USA - Nissan is pleased to announce that the Versa Note has been added to the Kelley Blue Book 10 best back to school cars.

For the second consecutive year, the Nissan Versa Note has been named by the editors at Kelley Blue Book to the annual KBB.com "10 Best Back-to-School Cars" list.

Once again the vehicles selected for a "Back-to-School" recommendation had to be available for under $20,000 and meet the editors' criteria of being safe and stylish. 

The 2016 Versa Note has a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price* (M.S.R.P.) of $14,230 USD. KBB.com, utilizing its Fair Purchase Price (FPP) data, ranked Versa Note the second lowest priced vehicle on the 2016 list.

"We are honored to be recognized by the editors of Kelley Blue Book for the second school year in a row," said Dan Mohnke, vice president, Nissan Chief Marketing Manager & Marketing Operations. "Versa Note offers a great combination of available safety and security features, combined with an affordable price. It also has the sporty style and roomy, versatile interior that is perfect for the demands of campus life."

The 2016 Versa Note is offered in a range of five well-equipped models: S, S Plus, SV, SR and SL. Each is powered by a 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder. Versa Note S features a 5-speed manual transmission. The S Plus, SV, SR and SL models are equipped with a next-generation Nissan Xtronic transmission, helping achieve 40 miles per gallon highway fuel economy.

"Safety is the paramount decision when it comes to back-to-school cars, and practicality and affordability are also high on the list of desirable characteristics, at least according to parents," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com. "The kids involved also prefer to have a car they're happy to be seen in, which suggests that style is part of the equation too. Our 2016 list of the 10 Best Back-to-School Cars addresses all of these wants with an array of cool cars that has something for just about any returning student."

Nissan & Sunderland local council mark the opening of a new road to the expanded facility, aptly named Infiniti Drive.

Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, alongside Kevin Fitzpatrick, Vice President of the Sunderland Nissan factory, revealed the first part of a £21 million highway through Hillthorn Business Park by opening up a road named ‘Infiniti Drive’ after the premium car manufacturer.

Kevin Fitzpatrick said: “We’re honoured that the stretch of highway has been named after our new premium brand now being built in Sunderland.

“The business park provides a direct route to our plant for companies working with us to build the Q30 as well as our existing models, Qashqai, Juke, Note and the 100% electric Nissan LEAF.

“This will increase our efficiency and help us maintain our long-standing position as the UK’s most productive car plant. We look forward to welcoming new neighbours to Hillthorn in the future.”

This new opening comes just as the new Infiniti Q30 starts to arrive at Infiniti Showrooms across the country and customers begin to take ownership of the British built premium active compact car.

The Ford Focus ST Range has grown by nearly 300% this year, with new petrol and diesel options.

• Ford Focus ST sales have soared by 270 per cent in the UK since the expanded petrol and diesel powered line-up debuted this year
• Demand is evenly split: 45 per cent choose new 185PS diesel option and 55 per cent select 250PS EcoBoost petrol model
• Diesel Focus ST now offered with six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift transmission, available to order for delivery in early 2016
• PowerShift model is Ford’s quickest ever diesel car, with 0-62mph in around 7.7sec

Ford Focus ST sales have leapt by 270 per cent since the introduction of new petrol and diesel powertrains. Almost 6,700 diesel and petrol Focus STs have been sold in the UK so far this year, compared with 2,460 for the whole of last year.

Demand in Britain is evenly split between the two engine options, with 45 per cent choosing the new 185PS diesel Focus ST and 55 per cent selecting the 250PS EcoBoost petrol variant.

The UK’s appetite for Focus ST, with the ST170 in 2002 has driven sales beyond 50,000.

Ford is further expanding the Focus ST powertrain line-up to offer a six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift transmission with the diesel engine, available to order now for delivery in early 2016.

“New Focus ST has been a runaway success with customers spoilt for choice between our latest petrol and diesel power units,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “Diesel drivers now have the additional option of the Ford PowerShift transmission, which allows them to swap between quick-shifting automatic and sporty manual to suit their mood.”

The new Focus ST diesel PowerShift model will be Ford’s fastest accelerating diesel car ever, targetting 0-62mph in 7.7sec – 0.4sec quicker than the manual variant – and delivering CO₂ emissions of 119g/km and combined fuel economy of up to 61.4mpg.

The Ford PowerShift transmission provides Focus ST diesel customers with the choice of driving in full automatic mode, or selecting gears manually using paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

Drivers can also select a Sport mode by moving the gear lever to the S position, which offers a more dynamic driving experience with a sports shift programme that changes up at higher engine speeds and shifts down under braking for enhanced control.

In addition to the expanded engine line-up, Ford’s latest Focus ST offers an even more responsive, balanced and refined driving experience with optimised chassis control technologies, tuned suspension and steering, and bespoke tyre specification. The sporty new five-door and Estate models also offer advanced driver assistance technologies and connectivity features including the SYNC 2.

USA - A year ago Nissan brought us "colour Studio" for Juke, this year at the LA Auto Show, it's Versa Notes Turn.

