Across the entire earth there’ve been over twice the amount of Leaf cars sold by Nissan compared to what’s been sold here in the USA. These numbers are counted started at the launch of the vehicle back in December of 2010. Nissan Leaf Marketing and Sales Strategist for Nissan North America Brendan Jones had the following to say on the subject:

“From a Leaf perspective, 2011 was a great year and very positive for the company. [10,000 sales] is more EVs than have been sold in the United States — and 20,000 globally — than all the other OEMs combined throughout the world. So that’s an outstanding achievement.” – Jones

Two things to consider when thinking about this. First, the not quite so electric 2012 Prius V wagon sold 8,399 cars in 10 weeks by the end of 2011 according to GreenCarReports. Second, this is the first time a mass-produced “mainstream” electric car has been sold at the numbers Nissan is reporting for the Leaf. Is it positive, or a bad sign? You decide!

[via GreenCarReports]

Nissan says the average scratch should be “healed” in around an hour, but more serious grazes could take anything up to a week to be fixed. Still, compared to smashing the glass back panel of your iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 – either of which generally aren’t fixed until you throw money or insurance at them – it’s a lot more preferable.

The magic is Nissan’s polyrotaxane-based paint, which is layered over an ABS plastic shell. A side-benefit is that it feels more tactile and grippy than a regular paint finish, which should hopefully help you avoid dropping it in the first place. Nissan has already licensed the paint to NTT DoCoMo, which uses it in some of its Japan-only handsets, while polyrotaxane is also being considered as a potential anti-cancer drug delivery system.

Nissan will be test-driving some prototype Scratch Shield iPhone cases this year, and is considering a commercial launch later in 2012. No word on how pricing might compare to a regular iPhone shell.

So, the humble March sees its body clad in Nismo aeroparts that – rather than just looking aggressive – actually improve efficiency, along with a modified front grille being grafted on and an aerodynamically-tweaking rear lip spoiler. Even the door mirrors have been fettled to improve airflow.

The March Nismo concept sits on chunky, lightweight wheels and has high-performance suspension, with the driver ensconced in custom seats with a new steering wheel design. Unfortunately Nissan hasn’t released interior shots, so we’ll just have to imagine them ourselves.

Like the Juke Nismo Concept and the Leaf Nismo Concept before it, this March madness won’t actually go on sale. Instead, Nissan is likely hoping that boy-racers and their ilk will be motivated to splash some cash at Nismo and recreate a little of the style and performance themselves.

Nismo has taken the Leaf and hopped it up with cool style in a new concept. The Nismo Leaf concept has style changes with a full body kit, lowered ride height, and LED front lighting. This is the second Nismo concept we have seen in a few months. The last was that awesome Juke with the drive train from the Nissan GTR underneath.

The body kit is said to improve the aerodynamics of the Leaf and provide more down force. The car also gets 18-inch wheels. The drive train is untouched with the same performance and drive range as the standard Leaf. Nissan has also announced that it is taking orders for the normal Leaf in more markets. The new markets include Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

The next LEAF is expected to be a better electric car in every way, while also being more affordable. A source, speaking with AutoExpress, revealed that Nissan intends to bring down the cost of the batteries and electric components, although he did not specify by how much. Overall performance and range should also see great improvement.

Nissan has currently sold only about 15,000 LEAF vehicles throughout the world since it first debuted in December 2010. However, the company has ambitious plans for its electric vehicles, aiming to sell 1.5 million EV models in 2016. It also plans to introduce a special charging system by Summer 2012 that lets your EV charge your home.

Additionally, the new LEAF will be able to be charged wireless via an induction charging pad. The pad will be optional and can be installed in the owner’s home. The charging time is the same as a corded charging system and is said to be 80 to 90 percent efficient, charging at rates between 3 and 6 kWs.

[via TreeHugger]

The Pivo 3 zero-emission three-seater has evolved quite a bit in design from the Pivo 1 and 2, which resembled cartoonish bubbles on wheels. But it still retains many of its quirky features, including the driver’s seat being located at the center position rather than towards the left or right side of the vehicle.

