Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Before financial Stargate opened in September of 2008 and transported us to an entirely new economic dimension, it was oh so common to read about domestic automakers hammering Tier One suppliers to lower their prices. Of course, suppliers are still asked to find efficiencies, but pre-2008, it seemed a point of honor to hold a supplier’s feet to the fire. No more: in the latest Working Relations Index survey of suppliers by Detroit firm Planning Perspectives Inc., General Motors and Chrysler rocketed up the charts to bring the bunch much closer together.
Admittedly, the two companies are still in last place, with GM just ahead of Chrysler and Toyota and Honda still up top. But perspective and improvement is the issue here: in 2005, Toyota scored 415 and GM scored 114. In this year’s survey, Toyota scored 296 and Chrysler scored 248. It is the first time in the 12 years of the survey that the six automakers covered have been separated by less than 50 points. Chrysler’s jump was led by the efforts of the the late Dan Knott, whle GM’s improvement has been led by Bob Socia.
And yes, this is also a matter of the perennial leaders, Toyota and Honda, suffering a dip: in 2010 Toyota scored 327 and Honda 309, two years later, Toyota has dropped 31 points. Every automaker, however, from top to bottom acknowledged that they still have work to do with supplier relations. The benefits of good feelings are that suppliers tend to present their newest tech to, and make better parts for, the automakers with whom they have the best relationships. Naturally, it has been found that the reverse is true as well.
Nissan and Ford make up the middle two spots, where they’ve been for years. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Hyundai aren’t on the list yet; PPI feels it doesn’t have enough data on the Germans to yet to officially include them, and it doesn’t have enough data on Hyundai to rank it at all. If the data gathered on the Germans was included, though, they would sandwich the rest of the field: BMW and Mercedes at the top, Volkswagen at the bottom a point shy of Chrysler.
Toyota, Honda top supplier survey with lower results, GM and Chrysler improve originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Videos, Nissan
Depth of Speed is Josh Clason’s video series that cosses the country looking for cool automotive stories to tell. He found another one in Utah at JDM Legends. They let Clason take one of their vintage Skyline GT-R projects out on track for some sunset lens time, and the result is nothing less than you’d expect from Clason.
On a side note, while the current Nissan GT-R is totally awesome, we wish it had a bit more of this car’s cool vibe. Follow the jump for the video.
Continue reading Depth of Speed does track time in a classic Skyline with JDM Legends
Depth of Speed does track time in a classic Skyline with JDM Legends originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 May 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Videos, Nissan, Design/Style, Racing
We’ve seen the Nissan DeltaWing running shakedown laps, but now the bonanza of teaser vids will truly begin as the DeltaWing prepares in earnest for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since it has shown it can actually handle a track at speed, the latest step in the process is to verify how it handles the wind.
Nissan Europe will be producing a video roughly every two weeks tracking the DeltaWing’s evolution, and after the race Audi’s sequel to Truth in 24 will be joined by a documentary on Nissan’s isosceles racer. Scroll down for Nissan’s take in words and video.
Continue reading Nissan launches new DeltaWing video series with wind tunnel teaser
Nissan launches new DeltaWing video series with wind tunnel teaser originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Nissan, Specialty
It takes but six months to crown a new American Idol, but the search for a replacement New York City taxi has taken five years, and the winner is finally ready to collect its flowers and contract.
The production taxi version of the NV200 is, except for its looks, just about all a cabbie and his passenger could want from their voyages together: more room, more lighting, a panoramic roof, airbags front and rear, climate control for back-seaters, charging ports and an active carbon headliner to absorb odors are just the start.
We’ve seen renderings of the interior, but the New York Auto Show is where locals will get a chance to meet their lemony carriages before they enter service next year. A mobility version for disabled passengers is being developed with Braun and will go on sale next year as well. Scroll down for the full skinny on the Taxi of Tomorrow, and click the image above to enlarge.
Continue reading Nissan debuts production NV200 “Taxi of Tomorrow” for New Yorkers
Nissan debuts production NV200 “Taxi of Tomorrow” for New Yorkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Crossover, Nissan, UK
Now that Nissan UK is finished with the dog-and-pony promotional show for the Nissan Juke-R, it’s free to do what we’ve all been waiting for: hand it over to The Fourth Estate for proper testing. AutoExpress was the first in line, and they didn’t waste the chance, pitting Faust’s CUV against the car that made it possible, the Nissan GT-R, around the Bedford Autodrome circuit.
We could tell you more, but this isn’t the time for words – the long-awaited action is in the video after the jump. Still want more? There’s an article to go with it over on AutoExpress.