• Unique customization program adds colour to Versa Note's youthful personality
• Versa Note program follows last year's successful JUKE Colour Studio launch
• 13 Genuine Nissan Accessory items are offered in range of six colours: Black, White, Red, Black-Purple, Orange and Carbon Fiber Look
• Each accessory can be installed at the dealership or by the customer once purchased

One year ago, Nissan used Los Angeles – arguably the hometown of the original custom car trend – to launch its unique factory-personalization program called the "Color Studio" on the popular Nissan JUKE sport cross. Next week, the company returns to the Los Angeles Auto Show to debut an expansion of the Nissan Color Studio to include the 2016 Versa Note.

As with the JUKE Color Studio, the Versa Note Color Studio allows owners to "make it yours" through an a la carte selection of 13 exterior and interior accent accessories, each available in a choice of six vibrant colors. 

For example, a Super Black Versa Note exterior can be trimmed in orange-accented 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and orange front lip finisher, mirror caps, door handles, rear hatch accent and rear roof spoiler. Inside, the owner might choose to apply orange kick plates, speaker rings and air vent rings.

The Color Studio accessories are offered for all 2016 Versa Note grade levels, including the sporty Versa Note SR, as well as available for retrofitting on 2014 and 2015 Versa Notes.

"The expansion of the Color Studio program to the active lifestyle Versa Note builds on the success of last year's JUKE Color Studio," said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. 

"As we found with JUKE, a little color – or a lot – dramatically changes the look of a vehicle and there's no easier way to make a ride stand out than the convenient, affordable Color Studio process. We believe Versa Note owners are going to embrace the concept just as much as JUKE owners do."

As with JUKE Color Studio, the cost of the accessories can be added to the Versa Note purchase or lease costs and rolled into the payment of the vehicle. Dealer labor charges apply if installation is done at the dealership.

The Versa Note Color Studio palette of available accessory colors includes Black, White, Red, Black-Purple, Orange and Carbon Fiber Look. The full list of available accessories is:

• Exterior: Aluminum-alloy wheels (15-inch), wheel center caps, front lip finisher, door handle covers, side mirror caps (with and without turn signal), and rear roof spoiler
• Interior: Floor mats, kick plates, speaker rings, air vent rings, rearview mirror interior cover and interior trim appliques

Another feature of the Color Studio program, available for both Versa Note and JUKE, is a special website 

(NissanUSA.com/VersaNoteColorStudio) 

that offers a full 360-degree view of the vehicles with all colors and combinations of parts for configuration. The site is available for viewing on smartphones and sharing on social platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and Google+, as well as in Nissan dealer showrooms. The Versa Note section of the Color Studio site goes live on November 17.

"We're excited to add the Color Studio program to Versa Note and to show it for the first time to visitors at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Color does change everything," added Loing.

FRANKFURT - Infiniti débuts it's upgraded QX70 Crossover, with sales starting directly after Frankfurt ends.

• ‘The best of QX70’ in one exceptional new model: the QX70 Ultimate
• More expressive and exclusive than ever
• Sales begin after debut at Frankfurt International Motor Show
• Prices from £52,280 OTR

Everything that owners love most about the design and performance of Infiniti’s statement-making QX70 is distilled into a new version – the new QX70 Ultimate, to have its premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.

The QX70 is well established as Infiniti’s SUV design icon and the Ultimate offering ramps up the appeal to make it the most desirable QX70 yet – a car with the heart and soul of a sports coupe yet the ability to fit effortlessly into the most active and demanding of people’s lives.

‘The QX70 has long struck a chord with buyers seeking something exceptional but the Infiniti QX70 Ultimate is designed to respond to the most exclusive needs and desires of buyers,’ said François Goupil de Bouillé, Vice President of Infiniti Europe,  Middle East and Africa.

As well as adopting the best features, technologies and craftsmanship of QX70 the Ultimate delivers subtle front and rear design changes, including a new front splitter and rear diffuser with integrated fog light.

New dark chrome trim front and rear emphasises a technical look that enhances the signature and highly expressive QX70 style. New 21-inch anthracite alloy wheels further distinguish the Ultimate model, while new daytime running lights give it even more road presence.

The Ultimate’s interior sets the car apart in equally dramatic fashion. The mood here is shiny black lacquer finishes, purple stitching, soft leather – and all the room, luxury and convenience for which the QX70 is already famous.

For the Ultimate version, the ultimate high performance/high efficiency engines are fitted: either a potent 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine or a refined and torquey 3.0-litre V6 diesel. Both are mated to a 7-speed adaptive shift automatic transmission with gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. The paddles are for when driving fun takes over….which with sports car-like weight distribution and an intelligent torque-sensing all-wheel drive system it will do, and often. The QX70 Ultimate delivers agility and response however demanding the roads, ensuring a drive every bit as dynamic as the design.

Brimming with personality and technology, the new QX70 Ultimate epitomises the qualities at the heart of the burgeoning Infiniti range in Europe. Sales in Western Europe and Russia begin after the QX70 Ultimate makes its public debut, at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) on September 15 2015, with prices starting from £52,430 OTR for the petrol version and from £52,280 OTR for the diesel version.