Nissan Sylphy SV: bodykit, black cabin for Thailand

Nissan Thailand has released a sportier looking variant of the latest Nissan Sylphy. The Nissan Sylphy SV comes with a bodykit and a black interior to replace the standard light coloured cabin.

The mild bodykit consists of front, rear and side skirts, plus a boot spoiler with integrated third brake light. There’s also an SV badge on the boot. Not quite Sentra Nismo, but it does look a touch sportier. Those alloys, painted in Hyper Black, look similar to the rims on the Nissan Pulsar. The 5-door Pulsar is the hatchback version of the new Sylphy.

The 852,000 baht (RM82,500) SV is based on the 1.6L Sylphy, and there are no technical changes. Under the hood is a HR16DE four-pot with 116 PS and 154 Nm of torque, mated to a CVT transmission. Nissan Thailand also sells a 1.8L Sylphy with 131 PS/174 Nm.

Next-generation Nissan Sylphy and Nissan Teana to launch in Malaysia in 2014?

Nissan Serena facelift unveiled at Tokyo 2013 – will this be the CKD model?

We learned last month through a report by Maybank Research that Tan Chong will be launching the Nissan Note in 2014, and a new A-segment car in 2015. Well, it looks like that’s not all that the Malaysian Nissan distributor has up its sleeves for the next year.

According to a site visit report by HLIB Research, we’ll see the new C-segment Nissan Sylphy launched in Q2 2014, and the new D-segment Nissan Teana launched in Q3 2014. The Nissan Serena S-Hybrid will be introduced as a CKD car in Q3 2014 as well.


New Nissan Sylphy

The Nissan Sylphy currently sold in Malaysia is an aging model that was recently facelifted with new tail lamps. It has been replaced by a new model that was launched in Thailand in August 2012. We attended the launch and came back with brief driving impressions which you can read here: Nissan Sylphy brief test drive in Thailand.

The new model gets an improved 116 PS/154 Nm 1.6 litre engine, now with dual variable valve timing and a first-in-class dual fuel injector system, using 2 spray nozzles per cylinder. It’s mated to either a five-speed manual or an Xtronic CVT. The range-topping engine is a new longer-stroke 131 PS/174 Nm 1.8 litre motor codenamed MRA8DE, with dual variable valve timing, mated to an Xtronic CVT.


New Nissan Teana

The J33 Nissan Teana is a newer car, only making its ASEAN debut in Thailand recently in October. You can pick from a 2.0 or 2.5 litre engine, but the latter is now a four-cylinder engine and no longer a V6. Both engines are paired to a CVT.

VIDEO: World’s Strongest Man towes 12 Nissan Notes

Here’s a video of the world’s strongest man Zydrunas Savickas setting a new Guinness world record for the ‘Most Cars Pulled By One Man’. In it, you’ll see that he towed 12 new Nissan Notes weighing in at a total of 12,941 kg.

A 5-time World Strongest Man champion (not Mark Henry, WWE fans) and widely regarded as the one of the greatest strongmen of all time, Savickas only had one attempt to set the new record.
Wearing a specialised pulling harness and rope arrangement, the 170 kg big guy pulled the 12 Notes over 5 metres, accomplishing the feat in just 32.9 seconds.

Held in Druskininkai, Lithuania, the world record attempt marked the end of the Lithuanian Car of the Year test camp with crowds turning out from all over the country to see their national hero set the new record.

On a more serious note (pun intended), the Nissan Note was displayed at the recent KLIMS13 motor show, and Tan Chong has revealed to research houses that it will be launching the roomy B-segment hatchback by the end of 2014. 

Tokyo 2013: Nissan BladeGlider – set to soar, one day

A quick recap and some live photos of the Nissan BladeGlider concept that made its debut in Tokyo. The radical vehicle isn’t just something that’s set to remain a mere design study – the automaker says that mid-engine, rear wheel-drive concept is an exploratory prototype of an upcoming production vehicle.

With its narrow front and wide rear track, the BladeGlider’s profile resembles more “swept wing” aircraft than car from a top-down view. The 3-seater has the driver placed centre-forward, with passengers sitting at the longitudinal centre of gravity to maintain the car’s balance at all times. The centre-driving setting also enhances the driver’s sensatory experience, with a near-360 degree view.