Continue reading Showdown: Nissan Juke-R pitted against GT-R on track
Showdown: Nissan Juke-R pitted against GT-R on track originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Infiniti, Nissan, Luxury
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an investigation of the 2003 and 2004 Infiniti M45 late last year over inaccurate fuel gauge readings, and now that probe has resulted in an official recall. The culprit has been identified as a faulty circuit board that causes the gauge to register more fuel in the tank than the car actually has.
According to NHTSA, Infiniti will begin notifying owners in mid-April, at which time they can take their sport sedans to the dealer to be replaced free of charge. Follow the jump for the official word from NHTSA with more details.
Continue reading Infiniti recalling 2003-2004 M45 sedans over potential fuel gauge issue
Infiniti recalling 2003-2004 M45 sedans over potential fuel gauge issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Videos, Nissan, Design/Style, Racing
The DeltaWing project now has two major corporate backers and, more importantly, an engine. Nissan and Michelin have signed on with the innovative project of designer Ben Bowlby, Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers and Don Panoz. Now called the Nissan DeltaWing, the Japanese firm will provide a turbocharged, direct-injected 1.6-liter, four-cylinder with an output of around 300 horsepower. Known as DIG-T, the powerplant shares the same roots as the engine in the Nissan Juke.
That’s about 200 hp down on the 510 horsepower developed by the diesel V6 in the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro and about half the horsepower developed by other LMP1 racers. However, Nissan says the engine is half the weight of a typical LMP1 motor, and paired with the DeltaWing’s minimal aerodynamic drag, the lap times are said to be somewhere between those of the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. Why does this matter? Because Nissan and Co. are taking this needle-nosed baby to Le Mans.
Of call cars and classes, Nissan says this strangest looking effort is one that will “showcase the pioneering technology that will show one potential direction for the future of motorsport and will feed into the research and development of future technologies, that filter down to Nissan’s road car product range.”
The Nissan DeltaWing will be allowed to run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans following a special dispensation for an experimental car that doesn’t follow any technical guidelines offered by ACO, the organizer of Le Mans. It will use Garage 56, it will wear Number 0, and won’t be classified in the results. Even so, we’ll be watching closely. Follow the jump for a video of the racecar’s development and a press release detailing Nissan’s involvement.
Continue reading Nissan backs DeltaWing racecar, headed for Le Mans [w/video]
Nissan backs DeltaWing racecar, headed for Le Mans [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Sedan, SUV, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Infiniti, Nissan, Luxury
Nissan North America is recalling 2011 and 2012 Nissan Juke, Infiniti M and Infiniti QX models over a fuel pressure sensor issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s possible that the sensors weren’t tightened properly, which could lead to the sensor coming loose over time and an increased risk of a fire due to leaking fuel.
The recall begins on March 19. Nissan will notify owners, who can take their vehicles to the dealer to be repaired free of charge. A bulletin from NHTSA that has more information is after the jump.
Continue reading Nissan recalls Juke, Infiniti M and QX for possible fuel leaks
Nissan recalls Juke, Infiniti M and QX for possible fuel leaks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Videos, Crossover, Nissan
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder will be making its debut at April’s New York Auto Show, but before that it’s got to prove itself on the other side of the country. Nissan engineers are flogging the unibody crossover in the climatological extremes of The Great Northwest to make sure it does as well with owners as it does on the comfy confines of the show circuit.
The engineers don’t give away anything we didn’t already know about it or its roomier, more accessible interior. But along with the rolling footage we do get a few quick shots of the versatile interior and that third-row access even with a baby-seat installed. It’s all in the video after the jump.
Continue reading 2013 Nissan Pathfinder shown in motion
2013 Nissan Pathfinder shown in motion originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Nissan
Nissan will officially debut its 2013 370Z tomorrow at the Chicago Auto Show, and the changes fulfill the dictionary definition of “subtle.” The new 19-inch wheels and Euro-tuned shocks on models with the Sport Package are the big news, but details like vertical LEDs, 18-inch wheels on the non-Sport Z, two new colors and a red reflector out back add just enough signals to make a difference to model-year-conscious buyers.
The refreshed 2013 370Z will come in coupe, convertible and NISMO trims, with the latter iteration getting more speakers for its Bose audio system. Oddly, though, that same trim does not get some of the changes for the new model year, including the Euro-tuned shocks that will debut on the Sport Package.
The 3.7-liter V6 with 332 horsepower carries over, as does the same 3.7-liter with 350 horsepower in the NISMO, and the new Z goes on sale in June. Check out the press release after the jump, and stay tuned to get more images and info from our team at the Chicago Auto Show.
Continue reading 2013 Nissan 370Z goes evolution, not revolution
2013 Nissan 370Z goes evolution, not revolution originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
