All-New Nissan Tiida Unveiled at Shanghai Auto Show, Previews 2012 Versa in the U.S.

It won’t be long before Nissan takes the wraps of the North American market 2012 Versa, but the Japanese company offered us our first glimpse of the sub-compact model with the reveal of the new Tiida hatchback at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show today. As some of you may already know, the Versa is sold in numerous markets around the world under the Tiida nameplate.

The new generation of Nissan’s best selling model sports a swoopier exterior design with some styling references to the pure-electric Leaf. The fluid theme is carried over to the interior with a floating center cluster. The Japanese company also promises improved passenger space thanks to the 100mm (3.9-in.) longer wheelbase.

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Ford Sues Nissan Over Brazilian TV Ad that Ridicules the Focus for Being Overpriced [with Video]

Ford’s Brazilian arm has filed a criminal (!) lawsuit against the local division of Nissan for airing an aggressive TV commercial directed at the Focus sub-compact. To make a long story short, the parody-like ad points the finger at Ford for allegedly overpricing its Focus model.

The TV spot, which looks exactly like a rap video, shows two men dressed as Ford engineers living the big life with gold chains and rings, plenty of champagnes, and –the best part- an exotic assortment of sexy women in bikinis dancing around them. And oh, there’s also a silver Ford Focus on the background….

At the end, the commercial announces the price of Nissan’s Tiida sub-compact (sold as the Versa in the States), which in Brazil, costs around BR 3,000 or a little over US$1,800 less than Ford’s rivaling Focus.

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First Teaser Shots of Nissan's Dedicated All-Electric Model, Plus Full Gallery of Tiida EV Prototype

We just discovered the first teaser photos of Nissan's dedicated electric vehicle that is scheduled to be officially unveiled at the firm's Japanese headquarters in Yokohama on Sunday 2 August 2009. Aside from the front quarter picture, we also found a second teaser shot of the yet to be named EV. Though the car is under cover, the photo suggests that the EV will be a five-door hatchback, most likely similar in dimensions to the Tiida.

On Monday, Nissan issued a teaser release that included a single photo of a Tiida prototype based on the EV's all-new platform. We've updated the photo album with new pictures of the test-mule and detailed images of the platform.

According to the Japanese automaker, the five-seater dedicated EV will make use of a fully electric drivetrain comprising of an electric motor that produces 107-horsepower (80kW) and 280Nm or 207 lb-ft of torque moving the front wheels. A 24kWh laminated compact lithium-ion battery pack positioned under the floor will power the electric motor.

Nissan said that along with the help of the regenerative brake system that charges the battery during deceleration and braking, the EV will have a cruising range of more than 160km or about 260 miles under a full charge. The EV is said to have a top speed in excess of 140 km/h or 90mph+.

The new Electric Vehicle is set to arrive in Japanese and North American showrooms in 2010, with Europe and other major international markets following the next year.

NISSAN EV TEASER SHOTS

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NISSAN TIIDA EV PROTOTYPE & PLATFORM

Nissan Demonstrates New Electric Vehicle Platform, Sales to Start in 2010

Nissan has released new details on its forthcoming dedicated all-electric vehicle that is slated to go on sale in the U.S. and Japan in 2010, with Europe following in 2011. Even though the Japanese firm demonstrated its all-new EV platform on a Tiida-based prototype, Nissan said that it plans to unveil the design of the production EV that will have 'a unique body and design' at its new Global Headquarters Opening in Yokohama next weekend on August 2nd.

According to Nissan, the dedicated EV platform is comprised of a highly rigid body and an fully-electric drivetrain that consists of an in-house developed electric motor that delivers 80kW (107.3 HP) and 280Nm (207 lb-ft) of torque, and a 24kWh laminated compact lithium-ion battery pack that is placed under the vehicle floor for more efficient packaging, without compromising cabin or cargo space.

Additionally, the EV will feature a regenerative brake system to recharge the battery during deceleration and braking. Nissan claims that the system can help extend the driving range to more than 160km or about 260 miles under a full charge.

The Japanese automaker also showcased a new EV-IT system that connects the vehicle's on-board transmitting unit to a global data centre to support EV driving 24 hours 7 days a week. The system informs the driver on the vehicle's maximum range and the closest charging stations through the navigation system while there's also a timer function that enables the air-conditioner or battery charging to begin at a specified time. Furthermore, The driver can monitor the state-of-charge of the EV via an online website and a cellular phone.