What would you do?

[5523Pathfinder]

Ok, so a few months ago, while work was slow. I was reading in a parts guys' Jeep magazine(I read it fo the articles, I swear), parusing the builds of a many overdone Wrangler. But, Jeeps are what spur our offroad culture. What caught my eye more than anything, was a article asking other readers "If you were in charge of Jeep(Chrysler), what would you do?" It immediatly got me thinking about Nissan. Man, what would I do if I was in charge?

So, I present the question to you. What would you do if you were in charge of Nissan? What would you do to/about current vehicles? What would you like to see in the future? Where would you point the company? I hope you are getting what I am getting at here. You dont have to change every little thing, maybe just one thing. So everyone, lets here it!

 

 

 

What would I do? Well, I would continue to market Nissan and Infiniti as seperate as possible. I dont need a rebaged car on both sides(ie: Maxima and I30/35). At Infiniti, being thats what I am currently entrenched in, I would push for our own supercar. Glad to see Nissan got the GTR, but seriously, Infiniti needs its own, something bigger. What kind of car do you ask? Well, im thinking of turbocharged V8 power(gas or diesel), rear wheel drive, two seats. Im sure a few of you have seen the Essance? Well, take it up a notch. Light a possible, but luxury to the nines inside. All of the safety stuff is fine, but I wanna be able to turn it off. I wanna be able to push this car as the driver, not a electrically controlled passanger. Lets put our racing heritage to work. I would also like to see a smaller two-door entry luxury vehicle(think a G25 coupe). Just two seats. Either be gas or electric.

On the Nissan side, well, the GTR and Z car have established themselved quite well. The rest of the lineup has done well. I would like to see the SE-R line expaneded(much like mazdaspeed), into each of the different vehicles. Thing is, I would like them to be a decent departure from thier baseline counterparts. If we had a Maxima SE-R, Im thinking body tweaks and turbos? Supercharger? This idea could be carried right down the line. Enough of letting Honda kill us with the Si vehicles. Time to step up or shut up.

 

The trucks would probably get a complete overhaul. I would of always liked to see two specific things in the Titan. A V6, and a regular cab. If your gonna compete with the Big 3, you gotta offer the public choices. Yes, a diesel option is also a necessity. I think the push to have the luxury pickup everywhere has gone too far. Do you really need leather in a pickup? There are enough high quality synthetic materials out there that could last long, look great and take a beating. A base model pickup is a great starting point.

Speaking of basic, what about at the other end of the spectrum? We should bring back a solid axle option, in at least 3/4 ton truck. But why not have it as a option in the smaller rigs also? A Frontier with a solid axle? Xterra? Customers are going to have to pay for this option. We all know the benifits and drawbacks to a solid axle. With all the technology we have now, something tells me a suspension design to provide a supple ride can be created, without going IFS. IFS will still be the mainstream, cause lets face it, most 4x4 owners never take thier vehicle off-road.

I would also like to see the Xterra or Pathfinder shrink. Bring back the two door option. Multiple engine option would also be nice. Go straight at the Wrangler, as its the only vehicle in its "Catagory". Customer needs have changed again. Yes, the majority are grocery getters, but what about the weekend warrior? Thats what the Xterra was aimed at, but has now kind of lost. Think old Patrol. Everything you need, nothing you dont. Apocalypse vehicle! If we can create something like the Juke to fill a need, then we can create a two-door, V6, solid axle adventure vehicle to fill a need also.

 

Ok, what else? Well, I have always liked the idea of the Scion brand. They are a completely different vehicle than any Toyotas, they just share engines. I say, and Im not sure if the hurdle is too high, but bring back the Datsun name. Have a small variety of vehicles that are great starter vehicles. Small, fuel saving, laking comforts, but fun to drive! Take a 510 for example. Make it rear wheel drive, but low on power. The inside should not be that nice, but at least look pleasant. We are talking about a starter vehicle that people can either trade up later on into a Nissan, or modify it to meet thier needs. This means actual accessories need to be created! People can "create" thier own vehicle with what they like. Maybe make everything plug and play? I would like to see the vehicles created stay under $20k. Its a big challenge, but not impossible.

 

Ok, thats it for me. Im sure I could go on for days about different things and get deeper and deeper. But I wanna hear about what you would do!

[nige]

i am only going to talk about trucks. I detest most of the nissan cars.

 

#1 Diesel engine options, HD option for Titan.

