Nissan to Unveil Townpod EV Concept at Paris Show

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, which opens on 30 September, Nissan will lift the wraps off a new electric car concept called the Townpod. The Japanese automaker will release full details at the show but for now, all we have about the concept model is this cropped photo of the front headlamp and Nissan's claims that "it combines eye-catching design with a spacious and practical interior," and that " it heralds a new-era of flexible, stylish vehicles that will bring electric-vehicle mobility to the masses."

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Nissan Europe Refreshes X-Trail SUV, Sales Start in September

We already took our first look at the updated for 2011 X-Trail SUV with the introduction of the Japanese market model in the beginning of July, but now, Nissan has released details on the European market version that will arrive in showrooms in September (October for the UK).

The revised X-Trail benefits from some modest updates to the exterior styling, improved interior quality and functionality, as well as from mechanical and aerodynamic changes.

As you may (or may not...) notice from the pictures, the 2011 X-Trail has undergone very minor cosmetic surgery. Highlight include the redesigned grille, headlights and bumper assembly at the front, along with revised tail lamps that now incorporate LED light technology for the running lights and braking, restyled rear bumper and new 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in beefier tires.

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2011 Nissan X-Trail SUV Facelift Breaks Cover in Japan

You're looking at the refreshed Japanese domestic market [JDM] version of the Nissan X-Trail, a compact SUV model sold in Europe, Japan and other parts of the world but not in the States. For the 2011MY, there's the subtlest of design tweaks, mainly to the front end and the interior, plus a new diesel version and equipment upgrades.

On the outside, the JDM 2011 X-Trail gains a redesigned front grille, front bumper and headlights, along with a reworked rear bumper and new LED tail lamps. There's also a new model called 'X-Tremer' boasting unique bumpers and alloy wheels.

In the interior, the X-Trail is spruced up with a redesigned instrument panel featuring larger dials and a new information display system, fresh colors and additional standard features.

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Nissan to Begin Production of X-Trail and Teana Sedan in Russia

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Nissan president Carlos Ghosn took part in the opening ceremony of the Japanese automaker's first plant in Russia on Tuesday. Located at St. Petersburg, Nissan's new US$200 million assembly plant has a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles a year. The facility, which is scheduled to employ 750 workers at start of production with one shift, will build the Teana mid-size sedan and the X-TRAIL compact off-roader.

"This is Nissan's breakthrough in Russia," said Ghosn. "The opening of our plant in Saint Petersburg in the current conditions underlines our confidence in the high potential of the Russian economy. With the start of production at our new plant Nissan become an integral part of the local community."

Even though the financial crisis has taken its toll on the Russian car market as sales plunged more than 40% in the first four months of the year compared to 2008 when Russia briefly overtook Germany as Europe's largest car market, many analyst believe that Russia will be a key growth market for automakers when a recovery starts.