Yoshisuke Aikawa was the founder and first president of Nissan zaibatsu. He was born in 1880 in what is now part of Yamaguchi city. Aikawa graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in engineering and went to work for Shibaura Saisakusho the forerunner of Toshiba. He made a trip to the United States where he researched malleable cast iron. When he returned to Japan he established the Tobata Foundry in 1909 which is known now as the Hitachi Metals company.
In 1928 Yoshisuke Aikawa became the president of Kuhara Mining Company, now the Nippon Mining & Metals Company. He created a holding company called Nihon Sangyo or Nissan for short. In the stock market boom following 1931, Aikawa bought majority shareholdings in over a hundred subsidiary companies of Nissan to create the Nissan Konzerne. This group included some of the most technologically advanced companies in Japan at that time.
In 1937 he moved to Manchukuo and eventually moved the headquarters of Nissan to Manchukuo where it became part of the Manchurian Industrial Development Company. As president and chairman, he guided all industrial efforts in Manchukuo and received bank loans from American steel industrialists to support the Manchukuo economy.
Yoshisuke Aikawa was not in agreement with the political views of the Imperial Japanese Army and predicted that Nazi Germany would be defeated if a general war broke out. He also supported the Fugu Plan to settle Jewish refugees in Manchukuo. Forced by the Kwantung Army, Aikawa resigned as chairman in 1942 and moved back to Japan. After the surrender of Japan, Yoshisuke Aikawa was arrested by the American occupation authorities and imprisoned in the Sugamao Prison for twenty months as a Class A war crimes suspect. He was freed but during this time the Nissan zaibatsu had been dissolved.
After he was released, Yoshisuke Aikawa played a key role in the post war economic reconstruction of Japan and purchased a commercial bank to organize loans to small companies. The zaibatsu was reformed into Nichiyo-kai, Nissan Group.
Nissan Motors was a small side business for Nissan Group compared to the core real estate business. During the real estate crash of the 1990s the Nissan Group shed the majority of its real estate gave Nissan Motors more independence especially after Renault SA bought a 39% stake. The turnaround of Nissan can be attributed to the CEO Carlos Ghosn who was installed in 1999. He detached Nissan Motors from the Nissan keiretsu connections and debt.
Yoshisuke Aikawa died in 1967 of gall bladder inflammation and is buried in Tama Cemetery outside Tokyo.
Drive a piece of history by visiting Iowa City Nissan and driving home with a Nissan car from Billion Auto
2010 Nissan Pathfinder Engine Options Include V6 and V8 Designs
During the current model year, 2010 Nissan Pathfinder engine options include V6 and V8 designs. The V6 power plant is available on all models, while the V8 option is only available in models restricted to continuous four-wheel drive mode.
The legendary 4.0-liter V6 power plant from last year remains unchanged. The 24-valve cylinder head supports 266 hp while generating 288 ft-lb of torque. The air induction system utilizes variable-flow to optimize back pressure. Valve timing is controlled by a Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS). Because of the complementary function of these proven features, 2010 Nissan Pathfinder engine options allow all owners to use either regular or premium gas.
The innovative design of the 4.0L power plant insures reliable and brisk performance. To increase power and reduce emissions, all 4.0L models include platinum-tipped spark plugs that reduce fouling and increase performance. An electronic drive-by-wire throttle linkage insures maximum acceleration remains available.
The 5.6-liter V8 option produces 310 hp while generating 388 ft-lb of torque. Four vales per cylinder are synchronized by double-overhead camshafts. In addition, the V8 also increases performance and reduces emissions using a variable intake system, CVTCS and premium spark plugs.
The 2WD-4WD model and the full-time 4WD model are both available with two different transmissions. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard. Owners may alternatively choose a 5-speed automatic transmission that includes a manual operation mode.
The 2010 Pathfinder incorporates few obvious exterior updates. The distinctive styling characteristics of this SUV remain the same. Rear-door handles are mounted higher than front-door handles in a vertical position. According to the factory, this limits access by small children.
The familiar exterior profile is rugged yet practical. Most shoppers believe the Pathfinder is sufficiently stylish without requiring a complete cosmetic overhaul. Nevertheless, rumors abound regarding future changes despite sustained popularity.
Find out more about Nissan Pathfinder Engine and other industry specific topics
The 2010 Nissan Maxima has hit the market off-late, but it features no important modifications over its predecessor, which was released in 2009. It is a sporty sedan with modern interior and sleeker exterior body styling. This version carries the trade mark style of Nissan with sporty feeling, equipped with top notch luxury features to meet the expectations of consumers of all categories.