It’s wheels no longer turn completely sideways, but still maintain a large range of rotation, allowing for a tiny two-meter turning radius that makes the vehicle extremely easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Parking the vehicle is further simplified with an Automated Valet Parking system that lets the Pivo 3 park and recharge itself in specially equipped parking slots.

[via Engadget]

Nissan has announced that it has greatly improved the fuel cell design with its new next gen fuel cell compared to that cell unveiled in 2005. The massive improvements in the new cell were achieved with a new membrane Electrode Assembly and a new separator flow path. The improved power density of the new Fuel Cell Stack makes it 2.5 times more powerful than the 2005 version.

Nissan gives the fuel cell a power output of 2.5kW per liter. Nissan also used a new single row lamination inside the fuel cell that makes the overall size of the cell reduced by more than half compared to conventional cell models. The platinum parts inside the cell have also been reduced making the cell much cheaper. Nissan claims the new fuel cell costs one-sixth as much as the cell made in 2005.

The Coupe with the 7-speed auto is $32,750, the Touring coupe is $36,150 in manual and with the auto transmission, the car is $37,450. The 7-speed auto has paddle shifters and an automatic rev-match downshift feature. The Roadster starts at $39,500 and goes up to $43,500. Nissan also offered pricing on the more race oriented NISMO 370Z.

The NISMO version has a 350hp V6 engine with a special interior and tuned suspension. The car also has lightweight forged alloy wheels. The car also benefits from other special parts like a strut tower brace and more. The car also features special brakes; a Viscous limited slip differential and more. The NISMO version of the car sells for $40,830 and only comes in a manual transmission model.

Nissan has dubbed the pair of special rides the Juke-R. There will be one Juke-R made in right hand drive and one made in left hand drive. Other than the location of the wheel, the vehicles are the same. The cars received a healthy dose of style on the outside, and I actually like the design that you can see in the renderings.

The real interesting bits aren’t the design though, it’s under the hood. Both Juke-Rs have the AWD power train and twin turbo 3.8L V6 from the awesome Nissan GTR. The GTR is blazing fast by all accounts and putting that much power into the small SUV would make the car very quick. Both of the Juke-Rs are street legal and Nissan is mum on performance. Nissan, call me. I want to drive.

You might also recall in one scene he drives the car through a park and then jumps it down onto the road to finish out the race. If you feared for that Skyline in the movie rest well knowing it wasn’t actually a Skyline in most of the stunt scenes. The car you see in these photos is the stunt car from FF4 and its nothing but a shell and fancy wheels.

Underneath the body hides the chassis and engine from a VW Baja Bug. The engine is in the trunk even. Inside the car is nothing but a steering wheel, racing seat, pedals and a gear shifter. The rest of the inside is bare metal. You can also bet that this car has some not so perfect areas considering it was jumped and used for stunts. You can own it for a buy it now price of $8,500 on eBay.

[via Autoholics]

Originally started as a private social event and small-scale road race, over the past six decades the Concours d’Elegance has evolved into a collector’s paradise. It’s a rare opportunity to see cars that would normally be locked safely inside an air-conditioned garage.

We’ve been invited out to Pebble Beach by Infiniti (which, for the sake of transparency, has hosted us here with hotel and flights) but there are hundreds of marques on show from many names you’ll recognize (and more than a few you might not). Last year Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Lexus and Porsche all debuted new concepts at Pebble Beach, and we’re expecting some seriously exciting metal, carbon-fiber and chrome in 2011.

Nissan VP Andy Palmer accused Top Gear of deceiving its viewers, pointing out that the telemetrics in the Leaf had wirelessly updated the car company on the production crew’s actions. They, he suggested, were part of a system of safeguards in place to prevent owners of the car from experiencing flat batteries midway through a journey, something the TV show had failed to highlight.

Clarkson, unsurprisingly, remains defiant, arguing that rather than setting out to review the Leaf, the footage was meant to highlight the remaining issues in recharging electric cars. “The piece was about the difficulties of recharging the electric car” he wrote in his column in The Sunday Times this weekend. “At no point did we mislead the viewers. Top Gear’s job is to say to everybody, ‘Just a minute, do not believe (electric cars) can be run as simply as you have been told. Charging them up is a pain in the arse’.”

