Topic: Nissan

A homeless man named John, who was reportedly living in the basement of a Brown University building, received a $50,000 reward for identifying the suspect's rental car on Reddit. The suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, reportedly made "barking" noises during the shooting and used a phone that masked his location. Investigators found Valente dead with a satchel and two firearms, two days after he had allegedly committed suicide.

A personal anecdote describes a car accident in Arizona involving a rental Nissan that failed to stop in time to avoid a collision. The speaker recounts how their insurance lawyer strictly forbade sending an apology note to the other driver, as it would be legally considered an admission of guilt. This story is used to illustrate why CrowdStrike may have cancelled its $10 UberEats apology gift cards.

The hosts discuss the new "Gran Turismo" film, noting its heavy use of Sony product placement but praising its depiction of positive male role models. Adam Curry mentions that No Agenda race car driver Ashlyn Speed gave the movie a positive review. The segment also touches on the difficulty of getting movies produced without significant corporate sponsorship in the current industry climate.

No Agenda producer Dana Brunetti hosted a preview screening of his new film, Gran Turismo, at an IMAX theater. The movie is based on the true story of a video game player who became a professional race car driver for Nissan and competed at Le Mans. Due to the ongoing Hollywood strike, Brunetti is utilizing podcasts to promote the film's August release.

Russia has relaunched the Soviet-era Moskvich car brand at a former Renault plant in Moscow that was sold to the state for a single ruble. The new Moskvich 3 appears to be a rebadged version of the Chinese JAC Sehul X4, highlighting Russia's pivot to Eastern partners following the exit of Western automakers like Nissan and Toyota. The plant aims to produce 100,000 vehicles annually, including electric models.

A discussion regarding the rental car industry focuses on the proliferation of non-negotiable fees, including concession recovery, vehicle license, and tire disposal charges. Personal anecdotes involve past vehicle accidents in Hawaii and Arizona, specifically criticizing the braking performance and safety features of a Nissan rental vehicle.

Two Americans, Michael Taylor and his son Peter, are facing extradition to Japan for allegedly helping former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn escape the country in a musical instrument box. Ghosn fled to Lebanon in 2019 to avoid trial for financial misconduct. The hosts speculate that the intense pursuit of Ghosn suggests he may possess damaging information about high-level corporate or political figures.

The dramatic escape of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn from Japan to Lebanon is revisited as a top story of 2020. Ghosn reportedly fled Tokyo while on bail by hiding in a large musical instrument crate to avoid financial misconduct charges.

Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn executed a dramatic escape from house arrest in Japan, traveling via private jet through Istanbul to Beirut, Lebanon. While media focused on rumors of him hiding in a cello case, the hosts suggest the Japanese government may have allowed him to leave to avoid an embarrassing trial regarding the failed Nissan-Renault merger and internal corporate corruption.

Google has partnered with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance to integrate Android-based systems into millions of vehicles. The move aims to provide drivers with seamless connectivity and voice-activated features like Google Assistant. The hosts express concern over the "Matrix-like" constant connection and the potential for data privacy and cybersecurity breaches in the automotive industry.

An anecdote describes a chance encounter with Oracle founder Larry Ellison at the San Francisco airport. Ellison reportedly praised his Nissan GT-R as being superior to his Bugatti, despite the Nissan being significantly less expensive than other supercars in his collection.

John C. Dvorak critiques the "disgusting" lack of realism in the television show *Hawaii Five-O*, specifically regarding tire tread identification and a 105-year-old spy. The discussion shifts to "The Jester," an alleged intelligence asset on Twitter who is promoting an AI-powered unrest predictor. The hosts suspect the predictor is actually a native advertisement for IBM Watson and the show *Mr. Robot*.

Testing of the Ford Focus Electric and other EVs has revealed significant "white knuckle" range anxiety due to wildly fluctuating battery gauges. The estimated mileage often drops or rises unpredictably based on driving conditions, making long trips stressful. A proposal is made to patent a more accurate battery measurement system that integrates mapping software and altitude data to provide reliable range estimates.

An ABC News report on rising gas prices is criticized for transitioning into a lengthy advertisement for the Nissan Leaf electric car. The hosts suggest the report follows a "script" intended to push consumers toward electric vehicles while predicting $6 per gallon gas by the summer. They also point out potential conflicts of interest between ABC News executives and the Obama administration.

The Obama administration is promoting advanced battery manufacturing as a path to energy independence and job creation. Despite government subsidies and tax rebates of up to $7,500, sales for electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt remain low, with only a few hundred units sold monthly. Critics argue the vehicles are overpriced for the average consumer even with state and federal incentives.

The BBC show Top Gear is accused of staging a segment to make the Nissan Leaf electric car appear unreliable by starting a race with a partially depleted battery. Host Jeremy Clarkson reportedly defended the manipulation as "how television works." The hosts compare this to a previous controversy involving Tesla.

The push for electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf is criticized for both the aesthetic design of the cars and the underlying reliance on lithium. The segment characterizes these vehicles as "slave mobiles" designed to limit mobility while fulfilling government energy mandates.

Following the Toyota recall, Nissan is also forced into a vehicle recall, which the hosts interpret as US political pressure on Japan. They also note a suicide bombing at an Iraqi hospital resulting in 30 casualties. The segment highlights the recurring appearance of "lucky numbers" like 33 in news reports.