” Also available are blind spot warning, rear moving object and lane departure warning. Come check out the Altima at your 2012 Seattle Nissan Altima dealer. The new Altima is more stylized with a rear similar to that of an older model BMW. The Altima is set to be debuted at the New York Auto Show next week.
