Red River Nissan

For many of us the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan is a distant memory.   However, the recovery effort in Japan is still very much a current event. It will take months and months before things begin to resume some level of normalcy. One automaker, however, is already taking precautionary measures to guard its employees, products and buildings from potential future earthquake damage: Japan's second-largest automaker, Nissan.

Nissan is, in fact, planning to invest a total of 3 billion yen ($37 million) to reinforce the foundation of its most severely damaged domestic factory. It will also fortify other…

The second-generation 2012 Nissan Versa, available later in 2011, retains its 'big small car' attitude, used-car price, and one of the lowest ownership costs available. Obviously, Nissan knows what the first-generation Nissan Versa has going for it. But, they were also able to recognize areas where the car could be improved. As such, the next-gen Nissan Versa gains a lot in the way of comfort/convenience features as well as a more attractive sedan variant.

2012 Nissan Versa Gains

• New, lighter 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with continuously variable valve timing plus piston oiling jets and a new direct injector system…