Nissan claims the Leaf can travel between 47 and 105 miles on a single charge, depending on driving style and road conditions. The company encourages competitive eco-friendliness, using a system called CARWINGS that allows drivers to compare their frugality with other owners.

Issues aside the Leaf is still an interesting car that runs solely off electricity. Nissan has plans to ramp production of the Leaf in the coming months and will start building the EV at a new plant under construction in Smyrna, Tennessee. The disaster in Japan put construction of the facility on hold for a while. The plant has always been planned for opening by late 2012, but the delays after the tsunami in Japan raised doubts about meeting the schedule.

Nissan’s Bill Krueger has now stated that Nissan will start building the Leaf at the Smyrna plant by late 2012. The vehicles built on that assembly line will be the first constructed in the US. Nissan plans to build 150,000 Leafs at the new plant each year. I just wish they didn’t make the leaf so ugly; it is not an attractive car.

[via AutoBlog Green]

Nissan reports that this bug probably has something to do with the air conditioning unit during the startup process. Troubleshooters have been working with this issue on My Nissan Leaf. “if your car throws the exclamation point car error with the yellow triangle, don’t turn it off, drive to your nearest dealer or risk requiring a tow.”

Nissan currently has no plans to issue a recall. There is no safety hazard as the flaw merely causes ignition failure. This may change as they firm up their diagnosis. You can read their official press release quoted below.

[via Autoblog]

Nissan has recently become aware of an issue on a small number of Nissan LEAFs with a sensor in the air conditioning system. If this sensor is activated it will illuminate a warning light on the instrument panel and may cause the vehicle to not restart once it has been turned off. We are actively investigating to determine the root cause and what action is necessary to address the issue.

This is not a safety issue as the vehicle will not stop running while being driven but may not restart after being turned off. Nissan is committed to a high level of customer service and satisfaction and is working to promptly address this issue.

Aesthetically, it’s a difficult one. In order to accommodate the relatively roomy back seating, the Murano CrossCab has a stretched appearance with the rear three-quarters looking somewhat unwieldy. It also leaves the soft top with a long reach to cover, though it still manages to drop or raise in 25 seconds. Nissan has added not only a glass rear window but a rear skylight to try to brighten up the interior, though the profile of the roof overall seems slightly too low to our eyes.

It’s a balance issue that affects most non-traditional convertibles, however, and inside we have fewer complaints. Available in black, cashmere beige or a camel tan, there’s plenty of soft-touch plastic while double-stitched quilted seatbacks and door-panel inserts are options. The wood-effect trim isn’t going to convince you it’s seen a forest, but neither does it look as plasticky as in many rivals.

Nissan has decided to offer a single model that’s close to fully-loaded, with leather seating front and back. The front seats are heated, along with the steering wheel, and use a slope-shouldered design so that rear passengers can see out of the relatively narrow windows. ICE consists of Nissan’s HDD navigation system, with a 9.3GB Music Box drive pumping your digital music collection through a Bose AM/FM/CD audio system. Eight speakers – including a sub – which automatically tweak their balance whether the roof is up or down, and a rear-view camera are all standard, together with XM NavTraffic. Generally it sounds strong, though despite the sub we felt the audio could do with some extra kick in the bass.

Safety consists of air-bags, side-impact air-bags up front and curtain air-bags linked to the roll-over sensor. The rear head-rests get pop-up roll bars, and there’s active head restraints for the front. Electronically, Nissan throws in the usual acronym-fest of VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) and TCS (Traction Control System) to go with the CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) gearbox and AWD (All-Wheel Drive).

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet Showcase:

As you might expect, the combination of that electronic nannying and the extra structural support intrinsic in turning a regular Murano into a CrossCabriolet means the Nissan isn’t exactly sports-minded. In fact, the company envisages the new model as “bridging the divide” between the lust-appeal of a convertible and the realities of everyday driving, the opportunity to get the top-down sun while also having plenty of room for passengers and in the surprisingly spacious trunk. The 3.5-liter, 24-valve V6 puts out 265 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque (Nissan claims 17 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway), with complex independent strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension and dual flow path shock absorbers.

