USA - Nissan now offers free charging in Chicago for LEAF customers.

Chicagoans can now add free public charging to the long list of benefits of buying an all-electric Nissan LEAF. Nissan today launched its "No Charge to Charge" promotion that provides two years of no-cost public charging with the purchase or lease of a new LEAF from Nissan dealers in the Chicago market. This includes complimentary access to fast chargers that can charge a LEAF battery pack from zero to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.

"Nissan LEAF is an attractive option for Chicago car buyers for a number of reasons, such as the available Illinois Alternative Fuels Rebate of up to $4,000* and significantly lower operating costs than a gas-powered car," said Brendan Jones, director, Nissan Electric Vehicle Sales and Infrastructure Strategy. "Adding free public fast charging in Chicagoland gives Nissan LEAF an even greater competitive edge over other vehicles, regardless of their fuel source."

With "No Charge to Charge," new LEAF buyers can enjoy added range confidence with free access to fast chargers** spread throughout Chicagoland at retail stores, tollway oases and other convenient locations for drivers. As part of the promotion, LEAF drivers will also enjoy free one-hour charging sessions at more than 140 level 2 (240 volt) charging stations**.

Nissan now offers "No Charge to Charge" in 12 of the top markets for Nissan LEAF sales, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston and Washington, D.C. In the next year, Nissan plans to offer the "No Charge to Charge" program at LEAF dealers in at least 13 additional U.S. markets.

"No Charge to Charge" will launch at Nissan LEAF dealers in the Chicago market on Nov. 14. LEAF owners who purchased or leased their vehicle on or after Nov. 1, in the Chicago market will receive entry into the "No Charge to Charge" program retroactively.

For more information on the "No Charge to Charge" promotion, visit https://www.ez-charge.com/faq/.

*Buyers of a new Nissan LEAF are eligible for a rebate of $0 to $4,000 from the Illinois Alternative Fuels Rebate Program. Lessees are not eligible. For more information on terms of the rebate program, visit:  www.illinoisgreenfleets.org/rebates/index.

**Consumers can find chargers eligible for "No Charge to Charge" at www.ez-charge.com/stations,PlugShare.com or via the PlugShare app for iOS or Android.

USA - 2015 FIAT 500e arrives in style in Oregon.

• 2015 Fiat 500e models are now available at studios in California and Oregon 
• Fiat 500e lease available for $199 a month for 36 months with $999 due at signing 
• Fiat 500e recently named “Top Electric Vehicle” at the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s annual Drive Revolution event 
• 2015 Fiat 500e features two new exterior colors and a redesigned center console 
• All-electric Fiat 500e delivers a best-in-class 108 highway MPGe rating and class-leading 87 miles of combined city/highway driving range, with city driving range typically greater than 100 miles

The fully electric Fiat 500e is now available as a 2015 model year at FIAT studios in California and Oregon for $199 a month for 36 months with $999 due at signing. Sales of the Fiat 500e expanded to Oregon earlier this year. Previously, the all-electric Fiat had been sold only in California, where it has been in high demand since its introduction in 2013.

“Bringing the Fiat 500e to Oregon gives more customers in this environmentally minded state the opportunity to enjoy the Italian style and engaging driving dynamics of the Fiat 500, but with zero tailpipe emissions,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand for North America, Chrysler Group LLC.

This summer, the Fiat 500e was named the “Top Electric Vehicle” for a second consecutive year at the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s Drive Revolution, an annual alternative-fuel vehicle event in Portland.

“The Fiat 500e is attractive and fun. It remains a model that will, with a short test drive, convert people who hadn't even thought about electric cars into EV enthusiasts,” said Bengt Halvorson, Drive Revolution Event Co-chair.

The 2015 Fiat 500e features a redesigned center console, with a new cup holder design and an additional, conveniently located USB port that is fully functional and integrated with the radio. Two paint colors have been added for 2015 for a total of seven available exterior paint colors, including new Luce Blu (light blue with a pearl finish) and Celeste (light blue).