 

The BladeGlider is powered by two in-board electric motors driving the rear wheels, which are wrapped with 285/35 tyres. The fronts, meanwhile, are skinny 100/80 profile units. The car’s lithium-ion battery modules are mounted low and towards the rear to enhance stability and handling.

When the BladeGlider matures into a production car, it could well be the first Nissan to utilise in-wheel motors – these will not only provide rear-wheel propulsion with independent motor management but also contribute to freedom of upper body design and aid more space-efficient packaging. Wonder if the series vehicle will look anywhere close to this.

Tokyo 2013: Nissan X-Trail, Japan-spec third-gen

The third-gen Nissan X-Trail, which broke cover at the Frankfurt show in September, turned up at the ongoing Tokyo show. It’s set to go on sale in Japan next month, and an MR20DD engine is mentioned, along with a revised Xtronic CVT with Eco mode, plus start/stop.

Although Nissan hasn’t officially revealed output figures, we know the MR20DD engine as a direct-injected 2.0 litre four-cylinder featuring twin C-VTC that produces 147 hp and 210 Nm of torque in the Serena S-Hybrid. Underpinning the X-Trail is the Common Module Family (CMF) platform.

Known variants include 20S, 20X, 20X Emergency Brake Package, 20X X-TREMER X and 20X Emergency Brake Package X-TREMER X. Five- and Seven-seat versions are available. The X-TREMER X variants are produced by Nissan tuner Autech, and feature contrasting-coloured skid plates, a more prominent lower intake and fog lamp housings, as well as sportier-looking alloys.

The Emergency Brake Package variants get Lane Departure Warning, Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication, Emergency Brake, Do-not-enter Sign Detection. Blind Spot Warning, Driver Attention Alert, plus Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and Park Assist are offered as options.

LED headlamps are also optional, as are side and curtain airbags (dual front airbags are standard). Standard safety equipment includes VDC with TCS and Brake LSD, plus 2-stage load-limiting front seat belts with pretensioners. Seven body colours are offered.

5-seat versions get 60:40-split second row seats; on 7-seat versions they’re split 40:20:40, and can slide as well as recline. A panoramic tilt-and-slide sunroof with electric retractable shade is optional, and front seat heaters are available on select variants.

 

There are more storage spaces and cupholders, and Spinal Support Front Seats claim to reduce fatigue through articulated seat back pads. The seats and floor are water-repellent. You can open the powered tailgate by waving your hand near the sensor (provided you have your Intelligent Key with you) to reveal a boot that can take up to 550 litres of luggage.

Some variants are 2WD, but Nissan’s All-Mode 4x4i electronic 4WD system is also offered, along with Advance Hill Descent Control and Yaw Moment Control. Hill Start Assist, Active Ride Control, Active Engine Brake and Cornering Stability Assist are standard across the range.

Nissan Juke launched in Thailand – 1.6L and CVT

The Nissan Juke is now officially in Thailand, making it the sixth ASEAN country to get Nissan’s B-segment crossover after Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Singapore.

The Thai-spec Juke is sourced from Indonesia and gets a 1.6 litre HR16 engine that produces 116 PS at 5,600 rpm and 154 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, mated to a CVT. It’s a different combo from the Indonesian-spec car, which uses a slightly less powerful 114 PS/150 Nm 1.5 litre engine and a CVT.

The Juke comes with Integrated Control (I-Con), a system which manages both climate control and 3 vehicle drive modes: normal for everyday driving, sport for sportier driving or eco for fuel efficiency.

There’s also the Internet Connectivity Entertainment (I-Connect) system, which allows you to surf the internet through wi-fi on a detachable 7-inch screen. The system also has a voice control function.

E and V trim levels are offered, and prices start from 819,000 baht (RM82,400). By comparison, the most affordable 1.2 litre Nissan Almera with a CVT is priced from 489,000 baht (RM49,200). The current Toyota Vios is priced from 589,000 baht (RM59,300) for the most affordable automatic variant up to 734,000 baht (RM73,900) for the S Auto variant. So the Juke isn’t exactly cheap.

There has been plenty of interest in a crossover body style for the B-segment recently, with manufacturers launching cars like the Ford EcoSport and the Peugeot 2008 to cash in, and both the EcoSport and 2008 are coming to Malaysia. You could say the Juke pretty much pioneered the segment in recent times – will Tan Chong bring it in?

