Drew Dowdell

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan Group announced total U.S. sales for October 2019 of 103,563 units, a decrease of 5.8 percent compared to the prior year. Nissan highlights: Kicks SUV sales set an October record with 3,362 units, up 3 percent. NV200 sales rose to 1,532 units, up 7 percent to achieve an October record. Several models have shown gains in 2019: Kicks (+272 percent), NV commercial van (+25 percent) and NV200 (+1 percent). *INFINITI sales total included for reference. For more information on INFINITI’s October sales performance, please visit infinitinews.com. NOTE: To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis, unadjusted for the number of selling days. October 2019 had 27 days, while October 2018 had 26 selling days. NISSAN DIVISION OCTOBER OCTOBER Monthly CYTD CYTD CYTD 2019 2018 % chg 2019 2018 % chg Nissan Division Total 94,417 98,082 -3.7 1,050,873 1,117,515 -6.0 Versa 3,373 5,869 -42.5 60,506 63,952 -5.4 Sentra 13,889 17,611 -21.1 162,039 182,758 -11.3 Altima 13,531 13,406 0.9 173,500 180,005 -3.6 Maxima 3,217 2,505 28.4 29,416 34,207 -14.0 LEAF 887 1,234 -28.1 9,998 11,920 -16.1 Juke 1 7 -85.7 11 722 -98.5 370Z 214 290 -26.2 2,067 2,995 -31.0 GT-R 25 20 25.0 298 490 -39.2 Total Car 35,137 40,942 -14.2 437,835 477,049 -8.2 Kicks 3,362 3,264 3.0 50,436 13,576 271.5 Frontier 8,031 6,302 27.4 62,717 65,876 -4.8 Titan 2,134 4,114 -48.1 27,546 41,953 -34.3 Pathfinder 5,636 5,195 8.5 54,978 55,347 -0.7 Armada 2,714 2,072 31.0 27,323 27,732 -1.5 Rogue 27,082 27,748 -2.4 299,382 337,727 -11.4 Murano 7,477 5,737 30.3 57,825 68,962 -16.1 Quest 0 0 n/a 0 3 -100.0 NV 1,312 1,269 3.4 16,988 13,568 25.2 NV200 1,532 1,439 6.5 15,843 15,722 0.8 Total Truck 59,280 57,140 3.7 613,038 640,466 -4.3 INFINITI OCTOBER OCTOBER Monthly CYTD CYTD CYTD 2019 2018 % chg 2019 2018 % chg Infiniti Total 9,146 11,880 -23.0 97,080 117,129 -17.1 Infiniti Q50 2,100 2,074 1.3 21,855 28,254 -22.6 Infiniti Q60 595 809 -26.5 4,113 7,765 -47.0 Infiniti Q70 154 302 -49.0 2,350 3,778 -37.8 Infiniti QX30 102 399 -74.4 3,127 7,038 -55.6 Infiniti QX50 1,468 3,160 -53.5 15,078 19,051 -20.9 Infiniti QX60 3,604 3,392 6.3 35,225 35,187 0.1 Infiniti QX70 0 7 -100.0 6 942 -99.4 Infiniti QX80 1,123 1,737 -35.3 15,326 15,114 1.4 Total Car 2,849 3,185 -10.5 28,318 39,797 -28.8 Total Truck 6,297 8,695 -27.6 68,762 77,332 -11.1 NISSAN GROUP OCTOBER OCTOBER Monthly CYTD CYTD CYTD 2019 2018 % chg 2019 2018 % chg TOTAL VEHICLE 103,563 109,962 -5.8 1,147,953 1,234,644 -7.0 Total Car 37,986 44,127 -13.9 466,153 516,846 -9.8 Total Truck 65,577 65,835 -0.4 681,800 717,798 -5.0 Selling days 27 26 256 256 # # #

There apparently is a new Charger on the books based on the Guilia platform. But if it survives is another question. They should still make a premium version of it and call it 300... but they won't.

Infiniti's infotainment system has been among the worst for years now. It wasn't even good when it was new. Any improvements are welcome. Cadillac has the best pairing system at the moment. Just hold your phone up to a certain spot on the Infotainment system and it will pair automagically. This is on the XT6, CT4, and CT5. No, but the infotainment system being frustrating to use is one of the things that struck the Q50 from my list. They depreciate like a rock, so they were on my radar for low-mileage used options.

Dart was an economy sedan. They're all forgettable. 200 was actually a pretty good car, positioned incorrectly by Chrysler to try and cover too many bases. It should have been lined up directly with Regal instead of trying to compete with CamCord.

Dart and 200 weren't rebadges. The old Regal sold fine as a rebadged Opel. The problem now is people moving away from sedans. Promaster and Promaster city are doing just fine. Transit is a best seller as is Transit connect.

