Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and Sentra

Driven: 2009 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V

By Bengt HalvorsonBengt Halvorson, July 9th, 2009

Long before Subaru introduced its WRX in the U.S. and Mitsubishi brought its Evo, Nissan sold the sporty SE-R version of its Sentra sedan. Besides giving the dowdy Sentra a few more horsepower and a new attitude, the SE-R, along with the Honda Civic Si, are often credited for sparking the tuner craze of the late '90s.

Even though the SE-R doesn't get as much attention as it once did, with all-wheel-drive subcompacts with 300 horsepower or more overshadowing it, the SE-R lives on as a practical—and very reasonably priced—little sport sedan, which TheCarConnection.com recently drove.

Today, the 2009 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V gets an...

Long before Subaru introduced its WRX in the U.S. and Mitsubishi brought its Evo, Nissan sold the sporty SE-R version of its Sentra sedan. Besides giving the dowdy Sentra a few more horsepower and a new attitude, the SE-R, along with the Honda Civic Si, are often credited for sparking the tuner craze of the late '90s. Even though the SE-R doesn't get as much attention as it once did, with all-wheel-drive subcompacts with 300 horsepower or more overshadowing it, the SE-R lives on as a practical—and very reasonably priced—little sport sedan, which TheCarConnection.com recently drove. Today, the 2009 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V gets an... Read More

Tags: Driven

Posted in: 2009, Nissan, Sentra

Nissan Hits a Milestone: 25 Years in Tennessee

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, June 16th, 2008

Quick, someone run to Publix and get a cake? It's for Nissan, which is celebrating 25 years of producing vehicles in the United States this month. Two and a half decades ago, Nissan began building pickup trucks (remember the Hardbody?) in rural Smyrna, Tennessee, and hasn't looked back since. In the intervening years, Nissan's built some 8.2 million vehicles at the Tennessee plant, one of the largest transplant factories in the United States, and in past years, one of the most efficient auto plants in the annual Harbour Report. After an initial investment of about $750 million, Nissan has invested a total of about $2.5 billion in the factory... Quick, someone run to Publix and get a cake? It's for Nissan, which is celebrating 25 years of producing vehicles in the United States this month. Two and a half decades ago, Nissan began building pickup trucks (remember the Hardbody?) in rural Smyrna, Tennessee, and hasn't looked back since. In the intervening years, Nissan's built some 8.2 million vehicles at the Tennessee plant, one of the largest transplant factories in the United States, and in past years, one of the most efficient auto plants in the annual Harbour Report. After an initial investment of about $750 million, Nissan has invested a total of about $2.5 billion in the factory... Read More

Posted in: 2008, Nissan, Sentra

Nissan to Sell Chrysler Truck - So What About the Armada?

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, April 15th, 2008

With today's announcement from Auburn Hills and Tokyo that Chrysler and Nissan would trade product for product, the speculation on more deals between the automakers grew louder. Earlier this year, the two automakers outlined the basics of the deal, which had Nissan producing a compact car for Chrysler to sell in South American markets. That car was to be based on the Versa compact on sale already in the U.S. But as times change, so do plans -- and today's word from Chrysler and Nissan is that in addition to the original pact, Nissan would also supply Chrysler with a "fuel-efficient small car based on a unique Chrysler concept and design."... With today's announcement from Auburn Hills and Tokyo that Chrysler and Nissan would trade product for product, the speculation on more deals between the automakers grew louder. Earlier this year, the two automakers outlined the basics of the deal, which had Nissan producing a compact car for Chrysler to sell in South American markets. That car was to be based on the Versa compact on sale already in the U.S. But as times change, so do plans -- and today's word from Chrysler and Nissan is that in addition to the original pact, Nissan would also supply Chrysler with a "fuel-efficient small car based on a unique Chrysler concept and design."... Read More

Tags: Shoppers

Posted in: 2008, Chrysler, Nissan, Sentra