Nissan resonating in US, on brink of becoming fifth largest automaker - Chicago Tribune

When the Pathfinder, an early product of Nissan's La Jolla, Calif. The comparison is representative of Nissan as a whole, a once-hot company that currently sports the impression of being second-tier, trying to find its place behind better defined competitors. But designers in California have been working hard to redefine Nissan through dynamic styling that speaks to drivers. "Design is communicating emotion from designer to customer," said Shiro Nakamura, senior vice president and chief creative officer, Nissan Motor Co. "Also important are practicality, performance and functionality. What is your brand going to be. ". Datsun was Driven. Datsun, precursor to Nissan, famously sold vehicles with the tagline, "We Are Driven. The stylish and affordable 240Z sports car that debuted for 1970 set the tone for an automaker on the move. Datsun transitioned to Nissan in 1986. Nissan had bursts of styling mojo over the years, mostly out of the California studios. Think about the buff 1986 Hardbody Pickup, muscular Pathfinder and subcompact Pulsar NX with a re-configurable roof. In 1990, an all-new Maxima, dubbed the "4-Door Sports Car," was born. Concepts for a modern interpretation of the classic Z sports car and four-door pickup debuted at the 1998 Detroit auto show. Source: www.chicagotribune.com