The 20-inch wheels get speed-sensitive power steering which is easy for in-town driving but otherwise lacks feel; that’s matched by the reasonably soft suspension which clearly prefers cruising to cornering. Not to say the Murano CrossCabriolet can’t go round corners quickly – the various electronic systems kicking in as appropriate – but this is a cabrio bought for the elevated driving position rather than sports ambitions. Inside, road noise is louder than the regular car but quieter than many convertibles can manage, and the V6 is similarly hushed.

Nissan’s target customer is early-middle-aged and probably female, kids grown up and looking for something more interesting and ambitious than a regular minivan. As treats go, it’s definitely at the premium end of the Murano range: $46,390, though admittedly that gets you a practically fully-loaded model. The camel or cashmere versions will add another $500 onto the sticker price when the Murano CrossCabriolet arrives this spring. All the spec and safety boxes are ticked, but Nissan will need to persuade would-be buyers that the CrossCabriolet’s somewhat awkward looks from certain angles don’t detract from the pure aesthetic appeal expected from a modern convertible.

So, as well as seeing how many miles you achieve per kilowatt of energy, the Leaf can also tell you how many miles your neighbours have achieved. It looks like the CARWINGS system updates the rankings every month; it’s unclear what Nissan intend to do with the results, if anything, but there’d be a great PR opportunity for rewarding the more frugal drivers each time.

The eco-competitiveness factor of environmentally friendly cars was perhaps first realized in any broad sense when the Toyota Prius launched. Like the Leaf, the Prius could show energy consumption on a large LCD display in the dashboard, leading to drivers crowing about achieving the highest figures among their peers. Nissan’s system, however, takes things one step further, by automating the comparisons.

[via Autoblog Green]

Nissan explains that when the pedal is pressed (so long as the ECO Pedal system is activated), the system counteracts with a pedal push-back control mechanism which helps drives be more fuel efficient. I’d hate to see what will happen if these malfunction on the highway. Woops! Check out the full press release below:

Nissan Licenses ECO Pedal Technology to Mikuni

YOKOHAMA (November 16, 2010)–Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced it will license its ECO Pedal technology to Mikuni Corporation.

Nissan developed the ECO Pedal system, the world’s first technology of its type to assist drivers in fuel efficient driving, and commercialized it for the Nissan Fuga, which was launched in 2009.

When the ECO Pedal system is on, each time the driver exerts excess pressure on the acceleration pedal, the system counteracts in advance with a pedal push-back control mechanism (tactile indicator) to support drivers for more effective, fuel-efficient driving. Studies show that effective eco-driving behavior with ECO Pedal drive assist contributes to improve fuel efficiency from 5 to 10% (based on internal measurement) in many driving conditions.

Mikuni jointly developed the ECO Pedal system with Nissan for Fuga. Through the licensing agreement, this technology will be available for sale to other companies.

Nissan will contribute to the growth of technology through its efforts to promote the application of its unique technologies and know-how, not only for its own use, but also in a variety of fields. Profit generated through the effective utilization of such intangible assets will be used for investing in new technology development, further contributing to Nissan’s technological competence.

The licensing of the ECO Pedal technology is an example of these efforts. Nissan will promote the wide-spread application of this system to lower price and increase adoption to a wide range of vehicles including those of other automakers. Nissan is committed to developing and promoting the wide-spread application of eco-friendly technologies, and continues to invest in the development of technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, and hopes to play a role in the development of a sustainable society.

* Mikuni Corporation: Comprehensive auto parts manufacturer producing and marketing automobile products, care/welfare equipments and gas appliances/humidifiers.

From Around the Web:

Activision Unleashes DJ Hero 2: Activision had originally said that they’d be able to get DJ Hero 2 out onto shelves by the Fall of 2010, and while no one out there probably didn’t believe them, it’s still good to see the company reach their goals. DJ Hero 2 is officially on sale, starting now, and you can find different retailers offering up different incentives to choose them for your next purchase. For example, if you choose Amazon to order yours online, you’ll get a complimentary copy of Linkin Park’s new CD, A Thousand Suns. If you go to Best Buy tomorrow to pick up your own model, you’ll get a hard-shell turntable carrying case. What’s better though, is that the DJ Hero 2 bundle includes a pair of turntables, and a microphone. You can pick up yours, without the bundle, for $59.99. But if you want the whole ordeal, you’ll have to fork over $149.99.

