PickupTruck.com and AutoPacific.com just released the list of the Top Ten Most Significant Trucks of the Decade and guess who makes 20% of 'em? Thats right, Nissan claimed 2 spots on the list. "These trucks introduced new innovations, pushed the segment into new territory and made the competition sweat while helping their driver’s sweat less." Our two are;

2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
Why it’s significant:
First compact pickup truck to offer four full-size doors and a configuration that prioritized passenger space over cargo capacity.

2004 Nissan Titan
Why it’s significant:
The first true full-size half-ton pickup truck from a Japanese automaker.
Japanese car companies had successfully entered almost every segment of the U.S. car and truck markets except the unique domain of the North American full-size pickup truck when Nissan unveiled the 2004 Titan. Sure, Toyota marginally stuck its toes in the segment with its T100 pickup in 1993, but the T100 was too small and underpowered to be a serious contender. (ha ha ha ha ha....oh, um... sorry bout that toyota :)
Read the whole list here and use the comments to tell me what trucks YOU think made the most impact this decade.

Although too late for Christmas, this info is just in time for my dreams tonight! A Japanese tuning company will be debuting a FULL body carbon fiber GT-R at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Show and it is AWESOME!  The sketch shown here is just a glimpse of the body mods being readied and the awesomeness wont be just skin deep! Runduce will also be installing engine mods, good for over 600hp and new alloy wheels. Hurry up Tokyo Auto Show! If you are like me and cant wait you can read a tad bit more here, and then use the comments section to ask me why I read BornRich.org!!!

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will publish two winning works from the 25th "Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix" held in 2008. Published under BL Publishing Co., Ltd., the books will go on sale at major bookstores nationwide. The published books are "Tetsu no Kirin no Umi Watari" (Iron Giraffe Crosses the Sea) by Miyuki Asaba and "Taifuu ga Kuru" (Typhoon is Coming) by Akiko Miyakoshi - winners of the Children's Storybook Grand Prize and Picture Book Grand Prize respectively. The former was illustrated by Shoji Ishizaki, a previous Special Prize winner from the Picture Book category. As part of its corporate contribution to promote children's literature, Nissan will donate copies of these books to about 3,300 libraries across Japan and about 700 local nursery schools and kindergartens located near Nissan offices. Beginning with the first Grand Prix in 1984, the company has donated up to 160,000 books nationwide, bringing the joys and educational value of reading to children of all ages. Its awesome that Nissan does so much more than just build cars, as a company they seem to really understand the importance of giving back. See the press release with all the details here.

Ok, maybe not THAT bright, but things are starting to look up for sure. The Detroit News today ran an article that echoes what many auto reports and industry 'insiders' have been hinting at, they say that auto sales nationally will increase to the mid 11 million mark in 2010. YEA! With sales pacing somewhere in the low 10 million as we wrap up the worst year in auto sales since 1970, this is really great news! With increased car sales comes increased manufacturing, fuel usage and parts and service revenues... all good for the economy and each of us. C'mon 2010, bring us better days already! See the article here and use the comments section to let me know if YOU have put off buying a new car until things got better...

Thank you to all my friends, fans and even the one timers! I wish all the best for you and yours during this Holiday season, whichever one it is that you celebrate. Santa heard how good I have been this year and he had to hit the gym so he could bulk up to be able to carry all my gifts! I'll be back on the 26th to entertain you all.... you know car guys dont get time off!

Even the folks over at MSNBC have had to admit that the next generations Model T will be built by Nissan and its name will be LEAF. Yes, I did coin the phrase! In an article titled the 'Ten cars to look forward to in 2010' guess what vehicle they put at the top of the list? Well, I'll let them say it properly... "For the true believers, nirvana is only a year away. That is when Nissan will begin the first sales of the Leaf, marking the first time a major manufacturer has offered a mass-produced battery-powered electric car. Sure, they’ve dabbled with converted gas models in the past, but the Leaf turns over a new frond as a purpose-built model that hasn’t a whiff of “science project” about it." I so love the way "I told you so" sounds as it rolls off the tongue.... never get tired of it!! Check out the rest of the list here.

As we get closer to the end of the year, one that it seems like nearly everyone just wants over, the light has begun to shine at the end of the tunnel. A new article in the UK's Guardian reports the recent surge in worldwide sales is slowly bringing things back around and at least heading in the right direction again. "Nissan, Japan's third biggest carmaker, said global output had risen 32.6%, while domestic production rose for the first time in 14 months. Honda and Mazda reported declines." Yes fans, the road to recovery may be chock full of dips and potholes, long and lonely but at least we are on it! Read the rest here.

As we get closer to the launch of the Nissan NV2500 commercial 'solution' vehicle we are getting more confirmation of specs and equipment, its getting exciting folks! Long rumored as the supplier for drive line components the German company ZF will be the builder for the transmission of the NV2500. Though perhaps not all that immediately recognizable, ZF has been building stout and competent drive line equipment for most of the worlds biggest vehicle manufacturers for many years and we look forward to continued reliability from their well built components. The 6 speed 'Powerline' is currently proving service in multiple vehicle lines from the Super Duty Ford pick ups to school buses and has proven to be a strong and pretty bullet proof trans. Pickup Trucks dot com reviewed the trans back in may and had great things to say, read the full review here.

Chris K. lives way up in the Great White North and although he loves his new Cube he has bee craving just a bit more power from his new ride. When Nissan performance guru Steve Millen announced a new fresh air intake and exhaust system designed just for the Cube Chris immediately ordered both an patiently sat by his mail box in the snow waitin.... When they arrived his gargae was transfomed into a mess of strewn boxes and styrofoam packing worms as hands flew and wrenches turned to install his new toys, convinced the power upgrade was indeed substantial he decided to have the Cube dyno'd. Low and behold, Chris was right as the Cube is now confidently delivering 125 ponies to the pavement which translates to an approximate increase of 21hp and 14lb-ft of torque (now at 122lb-ft). Those folks over at Stillen do know how to make a Nissan go! Click here for the whole story and some cool pics.