The latest Nissan models for 2008 have more electronics than ever such as iPod connectors and Bluetooth in-car communication systems to sophisticated engine controls.

The 2008 Lexus LS600h L, one of Nissan’s new models, can even observe the face of the driver and then provide an audible alert about an upcoming obstacle in the road that the driver has not been aware of.

Nissan, which operates an assembly plant in Smyrna, is adding a Rogue and a first-ever coupe version of its popular Altima in 2008.

Horsepower keeps going up with the 2008 vehicles, too, though auto engineers say they’re improving fuel economy at the same time.

Several new models, such as the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, include gasoline-electric hybrid powerplants that are more fuel efficient and have lower emissions.

And 2008 promises to bring to U.S. consumers the tiny, odd-looking smart car — yes, the name is all lowercase — boasting more than 40 miles per gallon in combined city/highway travel.

Everywhere, new safety features — particularly head curtain air bags and stability control — are being added and updated. For example, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible has standard side, seat-mounted air bags on all versions for the first time.

Nissan will also be adding a Rogue and an Altima coupe, a first ever of its kind.

Debuting in the fall, the Rogue is a five-passenger crossover SUV that’s slightly smaller than the Nissan Murano. With a 170-horsepower, and Nissan parts like the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, the Rogue is lower-powered, lighter-weight and more fuel-efficient than the V-6-powered Murano.

Offered with a choice of front-drive or all-wheel-drive, and with a starting retail price expected to be less than the Murano’s more than $28,000, the Rogue fills an important slot in the Nissan lineup.

Meantime, the sporty-looking Altima Coupe likely will boost total Altima sales to a record this calendar year. Every one of the body panels on the two-door coupe is different from those on the Altima sedan.

In fact, the coupe is shorter in height, wheelbase and overall length, though it uses the sedan’s front-drive platform underneath.

The four-passenger coupe also shares the sedan’s engines: a 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter four cylinder and 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. With a starting retail price of more than $21,000, the base coupe is nearly $3,000 pricier than a base, 2008 Altima sedan, however.

Nissan’s Titan full-size pickup truck adds new long-wheelbase models that extend the beds by a foot and a half. There’s also a new Titan Pro-4X off-road grade that includes Rancho shock absorbers.

For the first time in 2008, the long-running Nissan Pathfinder SUV will become available with a V-8 engine. It’s the same 5.6-liter, Endurance V-8 that’s in the Titan, and its 310 horsepower creates the most powerful production Pathfinder in history.

The Nissan Titan PRO 4×4 did not get a simple debut at the Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing (WSORR) Forest County Potawatomi Brush Run Races at Crandon Raceway this past weekend. For the new Nissan Motorsports which used the new race truck took an incredible win at the “14th Annual Potawatomi Chairman’s Cup Race.” But it did not just stop there, proving its capabilities by getting two third-place finishes in Saturday’s Rounds 3 and Sunday’s Round 4 WSORR competition. The powerful vehicle was driven by none other than championship-winning driver Carl Renezeder. Additionally in the PRO Light Pickup division is Chad Hord, who drove his Nissan Frontier-bodied race truck, took a second place in Round 3 and won the Round 4 race.

“We knew that the new Nissan Motorsports 4-wheel drive Titan-bodied race truck was going to be competitive, but to take a win in the first weekend of competition is more than we could have expected,” said Nissan Motorsports Marketing and Operations Senior Manager Ron Stukenberg. “Capped off with four podium finishes and a win for Chad Hord and his Frontier-bodied race truck is a true testament to the dominance of Nissan Motorsports power and the championship-winning drivers, Carl Renezeder and Chad Hord, as well as their top-flight teams.”

The 2007 season witnessed a number of debuts for Nissan Motorsports not just in the WSORR racing series, but also for Renezeder’s 715- horsepower 4-wheel drive Titan race truck this past weekend. Also, who would forget the all-new 310-horsepower Nissan Frontier race truck in the PRO Light Pickup division, which was first seen at the inaugural WSORR event on May 19 and 20.

In a detailed report of the Saturday race, Chad Hord ran a solid race by starting second and finishing in the same spot of the Round 3 PRO Light Pickup competition. During the Round 3 PRO 4×4, the situation became challenging as Carl Renezeder had to start towards the back of the pack because the new Nissan Titan race truck did not have any championship points from the first two rounds. Add to that the Titan had only 14 laps of practice prior to the start of the race. This, however, did not phase Renezeder, as he sliced through the field to finish in the third position.

The Titan and Frontier became victorious during the Sunday race as Chad Hord, in his Nissan Frontier-bodied race truck, won in Round 4 of the PRO Light Pickup competition. After a great starting position, Hord remained in second place, right behind the leader. Just in the right time, Hord took the lead and drove away from the pack of approaching trucks, cruising to victory and adding another win to Nissan Motorsports’ impressive victory. In Pro 4×4 division, Renezeder battled through traffic to take another third place finish in his Titan-bodied racer, ending a solid weekend of official WSORR competition for the new truck.

Renezeder also took home another win for Nissan Motorsports by taking the lead in the 14th Annual Potawatomi Chairman’s Cup Race, with a mere two laps to go. He started out in the back of both packs in his PRO 4×4 Nissan Titan race truck, and worked his way through the varied field of 17 racers.

The 14th Annual Potawatomi Chairman’s Cup Race is a unique ten lap money-only race with a $20,000 prize going to the winner. WSORR is the newest short course off-road racing in the United States. Based in the Midwest, WSORR features a high-speed, high-impact off-road racing experience which takes place at key tracks in Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.