Beyond the pizza and pastrami and cheesecake and skyscrapers and the quartet of shallow harpies decked out in ridiculously expensive fashion walking down the street in a row in slow-motion, one of the defining images of New York City is the yellow taxi cab.

So it’s no surprise that Nissan should choose New York to launch their NV200 Taxi. Described as the Taxi of Tomorrow, the model will actually be exclusive to the city of New York. It’s no surprise at all, then, that New York’s the venue for the launch. Specifically, we’re looking at the Nissan Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo, which takes place Nov. 1-5.

The exhibit is set to feature an interactive display which will showcase the vehicles planned interior, which includes such features as were gathered from the ideas of thousands of New York taxi owners, drivers, passengers and residents.

“Nissan’s NV200 Taxi will be the first taxi in the world to offer new and iconic features developed for, and with, New Yorkers,” said Joe Castelli, vice president, Nissan Fleet & Commercial Vehicles. “The Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo will offer a first look at these one-of-a kind amenities, which include increased legroom, plenty of interior lighting, and materials that reduce odours and germs while supporting sustainability.”

It sounds excellent, Nissan. So why not bring it to other cities besides New York? Heaven knows the London cab’s in dire need of an update.

The Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo will be open to the public at the Flatiron building at Broadway and Fifth Avenue on Tuesday, Nov. 1, noon-9 pm; Wednesday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 4, 8 am-9 pm; and, Saturday, Nov. 5, 8 am-6 pm.

So, you know, if you happen to be in New York…

Most of us believe that a safe option for anything – from clothes to furniture to cars - is black! It never goes out of fashion and is simple yet effective.

So the new special edition of Nissan’s stylish Juke crossover will appeal to a large majority of people, particularly fashion conscious drivers.

The car, named ‘Kuro’, meaning black in Japanese, is a strictly limited edition providing a striking dark look to the British-built Juke.

Based on the top-of-the-range Tekna grade, the Kuro features new ten spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black along with black door mirrors and handles.

There will only be 700 examples of Kuro produced for the UK, so those interested in it will have to be quick to ensure they get their hands on one. As with all fashion items, a label is crucial and the Kuro’s exclusivity is acknowledged with a special numbered plaque fitted to the centre console.

The Kuro will be available with a choice of two metallic paint finishes which are Pearl Black or Force Red.

The full range of Juke engine options is available with the Kuro, starting with a 1.6-litre petrol priced at £17,395. For those who like power dressing, the obvious choice will be the flagship 190hp turbocharged DIG-T which starts at £18,995.

The Kuro is available to order now, with customer deliveries expected to start on 1 October 2011.

The city that never sleeps is filled with an enormous amount of memorable sights and sounds. Walking down Broadway one is immediately struck with perhaps the most well known representation of the city: the cab. That yellow tint, black wheels, and red lights are instantly recognizable wherever you are in the world. With such great pedigree it is quite a shock that things are about to change.

A great victory for the Japanese manufacturer Nissan, the humble NV200 model has won a £607 million contract with Mayor Michael Bloomberg to become the new vehicle to transport people around the city. Beating their compotators Ford and Karsan Ototive for the 10 year contract, Nissan will start to dominate the scene from 2013.

The vehicle was chosen for its boxy nature in order to provide for a suburban feel in one of the biggest metropolitans in the world. The all glass roof will allow passengers to truly experience the city from multiple angles, taking in the great buildings that swallow the individual whole.

Also packed with some standard extras like satellite navigation but with an added twist: the passengers will have some control over it so that they can direct the driver and also allow individuals to get a perspective of the city from a different angle.

Estimated to cost around £17,000 each, it was the cheapest of the competitors and ultimately the most fuel-efficient. While the current famous Ford Crown Victoria does 12 miles to the gallon, the Nissan will be closer to 25. It is ultimately Nissans hope that by 2017 the company will be producing the vehicle to run exclusively on electricity, saving the environment and money at the same time.

To be build in Mexico within the year, the NV200 will be certainly welcome to the Big Apple as it transports the hundreds of thousands of passengers to their destinations each and every day.

Today marked the first regular shipment of the 100% electric Nissan Leafs bound for Europe. They arrived in North East England. Sunderland, to be precise.

Ferried on the good ship “City of St. Petersburg”, Nissan’s new energy-saving car carrier for European vehicular transportation, the cars are destined for customers in the UK and Ireland. They will be unloaded from the Port of Tyne as the carrier completes its maiden voyage.

It’s enough to bring a tear to the eye.

Says Simon Thomas, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Nissan’s European HQ: “The arrival of the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first affordable, all-electric car, in Europe is a landmark day for Nissan and European transport. The Nissan LEAF is a genuine alternative to petrol and diesel cars in terms of style, features, safety, performance and handling.”