Tan Chong to launch Nissan Note by the end of 2014, new A-segment car to be launched in 2015

Tan Chong Motor has revealed to research houses that it will be launching an additional 2 models in the next 2 years – the Nissan Note as well as a new A-segment model.

According to a report by Maybank Research, the Nissan Note will be launched by the end of 2014, following the car’s recent preview at the 2013 KL International Motor Show.

The Nissan Note on display at KLIMS had a 1.5 litre engine paired to a four-speed auto under its hood, similar to the powertrain in the Nissan Almera. The Note will allow Nissan to have a competitor against the Honda Jazz, which is a same segment car that’s pretty competitively priced in Malaysia.



Next up is word of a new A-segment car due for launch in 2015, reported by CIMB Research. The new A-segment car is expected to be a ‘killer model’ in terms of sales volume. The report specifically mentions a “RM50,000 and below” price point. For Tan Chong to achieve such a price for even the most affordable variant of a multiple variant offering would likely mean high localisation.

Nissan’s A-segment contender is currently the Nissan March (badged Micra in Europe), so it would be safe to assume that this is the model to be launched.

Another possibility is the Datsun Go hatchback, which rides on the same platform and wheelbase as the Nissan March. Although it falls under a different badge, the lower cost car will be sold in India at Nissan dealerships instead of separate Datsun dealerships like it is in Indonesia, so a similiar setup to India could also be arranged for Malaysia.

2014 Nissan GT-R facelift unveiled in Tokyo with updated suspension and looks

The Nissan GT-R has been around for quite some time now, but while it largely looks the same, Nissan has been making continuous updates under the hood. The Nissan GT-R Nismo was not the only new GT-R shown at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.

The 2014 model year GT-R facelift gets quite a few updates. In terms of suspension, there are revised settings designed to reduce load fluctuation between the 4 wheels, giving better stability and more consistent grip. More constant tyre contact is achieved by optimised electronic control of the shock-absorber valves, as well as modified front stabiliser spring rates and updated bush link. These improve ride on rough roads.

An additional benefit is improved straight-line stability, with fewer small steering corrections needed to maintain the correct trajectory during highway driving.

The GT-R is now fitted standard with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 DSST CTT tires. They are 255/40ZRF20 (97Y) at the front and 285/35ZRF20 (100Y) at the rear. Braking calibration has been retuned for a more firm, linear response at everyday speeds. The steering has also been fine-tuned to reduce the effort required for in-town maneuvers.

On the exterior, the headlamps are now powered by multiple LED units that create a ‘lightning’ motif. There are 4 high beam units and 3 low beam units. They are also equipped with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) that automatically adapts the angle of the light beam according to the speed of the car.

At highway speeds, actuators in the headlight unit adjust the angle of the projectors to project the light further. There have also been updates to the 4 circle tail lamp design.

LA 2013: Nissan Sentra Nismo Concept has 240 hp

At first glance, the Nissan Sentra Nismo Concept showcased at LA 2013 looks more like a SEMA kind of car than an LA motor show car, but could it be so because Nissan intends to put this car into production rather than have it remain as a tuned-up concept?

The Sentra Nismo Concept has the go to match its looks. Under its hood is a version of Nissan’s 1.6 litre turbo motor, but with its displacement increased to 1.8 litres. The result is output figures of over 240 hp and 325 Nm of torque. Power goes to the front wheels via a six-speed manual and a limited slip differential. The suspension is by Nismo and the brakes are from the 370Z sports car.

Sentra is the US name for the latest Nissan Sylphy, which was launched in Thailand in August 2012 (also called Pulsar in Australia). The bodykit seen here has some similarities with the aerokit on the Nissan Almera Nismo Performance Package, which was launched at KLIMS13, so the Sylphy Nismo that (slowly but surely) will be coming to Malaysia could possibly look like this.

We’re not holding out for a turbocharged stick shift Sylphy, though.

Nissan Juke Nismo RS – 215 hp high-riding hot-hatch

Find wild GT-R-powered Juke R too insane, but the mildly tuned-up Juke Nismo too plain? There’s now a middle ground for Americans to choose from (not us though, we don’t even get the base model) – the brand new Nissan Juke Nismo RS. This one gets unique engine, suspension, steering and brake tuning over the standard Nismo model.

