Nissan's stand will be crowded with new stuff this year in Toronto, especially with the presentation of the
NV2500 Concept , a study of what a full-size commercial vehicle should be in North America.The NV2500 Concept is a rolling showcase of the ideal CV. Inside, you'll find a workstation, a fold-down conference table, a closet with muddy-boot drainage and countless storage bins for hauling tools and equipment. A vertical power bar complete with compressed air outlets is located near the rear doors.
The left-side rear panel opens upwards, awning-style, to create a workbench, while a giant transparent roof panel provides light inside the vehicle. Nissan plans to launch 5 new commercial vehicles in North America, and 3 of them will be designed exclusively with that market in mind.The
FORUM Concept was originally unveiled at last year's Detroit Auto Show and is a minivan-shaped vehicle that is basically a living room on wheels. Hosting three rows of seats, the middle bench swivels on its base, while a panoramic moonroof lightens up the interior.The 2nd-row seat features wireless monitors for console gaming, while an integrated microwave open can accommodate a bag of popcorn. Parents up front can watch how well the kids are behaving with a monitoring system that's connected to a dashboard LCD screen, and the driver gets a wheel-mounted button that mutes all audio inside the FORUM and allows broadcasting the driver's voice through all speakers.Also on display is the new cube, a 5-door square-shaped small vehicle that sits five and is powered by a 1.8-litre engine that develops 122 horsepower. The
cube will rival the Honda Element and Scion xB, and offers impressive interior space in a small package.The
370Z with its 332-hp, 3.7-litre V6 and sexy styling is also part of the show, and its base price has been lowered to $39,998. Slightly smaller than the outgoing 350Z, the new car features RevMatch throttle blipping for the manual transmission, an unusual feature that works well.As well, Infiniti's new
G37 convertible , complete with a power-folding hard top, will complete the new-vehicle presentation. Its 3.7-liter V6 develops 325 horsepower and is available with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic with manual mode and paddle shifters. The droptop G features a Bose sound system that adjusts itself according to vehicle speed, outside noise and top position. Available features include navigation, XM NavTraffic, adaptive cruise control and adaptive headlights.
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2009 Nissan G37 Convertible |
photo: Nissan