The 2018 Nissan Altima redesigned and is Packed with Technology

After the 2016’s face lift, the 2018 Altima gets an interior upgrade, because it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

though we can’t argue that it’s a less-boring alternative to the Toyota Camry anymore, the Nissan Altima could be a great choice for those wanting an affordable mid-size sedan where subtly is king. The Altima was restyled for the 2016 model year, but refrained from adopting the weird front grille and headlights on the Maxima, which we’re eternally grateful for.

For the 2018 model year, Nissan says it’s focusing on updating the Altima’s interior features and technology. Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking are now standard across all trims, continuing Nissan’s initiative to add cutting-edge standard safety technology to its entire vehicle lineup for 2018.

The new Altima will come in just five trim levels, as Nissan has ditched the base model 2.5 and 3.5 SR variants. The new cheapest option is the $23,140 2.5 S, while the Altima 3.5 SL claims the top spot at $33,510. Nissan also revised its package selection, adding the Tech package with Intelligent Cruise Control and Special Edition package (SR trim only) featuring larger wheels and a NissanConnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, although these features come standard on the 3.5 SL.

The $24,200 Altima SR is tuned specifically for performance, receiving a subtle rear spoiler, sport suspension, smoked exterior lights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Now available on the 2.5 SL and 3.5 SL trims are new Zero Gravity bucket seats up front, which Nissan says is inspired by NASA.

The 2.5 Altima features a 179-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, of course, while the 3.5 enjoys its signature V-6 with 270 horses, and both are  paired with an Xtronic CVT for maximum smoothness.

2018 Nissan Altima: New Features 

The 2018 Nissan Altima is arriving on dealer lots like ours in northwestern Indiana in the fall of 2017 and it is better than ever, with the same style and power that makes it a sporty midsize sedan, and the safety that typically garners an IIHS Top Safety Pick (it was named a Top Safety Pick every model year from 2013 to 2017, with 2018 still pending), among other benefits. 

Here’s some new features to look forward to in 2018: 

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) now comes standard; smart braking was only an available feature in the 2017 model. 
• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW) now comes standard; this was also only available in top-line trims in the 2017 model. 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available for the 2018 Altima, to sync up with your compatible smartphone.  
• Trim options have been streamlined from seven to five, with the 2.5 and 3.5 SR trims being retired. 
• New or updated option packages: 2.5 SR Special Edition, 2.5 SV Technology, 2.5 SL Technology.

2018 Nissan Altima redesign

Last large refreshment included V-motion grille and designers decided to go again with it. Sharper headlights and tail lights are again on the 2018 Nissan Altima. We are sure it comes again in few trims, including base, S, SR, SV and SL models, while there could be room for Limited edition. Trim levels are having different engines and features list. For example, base model is wearing 16-inch wheels, while higher trims offer 18-inch alloy wheels. Some of the standard accessories are push-button ignition and power seats for driver. In high-end sedans, heating is added on seats, premium upholstery and many more infotainment features.

2018 Nissan Altima powertains

New 2018 Nissan Altima will keep its old 2.5-l and 3.5-l units. Smaller is installed for entry level models. It is a 4-cylinfer drivetrain with capacity to produce 185 hp and 180 pound-feet of torque. Continuously variable transmission is mated to the engine, and sends power to front wheels. Estimated fuel economy is around 31 mpg, but it could be improved for 2018 year sedan. Other option is V6 with 3.5-l displacement, used for higher trims. This drivetrain can develop 270 horsepower, adding 250 lb-ft of torque. It uses more fuel and it can run 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway, which is not bad at all for its class.

2018 Nissan Altima competition

When it comes out, slightly modified, even less changes are expected on the mid-size sedan market. Top of the class, beside 2018 Nissan Altima, will include new models from Honda Accord and Mazda 6. There are also Hyundai and Kia, keeping the pace with their Sonata and Optima.

 

@infocredits Nissan

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEST INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS OF 2017

These days cars have all sorts of fantastic interactive technology on board for its occupants, so you’re never bored and they seem to make life a lot easier as they are intuitive to use. But, which are the best systems available?

BMW iDrive

Firstly there is one of the most well known ones – BMW’s iDrive. This has existed since around 2002 and has vastly improved since then. Among its many features are touchscreen controls, satellite navigation, a touch pad to write in letters for place names or find sub-menus.

It also uses Google earth for the sat navigation, which is very helpful, especially when you want to spot a landmark of place of interest.

