Nissan Leaf EV with New design Concept at Tokyo Motor Show

This has been a rough year for Japanese automakers but if there's one company from the Land of the Rising Sun that's showing a lot of potential, that would be Nissan - be that with its quirky looking Juke crossover, the pure electric Leaf or the tarmac-shredding GT-R sports car.

Perhaps the most important news coming from Nissan at the Tokyo Motor Show is the company's decision to heavily invest in its performance arm NISMO and expand its offerings to include more focused editions of Nissan's mainstream models.
And mind you, it's not all words as the Japanese automaker is showcasing two potential NISMO editions, one based on the Juke crossover that we've already shown you and the other on the Leaf EV seen here.
While NISMO left the LEAF's electric drivetrain untouched, the company designed a full aero kit that includes a new front bumper incorporates LED lighting, rear under protector, a rear diffuser and extended side sills along with a new set of 18-inch alloy wheels with lower profile tires for added grip.
Nissan says that the styling package is not only about looks as it generates extra downforce at speed to improve the LEAF's handling and grip.
"The Nismo Concept not only proves the hidden potential of Nissan LEAF but also adds even more excitement and energy to LEAF, delivering a guilt-free yet exhilarating driving experience that can be enjoyed by every car enthusiast," said Hideaki Watanabe, Corporate Vice President, Nissan Motor Company and head of the company's electric vehicle business unit.
If Nissan gives the green light to a Nismo edition of the Leaf, it would most likely get a power upgrade for the electric motor as well as a sportier suspension.

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Tokyo Motor Show: Isuzu D-MAX Pickup Truck

These have been challenging times for Isuzu but the Japanese company is still holding on with its light commercial and truck offerings.

At this week's Tokyo Motor Show, Isuzu presented the Japanese premiere of its new 2012 Isuzu D-MAX mid-size pickup truck that was developed in collaboration with General Motors.
The Isuzu D-MAX is a sister model to the new global Chevrolet Colorado, with both vehicles manufactured in Thailand.
The body-on-frame pickup truck is offered in single and double cab configurations and choice of three turbo diesel engines including a pair of 2.5-liter units producing 115HP and 136HP, and a larger displacement 3.0-liter powerplant rated at 177-horsepower, linked to either 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.
Buyers can also opt for a full time all-wheel drive system.

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Small Opel Helps Pull Down a Wall in Poland

A supermini would be the last type of vehicle any sane person would use to bring down a brick wall, but sanity is not a particularly useful attribute when it comes to having some fun… And that pretty much explains the 'whys' and 'hows' of this Polish experiment with a three-door Opel Corsa that you can enjoy in the video after the jump.

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Tokyo Motor Show: Mitsubishi's Concept PX-MiEV II Plug-in Hybrid SUV

At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show that runs from November 30 through December 11, Mitsubishi unwraped the second generation of its Concept PX-MiEV, which brings the study a little closer to production.

Believed to preview the looks and possibly an alternative powertrain option for the next generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Concept PX-MiEV II is a follow up to the PX-MiEV study displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
On the outside, there are some minor styling changes such as the higher roofline, larger mirrors, plus more conventional looking alloy wheels, lights and bumper designs, all of which suggest that the PX-MiEV II is pointing to the styling of the next Outlander.
Underneath the refined body, Mitsubishi replaced the first concept's 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a larger displacement 2.0-liter MIVEC unit rated at 70kW (94HP). The SUV is also fitted with a pair of electric motors at the front and rear, which deliver an output of 60kW (80HP) each.
The concept's batteries can be recharged either by the engine, through braking, or via a regular house plug.
The Concept PX-MiEV II features the firm's newly developed twin-motor four-wheel-drive system mated to the Lancer Evolution X's S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) advanced traction control system.
The Japanese brand says that the PX-MiEV II can cover a distance of 50km (31 miles) on electric power alone, and more than 800km (498 miles) when using both the gasoline engine and electric power.

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