Dick Scott Nissan

Shortly after Nissan announced that it will be bringing the beloved Datsun brand back into action, CEO of the company, Carlos Ghosn, took a tour of the Zama Heritage Garage, where there are over 400 Nissan and Datsun models are currently located. Ranging from the 1933 Datsun 12 to prototypes for today's current new Nissan vehicles, the Zama Heritage Garage is undeniably a wonder to behold.

Cars.com analysts usually have a pretty good idea about what's happening currently and what will happen in the future of the auto industry, and now they've made a very interesting prediction for the 2013 Nissan Altima. The company predicts that the new Altima will see significant sales by the end of 2012 and could even become the best-selling sedan in the U.S. This information was determined by historical sales data, the competitive landscape, and an analysis of marketplace trends. Overall, the company predicts a 39 percent increase in Altima sales vs. the 2011 sales year.

A new Nissan LEAF will be released in December, and it will feature some impressive upgrades, including such luxurious features as a leather seats, a better heating system, and a darker interior. The LEAF is currently the best-selling all-electric vehicle in the U.S., and it just keeps getting better.

Do you enjoy playing video games- particularly racing games? If so, you may be cultivating skills that translate to real life, or so Nissan racer and FT Academy winner Bryan Heitkotter believes. Heitkotter drives the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, which was released as part of the 4 car packs along with the December 2011 Sony PS3 GranTurismo5 game release, and he believes that simulated racing skills can help cultivate real-life racing skills as well.

Nissan knew when it produced its Nissan NV200 Combi vans that they would be helpful in many situations, but perhaps the brand didn't realize it would be aiding cancer patients during their journeys to and from hospitals and home. That's exactly the task the van will be charged with through the Newcastle, UK-based charity called "Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care." The organization has ordered 25 of these Nissan van models to be delivered over the next couple of years, with another 25 vans planned to be dispersed in 2014. The vans will transport up to a thousand patients every week (adding up to 50-thousand patients a year) in these vehicles.

Are you one of the Nissan Z enthusiasts that meet every May at the annual "ZDayZ" event, where Nissan Z fans gather in the Great Smoky Mountains of TN and NC? If so, Nissan has some amazing news for you; it needs your help with a special task: "Project 370Z." And, even if you're not an extreme fan, you still might be interested in contributing to the project, which will gather input from all Nissan enthusiasts to make the most powerful Nissan 370Z to-date. The project is taking place currently, and you can contribute and join in on the fun and watch the project unfold here (www.facebook.com/nissanperformance). The final product will be revealed at the 2012 ZDayZ event. This week, the project needs your input about the new 370Z's suspension.

With the rising value of the Japanese yen, Nissan continues to move its vehicle production outside of its home country and into more lucrative markets. Nissan is already the biggest Asian automaker in Mexico, but now the company will add another $2 billion plant, the third of its kind, to its arsenal in the North American country. When the new Aguascalientes plant opens, Nissan plans to produce nearly one million vehicles in Mexico.

Last month, Dick Scott Nissan told you what to expect from the Japanese auto manufacturer at the 2012 North American Auto Show in Detroit. One of the vehicles we mentioned was the Nissan e-NV200 Concept- an electric van with a ton of personality. We're happy to let you know that we now have more information about this innovative, family-friendly vehicle.

Nissan certainly seems to be staying ahead of the game, at least as far as energy- saving initiatives and sustainability are concerned. The automaker's American branch recently hosted the first-ever Energy and Sustainability Summit in Franklin, Tennessee from December 13^th-15^th 2011. Whether it was the company's desire to stand behind energy-efficient vehicle offerings like the Nissan Leaf or its goal of positioning itself against energy risks and supporting the bottom line, we at Dick Scott Nissan are proud of the company's aims to be more sustainable- and to inspire others to do so as well.

We at Dick Scott Nissan may not be making it to the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next month,  so we decided to do some digging about what Nissan has in store for the exhibition and to share that information with our readers. The automaker's major contribution will be the unveiling of two brand-new concepts: a new take on the Nissan Pathfinder and an all-new electric van concept.