Benefits of iDrive

Experience complete control. Without all those controls.
The innovative BMW iDrive system gives you complete access to Entertainment, Navigation and Communications…without all the dials and switches. iDrive features a single toggle Controller and seven keys, putting your CD player, Radio, Telephone, Navigation and an intuitive main menu just one touch away. Convenient and reliable, the iDrive system integrates the best of BMW, from a powerful external GPS antenna to a glare-free Control Display, into one powerful system. The result is the ultimate in convenience, safety and security, and pure driving pleasure.Convenience:
With iDrive’s simple-to-use Controller, located at hand level with the gear shift, you gain complete access to your vehicle’s main interior functions. No hunting for buttons. No fumbling for the phone. Everything you need is in one place. And the Controller is so intuitive to use and responsive to touch that you won’t even have to take your eyes off the road.Safety and Security:
iDrive’s Navigation and Communication systems allow you to keep your focus on the drive. The Telephone function stores up to 100 numbers and allows for hands-free calling, while reliable on-board navigation safely delivers you to your destination, even in unfamiliar cities. If you do have a problem on the road, the BMW Assist™ function, available on select models, will send your vehicle status and position to BMW Service headquarters.

Pure Pleasure:
With your vehicle’s Navigation, Communications and Entertainment under control, you can relax and enjoy the drive. So that you can get even more from the road, your iDrive unit may be capable of playing DVDs on screen as well as connecting to satellite, HD radio, MP3 players and iPods, depending upon the options you select. Plus, the iDrive system connects you with more than 12.6 million searchable Points of Interest, from gas stations and hotels to restaurants and shopping centers.

Seat FullLink

The Seat FullLink system is another well-known system that is easy to use and also has excellent graphics.

It uses phone connectivity to make the most of accessing your songs, social media pages and making phone calls or dictating text messages. Seat recommends you use a USB cable to connect which works the best of quick connection.

A new infotainment system completely integrated into your SEAT, which offers a range of possibilities for you to connect with your smartphone. Full Link is compatible with practically all-available smartphones on the market thanks to MIRRORLINK TM, ANDROID AUTO TM and APPLE CARPLAY TM compatibility. Full Link compatibility is dependent on the car model and the specific country.

MirrorLink technology comes heaven sent for those who want to be connected at all times. Just plug in your compatible smartphone to your SEAT, and you’ll be ready to safely use your device without taking your eyes off the road.

Audi MMI

Audi’s much publicised MMI infotainment system is an intelligent one that connects very easily to your phone via a cable or Bluetooth. Like most systems these days it has satellite navigation, but it also has the option of being displayed on the dashboard if the digital dash is optioned.

This massively helps the driver as they don’t have to take their eyes off the road to look down at a screen, but can instead glance at the dials. MMI also does not display text so that you never need to take your eyes off the road or get distracted.

Audi MMI – multimedia interface – is a general term that’s used around a range of Audi technologies related to the in-car information and entertainment system. At its core, MMI is the user interface and the controller that works with it. Where this was once a dial and a display, there are also touchpads, touch-enabled dials, buttons, voice and steering wheel controls, all feeding into the same system.

Mazda MZD

This system is on the list because it’s so easy to use. Not only does it automatically reconnect to your phone every time, but scrolling throhgh the menu is super easy even when on the move.

You also have the choice of ether using the touchscreen or a small rotary knob located in the centre console. It might be more basic than those from German carmakers but because of that it can be used by just about anyone.

Vauxhall Intellilink

Vauxhall offers its intellilink across most of its range. It is available for £700 and comes with an 8-inch touchscreen. Included are all the usual refinements such as sat nav, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay. But it has so much more too including its very own WiFi connection and 4G connection.

Each car also has the option of OnStar with concierge, which acts as a personal on-board assistant. It also calls the emergency services if you happen to be involved in a crash.

IntelliLink is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and with a 7-inch colour touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. Apple CarPlay puts key iPhone features on the vehicle’s display, allowing drivers to make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music, either from the touchscreen or by voice, via Siri.

 

@info credits audi,bmw, fulllink, Vauxhall, mazda.

Nissan debuts redesigned Leaf with Apple CarPlay, offers Apple Watch with reservations

Nissan on Tuesday unveiled a redesigned version of the Leaf, an all-electric vehicle that doubles as the carmaker’s advanced projects platform with features like single-pedal driving, ProPilot autonomous technology and Apple’s CarPlay infotainment system.

Announced through Nissan’s website, the all-new Leaf not only boasts completely revamped aesthetics, but state-of-the-art driving technologies that put it in direct competition with offerings like Tesla’s Model 3.

One major feature addition for 2018 is Nissan’s e-Pedal, which lets drivers control acceleration, deceleration and braking with a single pedal. Meshed with an electric drivetrain, e-Pedal provides instant throttle response and automatically triggers regenerative braking when released. A traditional brake pedal is, of course, also supplied.