R3 Media Network

SlashGear

Nissan Leaf Features Windows Embedded Automotive 7 and Silverlight
Notion Ink Opens Developer Program for Adam Tablet
Buy a Windows Phone 7 Device in Austria, Get an Xbox 360
Xbox’s Website Getting Major Changes
Palm Pre 2 Official, Coming to Verizon Soon
I Don’t Use It, Why Should You?

Android Community

Google and TweetDeck Founder Make a Comment to Steve Jobs
HTC Tablets Delayed, According to Analyst

SlashPhone

AT&T Putting U-Verse App on Android Handsets
Samsung SMT-i9100 Tablet Heading to KDDI Japan

The following press release reveals that Windows Embedded Automotive 7 will be the mind of the Information Hub inside the Nissan Leaf. It will control all your informational entertainment duties and give you stats on charging and consumption happening in the vehicle as you drive. Then, as a bonus bit of info, Microsoft lets us know that after the 2.5 Sync-equipped cars are released unto the highway, the MyFord system will be shipped to Blue Oval vehicles in Europe and Asia inside 2011. Going so global, on all roads around the world.

Update: Microsoft pinged to tell us that “although all partners mentioned in the release are building on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, they are not implementing Windows Embedded Automotive 7 just yet, as it was just released.”

Microsoft Drives the Future of In-Vehicle Infotainment

Release of Windows Embedded Automotive 7 gives car makers and suppliers the tools, technology and flexibility to transform the in-car experience.

DETROIT, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Today at the SAE Convergence 2010 Conference and Exhibition, Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of Windows Embedded Automotive 7 to select car makers and suppliers in the automotive industry. Designed to support the development of new infotainment systems, Windows Embedded Automotive 7 is an industry-leading platform providing integrated services for communication, entertainment, navigation and information for the mass market.

With Windows Embedded Automotive 7, car makers and suppliers have access to Microsoft’s latest tools and technology, as well as a worldwide partner ecosystem, which allows them to quickly create in-vehicle experiences that are easier to use and more engaging for drivers and passengers. Key features include speech commands, touch input, hands-free Bluetooth phone communications, advanced dashboard systems for access to music, maps, third-party apps and navigation, and streamlined connectivity with other devices.

“Microsoft deeply understands that technology collaboration is paramount to the evolution of integrated, in-vehicle infotainment systems,” said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the Windows Embedded Business Unit at Microsoft. “We are excited to create new opportunities with Windows Embedded Automotive 7 working with our broad ecosystem of partners to bring the best in entertainment and productivity solutions to drivers and passengers around the world.”

Additional Windows Embedded Automotive 7 features include the following:

Silverlight for Windows Embedded. Silverlight for Windows Embedded gives car makers the ability to quickly create rich device user experiences with engaging 2-D and 3-D graphics by using a familiar Microsoft technology and taking advantage of a large ecosystem of Microsoft Silverlight designers. Experiences built in Silverlight for Windows Embedded can be refined rapidly on the desktop and deployed unchanged to the target device facilitating flawless delivery from designer to developer.

Microsoft Tellme speech technology. Microsoft Tellme speech technology powers simple and hands-free system commands such as allowing the entire interface to be driven through speech. In addition, new support for SMS reply by voice allows text message replies to be constructed by speech. Windows Embedded Automotive 7 also supports eight languages: U.S. English, U.K. English, German, Mexican Spanish, Continental Spanish, Canadian French, Continental French and Korean.

Next-generation automotive system tools. New tools for developers support the stable integration of advanced, high-performance, third-party systems and include improved test modules with easy-to-use product engineering guidelines to help simplify the development process, increase reliability and speed time to market.

“Consumers are increasingly demanding access to new multimedia content, productivity solutions, and connected services for entertainment and communication from their in-vehicle system, similar to what they expect from their other devices,” said Thilo Koslowski, vice president in the Industry Advisory Service Manufacturing group at Gartner Inc. “To build and deploy compelling in-vehicle infotainment system, experienced technology partners, car makers and suppliers must come together. The result of these collaborations turn the automobile into a seamless extension of the digital lifestyle.”

