DETROIT — “Innovation that excites” is the theme for Nissan this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. José Muñoz, Chief Performance Officer at Nissan North American, announced that they had 5.6 million in global sales.
“The United States is a key performance center. The Nissan Division was the fastest growing brand in 2016. In 2016, we manufactured 1 million vehicles in U.S. plants. There were 9,000 new U.S. jobs, which is an 80 percent increase in U.S. production,” added Muñoz. “Rogue was the number one growth model in 2015. Sales grew 14.9 percent in 2016. However, full size trucks is a difficult challenge.”
The 2017 Rogue Sport is 12.1 inches shorter than the standard Rogue with a shorter wheelbase. Although the multi-link rear suspension is the same. It has 141 horsepower with a 2.0 liter direct injection on four cylinders. It also has intelligent cruise control. The Rogue Sport has an attractive look but more sportier. “Pricing will be announced in Spring and will be competitive.”
Three of their sedans account for 65 percent of total non-truck sales. They also have the Nissan Intelligent mobility.
There was a short video on future Nissan design.
Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice Present, Chief Creative Officer, talked about the new Vmotion 2.0 Concept. “We see design as an expression of the person driving it. On the outside, our design is clearly seen. On the front, it is three-dimensional which stretches from front to back. We call it the emotional stretch,” says Nakamura.
My opinion is it reminds me of the Maxima a bit. The sleek sides have thin silver threads that accent the roof line. It also has suicide doors. “The interior is a harmony of sophistication,” added Nakamura. The leather with zebra wood adds to its refinement. The vehicle moves the needle for the demanding lifestyle of today.
