Is the end near for Nissan's Quest?

Gerry Malloy

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Nissan has cast doubt on the future of its Quest minivan and Inifiniti QX56 luxury SUV with its recently announced plans to make a major move into the work truck market.

Nissan says it will introduce three as-yet unspecified new models of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV), as they are known in the trade, within the next three years. The first of these products will be launched in the first half of 2010.

These three will be built in the company's assembly plant in Canton, Miss., which is where the company builds Altima sedans, Armada SUVs, and Titan pickup trucks – as well as the Quest and Infiniti QX56.

Some industry insiders speculate that the Quest, which has never achieved its expected sales success, will be replaced by a new crossover-type vehicle based on the Forum concept introduced at this year's Detroit auto show.

The next-generation Infiniti Q56 is expected to move further up-market to compete with the Range Rover and Lexus LX.

The new LCVs, meanwhile are developed by Nissan specifically for the North American market. The automaker will partner with Cummins for diesel engines and ZF will supply transmissions. The three new core LCV products to be built in Mississippi will compete in segments where Nissan does not currently have a presence – presumably including heavy-duty pickups and large vans – and which are dominated by the North American automakers.

Expect a Nissan commercial van to more closely resemble a Dodge Sprinter than the Ford Econoline or GM Express/Savana twins.

Nissan to build Chrysler B-Car

Nissan will build a new, fuel-efficient, sub-compact car (B-Car) for Chrysler to sell in North America, Europe and other global markets in 2010.

The as-yet unnamed car will be based on a Chrysler concept and design (the Hornet?) and built at Nissan's Oppama Plant in Japan.

In return, Chrysler will produce a full-size pickup for Nissan, based on a unique Nissan design, in Chrysler's Saltillo (Mexico) assembly plant.

Sales of the pickup in North America will start in 2011. Chrysler will shift some of its pickup production to the U.S. to accommodate the Nissan production.

No word as to how that deal will affect production of Nissan's Titan pickup, which is currently built in Canton, Miss.

Chrysler originally contracted with Chery to build a small car, and that agreement is still in place, but the Chinese company could not respond fast enough, with the required level of quality, to get the needed B-Car to market in the time-frame Chrysler required.

In January, it was announced that Nissan would build a Chrysler-badged version of its Versa for sale in South America, and the two agreed to discuss further product exchange opportunities.

CAA driving costs study

The Canadian Automobile Association has released the 2008 edition of its annual Driving Costs brochure, which includes average driving cost calculations for a representative small car and minivan.

CAA developed the average costs of private vehicle ownership, including the costs of both owning and operating a vehicle, with Runzheimer International.

According to their calculations, it costs from 35.1 to 67.6 cents/km to own and operate a Chevrolet Cobalt, depending on the number of kilometres driven each year.

The corresponding costs for owning and operating a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan ranged from 46.0 to 89.4 cents/km.

A detailed breakdown of the costs, along with instructions on how to keep track of your own vehicle costs, are included in the brochure.

To access the brochure online, go to the Public Affairs section of www.caa.ca and select Reports and Documents.

Buick adds Super to Lucerne

Buick, which was powered by nothing but eight-cylinder engines in its heyday, has become more closely identified with V6s over the last several decades.

In a move to reclaim some of that past grandeur, the brand is reintroducing the once-high-performance Super model name on a top-of-the-line Lucerne sedan. And to give it validity, the new Super is powered by a 4.6 L variant of Cadillac's Northstar V8.

In addition to the 292-hp V8 engine, the new Super includes revised steering and handling characteristics to improve precision, stability, and control, Magnetic Ride Control dampers, and 18-inch aluminum wheels, as well as distinctive exterior and interior trim and extra features.

The Lucerne Super is available at Canadian Buick dealers now, with a suggested list price of $47,690. Saab Turbo X with XWD arrives

Pricing for the all-black Saab Turbo X 9-3 Sport Sedan, which evokes the iconic appeal of the first black 99 and 900 Turbos and introduces the brand's "cross wheel drive" (XWD) all-wheel-drive technology to our market, will start at $54,995.

A SportCombi wagon variant will be priced at $56,305.

The new XWD system will also be an option on 2008 9-3 Aero models, in both body styles, for $2,340.

Ford to reduce blind-spot risk

Ford will introduce two new technologies aimed at reducing the risks created by blind spots.

The first, called a Blind Spot Mirror, incorporates a version of the stick-on convex spot mirror long sold in the aftermarket, but is built right into the top outside corner of the original equipment mirror, with a seamless glass surface. It will be available early next year.

Ford's other new blind-spot technology is called the Cross Traffic Alert with Blind-Spot Monitoring System, and it will also become available during 2009.

It is a radar-based blind spot detection system, similar to that offered by other manufacturers, but with the additional capability of warning drivers of traffic approaching from either side when backing out of a parking space.

Chrysler has announced a similar system, called Rear Cross Path, for the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan.

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