Since Nissan has yet to settle on the idea of bringing its Infiniti luxury brand to Japan, the automaker is continuing to infuse its domestic lineup with models that are sold elsewhere in the world with the Infiniti badge. Taking its rightful place as Nissan’s flagship sedan is the new Fuga that is nothing more than a next-generation Infiniti M (expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships in spring 2010) with a different name and a new set of badges.

The luxury sedan will go on sale in Japan before the end of the year. At launch, the Fuga will be offered with a choice of two gasoline engines, a 2.5-liter V6 and a 3.7-liter V6.

Also on display at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show is the hybrid version of the new Fuga that will be be launched in the Japanese market from autumn 2010 and in North America as the Infiniti M35 Hybrid from spring 2011.

It employs a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, high-power Li-ion batteries and a one-motor-two-clutch parallel hybrid system solely developed by Nissan. No other details have been revealed on the car but Nissan claims that it returns a similar fuel economy to a compact C-segment car (e.g. Nissan Versa).

As the hype surrounding Nissan’s GT-R sports car has tapered off somewhat, the company plans to keep the buzz fresh by unleashing a higher-performance Spec V model on the Japanese market early next month. Based on the standard 480-hp car, which is no slouch for a vehicle topping 3900 pounds, the Spec V is lighter and more track-focused, yet does without much additional gusto under the hood.

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Nissan’s Zed car is back and that new 370Z moniker indicates a bigger 3.7-litre V6 – up from the old car’s 3.5 and lifted from the Infiniti G37. Yet thanks to the extensive use of aluminium throughout, the new 370Z weighs exactly the same as the current 350Z. Time to find out if this make the new Nissan 370Z as good as a Porsche Cayman.

So the Nissan 370Z has been working out? More power, same weight and subtly different looks…

Nice of you to notice. Check out those swollen rear arches and pinched waist. The current 350Z never looked quite right – the rear end was a mess and the flanks lacked definition – but the 370Z answers almost every aesthetic criticism while still retaining the distinctive look of the Zed we’ve loved since 2003.

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The wait is over for the new “boxy” Cube, or to be precise, nearly over as Nissan has released initial details and a full gallery of the Japanese domestic market (JDM) model but only a mere three high-res images of the U.S.-spec version which will make its debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show tomorrow, 19 November. Sales of the new Cube begin in Japan on November 26, followed by North American in the spring of 2009, and Europe and other global markets in fall 2009.

2010 Nissan Cube The all-new, third generation of the successful Nissan Cube which has sold nearly one million units to date in Japan since its introduction 1998, retains the characteristic “cubic” and somewhat “toyish” styling as well as the asymmetric rear end of its predecessors. Judging from the pictures that Nissan published, it looks like the U.S.-spec model (pictured above) features a slightly larger front bumper that the JDM model. Inside, the Cube continues the same funky design theme as the exterior with a swoopy dashboard, colorful details and ton-loads of plastic.

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Introduction

Nissan came up with the notion of a four-door sports car for marketing purposes, of course, although it must be said that it has actually delivered on the promise now and again. The front-drive Altima represents its current iteration. Although there are a number of thoroughly competent performers in the mid-size-sedan segment, the Altima sedan still manages to stand out by virtue of its eager responses, better-than-average engines, and snappy styling. If four doors seem too stodgy, there’s also a coupe version, added to the lineup for 2008.

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