The 2010 Maxima is introduced in two trim levels – the 3.5 SV and 3.5 S. These two trim levels are featured with sport packages featuring telescopic and power tilt heated steering wheel, heated leather seats, interior room fabricated with faux metallic material, sport suspension, and 19-inch alloy wheels. The features that are especially for the 3.5 SV trim are power rear sunshade, rearview camera, cooled and heated driving seat. All versions are furnished with a 3.5-liter V6 engine to getting power of 3.5-liter V6 along with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that connected with optional paddle shifters and a manual shift gate.
For passengers and child safety, curtain side airbags, front side airbags, an antiskid system, ABS, and traction control have been duly provided. The standard conveniences are a wireless cell-phone link, and keyless entry, and engine start. Additional facilities like satellite link give updated information about traffic, while audio controls, rear seat climate control, and a 9.3-gigabyte hard drive make it effortless to store music files. The 2010 Nissan Maxima is available at a starting price $30,460, which extends up to the $33,180 mark.
The 2010 Nissan 370z is getting ready to hit the markets along with 2010 Nissan Maxima by the end of year 2010. It will be released as a replacement to the 350Z sports car, and the prime competitors to the 2010 370z will be BMW 1-series, Mitsubishi Evos and Audi TT.
According to the sources of Car and Driver, it is expected that the next generation Nissan 370Z will use wider and lighter platform. It will be powered by the new 3.7 liter V6 engine that can produce power levels of up to 330 hp and will be included with 7-speed dual clutch transmission from GT-R.
The 2010 Nissan 370z is expected to be debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which is going to be held few months later. The base trim of the vehicle will be mated to the 6-speed manual, while 7-speed automatic transmission will be offered at higher costs. The price of the base model will be around $29,930, while the coupe version will be priced a little higher around the $32k mark. The variant with 7-speed dual clutch transmission will cost around $31,230.
The touring package will be mated with the 6-speed manual and the cost of this will be around $34,460. The automatic version of the same model will cost around $35,760. The new features that are expected to be included in the Touring model are heather leather appointed power seats, universal transceiver, home Link, Bluetooth hands free phone system, aluminum pedals, 8-speaker Bose audio system, cargo cover and XM Satellite radio. The other paints like Chicane yellow and premium paint color will be offered optionally.
Nissan Maxima will also be coming your way along with the new 370Z; so keep an eye on both these amazing speedsters.
If you haven’t paid attention to the Altima since Bill Clinton was president, know it’s grown from a compact economy car into a powerful, confident-handling, midsize, entry-level luxury sedan that maintains Nissan’s sporty flavor and, especially for 2010, offers assertive styling.
The four-door Altima Sedan comes as the 2.5 CVT, 2.5 S and 3.5 SR CVT. Also, under the Altima umbrella is the Altima Coupe and Altima Hybrid sedan. (We’ll leave the coupe and hybrid sedan for future reviews.) Here’s how to decode Nissan’s model nomenclature. The “2.5″ indicates the car is fitted with a very strong 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder. The “3.5″ means it enjoys the awesome 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. All Altimas are fitted with a “CVT,” which stands for “continuously variable transmission.” More on CVTs later. Prices start around $20,000 and go to almost $30,000 for the gas-engine cars.
If you’re looking for an affordable, very roomy sedan, consider the 2.5 CVT. If you’re willing to pay a bit more for Nissan’s sporty feel, the 2.5 S CVT is an excellent choice. Those who like to go BMW hunting in the stoplight Grand Prix or on a curvy back road will be very entertained by the 270-horsepower 3.5 SR CVT.
Changes for 2010 feature a more assertive hood, grille and front bumper cover. Inside, the Altima received new fabrics. Electronic stability control, which Nissan calls VDC, now comes on all Altimas, but that’s not too newsy as it will soon be government-required on all passenger vehicles. The 3.5 SR CVT (formerly called the SE) now comes with high-intensity discharge headlights.
Rather than physically changing gears like a conventional automatic, a CVT uses a belt and pulley system. It’s designed to keep the engine at its most-efficient speed for the task required, regardless of whether that’s optimum fuel mileage during highway cruising or maximum acceleration for merging into traffic. Few drivers will notice a difference between a CVT and a regular automatic, except for improved fuel economy and strong acceleration. Gearheads: The Altima’s CVT also employs a small gearset to increase its effective ratio range. Don’t take this too hard, gearheads, but the CVT does a far better job of maximizing the engine’s performance than you could with a manual transmission.
The four-cylinder delivers 23 miles per gallon in the government’s city driving test and a very impressive 32 mpg on the highway. The V6 is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. Altimas are made in Tennessee and Mississippi.
The 2010 Altima received “Good” crash safety ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in both front offset and side impact tests. In the government’s crash test studies, the Altima Sedan scored high marksfive starsin both driver and passenger frontal impacts, as well as side driver impacts, and four out of five stars in the rollover category and side rear passenger impact test.
If you’re thinking about ditching the SUV for a spacious and sporty sedan, think about the 2010 Altima.
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