Infiniti will be releasing the next generation of their infotainment system, InTouch, for the 2020 model year. Most of their lineup, except the QX60, get the updated system. The biggest news is that the new system will now support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The system can get over the air updates via their home's wifi or systems with navigation can have a data plan to do the updates. The navigation system can also receive real-time traffic data for re-routing and turn-by-turn directions. Infiniti has upgraded the interface to be easier to use and has added more processing power behind the system. They've also upgraded the bluetooth module for easier pairing and a better microphone for improved voice quality. View full article

We don't have and recent evidence of that either way.

I had this out on about 50 miles of highway driving last night, and I will say it feels a lot more nimble than your typical small crossover. @ocnblu I don't hear the sound you're talking about at cold start.

No one cares about the American brands except Jeep and Ram. Expect a full europeanization of the lineup. They want to take on VW and you don't do that with LX platform cars.

Welcome back @oldshurst442

I haven't let it get cold enough to notice. ? I'll try and take note in the morning.

Years ago, GM made this great ad for the B-Body Chevy Impala. The question is, what car, from any brand, would qualify for this advertisement today? Sound off below.

Yes there is turbo lag, it doesn't have the instant on of a V6, however it still feels really quick. There aren't many speedy options in this class. The best sellers don't have an uplevel engine. The only other real choice with this kinda power is the GM triplets with the 2.0T. They have less torque, but they've got 3 more gears to work with, so they also feel really fast. Unfortunately, that's probably going away when they get the new 2.0T, so in the very near future, this could end up being the most powerful small crossover you can buy that isn't a luxury brand. The active safety is very subtle... maybe even too subtle. It's neat that it can read the road signs. It updates the speed limit in the heads up display as you pass the sign. It also puts up a stop sign as you approach. Would I buy one with my own money? I'll get back to you on that, but I'd venture probably not based on the interior size. CR-V and Terrain feel a lot larger inside than this and I would be looking for space in my next vehicle.

The seats are actually a very dark brown, but you're right, it is rather dark in there. I don't mind an all black interior. The dash is a very stiff rubberized product on the top, and softer materials on the face of the dash. I will say the seats are pretty comfortable and I found a good position really quick. Plenty of legroom in the driver seat, I can't touch the firewall with my feet when the seat is adjusted for me. I'll go over the interior a bit more when it's not raining buckets here... probably over the weekend.

What's the etymology of "stovebolt" for this engine? I know why nailheads are called nailheads... but why is this called a stovebolt?

Combination of the French government and Nissan.

The French government is apparently all for it.

In this week for a review is a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature with the turbocharged 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine. This engine is shared with the Mazda CX-9 and Mazda 6 Turbo and produces 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque on regular gasoline, but bumps up to 250 horsepower on 93 octane. All-wheel drive is standard. This is the most loaded of the CX-5 trims with only the paint ($300) and rear bumper guard ($125) as additional charges. That brings the MSRP to $38,360 after destination charges. What do you want to know about this Mazda while I have it for a week? Let me know in the comments below. View full article

Today Henrik Fisker announced the name for Fisker's upcoming EV SUV. Called the Ocean, it has been shown in a number of concept studies over the past year. The concept wears a solar roof to help with charging and retractable door handles. Looking mildly like a Range Rover Evoque, the vehicle is being produced with many recycled materials. Fisker claims this will make the SUV one of the most sustainable vehicle available. The starting price is claimed to be around $40,000 and have a range of over 300 miles through its 80 kWh enhanced lithium-ion batteries. Rear-motor, rear drive and dual-motor all wheel drive will be available. The SUV should hit the market in late 2021, about a year after Tesla's Model Y goes on sales. Fisker is offering a Tesla-like online-only sales model with "nationwide concierge service". Henrik also announced that there will be some big news on November 27th, the day before Thanksgiving, when online reservation become available. The production ready prototype will be revealed in January 2020. Fisker has been late in delivering on its promises before, so if you're waiting for one of these, you may be waiting a little longer than planned. Related: Fisker Shows First Look at New Electric SUV Fisker Teasing Us with Electric SUV Concept View full article

Ford and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have reached a tentative labor contract deal in just days after the strike at General Motors ended. The details of the deal have not yet been released, but Ford did confirm the deal in a short statement. The talks began on Monday and the two sides quickly made progress on the smaller issues. Various UAW leaders from the U.S. plants will meet on Friday to approve the deal which then must be sent to Ford's 55,000 union members for ratification. Ford has a closer relationship with the UAW than the other Detroit manufacturers with Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford calling the UAW "Family" and that the UAW "helps to make Ford better and stronger". Once the deal with Ford is ratified, the UAW will move on to negotiate with FCA. View full article