#2 Designers stop listening to the critics and consumers. You're the one that knows how to design trucks. Most consumers and critics are idiots which is why you see IFS and IRS on the patrol and pathfinder now. (did every road in the world suddenly get paved it the last 10 years?)

#3 A small, barebones pickup (no, the frontier is neither small nor barebones) i don't know where this notion came from that bigger and glitzier shi!t is better. Give us back our part time t-cases, manual hubs rollup windows, vinyl floors etc. A basic, sturdy, easy to fix platform to build a trail truck on.

#4 Stop cutting corners to make vehicles cheaper/lighter. An aluminum diff cover? please This comes back to idiot consumers and critics. They are too concerned about price, fuel economy and comfort it's a truck FFS. I will gladly pay more money for a better product. How often do you buy a new truck anyway? Speaking of being cheap, put the pathfinder 5-link coil on the xterra, and i would consider buying one. even Dodge is smart enough to realize this.

#5 better factory performance part support. Jeep has mopar. Nissan has nismo. gee, thanks for the license plate covers and shift knobs... they probably void your warranty too. Thank god for companies like ARB, Rugged Rocks, 4x4parts.com and people who are able to make their own performance parts.

 

Until they address some of this, i will NEVER buy a nissan newer than 2005.

 

1 more thing: fix the f@#$&ing window trim! it's been decades and they still make it the same!!

 

I have a lot of respect for the jeep wrangler. It is the one and only truck that has stayed true to it's roots and no matter what model year you buy, they make a great trail truck out of the box. I can't say the same for nissan. Stop pussifying the very trucks that got you where you are today. Force the losers to buy the murano and rogue.

[Der_Vier]

I would take the same approach, offer a simple little pickup (patrol, anyone?) and get rid of the behemoth Titan and combine the frontier with it. Maybe shrink the titan down a teensy bit and extend the frontier cab a teensy bit and offer a 6 and 8, diesel option included. Manual transmission in a big truck as well.

 

Get rid of some of the cars and offer a few models that have numerous trims, thus allowing mro eto be done on the same platform.

 

Crossovers would be consolidated. You want a truck, you buy a truck. You want a car, you buy a car. None of this ugly inbetween stuff.

[ahardb0dy]

this applies to Nissan cars - BRING BACK 2 DOOR CARS !! I don't need 4 doors and don't feel no matter what "SE-R" trim you put on a car, spoilers, etc. a 4 door is not sporty, I guess Nissan forgot the impact the 91 Sentra SE-R had on the motoring world, being compared to other "sports" cars and being on the 10 best handling list. (don't even mention the STI & Evo's I know they are sporty but a 2 door version of either car would weigh less and probably perform better).

 

Keep manual transmissions an option and get rid of all the CVT crap trannys

 

Nissan pretty much revolutionized the "mini" truck market with the California design studio modeled Hardbody in 86 1/2, like previously said bring back a "mini" truck, hell the frontier is now based on the titan chassis.

[slade420]

id mate the nissan leaf with my '93 hardbody pickup. extended electric w/ a diesel generator. more all-wheel drive cars, having an easily tunable fuel system where you could add extra types of fuel like on-demand hydrogen and have it calculate the perfect air/fuel ratios. nobody said a hybrid can only be two power sources.

[nunya]

Were talkin just Nissan motors here, right?

 

First off, Datsun comes back... bare bones base models molded after already out there Nissan cars plus some new Datsun only items. Options are optional (standard models have crank windows, no a/c, steel wheels etc)

 

Retro styling, love it or hate it sells... throw a model or 2 in that line bringing back an since expired monkier to 'relate' to the people who want retro cars. People may not flock for the new Stanza but its gonna stick with some people

 

Trucks... The Titan becomes a 3/4ton and 1ton truck (with a DRW option on the 1ton) Beastly diesels are options as are some gas smoker selections, make a "luxury" package avalable and badge it Infinity (think Ford King Rancher style) with a different model name

Frontier is a full fledged 1/2 ton (only tonage option) base model ones fall under the Datsun line

"mini" trucks come back under Datsun line only badged as eith a Hardbody or one of the old number based names of the actual old Datsun p/ups. Give engine options ranging from a small diesel, to 4 and 6 cylinders, and a hybrid system

 

Suvs.. same treatment as the Trucks, Pathfinder/Q whatever becomes full on full size Tahoe/Suburban sized (depending on packaging) X stays as a "mid" sized and a mini based (avalable in 2 or 4 door treatment) arrives

 

special packages-not a "nismo tuned" sway bar and sticker... Desert Runner style. Limited numbers of em, not a massed produced repetive clone.