“It is fitting that this first shipment of Nissan LEAFs is arriving on our new energy-saving car carrier, the City of St. Petersburg. We look forward to delivering these cars to the very first Nissan LEAF customers, who share our vision for an environmentally sustainable future for road transport.”

The City of St. Petersburg is, in itself, a flagship for energy-efficient transport. It boasts a sleek and semi-spherical bow which serves to reduce wind resistance by up to 50%. This leads to fuel reductions of up to 800 tonnes annually, which is the equivalent to about 2,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Huh.

UK customers have been able to pre-order the Nissan Leaf since September 2010. The car has received some 27,000 pre-orders globally. It’s currently built in Japan, but manufacture will commence in Sunderland from 2013 following the start of production of lithium-ion batteries for such cars at the plant in 2012. Obviously, this will cut down on the amount of fuel required for shipping. And thus the car’s carbon footprint is reduced further.

A comprehensive charging network is currently under development in the UK. The North East alone will have 1,300 charge points by 2013. These will include quick chargers capable of refuelling a Nissan leaf from when the empty warning light switches onto an 80% charge in just under half an hour. Nissan’s network of EV dealers, of which there are currently 25 nationwide, will all be equipped with such a quick charger.

Across the UK plans are in place to install some 9000 charge points by 2013.

It starts, today! How exciting.

By Mr.Clarkson’s own admission, 2010 was a poor year for motoring, debuts of fire-breathing supercars were scarce, instead international motor-shows were dominated by small, ultra-frugal city cars and members of the next generation of motoring, electric cars.

Indeed 2010 was the year of electric, manufacturing of the Nissan Leaf, the first mass-produced electric car, began and numerous other manufacturers announced details of their first tentative steps into this brave new world (see previous post).

Even the curly-haired messiah of motoring had something to get excited about in 2010, a year dominated by austerity and tentativeness. Jaguar made speed demons sigh with relief as they revealed their CX-75 concept, an electric powered beast that hinted at what was to come from sports car manufacturers in a world where vehicles will be propelled by volts instead of unleaded.

So what of the coming year? 2011 looks to be a bumper year for petrol (and electric) heads with some exciting new model launches on the cards. Let’s take a look at what’s in store;

Ford Focus Coupe

Some are optimistically calling this confirmed model the ‘new Capri’, but whether or not Ford rekindles this iconic name, the Focus Coupe is set be a real classic. Refining the Focus’ lines, the Coupe looks sleek and smooth and is set to rival the VW Scirocco, Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra.

Aston Martin Cygnet

No, you haven’t had one too many festive Sherries, Aston Martin really is releasing a super-mini! The Cygnet is motivated by new emissions laws which mean that manufacturers must hit a target average emissions figure for their entire range, this city runaround will significantly bring the figure down for the prestige British marquee. Some will be delighted by the prospect of getting their hands on the sought after badge for £30,000, but at such a high price point for it’s size, it is bound to attract criticism

BMW 1-Series M Coupe

BMW recently announced its ‘baby’ M car, this will build on the success of the 1-Seies coupe, dropping in 3 lire turbo engine and beefing up the body work. The car is an understudy to the M3 and M5, but at just under £40,000, it certainly doesn’t have a baby price tag!

Range Rover Evqoue

This British 4×4 manufacturer has been going through a gradual image change for some time now. In days gone by the brand was associated with ruggedness and agriculture, but the shift towards people seeing 4x4s as luxury vehicles and fashion accessories has meant Land Rover capitalising on the trend. The Evoque is low, sleek, stylish and almost certainly won’t make it up a muddy hill!

Nissan Leaf

Ok, ok so you might not be bubbling over with anticipation for Nissan’s new flagship electric model, but it deserves a mention for being the first of its kind and a true innovation. The Leaf does not come cheap, but the government is offering a grant to entice punters, and it will eventually pay for itself, considering the amount you’ll save on petrol.

This is just a small sample of what motoring-enthusiasts have to look forward to in the New Year, there is more quality automotive action on the horizon and like 2010, there will no doubt be a few surprises! You can rest assured that Nationwide Vehicle Contracts will strive to stock the best new releases in 2011, all available on attractive contract hire deals.

LA is the place to be seen… at least this week it is!

Land Rover, Jaguar, Nissan and Porsche are just a few of the manufacturers making waves at this years 2010 LA Auto Show, showing off some of the hottest new cars around. From all-electric vehicles to gas-guzzling monsters, the LA Auto Show has seen it all!  