Alternative Transportation Program

For those times when a 500e customer needs to drive beyond the vehicle’s range or needs the carrying capability of a larger vehicle, the Fiat 500e retail plan provides an alternative transportation plan called the Fiat 500e Pass program. 

The FIAT brand and Enterprise Holdings, owner and operator of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent A Car, and National Car Rental brands, partnered on the Fiat 500e Pass program, which provides purchasers and lessees of a new 500e up to 12 days of alternate transportation each year for the first three years after the date of purchase. 

JLR and Intel collaborate on new infotainment facility.

• Collaboration with Intel enhances Jaguar Land Rover’s research into future vehicle infotainment
• Jaguar Land Rover to further strengthen its technology focus with new R&D centre in Portland, Oregon
• The new centre has been located to enhance collaboration on research and product development with Intel and other leading IT businesses

Jaguar Land Rover will enhance its research and product development on future vehicle infotainment technologies through a new collaboration with Intel and the opening of a new Technology R&D centre in Portland, Oregon.

Jaguar Land Rover’s new research facility on the West Coast will help lead the development of future vehicle infotainment systems and will be responsible for collaborative work with a number of technology partners. The location of the centre has been chosen for its proximity to the technology industry hubs in Silicon Valley and Seattle, where Jaguar Land Rover has been developing collaborative partnerships with the world’s leading IT businesses and creative and technical talent.

Jaguar Land Rover and Intel have already begun work on multiple levels across engineering, research and marketing as Jaguar Land Rover progresses its ambitions to deliver the best in-car infotainment experience. The close proximity of Jaguar Land Rover’s new research facility to Intel Labs is enabling a collaborative relationship on research projects.  Multiple programs are underway to explore and develop next-generation digital vehicle prototypes with in-vehicle cockpit experiences that connect car, device and cloud.  The insights gained from the research programs along with alignment on engineering efforts will speed development on new innovative in-vehicle experiences.

Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, Jaguar Land Rover Engineering Director, said: “Our aim is to innovate and develop the ultimate user experience for our customers and by taking a collaborative approach with both technology start-ups and large organisations such as Intel, we will push the boundaries of future infotainment technology.

“Working with Intel will help both partners define and develop platforms and systems appropriate for premium global brands like Jaguar and Land Rover. This will ultimately develop unique and innovative technologies that will continue to drive the appeal of our products. Our research and the partnerships we are developing in the US will help us ensure our new products remain innovative and globally competitive.”

Elliot Garbus, vice president and general manager, Automotive Solutions Division, Intel Corporation, said: “Consumers expect their in-vehicle experiences to be an integrated part of their digitally connected lifestyle; this requires enhanced levels of connectivity and intelligence in the car.  As part of our work with Jaguar Land Rover, we are exploring innovative ways to inform, entertain and assist drivers and passengers in a safe way; speeding development of unique experiences from the car to the cloud.  Our goal is to accelerate opportunities for new types of in-vehicle services and applications in the Internet of Things.”

Creating the new technology centre in Portland and the collaborative partnerships it supports will accelerate the creation of the next generation of in-car technologies, features and software for future Jaguar and Land Rover models. The Portland facility will be Jaguar Land Rover’s first dedicated software R&D operation and will lead the optimisation for automotive applications of a range of new advanced technologies that are currently being developed on the West Coast.

The new ‘Open Software Technology Centre’ in Portland, which will open in 2014, will complement the established Jaguar Land Rover infotainment team based at the company’s product creation facility in Gaydon, UK. It will employ a team of around 30 infotainment specialists, including 16 highly experienced software engineers. Facilities will include a multimedia creative suite, innovation spaces, development laboratory and a six-bay vehicle workshop.

In the future, the Portland technology centre will also complement the long-term research projects that will be undertaken by the Jaguar Land Rover R&D team at the National Automotive Innovation Campus (NAIC) at the University of Warwick when it opens in 2016. These research projects include electrification, smart & connected cars and Human Machine Interface.

