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The Drive
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
The Last 5-Speed Manual in the US Is Gone as Nissan Discontinues Base Versa
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The $17,190 base-model Nissan Versa S, the last U.S.-market production car with a five-speed manual, is ending production. According to Automotive News , the manual Versa is the latest automotive tariff victim, as all Versas are built at Nissan's Aguascalientes, Mexico, plant and the base car is least popular. Looks like Nissan is trying to create as much savings as possible to handle the 25% tariff on cars imported from Mexico. A Nissan spokesperson told Auto News that it's trimming the fat down to the models with the 'strongest business performance.' The Drive reached out to Nissan for a comment, and we'll update this story if we get more details. When you go to Nissan's site and check out the Versa, the first thing you see under its name is 'Get the Nissan you want free from new tariffs.' So if Nissan is going to eat the additional tariff cost for customers, it can't be manufacturing cars that won't sell well. And manuals reportedly only accounted for 5% of Versa sales in 2024. Nissan As the manual Versa dies, it brings the five-speed manual transmission down with it. What was once a common drivetrain configuration is now a memory—when the last stick-shift Versa leaves a Nissan lot, there won't be any new five-speed manual vehicles for sale in the United States. Only six-speed and a few seven-speed manuals will remain. That isn't much of a surprise, given that six-speeds have been the norm for years. Nissan killed the five-speed manual in the last-generation Frontier pickup in 2020, Volkswagen killed off the entry-level five-speed manual Golf after the Mk7 ended in 2021, and Mitsubishi dropped the Mirage's five-speed in 2023. Still, this feels like a minor moment in car culture. Killing the manual Versa won't be a big sales hit, since barely any customers wanted it, but it will end Nissan's ability to market a sub-$18,000 car. It's always a bummer to see a manual transmission die, since they're are so few of them left. But I'm not sure how many people will care about the ancient five-speed Versa's. It's like when Lexus ended SC430 production, which was the last car with a cassette player. When a technology is so far past its sell-by date, does it really matter that it's gone? If you happen to buy one of the last stick-shift Versas, or if you've got one already, drop us a line because we're curious to hear what they're like to drive. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Nissan's new hybrid powertrain promises EV-like benefits. Will it be available in India?
Nissan's e-Power hybrid powertrain technology works in a different manner than other hybrid systems, offering more efficiency similar to electric vehicles. Check Offers Nissan is working on a new hybrid powertrain for its cars that is expected to go on sale in the North American markets soon. The Japanese car manufacturer that has been sailing through troubled waters for quite some time had initially promised to bring hybrid cars that would offer cost parity with petrol models. However, now it has been revealed that its new hybrid cars, which will come promising electric vehicle-like benefits, will cost significantly more than their pure ICE-powered counterparts. Nissan's hybrid system, dubbed e-Power, has been on sale in other parts of the world for some time. Currently, in its third generation avatar, the Nissan e-Power hybrid powertrain comes as a 5-in-1 system, which combines the electric motor, inverter, generator, reducer and increase into a single module. The OEM claims that this integration helps in reducing weight, boosts efficiency and helps minimise noise and vibration as well. Also Read : Upcoming cars in India The new Nissan e-Power system enables the internal combustion engine (ICE) to act as a generator to charge the battery pack, and it powers the wheels. This mechanism is in contrast with other hybrid powertrains where battery and electric motors supplement power from the engine, which is routed to the ground directly. Hence, the new e-Power is a different take on hybrid powertrain technology. The new e-Power technology acts in a manner that is more commonly found in diesel trains and a few cars, but Nissan is bringing it to the mainstream passenger vehicle powertrain technology. While this can offer benefits like electric vehicles, it is expected to be significantly costlier than other hybrid powertrain technologies. Back in 2023, Nissan debuted the e-Power and claimed that it would arrive at a price point that reflects what many competitors offer with petrol power alone. The automaker claimed that it would be a huge win in terms of value proposition. However, now Nissan is backtracking on that. Auto News has quoted Shunichi Inamijima, Nissan's corporate executive in charge of powertrain and electric vehicle technology, saying that the new plan is to sell above the promised price tag, but only because of increased prices for materials that go into it. 