Nissan is baking ProPilot assist technology into the new Leaf. As the Japanese firm’s semi-autonomous driving system, ProPilot helps drivers maintain highway speeds, stay in their lane and perform parking and emergency braking maneuvers. Though not as complex or involved as Tesla’s Autopilot, ProPilot is offered at a fraction of the price and could appeal to budget conscious buyers.

Other features include intelligent lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, intelligent “Around View” 360-degree camera and a connected app that can remotely control onboard climate control, charging and security systems.

Leaf promises a not so impressive 150-mile range with its new 40kWh lithium-ion battery, a figure easily bested by Chevy’s Volt and Tesla’s Model 3, but Nissan says a more robust version is due to arrive next year. The cell is good for 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque delivered to the wheels.

Finally, the 2018 Leaf incorporates a 7-inch touchscreen display with support for CarPlay, though the system is only available on mid-tier models and up.

Leaf goes on sale in Japan on Oct. 1, while buyers in the U.S., Canada and Europe will have to wait until early 2018. Starting price is $29,990, though iPhone owners will need to pay at least $32,490 for the SV model that includes CarPlay.

For those interested, Nissan is giving away an Apple Watch Series 2 — or a GoPro HERO5 Black or Nest and Google Home Bundle — to customers who reserve their Leaf online by Jan. 22, 2018, and purchase the car by May 15.

 

@info credits Nissan leaf

Consumer Reports: Auto Satisfaction survey

CR’s exclusive survey reveals the most and least satisfying systems by car brand

Guide to Car Audio Streaming Systems

What they offer now: In most cars, you can connect your phone or music device to your audio system using a USB cable, Bluetooth, or WiFi to stream music and podcasts or access music apps like Pandora and Spotify. Some vehicles, such as Teslas and Volvos, have onboard connections to directly stream into the car.

CR’s take: A good audio streaming system should allow you to access your music or internet streaming service without having to touch your phone. Well-designed systems let you navigate your music using steering-wheel controls, voice commands, or through a touch-screen display. Many systems automatically start playing music off your smartphone when you plug it in via USB merely to charge it, overriding the music source currently playing. One way around this is to use a 12-volt power cord with a dedicated USB port for phone charging.

What owners say: Even the highest score—Tesla’s 68 percent—isn’t all that high, which suggests that drivers weren’t overly enthusiastic with audio streaming. Comments from Tesla owners indicate they like the dependable streaming, listing “music on demand” as one of the car’s numerous highlights. Many Volkswagen owners praised their system’s Android Auto or Apple CarPlay compatibility, which enables them to access Spotify from their cell phones without touching the phone itself.

Cadillac’s Cue and Chrysler’s Uconnect (with the smaller 4.2-inchscreen) tied for last, with just 36 percent of owners saying they were very satisfied. Cadillac owners focused most of their scorn on Cue as a whole, calling it “terrible,” “abominable,” and generally unintuitive. Some Chevrolet owners said that sometimes the audio disconnects Bluetooth “or doesn’t connect to begin with,” as one said. Other Chevrolet owners said the MyLink system makes playing music from phones confusing.

Guide to In-Dash Navigation Systems

What they offer now: With GPS built into smartphones and many cars, it’s almost impossible to get truly lost anymore. Built-in navigation systems can give options and let you choose which route you’d like (for example, the quickest route or one that skips toll roads), and many provide real-time traffic information. Although each manufacturer’s system is different, screens typically run from 5 inches to more than 10 inches wide, and Tesla has a giant 17-inch touch screen. The systems are controlled by touch screens, knobs, touchpads, voice commands, or a combination of these technologies. Of course, think twice before buying an in-car system, because your smartphone probably has a system that’s just as good and won’t cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars more. But for your phone to be a good alternative, it must integrate well into your infotainment system.

CR’s take: A good navigation system should allow you to set your route by simply saying the name of your destination, just as you can with your smartphone. Some systems let you program your destination by using an app before you get into the car. Real-time traffic capability is a must-have; your phone has it, and your in-car navigation should, too. A big, clear screen is important, as is the ability to access your music while also staying current with turns on the route. And you should have access to up-to-date maps without being charged a high price to keep them current, as some manufacturers do.

Navigation systems often falter when it’s difficult to input the destination, turn off the guidance instructions, or cancel the route. Of course, they’re at their worst when they direct you to the wrong place altogether. A bad system might entice the driver to use his phone instead, which can lead to more distracted driving.