Strong Partnerships and Momentum for the Road Ahead

Drivers and passengers today can experience Windows Embedded Automotive in more than 80 vehicle models worldwide through solutions from partners including Ford Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Paccar Inc., and Alpine Electronics Inc. Highlights include the following:

Ford goes global with SYNC. This month, Ford announced that MyFord Touch, the second generation of Ford SYNC, built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, is launching in Europe and Asia early next year. SYNC has been installed in more than 2.5 million vehicles in North America since its launch in 2007.

Nissan LEAF information hub. Today, Microsoft also announced that the 2011 Nissan LEAF touchscreen information hub is powered by Windows Embedded Automotive technology, providing drivers and passengers with a navigation system and electricity charging station locator. It also shares power consumption monitoring information with drivers, and enables easy in-car climate monitoring.

Fiat. Fiat Group Automobiles is bringing the Fiat 500 to the North American market in 2010. The 500 includes Fiat’s Blue&Me technology, powered by Microsoft, a media gateway that integrates mobile phones and digital music players into audio system and controls of the car, allowing voice control of these devices by the driver.

Alpine. Alpine Electronics of America Inc. delivered advanced in-vehicle navigation systems, powered by Windows Embedded Automotive, to car manufacturers, including satellite-guided, turn-by-turn directions and useful features, such as voice-guided controls, and information on more than 7 million points of interest.

More information is available from the Windows Embedded Newsroom at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/embedded/default.aspx or by following MSFTWEB on Twitter for updates.

More information on the capabilities and features of Windows Embedded Automotive 7, as well as the entire Windows Embedded portfolio of platforms and technologies, is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

- Microsoft Corp.

With the Smart Grid in place, Nissan and Namco Bandai have made it possible for the simulator to produce an ultra-high-definition 3D image, with pixels that are estimated to be about four times larger than the ones displayed by a standard full high-definition image. Four people can use the simulator at the same time, making the driving scenario that much more realistic. The system is able to formulate parts of the city, or the city in its entirety depending on the view, quickly, which includes the road, buildings, and other facilities. The whole while, the system is running diagnostics on the simulator, as well as the drivers.

The two companies have also included the next-generation Intelligent Transport System (ITS). This system is in place to connect, in real-time, people, vehicles, and the traffic infrastructure as a whole, to watch and study it. It can also be used to improve the overall road safety for cars and pedestrians alike. The whole point of the system is to test multiple vehicles on the road at one time, giving far more realistic results than previous methods. And the back-drop is a futuristic version of Yokohama City. Nissan designed the base specifications of the city, as well as the mobility aspects (obviously), while Namco Bandai did all of the system work. The impressive simulator, with all of its facets, will be showcased at this year’s CEATAC Japan expo, which takes place on October 5th through the 9th.

[via FarEastGizmos]

Existing chargers for the Leaf were capable of running from either a 110V AC connection – and taking around 20hrs for a full charge – or a 220V connection, which roughly halved the time.  The new systems apparently aren’t proprietary to the Leaf, either; instead they adhere to industry standards which should hopefully see rival EVs using the same charging technology, and getting the same recharge speed advantages.

Hardware specifications of the batteries themselves are in short supply, but Nissan has said that the Leaf will be capable of a roughly 100 mile range with top speeds of around 94mph (obviously range will decrease sharply if you travel at that speed).  Recharging is either via a regular North American 110V power point or an optional 220V outlet, the former taking up to 20 hours to fill the Leaf from empty to 100-percent, while the latter takes less than half that time.

Unlike hybrids, which pair electric motors with traditional gas or diesel engines, the Leaf is entirely electric and requires regular charging from an AC point; of course, the benefit is that it won’t itself put out any emissions.  It’s priced at $25,280 after a $7,500 federal tax credit, though certain states have other rebate plans you might be eligible for.  Leasing, meanwhile, begins at $349 per month.