To celebrate the innovation, creativity and sheer genius of the automotive industry, we’ve put together a few of the hottest car to steal the limelight at this years Los Angeles Motor Show. Jealous? You should be…

Range Rover Evoque 5-Door

Following in the trackmarks of the 3-door model which debuted at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, the Range Rover Evoque 5-door was certainly causing a stir at the LA Auto Show this week. Land Rover’s new baby is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever built, boasting a 2.0-litre Si4 direct injection turbocharged capable of generating up to 240 bhp and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. Three design themes – all with a distinct interior and exterior package – are available on the new model. It’s also generously equipped boasting a high-end Meridian audio system with 17-speaker system, surround camera system, advanced navigation system, adaptive Xenon headlights and heated windscreen, seats and steering wheel.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

The stunning Jaguar C-X75 Concept made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show, making waves amongst hybrid/electric car fans. The clever C-X75 concept boasts four 195bhp electric motors – one in each wheel – producing an impressive 780bhp and a top speed of 205mph. The C-X75’s sleek aluminium and carbon fibre bodywork also means it’s relatively light, helping the supercar to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. And just incase you weren’t impressed enough… the new supercar emits CO2 emissions of just 28g/km! Genius!

Toyota RAV4 EV

The much anticipated Toyota RAV4 EV took center stage at the LA Auto Show as Toyota and Tesla showed off their production version of the all-electric car. Essentially, the new Toyota is just a RAV4 model kitted out with an all-electric powertrain and a few minor changes to its features and cosmetics. Little technical and performance details of the new RAV4 EV were actually revealed but Toyota did say the RAV4 hybrid is capable of a consistent 100 miles range and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph almost as good as the V6 version.

Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet

Nissan broke new ground this week when it unveiled the 2011 Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet – the first-ever crossover convertible.  The striking new Murano Cross Cabriolet is an all-wheel-drive, four-seat monster, powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine capable of producing an impressive 265hp. Nissan claims the new model offers the open-air exhilaration of a convertible while extending the versatility of the existing Murano model. With room for four adults, space for golf bags or luggage (even with the top down), and a premium level interior, the Murano Cross Cabriolet represents a breakthrough in concept and design. The new Nissan model is expected to go on sale in early 2011.

Subaru Impreza Design Concept

Finally, previewing the automakers new ‘Confidence in Motion’ design and brand strategy, Subaru unleashed the Subaru Impreza Design Concept to audiences at the LA Auto Show. The sporty four-door coupe features a fresh exterior design, the latest infotainment and safety technology as well as Subaru’s next-generation 2.0-litre Boxer engine and CVT transmission. Subaru’s new active safety EyeSight system also made an appearance on the vehicle, which has been designed to help spots hazards around the car and displays images on the vehicles monitor.

All the above cars are on at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show from 19th – 28th November.

In a bid to stimulate demand for low carbon vehicles, transport secretary Philip Hammond today confirmed that, from January 2011, motorists will be entitled to a “Plug-In Car Grant” of up to £5000 when buying an electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell car on the proviso that the vehicle meets safety, reliability, performance and warranty standards as set by the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV).

This £5000 grant, however, will not be a “grant” as such. Rather, it will come in the form of a 25% discount from the list price of all eligible vehicles up to the value of £5000. To coincide, a “Plugged-In Places” initiative will be put into place which will allow for cities to bid for funding for the installation of appropriate infrastructures. So far, over 11,000 charging posts are to be installed in London, Milton Keynes and the North East with such areas as the West Midlands, Cornwall, Sheffield, Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland already confirmed as intending to bid.

Car manufacturers have been quick to voice their support for the scheme. Renault UK’s new Managing Director  Thierry Sybord says: “We’re convinced that our range of 100% electric cars and vans are going to appeal to a wide cross-section of private individual and business customers in their own right, with an exciting combination of innovation, style and technology. Now, with this financial incentive in place, their affordability and lower running costs make the financial argument for electric vehicles, compared to conventional fossil-fuelled vehicles, as compelling as their environmental one.

“As a result of this morning’s news, we are even more excited about encouraging as many people as possible to consider using electric vehicles to drive down vehicle emissions, or as we say here at Renault, ‘Drive the Change’.”

Meanwhile, Nissan have issued a gentle reminder that their zero emission Leaf model will go on sale in the UK in March 2011 and, taking into consideration the new government incentive, will be priced at around £23,990 (plus VAT). No tailpipe, they stress, means no emissions.

Nissan has chosen Bonita Norris – the youngest woman ever to climb Everest – to help them launch the new Nissan Juke compact crossover.

The 22-year-old was selected by Nissan due to her incredible personal achievements and natural sense of adventure. Nissan believe Everest adventurer Bonita perfectly demonstrates the quirky, outgoing nature that typifies the new innovative Juke crossover.

“I’m delighted to back the launch of Nissan Juke because I believe in backing British, and anything that creates jobs and pride for this country has my support.” comments Bonita Norris.

“Juke defies the stereotypes and breaks the mould, I can relate to that. I’m unconventional and I’ve got a spirit of adventure that drives me to do different things and this is what Juke represents”.

The new Nissan Juke officially goes on sale from 24th September but already more than 15,000 orders have been taken across Europe with 2,000 of them in the UK alone.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has some fantastic car leasing deals available on the new Nissan Juke with prices starting from just £154.95 + VAT per month.