LR4 leads convoy across 10 states of America

Cross Country Off-Road Adventure to show adventurers can still traverse the United States virtually all off pavement

• Land Rover LR4 convoy led by Land Rover Expedition Expert Kicks Off Today from Land Rover Experience School in Asheville, North Carolina
• Fans can follow off pavement route across 10 states and 5,000 miles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
• The route will be based on the Trans-America Trail, an off-road motorcycle trail created by Sam Correro

Land Rover is pleased to announce Land Rover Expedition America – Tackling the Trans-America Trail, an off-road driving adventure across America starting today in Asheville, N.C. Embarking on this adventure with off-road icon and certified Land Rover Driving Instructor Tom Collins leading the team, three 2013 Land Rover LR4 vehicles will be demonstrating relentless capability in what promises to be a true adventure as no part of this drive has been pre-scouted for this journey. Covering over 5,000 miles in the span of one month, through ten states in various climates and terrain, this crew will travel in the footsteps of American pioneers and linking cultures found along the Trans-America Trail.

Departing from the Land Rover Experience Driving School at the Biltmore Estate today, the route is derived from the Trans-America Trail, the off-road motorcycle trail created by Sam Correro. The team will traverse a mountain route in Colorado, two mountain ranges in Utah, with the most challenging areas in Nevada, and one mountain range in Oregon. The route is composed of mostly dirt and gravel with some short connections that require paved roads. This is most prevalent on the East Coast and there are also some sections in Colorado where pavement will be encountered.

The team will face the wild and uninhabited areas of the rugged frontier while simultaneously exploring rural and urban lifestyle stories - all of which will be documented for enthusiasts alike. As they encounter the limitless boundaries of natural elements, updates will be captured and shared virally to include videos, photography, blog updates, and other social media channels. Those with an appreciation for off-road adventure, breathtaking scenery, historical landmarks, or dynamic machinery taking on the elements, will surely not want to miss this.

Leading this expedition is Tom Collins, a long time off-road enthusiast and trusted Land Rover guide with his contribution to Land Rover’s many automotive programs. Most notably, Collins participated as a member of the 1987 U.S. Camel Trophy team and continued on into the 1990s as U.S. team manager of the famed international competition.

In 1989, Collins’ heavy involvement in new vehicle launches, press events and leading excursions, brought him to propose the Great Divide Expedition along Colorado’s portion of the Continental Divide. Collins put the Tread Lightly Program and Land Rover North America on the map. Tom also tackled the build and creation of the first driving schools as well as adventure programs in North America. With his extensive knowledge and admiration for cross-country travel and off-road expertise, this is sure to be a defining moment for the Land Rover LR4.  

The Land Rover LR4 is a luxurious all-purpose, high-capability all-terrain SUV, available with three-row seating for seven adults. Distinguishing the Land Rover LR4 from competitive luxury SUVs is a blend of on-road comfort and off-road capability, bolstered by a permanent four-wheel drive system with a lockable center differential, an available locking rear differential, a two-speed transfer case with a low-range, height adjustable air suspension, and an array of traction-aiding technologies*. The LR4 uses integrated body-frame construction, featuring a steel unibody mounted on a rigid boxed steel full frame.

The 2013 LR4 is powered by a 5-liter V8 engine that develops 375 hp and 375 lb.-ft. torque. Engineered for a balance of performance and efficiency, the all-aluminum alloy V8 delivers responsive power throughout the rev range, making it ideal for on-road and off-road performance and towing.

The Land Rover LR4 provides significant legroom and cargo space, an essential feature for this type of off-road adventure driving. The LR4 is equipped with 37.6-inches of legroom in the second row seats and with the third row seats folded, offers a generous 42.1 cu. ft. of carrying space. This space more than doubles to 90.3 cu. ft. with the middle row folded forward.

Land Rover Expedition America will be authentic, not made for TV, but well documented with short features, a mini-documentary film to cover the entire journey, as well as the social journey involving social media interaction, photos, videos and blog updates as they make their way from East to West.

*These systems are not a substitute for driving safely with due care and attention and will not function under all circumstances, speeds, weather and road conditions, etc. Driver should not assume that these systems will correct errors of judgment in driving.  Please consult the owner’s manual or your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for more details.