Nissan Tests Technology That Will Warn You If You Go The Wrong Way

by Tim Joseph

In my oppinion the funniest car scene in television came in the classic John Candy and Steve Martin movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles". The two were trying to get home for the holidays after their flight was canceled. John Candy was driving and Steve Martin was in the passenger seat sleeping (is my memory correct?). John Candy ended driving the wrong way on the highway. Another motorist in the correct lane was trying to warn him of this fact but he thought they were the crazy ones driving on the wrong side of the road. Long story short, they both survived but the whole thing was a disaster.

Nissan has developed technology that would have helped the late great John Candy. The system uses GPS technology and detailed map information to warn drivers if they get on the wrong ramp. My grandma on my dad's side actually did this on a number of occasions in her later years. The system will be tested in Japan this year and if it proves successful will work its way into the rental car industry first.

Unfortunately John Candy and my grandma are no longer with us but I'm sure there is a whole generation of bad drivers out there who will indeed make this a very useful technology.

Yes We Can Sale - Australia

The president of the United States is often referred to as the most powerful man in the free world. It is amazing how much other countries pay attention to what happens here. I cannot tell you who the president of Australia is but the Aussies have come up with an advertising campaign that tells me they know who our president is and obviously he is very popular there.

Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR

by Tim Joseph

The year was 1992. There were riots in Los Angeles, the Olympics in France, the Toronto Blue Jays became the first Canadian baseball team to win the World Series, Bill Clinton became the 42nd president and the first Dodge Viper rolled off the line at Chrysler's Mack Avenue plant. Since then 25,000 Vipers have been built and the plant operates to its 1,200 vehicle per year capacity.

Pictured above is the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR which we all drooled over at this years North American International Auto Show. It is powered by a monstrous 8.4-liter V-10 engine and puts out 600 horsepower. Currently it holds the top time at the Nurburgring with a time of 7:22.1 beating out even the Nissan GT-R. This is definitely an amazing machine.

The story probably will not end here. Chrysler announced they will sell off the Viper brand and it sounds as if there is a lot of serious interest. The problem is that Chrysler's business model doesn't support a hand built, limited production vehicle. There will no doubt be someone out there who will be able to produce the Viper and be profitable doing so. The story is yet to be written.

Nissan Versa For $9,990 - What do you get?

I thought I'd share this great review of the base model Nissan Versa.

Nissan has been building a Nissan Versa equipped with a smaller engine (1.6L as opposed to 1.8L) and lacking certain things like power windows and locks for a couple months now. The base price? $9,990! The low cost model has been selling so well, in fact, we can't even keep them on the lot. This review will tell you why. The good and the bad (if you can even find any bad for that price).

http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Car-Examiner~y2009m1d25-Review-2009-Nissan-Versa-16-how-much-car-do-you-get-for-under-10000

Nissan Announces Advanced Hybrid Batteries

by Tim Joseph

A little more than two years ago I was at Nissan's Tech Center in Farmington Hills, MI. The new Altima was being delivered to dealers and Nissan had us come in for a presentation. During the presentation someone asked when we could expect to get the Hybrid Altima in Michigan. We were told Nissan planned to have it in all 50 states sometime in 2010. They told us that hybrids at that point had not been profitable and that Nissan wanted to do things right before they were going to sell it. Fair enough I thought. Dozens of people since then have asked me about the Hyrid Altima and I have always told them probably 2010.

Today I was reading that Nissan is planning to roll out some hybrids in 2010. They sound like they're right on track to meet the promised goal. They have committed to bringing a completely electric vehicle to the market by 2010 so why not a couple of hybrids? Nissan has stated that they will debut a completely unique hybrid vehicle in 2010. The new vehicle will feature advanced laminated compact lithium-ion batteries which will be mounted under the floor.

It looks as if Nissan will be able to do things right now and get the hybrids out there.

I will follow this story and keep you posted on any updates that come about in the next year.