 

give dealers a 'copo' style system... remmeber Yenko Chevys? all they were were base models that a sneaky dealer found a loophole in a fleetcar system and exploited... they dominated then and are sought after now

on that note, also bring in dealer accesorys that add style/usefulness. trucks get real towing packages, brush guards and different bumpers that winches can be mounted to, targa bars/light bars come back etc.

 

crossovers... gone. Kill the fad and push that 'new' mini based suv as an actual suv. bring back station wagons for the car market, call it a sport wagon so you dont feel lame. hell make a sport package in 2 door form of that wagon!

 

DONT ignore consumers, no matter how big of an idiot we as automotive based people think they are, they buy cars too and you still want their money. Make the comfy, cushy, user convience packages that tell yo uwhne your coffee is getting cold, but dont forget the hobbiest who wants a throttle CABLE, could care less what the road name is 3 blocks behind them, and is gonna tinker with their new purchase for many years to come, brag abou thow easily they can maintain it themselves to their friends who have to go to a specialist to get their oil changed because it takes a $500 tool to take off the oil filter, and stay brand loyal for years and years on end.

 

 

Thats all for now... I've got more, just gotta find where its stored in my head

[GrimGreg]

All this for North America, not to up on the rest of the world markets:

 

The major things I would do is to utilize the UD division in making a HD Titan. Eliminate the Altima and Altima coupe and make a Maxima coupe, and a sedan based on the Versa platform. Going back to your article, I would follow Jeep's lead in the Rubicon, and build "real" offroad versions of the Xterra and Frontier utilizing H260 axles (F&R) with factory lockers and steel bumpers,etc. I would also bring back the Datsun name and migrate the Cube to it, then make 2 other Versa based models like a 2 door hatchback and dumbed down version of the sedan I mentioned above to go against Scions. In addition I would bring back a "mini" truck and SUV on the Datsun label.

[nismothunder]

I'd bring the wd21 back but with the 3.5 v6. Offer a diesel in the titan but only offer it as a 1ton duelly(diesels arent off road engines IMO)

 

Offer a true mini truck, like one of those mini trucks from india that you can buy new for 8k and have it with a 4 popper and 5 or 6 speed manuel.

 

And this is a big one, offer base model, rubber mat trucks with manuel transmissions and four wheel drive. Do as Nunya said, offer "Copo" style trucks and cars.

[nige]

unless it's a high-powered mud bogger/plugger, i think diesels make a better wheeling engine. They blow away gas engines when it comes to down low torque rating, they're more efficient, and they don't throw a fit when splashed with a bit of water. 24v starting circuit would be nice for the cold winters we get in canada.

 

I don't think i would want that 3.5l in my wd21. It takes premium gas, its way more complex (more sensors, cats etc.) and would leave you with next to no underhood space for wrenching. I don't think the vg30e is such dog like most people around here feel... it's moved my truck around the town and trails just fine.

 

A factory F+R live axle xterra/frontier would be pretty cool

 

it would be cool to see the datsun name come back for the a D22 based mini truck. Just a plain little pickup as the d22 xe. I don't know why nissan decided to drop the SWB regular cab pickup. That was a dumb move. I think the D22 is still being sold brand new all over the world as a "navara" except f'n north america. I don't know why this continent constantly gets the shaft when it comes to nice trucks. Where are my diesel Patrols, Landcruisers, Tacomas, Navaras, Terranos, Pajeros, 4runners, Stradas, Troopers, ...UAZ-469? Why do we have to buy a jeep or fullsize domestic pickup to get a diesel around here!?

[Mauitrailguy]

My Plan:

#1- Bring back the 2 door pathy With the supercharged engine from the desert runners and a beefy solid front axle

#2-Make the titan a more powerful rig with more useful options

#3-Keep the Hardbody around

I would also make more off-road options as Nunya brought up

 

I also think that a larger SUV would be good on the market

[Mauitrailguy]

Ohh.....and manual transmissions for all...none of this auto crap

[laxman0324]

First thing I would do is manuals all the way around. Make it standard in every vehicle, every trim level. Ditch the CVT for cars and focus on a dual clutch auto as most companies are going to.

