Who says Twitter is good for nothing? Making fun of derivative Chinese car designs (cough Geely cough) is like shooting fish in a barrel. Only the barrel has no water in it, is only six-inches deep and you're using a shotgun. Still, we're thinking this Jianghuai sedan might be taking a cake or two. Obviously, the front end is a bit much. And looking at the car in profile, the Jianghuai isn't just influenced by the Infiniti G35 -- it is the G35. Stare harder at that C-pillar if you don't believe us. But why completely rip off one car when you can jack two?
We've always thought that Infiniti's current M35M45 sedan deserved greater consideration from American consumers than it has typically received. With a strong VQ-series powerplant and entertaining rear-wheel drive handling, there has always been a lot to like from behind the wheel, but its restrained styling has seemingly always failed to convey the sort of emotion delivered by the driving experience. Thankfully, judging by its just-introduced Nissan Fuga twin here at the Tokyo Motor Show, anonymous styling figures to be less of an Achilles heel going forward.
Powered in the Japanese market by a pair of VQ-series V6 engines displacing 2.5-liters and 3.7-liters respectively (power figures have not been disclosed), the real emphasis for the next-gen model appears to be on advanced safety and creature comfort technology. We're hoping this focus doesn't result in compromised dynamics, but we are very curious to sample such bits of electronic wizardry as Nissan's "Forest AC" that includes a breeze setting and an aroma atomizer, to say nothing of "Intelligent Pedal," a new system that can actually make braking decisions based on data from the sat-nav unit. In our experience, bearing in mind how often the map data has been wrong in a given vehicle's GPS system, we hope that the system doesn't randomly lock up the binders for a phantom hairpin – especially with someone following a bit too closely behind.
Either way, when the Fuga comes to North America next year, we expect it to once again be powered by either the larger of the two VQ-series V6s or a V8 engine. A hybrid model will hit Japan next autumn, and we hear it's also coming Stateside.
The Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo long wheelbase revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show today doesn't add anything to the less well-endowed Alpina B7 we saw at Geneva except length, but isn't that enough? The double-turbo'd 4.4-liter V8 brings 507 romping horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque – all of which is enough to get the white whale to sixty in 4.8 seconds.
Alpina's custom 21-inchers support an interior package touched up with the tuner's logo throughout. Our only cause for pause: the much larger steering wheel; the smaller diameter unit in the regular BMW helps to make the execu-barge a hoot to throw around a track.
The Subaru Hybrid Tourer is sharp-nosed and an all-out sharp piece of car. The car's flat floor hides two electric motors, one aft that powers the car in low-speed acceleration and assists with acceleration, and one up front connected to a direct-injection turbocharged gas engine. The Tourer is also fitted with Subaru's trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive system and a Lineatronic CVT transmission.
As for its design, Subie officials tell us that the nose points the way for Subaru's new corporate face and the rest of the car indicates the general design language we'll see from the brand represented by the Pleiades. "It will be anti-Bangle, editing, not adding – cars have too many character lines now." But forget about the gullwing doors -- those were fitted to provide the best view of the interior.
We're here at the Tokyo Motor Show, where CEO Carlos Ghosn has just confirmed that Nissan, Renault's Japanese alliance partner, will boast a lineup of at least three electric vehicles in the next few years – and a fourth vehicle is also possible. We already know about the Leaf hatchback (above) that was unveiled back in August. In addition, Nissan will build an electric version of the NV200 light commercial van that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. For the first time, Ghosn also confirmed that Infiniti will get a compact four-passenger sedan powered only by batteries.
No other information was available on this car, but Ghosn did say that it would be unveiled in the near future. In all likelihood, the Infiniti will be based on the Leaf platform that is designed for purely electric drive. The fourth model that is being considered for production is the Land Glider concept that was shown publicly for the first time here this morning.
You know that unique thing that Mitsuoka does? If not, see for yourself. And here's another example of it: the new Viewt. Originally introduced in 1993, the Viewt is a Nissan Micra underneath what kind of resembles a Jaguar MkII shell. The latest version of the Viewt underwent some slight changes to ensure compliance with Japanese safety regulations, such as integrating the bumpers into the front end panels.
We consider it a testament to Mitsuoka's designs that a shrunken, ill-proportioned Jaguar clone that sits on a Nissan microcar isn't the strangest thing the company has done.
As the company's number-one global volume vehicle, the Altima is instrumental in keeping the lights on at Nissan HQ. Now in its fourth-generation (last redesigned for the 2007 model year), the made-in-the-USA model is sold in both sedan and coupe variants with a choice of two gasoline engines or one hybrid powerplant. Nissan offers four sedans for the 2010 model year, with the Altima slotting in directly under the flagship Maxima in the lineup (with both sharing Nissan's D-platform architecture).
After spending time with the 2010 Nissan Altima, we understand why it's the brand's best selling model and while it's not a tire shredding sport sedan, this competent family hauler deserves all the kudos and sales volume it's earned.
It's been 32 years since Alfa Romeo put out its own V8: a 2.6-liter, 197 hp mill fitted to the Montreal model that bowed out in 1977. And with emission regs what they are today, it looks like we may have to wait even longer.
Yesterday, Autocar reported that Alfa was working on a new 3.0-liter Mulitair-equipped V8 that would find a home in the replacement for its 166 flagship, supposedly based on the Chrysler 300 platform. Since the story hit the virtual presses, an Alfa spokesperson has denied the claim, saying "No front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive Alfa Romeo will use a engine larger than a V6." However, Alfa's parent, Fiat, does have access to Chrysler's 3.6-liter V6, but we somehow doubt that aging lump will find its way into the next generation of Alfa's range-topping model.
While we were chatting with VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby in Wolfsburg, Germany, the subject of its new 'Merican-built car came up. The so-called NMS or New Midsize Sedan will replace the Passat in the US VW lineup. This model will be unique to the North American market, which brought up a question about the last "Americanized" VW.
For those not old enough to remember, Volkswagen opened a factory in Westmoreland county Pennsylvania in 1978 and closed it a decade later. When the plant started building the Rabbit (aka MK 1 Golf) VW's home office modified the Rabbit to make it "more appealing" to American buyers. That meant giving it rectangular headlights and making it softer and losing much of the German character that made it fun to drive.
Jacoby promises that won't happen this time around. Instead, the process of adaption will involve growing the sedan to bring it on par with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The current Passat is considered to be just a bit too small inside by comparison. What won't change is the tight suspension setup and styling consistent with other contemporary VWs.
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The car that authored the "four-door-coupe" terminology – and a great deal of Internet debate and dictionary definition checking – will introduce its second act toward the end of 2011. Unsurprisingly, the new model (which is expected to wear a 2011 designation), will look much like the current model. That's the way it goes with genre-defining things most of the time.
Perhaps it is just our eyes, but in the spy shots it looks like the car's rump could be even more sleek, with the glasshouse landing even further toward the rear of the car. Also, the mirror mountings have changed – at least on this prototype – from the A-pillar notch to the doors. In line with Merc's current designs, they are now giant square flaps mounted on stalks.
Engines are expected to range from a 3.5-liter V6 with 292 horsepower to the top-o'-the-heap 6.2-liter V8 with 525 hp. Rumored to be tucked in there as well is a 299-hp hybrid.