'We still want to realise cost parity as soon as possible," Inamijima reportedly said. However, the Nissan official didn't reveal any timeline for the launch of this technology. Will Nissan bring e-Power technology to India? Nissan Motor India teased its upcoming products a few days ago, which include a compact SUV and a B-segment seven-seater MPV. The auto company had first revealed both products in March 2025. The company noted that the new MPV is scheduled to launch in 2025 as a brand-new addition to the India product portfolio. Meanwhile, the five-seater C-SUV (compact sports utility vehicle) will be launched in early 2026. The SUV will compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq and others. Nissan Motor India said that it is on target to have four products by FY26 for Indian customers in the B/C and D-SUV segments. In the meantime, the MPV will compete with the Renault Triber. Considering the higher cost of the e-Power technology, it is unlikely that Nissan would introduce this system into the upcoming models that have already been confirmed for India launch. However, in future, if the market evolves to the right condition for the brand, we may see Nissan bringing this technology to the Indian passenger vehicle market. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 27 May 2025, 10:23 AM IST
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota's Chairman Shared This Controversial Opinion About EV Sports Cars
As the former President and CEO and now chairman of Toyota's board, Akio Toyoda has long balanced his corporate responsibilities with a passion for racing. Under the pseudonym "Morizo Kinoshita," he created a second identity on the track, competing in major motorsport events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2009, 2014, and 2019. Often behind the wheel of Toyota- and Lexus-branded race cars. In fact, his input behind the wheel at races and behind development, production, and race cars has been cemented so deeply into Toyota lore that cars like the Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition have been named after him. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Toyoda doubled down on his skepticism of battery-electric vehicles. However, when acknowledging that some Toyota engineers want an EV sports car, he said that the idea doesn't exactly align with his values. "There will always be people inside Toyota passionate about developing electric sports cars," Toyoda told AutoNews. "But for me, as the master driver, my definition of a sports car is something with the smell of gasoline and a noisy engine."In addition, he still believes that the company has a mountain to climb when it comes to building a selection of EVs that fit with Toyota's mantra of providing affordable, high-quality cars to its customers. Currently, in the United States, Toyota offers only one EV: the bZ4x, a crossover co-developed with Subaru. "Toyota is a mass-production brand, so we also need to think about affordability, even with BEVs," he said. "Once Toyota has the capacity to offer affordable BEVs, then maybe that's a moment when I as a master driver will be introducing a BEV sports car." In response to a question asking him if in his capacity as Toyota's "Master Driver," would he ever race an EV in a competitve race, the man known to enthusiasts simply as Morizo expressed that he wouldn't want to race an EV because the kind of races he likes to do (endurance races) would be less about driving skill and more about the cars' technical limitations. "No! It's not exciting," he said. "Because you won't be able to go around the circuit for more than an hour. The kind of races I enter are mostly endurance races, so with the current BEVs, it's not going to be a race of the cars. It's a race of charging time or battery exchange or something. The next master driver will have to take on that challenge. That's their job." I am not exactly surprised about Toyoda's deterrance towards this sort of thing. He has been openly critical about EVs in the past, and this is just more ink in that section of the book. In a statement at a Toyota company event in January 2024, Morizo argued that EVs "come as a set with infrastructure," arguing that many Toyota drivers live in parts of the world with little to access to electricity. "No matter how much progress BEVs make, I think they will still only have a 30 % market share," Toyoda said. "Then, the remaining 70% will be HEVs [hybrid-electric vehicles], FCEVs [fuel cell electric vehicles], and hydrogen engines. And I think [gas] engine cars will definitely remain. I think this is something that customers and the market will decide, not regulatory values or political power." In the same AutoNews interview, he defended the company's push toward hybrids by saying: "we said as a company the enemy is carbon," additionally noting that in the span of making 27 million hybrid cars, it "had the same impact as 9 million BEVs on the road." "But if we were to have made 9 million BEVs in Japan, it would have actually increased the carbon emissions, not reduced them. That is because Japan relies on the thermal power plants for electricity," he said. "We should look at all options and work in all directions. As a company, we have been very consistent in saying what we're fighting against is carbon dioxide." Taken together, Toyoda's on-track alter ego and his cautious stance on EVs paint a clear picture: he's someone who believes driving should remain an emotional, accessible experience, not just a political or regulatory checkbox. Whether it's pushing Toyota's race cars to their limits or advocating for a more flexible approach to carbon reduction, Toyoda consistently champions a future where car enthusiasts still have a say in how that future looks.
