Nissan Pays Top Execs Twice as Much as Toyota and Honda

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Toyota’s executives must be green with envy once they hear the salaries of their counterparts in Nissan. That is because, Nissan’s top directors were paid more than twice as much for the fiscal year that ended last March than their equals at Toyota, according to a report from Bloomberg. And this despite the fact that Toyota is Japan’s biggest car manufacturer and Nissan is number two.

In a statement that Nissan issued before its annual meeting on June 29, average salary, including bonuses, for 14 executives was 126 million yen, or $ 1.6 million. In comparison, Toyota paid its 38 directors and auditors an average of about 41 million yen per executive.

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Post Title → Nissan Pays Top Execs Twice as Much as Toyota and Honda

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Mazda Introduces Revised 2012 Demio with new SKYACTIV-G 1.3-Liter Engine in Japan

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Mazda has just released a refreshed version of its Demio sub-compact car in its home market of Japan. The big news for the 2012MY Demio, which we know here as the Mazda2, is the introduction of the brand new “13-SKYACTIV” model grade equipped with a suite of fuel-saving technologies most important of which is the “SKYACTIV-G 1.3” 1.3-liter direct-injection gasoline engine.

The four-cylinder powerplant features a record high compression ratio of 14.0:1 and puts out 84-horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 112 Nm (82.6 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. It is coupled to a standard Continuously Variable Transmission and according to the Japanese norms, it’s fuel economy is rated at 30km/lt (equal to 3.33 lt/100 km or 70.6 mpg US).

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Post Title → Mazda Introduces Revised 2012 Demio with new SKYACTIV-G 1.3-Liter Engine in Japan

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‘Tis Official: Mazda to Stop Building the North American Mazda6 in the USA, Successor will Come from Japan

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For better or for worse, depending on which side of the line you are standing on, Mazda has confirmed rumors that it will stop building the Mazda6 at the AutoAlliance International (AAI) plant in Michigan, which it runs jointly with Ford, after the mid-size sedan's current cycle ends.

The company said the Mazda6's replacement for the North American market will be produced at its Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan, adding that the decision was driven by the firm’s “ongoing efforts to increase global manufacturing efficiencies”.

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Post Title → ‘Tis Official: Mazda to Stop Building the North American Mazda6 in the USA, Successor will Come from Japan

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Japan’s Impul Tricks Out the New Nissan Juke

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It doesn't even come close to being the prettiest model out in the market, but Nissan’s Juke sure ain’t boring. Now, Impul, one of Japan’s lesser-known tuning firms has set their eyes on improving Nissan’s small crossover with the release of a new performance and styling package.

The cosmetic makeover begins with a full aero kit comprising of a new front spoiler, side skirts or optionally side steps, a rear diffuser and a giant rear wing. The company’s aesthetic offerings also include a redesigned front grille, profile decals and exterior mirror trims.

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Post Title → Japan’s Impul Tricks Out the New Nissan Juke

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Report: Mazda to Cut Ties with Ford and Stop U.S. Production by 2013

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Earlier in May, we told you about a report concerning Mazda’s plans to discontinue production of its Mazda6 mid-size model at its joint-venture plant with Ford in Michigan. Today, new reports from both Japan and the U.S. are claiming that Mazda Motors will dissolve its 50-50 joint venture with Ford and stop building cars in the USA by 2013, with the Japanese company already in talks with the Detroit automaker to sell its stake in their car production venture Auto Alliance International [AAI]. Read more »

Post Title → Report: Mazda to Cut Ties with Ford and Stop U.S. Production by 2013

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Mazda3 Production Reaches 3 Million Units

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Mazda announced that its Mazda3 compact car (known as the Axela in Japan) has reached a new milestone with the production of 3 million units, seven years and ten months after the launch of the first-generation model. The fastest-selling model in the company's current lineup of passenger cars is produced in three locations (Japan's Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi, China's CFMA plant in Nanjing and Thailand's AutoAlliance plant).The compact model is sold in approximately 90 countries and regions across the world. Read more »

Post Title → Mazda3 Production Reaches 3 Million Units

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Honda: US Output to Reach 100% by August for All Models Except the New 2012 Civic which will Remain at 50%

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Following a recent announcement from Toyota predicting an increase in North American production this summer after the problems created by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Honda today said that its North American factories would return to near-normal production for all vehicles except the new 2012 Civic by this August. Read more »

Post Title → Honda: US Output to Reach 100% by August for All Models Except the New 2012 Civic which will Remain at 50%

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Lexus Loses Big In the U.S.A.: Outpaced by Two of its German Rivals

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It took eleven years for Lexus to earn the title of top dog of the U.S. luxury car market, and roughly the same amount of time for it to lose it. As a result of parent company Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall saga and the fifty percent drop in production capacity caused by the Tōhoku earthquake, old guard automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have left the Japanese upstart gasping for air in third place.