Once the early reservation people have had their say, general deposits will be taken from May 15th.  The pre-order phase for the Leaf kicks off in earnest come August 2010, while the car itself isn’t expected to begin rolling onto buyers’ drives until December this year, with broader availability in 2011.

[via Autoblog]

The Best of R3 Media:

Has the LG Aloha (Finally) Been Photographed? The LG Aloha is supposedly LG’s first high-end Android-based device. It’s got a 1GHz Snapdragon processor under the hood, Android 2.1, and a 3.5-inch AMOLED display. LG’s also got a fancy for the slide-out physical QWERTY keyboards, and they’ve included that in the package as well. The only trouble is, the images captured of this device match a model number LU2300, and the Aloha’s is supposedly C710. There’s some confusion abound, but we’ll hopefully get some straight answers soon. Either way, LG definitely needs a high end device rocking Google’s little green ‘droid. [via Android Community]

HTC Hero (Finally) Getting Android 2.1: It seems that with some (maybe most?) of the best Android devices out there, waiting for the update is half the battle. In the case of the HTC Hero, and all of its variations around the globe, faithful owners of the flagship HTC Sense device have been patiently sitting on Android 1.5 since its debut last July. HTC has been pretty tight-lipped over the last few months, but since last December, there’s been plenty of rumors. Now though, it seems that a lucky HTC Club member received an email directly from HTC, saying that roll-outs of the upgraded mobile Operating System will begin April 19th, and then fan out across the world in a progressive way. Good news for Hero owners, that’s for sure. [via SlashPhone]

iPhone the Choice of Owners On the Move: It looks like Apple knew what they were doing when they sent out the iPad on a Saturday. From a recent report, which was taken over the launch weekend and extended into Monday, it seems that people loved to browse the web on their new Apple tablets, but as soon as the work week started up, they left them at home, and took to their fall-back: the iPhone. The door swings both ways on this one: for most, it makes perfect sense to leave the iPad at home, and bring the iPhone with you to work, or whatever it is you’re doing during the day. After all, it’s thin and light, but not able to fit in your pocket. On the other side of the door, you have Steve Jobs who wants you to take it everywhere. Maybe that will all change when the 3G model hits customer’s hands, eh? [via Everything iPad]

The Dredge Net:

Seats 3D Wants You to Look at Your Seats Before You Get There: If you’re a major fan of the MLB, then this service probably won’t do much for you. After all, you’ve probably been to your local stadium a few times, and even have your favorite section. But, for the rest of the people out there, or if you’re visiting a new venue, then this might be just what you’ve always wanted. Even if you didn’t know it. A new site, Seats 3D, wants to make it possible for you to find your seat’s position in a 3D, rotating image. That way, you can see the field from your seat, well before you get into that seat. The only trouble is that only 9 stadiums are compatible with the service right now, but it sounds like they’re planning to add more soon. [via DVICE]

Jacket Made With a Pocket That Carries Your iPad: Sure, there’s plenty of accessories out there that can carry your iPad. Most of them are made specifically for that job. But, what if you’re not a fan of an extra thing to carry, or hang on your shoulder? Then this travel vest, made by Scottevest, which has an in-line pocket perfectly sized for your shiny, new Apple tablet is perfect for you. It will be available July 1st, and will only cost your $100. That’s a steal, right? [via Engadget]

The Land Glider From Nissan Looks Ridiculously Awesome: We’re not going to say that we’d want one of these things (…), but we have to admit, it does look like someone stepped into the future and brought it back with them. The vehicle is pictured above, and as you can see, it’s leaning, and we think that’s just about fantastic. Nissan is designing the electric motor-powered vehicle for people who just want to get across town, and, well, don’t want to walk. It’s got a top speed of 62 miles per hour, but we can guarantee you’re not going to go that fast. Nissan is also touting that the car (or whatever you want to call it) also has zero emissions, too. [via CrunchGear]

Palm Drops Modernista From Developing New Ads: There’s no denying that the early advertisements for the Palm Pre were completely out of this world. Watching as several hundred orange-robed individuals did some strange movements, and some even creepier lady talking about what your phone could do just wasn’t good product placement. Truth be told, it was down-right frightening. Sure, the Palm Pixi commercial was better, and the very latest Palm Pre Plus (for Verizon Wireless) commercial wasn’t that bad at all. But, those early promos were just too much to handle. And, while the advertisement agency said early on that people knew the Palm existed because of the strange commercials, it didn’t do much for the whole buying of the devices. [via Everything Pre]

The catch is that many cars only offer navigation system in option packs that can add thousands to the price of a car. Nissan is doing something a bit different and has announced that it will be offering a cheap nav option for most of its popular cars down to the lowly Sentra.