 

Cars:

 

First shrink EVERYTHING to the size they were in 95. And every performance oriented FWD needs LSD. Nothing ruins the fun more than tire spin on a FWD.

 

Sentra needs a coupe.

 

Altima I'm cool with minus the CVT.

 

I like the Maxima, maybe a coupe (though that would be a large coupe). Definitely needs a manual. Maybe AWD as an option since this thing is so big and expensive.

 

SUVs:

 

Make the Xterra a little smaller. IDK about a 2 door since I don't think it will sell that much. Solid front axle and factory lockers, etc. as a factory off road package.

 

Pathfinder...hmmm...I kind of like where it is now barely fitting a third row, and idk that it needs solid axles if the Xterra takes the off road role. Maybe do an air lift suspension like the Grand Cherokee is doing.

 

Armada...I say dead. IDK what current sales are but unless they are fantastic kill it.

 

Trucks:

 

Make the frontier smaller with an off road option like the Xterra.

 

Titan...pull your head out of your ass and offer work truck packages, regular cabs, V6, heavy duty lines, etc. Time to put up or shut up. If the Titan can't succeed get rid of it.

 

As far as sports cars I am cool with what we have, but why is the Z so damn expensive? I think an entry level cost of 26-27k for the Z would make sales skyrocket, and I don't see what costs so much that it can't be at that price range.

 

Crossovers blow but they sell. I say give the Juke attitude to the Rogue since that size sells like hot cakes and keep the Murano. Nothing else.

[Precise1]

Funny how most statements are retro "bring back" mentality. What about the Leaf and that whole direction??

 

I'm using this as a reminder to fill in later...

 

B

[GrimGreg]

I'd keep the Leaf, but wouldn't push past it until I saw how it was selling and being received by the buying public. If it became a hot item, I'd look into an Electro-Cube next. Jumping off to much into full electrics would probably be a mistake.

[nige]

I don't think electric cars will work for the cold climates like canada, scandinavia and russia... not until they figure out how to make a battery that doesn't lose performance when the temps dip.

[XSrcing]

I'd give myself a GT-R an make my minions run the company.

[Precise1]

I don't think electric cars will work for the cold climates like canada, scandinavia and russia... not until they figure out how to make a battery that doesn't lose performance when the temps dip.

Who cares??

 

Just kidding Bud, but I couldn't pass a set up like that...

 

For the cold weather battery issues, have the battery in an insulated compartment that gets vented with exiting cabin air so if you are using the heater, the battery is also. A small 50 watt heater can be added to keep the battery above freezing. True, using a heater diminishes the range, but hey, no one told you to live there.

Realistically though, it also makes you get worse mileage in a gas/diesel vehicle.

 

How about a Frontierish sized truck but with a shorter bed (the space used to house batteries)?? The hood is shorter because all it houses is a small 1 or 2 cyl diesel motor to spin a generator strong enough to run the vehicle at say 50-80% power when the battery is low or recharge the battery when draw is low or absent. Put, say, 50 HP motors at each wheel, above axle design for clearance (cant remember the name) and you have true all wheel drive without all the cases, axles and CVs. Electric motor feed back is very fast so it would be easy to have traction control but add 2 different modes. One that just drives one motor for highway cruising efficiency and one that allows user selected what wheels are powered (any combo) manually. With the electric motors you get 100% torque at 0 rpm so tire sizes could be large and if the batteries had a range of 50 miles, that would be enough for most peoples commutes/errands. Remember that the truck is charging while you are in the store/at work/whatever if you so wish, plug in otherwise. Of course the roof/hood/tonneau cover is photovoltaic plastic (they already make it in sheets, 12% efficient. 18% is the top notch glass panels you see used on houses).

While there are some issues to address, this is all used/proven technology ranging from military vehicle drive train to diesel/electric trains themselves. I'd take a serious look at a vehicle like that...

 

Yes, I would also like a diesel, solid axle patrol from 2 door to 5 door 7 seater but lets get real, alternative power is the future and using it will allow us to also use dino power.

 

As for the rest of the Nissan lines, I don't know them well enough to think that I know what is best.

 

B

[Der_Vier]

keep this aliveeeeee moar input!

[piste]

Come out with a line of V-Twin motorcyles....oh, and make a deal with Sports Illustrated for a four page layout in the swimsuit issue combining Nissan vehicles and Swimsuit models....

Edited February 4, 2011 by piste