According to automotive forecaster IHS, Mercedes-Benz will most probably sell 254,100 cars and SUVs in the States topping BMW’s estimated deliveries of 250,400 units. Lexus is projected to drop to third place with 192,900 sales.

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Post Title → Lexus Loses Big In the U.S.A.: Outpaced by Two of its German Rivals

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Mazda Debuts New 1.3-liter Skyactiv Gasoline Engine on JDM Demio

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The new generation of powertrains developed by Mazda under the Skyactiv name will soon have its another member out on the road, as the company announced that the “Skyactiv-G 1.3” direct-injection gasoline engine will debut on the facelifted Demio (known as the Mazda2 in international markets) in Japan this summer. Mazda will unveil the new engine at Tokyo's Automotive Engineering Exposition on May 18-20.

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Post Title → Mazda Debuts New 1.3-liter Skyactiv Gasoline Engine on JDM Demio

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Toyota to Boost Output of American Factories to 70% by June

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The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan caused severe problems to automakers all around the world, mainly due to the lack of parts, but at least Toyota seems to be recovering at a faster pace than expected. Today, the world’s largest automaker said production at its North American facilities will rise to approximately 70 percent of normal in June, up from around 30 percent in May when it was forced to idle factories for several days or reduce shifts.

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Post Title → Toyota to Boost Output of American Factories to 70% by June

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Mazda6 and Subaru Tribeca to be Axed, According to Report from Japan

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Mazda and Subaru may soon be forced to axe two of their models in the US market, the Mazda6 mid-size vehicle and the Subaru Tribeca SUV, due to low volumes that undermine the efficiency of the U.S. plants that they are built in, according to a newspaper report from Japan’s business daily Nikkan Kogyo. It should be noted though that spokesmen for both companies declined to comment on the report.

Nikkan Kogyo wrote that Mazda is planning to discontinue production of the Mazda6 at the Flat Rock, Michigan plant, which it operates as a joint venture together with Ford Motor Co., as sales missed expectations. When Mazda introduce the latest generation of the mid-size model in 2008, the company expected an annual production of around 100,000 units, but last year, the plant churned out just 45,168 Mazda6s. In April, Mazda6 posted an increase of 7.8 percent but sales reached just 2,734 vehicles.

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Post Title → Mazda6 and Subaru Tribeca to be Axed, According to Report from Japan

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Girl Power: Meet Japan’s Drifting Lady, Sumika Kubokawa

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Who ever said that drifting is only for men surely hasn’t seen Sumika Kubokawa in action. The 27 year old from Japan is a member of Team Orange, one of the leading drift teams in the D1 Grand Prix Series, and as you can see for yourself in the video after the jump, she certainly knows her way behind the steering wheel.

In her interview with Driftcolors, Sumika says she is an avid fan of the Nissan 180SX, which was sold in North America as the 240SX and in some other countries under the 200SX name. Sumika also said she street drifted for a brief period when she was younger but was caught and hasn’t done it again. Check out her interview as well as the first and second episode of the series after the break.

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Post Title → Girl Power: Meet Japan’s Drifting Lady, Sumika Kubokawa

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Aston Martin to Auction Ulrich Bez’s Rapide for Japan

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In a goodwill gesture towards the people of Japan, Aston Martin boss Dr. Ulrich Bez will auction his company Rapide sports sedan at this year’s annual Bonhams event at Newport Pagnell, with all proceeds from the sale to benefit charities providing aid to the victims of the recent earthquakes and Tsunami. The Bonhams auction house said that in support of this initiative, it would waive its commission the Rapide sale that will take place in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, on Saturday May 21. Read more »

Post Title → Aston Martin to Auction Ulrich Bez’s Rapide for Japan

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GM set to Reclaim No1 Position Thanks to Toyota’s Mounting Woes

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One automaker’s misfortune is another’s gain, or so it seems with GM and Toyota. With the effects of Japan’s Tōhoku earthquake still being felt and full scale production unlikely to resume at Toyota’s Japanese plants until the end of the year, GM is likely to reclaim the top spot as the world’s largest automaker.

Adding to Japanese automakers woes are the numerous recalls and the bad publicity brought about by the sudden unintended acceleration debacle in 2009 and 2010, both of which have hurt the brand’s image for reliability.

Meanwhile, a post-bankruptcy GM has gone from strength to strength. Better products – including the likes of the Buick Lacrosse and Chevy Cruze and Equinox models – are helping bring GM into the second decade of the 21st century. Toyota, meanwhile, is struggling to maintain sales with an ageing range of vehicles, bad PR and diminished production capacity.

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Post Title → GM set to Reclaim No1 Position Thanks to Toyota’s Mounting Woes

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