The best news is that the nav option is only $400. This isn’t a system lacking a screen like the Ford Sync system either. Autoblog reports the nav has a 5-inch screen. If the maps are accurate I see this being a common option that users buy, I hope other carmakers offer similar features.

Video demo after the cut

To keep the Land Glider slippery to air resistance all unnecessary extremities – such as wing mirrors – are replaced with cameras and dashboard mounted displays.  Meanwhile the drivetrain is 100-percent electric, though Nissan are being coy on the exact details of their motor.

Unfortunately it’s all a concept at the moment, with the prototype going on show at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show next to Nissan’s more production-friendly electric cars.  As an ex-Smart Car owner I say build the Land Glider instead, I’d definitely buy one.

[via Chris Leckness]

The updated Eporo has an obstacle detection system that allows it to travel in groups like a school of fish without crashing into other bots in the group. Nissan accomplished this by giving the Eporo two laser range finders compared to the single laser range finder of the original.

The dual laser range finders give the updated Eporo a field of view encompassing 288 degrees compared to the 180-degree field of view the original had. The little robot stands a bit over a foot and a half tall and weighs 28.6 pounds. The maximum speed is about 1.4km/h. Nissan is looking to incorporate the tech into future cars to help prevent accidents on congested roads.

Interestingly enough, bees keep personal space about them at all times in an oval shape. By using their compound eyes, they can see 300 degrees around themselves. The BR23C utilizes this same principle by using laser range finders to “see” 180 degrees in front of the car for about 6 feet ahead.

The robot reacts like a bee as well by changing direction rapidly to avoid obstacles and turning 90-degrees to dodge. The BR23C is meant to be used in tandem with other safety technologies such as lane departure prevention.

[via CNET Reviews]

Therefore Nissan has decided to use ICP solar chargers just for that purpose.  They will be sending them to the Nissan dealers in North American and Europe.

The chargers are meant to charge up 12-volt batteries on the new Nissans.  They are meant to work specifically while the car is parked and will cost up to $1350 a piece.  Since Nissan’s president believes that the drain on batteries is just going to get worse and worse with the more technology we use in our vehicles he feels something like this is essential for car dealers.

[via ubergizmo]

The 2008 Nissan Forum Minivan comes with a microwave. It also sports some other features too, but how can you top a microwave? It has an intercom, rotating second row seats, back row “kid cam”, Bose audio system with a DVD player, navigation system, and satellite radio plus built-in seat mounted speakers, along with several other things.

To me, this is what Dream Cars are made of. It’ll be displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

2008 Nissan Mini-van packs-in microwave for quick snacks on-the-go [via Born Rich]

The paint uses Iron oxide crystals that react to the level of current producing a wide array of colors. The paint requires a constant current to maintain any other color than white. So, good luck 20 years from now trying to find your car in a parking lot.

This is Nissan’s second attempt a revolutionizing car paint. Their original “Scratch Guard Coat” keeps paint from showing minor scratches, and is currently available on some of their higher end models.

Look for color changing cars to roll off the lot sometime in 2010.

Nissan Develops Color Changing Paint for Vehicles [via DailyTech]

Speaking of niche markets, anyways, the downside is the two are exclusive, you can’t keep the scuba gear tucked away and just use the office, you have to roll the back out in order to gain access to the office part. Overall it looks pretty amazing for a concept, or more likely proof-of-concept car.

Personally, I have no use for all the underwater photography crap, but if I could get an office like that, in a vehicle that looks that different, I’d never come home. I’d plaster SlashGear on the sides and back of that bitch and I’d be off in the wind, if it’s landlocked, I’m there.

Nissan Rolls the Ultimate Wet Dream Office Car [via therawfeed]