2008 Paris Auto Show: Nissan Nuvu Concept

Nissan Nuvu Concept

Nissan's Nuvu concept (think "New View") is Nissan's vision for the type of car we'll be driving in cities by the middle of next decade. Although it is an electric car, Nissan says the Nuvu is not the electric car the company recently announced it will sell in the U.S. and Japan in 2010. The Nuvu does carry some technology destined for the production vehicle.


As befitting a proper city car, the Nuvu is small: about a foot longer than a Smart Fortwo. A unique 2+1 seating arrangement allows for a third passenger when needed, or the seat can be folded down. Unlike many city cars, the Nuvu has enough luggage capacity for a proper supermarket run.

Of note, the Nuvu's roof has 12 small leaf-shaped solar panels, which charge the battery via a "tree-trunk" within the car. And to further emphasize the Nuvu's "green-ness," the cabin makes use of natural, organic and recycled materials.

"Nuvu is a concept car, for sure, but it is an entirely credible vehicle," says Francois Bancon, the general manager of Nissan's Exploratory and Advanced Planning Department.

source: http://autos.yahoo.com

2008 Beijing Auto Show

The folloing picture and information is about 2008 Beijing Auto Show quoted from www.edmunds.com

We weren't quite sure what to expect at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. A booming economy has created a huge car-buying middle class in China, so there's now an equally massive Chinese car industry rising up to meet the demand. In addition to the traditional players like GM, Ford and Toyota, there were dozens of brand-new car companies attempting to grab their own share of this lucrative market.

One of those new companies is Geely; and it introduced a sleek, new coupe that was one of the most talked about cars at the show. The Dongfeng BF is another home-grown car that made its debut in Beijing. It's a small hatchback that will spawn several other variants over the next few years.

When it came to world cars that we'll see in the U.S., there was a healthy batch of luxury models. The 2009 Audi Q5, 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 and the top-of-the-line 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S all hit the stage for the first time. And that's not all, so check out our latest blogs, news stories and photos from Beijing to see what's happening in the most active car market in the world.

More information on 2008 Beijing Auto show, visit www.edmunds.com