Nissan’s new Mixim concept shows what a future electric-powered city car might look and act like, the Japanese automaker said as it previewed its concept prior to a Frankfurt auto show introduction.

The Mixim is powered by a “Super Motor” electric powertrain, which Nissan promises will give the concept “unusually rapid performance” and a “usefully extended range.” Since one motor powers the front wheels and one, the rears, the Mixim is all-wheel driven.

The use of lithium-ion batteries will likely be the hot topic at the Nissan press conference in Frankfurt. Both GM and Toyota are experimenting with the high-capacity batteries, but neither has approved them for production – and reports have indicated Toyota would not delay its next-generation Prius hybrid in expectation of using lithium-ion batteries in it.

In terms of its packaging and shape, Nissan says the coupe shape applied to the Mixim will make it appealing to a young driver and two passengers, each sitting on either side of the driver seat. A fourth seat is tucked in beneath the hatchback.

From the outside, the Mixim is said to resemble the visor of a crash helmet, with its staggered roofline and choppy rear end. Diamond shapes are found all around the exterior, from the air intakes to the rear door shape to the LED driving lights. Inside, the steering wheel and controls are patterned after video games.

The Mixim rides on a 99.6-inch wheelbase, is 145.7 inches long and 70.9 inches wide, and 55.1 inches high. More compact than Nissan’s Micra, it weighs about 2100 pounds.

Nissan Motor Co. is recalling 140,582 of its 2007 Altima cars, the automaker’s best-selling U.S. vehicle, because the air filter can catch fire if a hot object is drawn into it.

The recall affects Altima cars with a 2.5-liter, four- cylinder engine, the Tokyo-based automaker told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nissan told the Washington-based agency it began notifying owners July 3. Four fires were reported in February and March, the company said.

The filter will be replaced because it can ignite if something hot such as cigarette ash enters through the vehicle’s fresh-air intake valve, Nissan said. An air deflector also will be installed to prevent a buildup of debris at the filter.

The Altima accounted for 140,253, or 26 percent, of Nissan’s U.S. sales this year through June. The model was ninth in sales among all cars and light trucks in the U.S. during the period.

The recall affects Altimas built from Sept. 25 to May 11 at its plant in Smyrna, Tenn., and from Oct. 30 to May 11 at its Canton, Miss., factory, Nissan told the agency. The vehicles are under warranty, the company said.

Tony Pearson, a spokesman for Nissan’s Nashville, Tennessee- based U.S. unit, declined to say how much the recall will cost the automaker. Nissan expects to notify all owners by Oct. 1, he said in an interview.

Nissan’s American depositary receipts rose 3 cents to $21.58 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. They have fallen 11 percent this year.

Japan’s Nikkan Kogyo newspaper write Toyota is postponing the use of lithium-ion batteries in Toyota Prius because of safety concerns. As we know, Lithium-ion batteries are used in electronics because of their compact size and good storage capacity. Toyota was planning to use same kind of batteries in their Toyota Prius. After Sony had some troubles due to lithium-ion laptop batteries, exploding Sony batteries cost millions of dollars to Sony Corporation.
Toyota is still using nickel-metal hydride batteries in Toyota Prius. They follow the technology that the automotive industry has been searching for years. They’re agree about next generation batteries which is going to be lithium-ion but because of safety concerns, Toyota has put caution before deciding for today. We’re sure Toyota will be on consumers’ side in the safest way.

Pricing will likely start somewhere around 100,000 US-Dollars when the car makes production in 2008. There won’t be any official exports of the car to Europe.


Text: Automedia / Photos: Automedia

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