Miami Herald
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Toyota's Chairman Shared This Controversial Opinion About EV Sports Cars
As the former President and CEO and now chairman of Toyota's board, Akio Toyoda has long balanced his corporate responsibilities with a passion for racing. Under the pseudonym "Morizo Kinoshita," he created a second identity on the track, competing in major motorsport events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2009, 2014, and 2019. Often behind the wheel of Toyota- and Lexus-branded race cars. In fact, his input behind the wheel at races and behind development, production, and race cars has been cemented so deeply into Toyota lore that cars like the Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition have been named after him. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Toyoda doubled down on his skepticism of battery-electric vehicles. However, when acknowledging that some Toyota engineers want an EV sports car, he said that the idea doesn't exactly align with his values. "There will always be people inside Toyota passionate about developing electric sports cars," Toyoda told AutoNews. "But for me, as the master driver, my definition of a sports car is something with the smell of gasoline and a noisy engine." Related: Cadillac Confirms Another Future High Performance V-Series EV In addition, he still believes that the company has a mountain to climb when it comes to building a selection of EVs that fit with Toyota's mantra of providing affordable, high-quality cars to its customers. Currently, in the United States, Toyota offers only one EV: the bZ4x, a crossover co-developed with Subaru. "Toyota is a mass-production brand, so we also need to think about affordability, even with BEVs," he said. "Once Toyota has the capacity to offer affordable BEVs, then maybe that's a moment when I as a master driver will be introducing a BEV sports car." EVs are not "exciting" to drive, says Morizo In response to a question asking him if in his capacity as Toyota's "Master Driver," would he ever race an EV in a competitve race, the man known to enthusiasts simply as Morizo expressed that he wouldn't want to race an EV because the kind of races he likes to do (endurance races) would be less about driving skill and more about the cars' technical limitations. "No! It's not exciting," he said. "Because you won't be able to go around the circuit for more than an hour. The kind of races I enter are mostly endurance races, so with the current BEVs, it's not going to be a race of the cars. It's a race of charging time or battery exchange or something. The next master driver will have to take on that challenge. That's their job." I am not exactly surprised about Toyoda's deterrance towards this sort of thing. He has been openly critical about EVs in the past, and this is just more ink in that section of the book. In a statement at a Toyota company event in January 2024, Morizo argued that EVs "come as a set with infrastructure," arguing that many Toyota drivers live in parts of the world with little to access to electricity. "No matter how much progress BEVs make, I think they will still only have a 30 % market share," Toyoda said. "Then, the remaining 70% will be HEVs [hybrid-electric vehicles], FCEVs [fuel cell electric vehicles], and hydrogen engines. And I think [gas] engine cars will definitely remain. I think this is something that customers and the market will decide, not regulatory values or political power." In the same AutoNews interview, he defended the company's push toward hybrids by saying: "we said as a company the enemy is carbon," additionally noting that in the span of making 27 million hybrid cars, it "had the same impact as 9 million BEVs on the road." "But if we were to have made 9 million BEVs in Japan, it would have actually increased the carbon emissions, not reduced them. That is because Japan relies on the thermal power plants for electricity," he said. "We should look at all options and work in all directions. As a company, we have been very consistent in saying what we're fighting against is carbon dioxide." Taken together, Toyoda's on-track alter ego and his cautious stance on EVs paint a clear picture: he's someone who believes driving should remain an emotional, accessible experience, not just a political or regulatory checkbox. Whether it's pushing Toyota's race cars to their limits or advocating for a more flexible approach to carbon reduction, Toyoda consistently champions a future where car enthusiasts still have a say in how that future looks. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford Offers Employee Discounts To Everyone As Other Automakers Prepare For Price Hikes
The automotive industry is in turmoil right now as President Trump rolls out his tariffs against every country in the world other than North Korea and Russia, and because of this, most car companies are planning to raise prices to make up for it. However, not everyone is carrying that tune. Ford is standing on its own right now, and actually bringing back employee discounts for all of its customers for the next two months on most of its vehicles through its "From American, For America" campaign. It's giving everyone access to "A Plan" pricing through June 2 on nearly all Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Unfortunately, some high-dollar vehicles like the 2025 Expedition, Super Duty pickups and Lincoln Navigators are excluded. Savings will, of course, vary by model and trim level, according to Automotive News. Ford's A Plan typically allows employees to pay less than the dealer invoice price, but it's not immediately clear exactly how big those discounts are going to be. A Plan pricing usually amounts to $1,300 off a $28,700 Maverick, $3,500 off a $48,200 Explorer and $6,800 off a $66,500 F-150, AutoNews says. The discounts will also be applied on top of any additional incentives, which is always nice. This isn't the first time Ford has offered employee pricing. It also did so in late-2008 during the beginning of the Great Recession, according to a 17-year-old MotorTrend article. If that isn't an ominous sign of things to come, I don't know what is. Read more: The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Is Exactly What You Want It To Be The automaker has remained quiet about whether or not it would eventually increase prices because of the tariffs. Though it does produce the most U.S.-made cars in the country, the Maverick, Bronco Sport and Mustang Mach-E are all built in Mexico, while the Lincoln Nautilus comes to the U.S. by way of China, AutoNews reports. Here's what Ford's director of U.S. sales told the outlet about the program: "There's a lot of uncertainty right now," Kaffl [said]. "What we think this program provides is more certainty to an uncertain situation and stability, frankly, and support to those U.S. consumers. It's a way to give back to the communities that have supported us for generations." [...] "There's no question that obviously prices are going to rise as more things come out," he said. "We're still trying to understand the impact of the tariffs. We think the opportunity is now to make the offer with our customers, and we'll also have to weigh in what happens with these impacts." Just to sweeten the deal and get more people into electric cars, Ford is extending its offer for free home EV charger installation through the end of June. It was originally supposed to end on December 31, 2024, but it was extended through March. It's far too early to tell what Ford — or the rest of the industry — will do when it comes to pricing, but at least it's nice to see Ford doing a little to help out the average consumer. What happens beyond the two month promotion remains to be seen. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