What owners say: Tesla owners were by far the most effusive about their car’s navigation system, particularly praising the 17-inch screen and intuitive interface, saying such things as, “the easiest to use in-dash navigation of any manufacturer.” Audi buyers were also impressed, with one owner applauding the “amazing futuristic technology” in the car, including the ability to get dramatic aerial views of areas from Google Earth and to put a large version of the navigation map directly in front of the driver, between the speedometer and tachometer.

Drivers get annoyed when they can’t input destinations easily. This was especially troubling for Mazda owners, with one saying, “The user interface for the navigation system is ridiculously slow,” and another saying, “The voice operation of the navigation is worthless.” Honda owners weren’t much happier, complaining that the HondaLink system was overly complicated, with one owner pointing to “menus, then submenus, and then submenus of the original submenus.” Other Honda owners said it was awkward and time-consuming to set a destination, with one suggesting that “the ability for users to key in the complete address at a single prompt would be a huge improvement.”

Lexus owners were unsparing in their distaste for the Remote Touchpad system, a small pad that’s located just forward of the cup holders between the front two seats. “The navigation is hard to use when trying to slide your finger on the pad,” one owner said. Another said the touchpad was so sensitive “that it’s almost unusable.”

Guide to Bluetooth Phone Calling Systems

What they offer now: Most new vehicles allow you to wirelessly pair—or connect—your phone to your car’s audio system by using a Bluetooth system. Not only does this let you talk without handling the phone, but many systems will also display contacts, favorites, and recent calls.

CR’s take: The best systems allow you to make or accept phone calls without taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. The acid test for any Bluetooth system is that it consistently reconnects with your phone every time you get back in the car; failure to do so can be a source of major driver frustration.

Beyond that, the better systems let you dial by voice command and sync your phone contacts to the car, and some systems can even read text messages for you and let you reply using voice commands. These systems can vary quite a bit in terms of call quality. On the best ones, the person you’re talking with won’t even know you’re in your car.

What happens when people get frustrated with their Bluetooth system? They simply pick up their phone, defeating the whole hands-free concept.

What owners say: Bluetooth was the only feature that, on average, more than half of the owners said they were very satisfied with. So what makes for a good Bluetooth system? Some Ford owners said they were impressed with how quickly Sync 3 paired, with one saying, “Connecting to devices is simple and fast.” BMW also scored well, with an owner praising the iDrive Touch for its “easy-to-use Bluetooth phone integration.” Chrysler and Dodge owners also said the Uconnect system (with an 8.4-inch screen) made for easy hands-free connections.

Some people were bugged by a cumbersome pairing process and dropped calls. An Acura owner complained that the Bluetooth in the AcuraLink system was “very clumsy and takes a lot of time and patience to make work.” Another complained that Bluetooth “drops calls on an intermittent basis,” and constantly disconnected phones. And some Subaru owners had complaints with the Starlink system, including connection inconsistency and poor sound quality. One owner summed up the feeling of many by saying, “Almost everyone complains they can’t understand me while on [my] hands-free phone.”

Guide to Voice Command Systems

What they offer now: Voice commands attempt to let you perform tasks while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. But this functionality tends to be hit or miss. When the systems don’t understand what you’re saying or take a long time to process, it can cause distraction leading to lots of frustration, as seen by the abysmal satisfaction scores in our survey.

“While voice commands allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel,” says Jake Fisher, CR’s director of auto testing, “if the system doesn’t immediately understand your command, it can still be a frustrating, lengthy, and distracting process.”

CR’s take: The systems that do it right don’t make you memorize special commands. Some systems work as well as today’s smartphones, interpreting your natural conversational speech. Voice commands can be very useful for making phone calls and setting destinations in a navigation system, but manufacturers shouldn’t intend them as a crutch to make up for poorly designed car functions.

What owners say: An average of only 28 percent of owners were very satisfied with voice-command systems. The top-rated Ford/Lincoln Sync 3 was lauded by certain subscribers for its ability to understand more common phrases. Others said that Sync 3 was very easy to use compared with the previous versions, and one owner said “the voice activation works very well.” Tesla’s system also rated comparatively high. One owner said, “Best feature: Voice control that’s responsive and works.”

Other voice-control systems had trouble understanding spoken commands, many survey respondents said. Several Acura owners lodged complaints (some filled with expletives), with one saying “the voice input system is incredibly frustrating and is more distracting than the keyboard.” Other owners complained that the system was easily affected by the climate system’s fan noise, and one owner simply gave up using the voice-command feature because “it does whatever it wants, no matter what you say.” Mini owners vented, too, about voice-control tech, using such words as “horrible” and “poor.”

@info credits Consumer reports