Now the top Juke model in North America, the Nismo RS’ 1.6 litre direct-injection turbo engine is tuned up to offer 215 hp and 285 Nm of torque – up from the base Nismo’s 197 hp/250 Nm. But, that’s only for the six-speed manual (now with lower gear ratios), front-wheel drive variant though.
If you opt for the optional all-wheel drive system and Xtronic CVT transmission, engine output is pared down to 211 hp and 250 Nm. Nismo’s helical-geared Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) is also exclusive to the do-it-yourself model. It’s a no brainer, then – if you want a Juke Nismo RS, it’s manual, or nothing.



A series of special body and chassis reinforcements have been thrown in to improve the new model’s handling capabilities, along with retuned suspension and steering setups. Slowing down will be better too, with larger brakes at all corners (plus new ventilated units in the back) dressed up with red-painted calipers.

Despite its improved hardware, the Juke Nismo RS carries no other visual differentiation from the standard Nismo model, other than the subtle badge on the front grille. Inside though, the RS gets unique leather/suede Recaro front seats, Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and carbon-look centre console trim pieces.

It may be a few years old now, but the Juke still looks like nothing else on the road, and the new Nismo RS enhancements only make it more and more attractive. A hotter, high-riding hot-hatch, anyone?

Guangzhou 2013: Nissan Teana VIP long wheelbase

It’s not as though we didn’t see this coming – thanks to China’s appetite for lots of legroom, Nissan has unveiled the new Nissan Teana VIP at the 2013 Guangzhou Motor Show.

The Teana VIP takes the regular car’s 2,775mm wheelbase and stretches it by 125mm for a grand total of 2,900mm. That’s 80mm longer than a Lexus ES. It’s massive at 5,003mm by 1,830mm by 1,490mm.



Since the Teana VIP will undoubtedly be used to be chauffeured in, Nissan has added more creature comforts to the Teana VIP to accompany the increased legroom.

The car now gets a larger double sunroof, a rear entertainment system with dual seat back integrated monitors, and a Bose 13 speaker sound system.

Nissan Serena S-Hybrid facelift unveiled at Tokyo 2013

Nissan has made some minor changes to the Nissan Serena, which also covers the S-Hybrid model that’s on sale here in Malaysia. The updated Serena makes its debut at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and will go on sale in December 2013 in Japan.

In terms of exterior design, we notice changes to the front bumper as well as the removal of a strip of trim that runs along the lower edge of the headlamps to meet the front grille. This gives the car’s face a different look as the headlamp shape is more pronounced now. LED headlamps are now an option. The alloy wheel design has also been updated.

On the rear, we’re told there are new LED rear combination brake lamps with an ’S’ shaped design, but we don’t have a photo of the rear yet as of now.

There are new safety equipment as well such as Emergency Brake and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), which has been made standard for all variants except the base 20S. Other features include AVM (Around View Monitor) with MOD (Moving Object Detection), Emergency Assist for pedal misapplication and Driver Attention Alert.

Nissan also claims the 2WD S-Hybrid model now has improved fuel consumption but doesn’t go into details on what the differences are.

2014 Nissan Elgrand facelift has the biggest grille ever

Nissan has given the Nissan Elgrand a little nip and tuck for the 2014 model year. Since Tan Chong sells the Elgrand here through official channels, perhaps we’ll eventually get this facelift.
The changes to the front are pretty obvious – the Elgrand facelift receives what appears to be the largest front grille we’ve ever seen on an MPV. The MPV also gets LED lighting for its Active Adaptive Front-Lighting System headlamps. Other changes include a new design for the 18-inch alloy wheels and new clear-lens rear lamps.



A new Drive Assist Display with 5-inch colour display is located between the redesigned speedometer and tachometer. There’s also a new interior colour scheme for the Highway STAR Premium grade called Grand Black Interior. It implements a combination of dedicated deep wood grain accents with coloured chrome and dedicated black metallic leather appointed seats with elaborately-made amber accent and diamond-shape quilted pattern with special stitches.

Another improvement is the new slide function for the third row of seats, allowing legroom to be adjusted to make way for extra luggage space. Nissan has also lowered the level of the luggage board in the rear luggage space to the floor level, allowing more items to be loaded without opening the luggage board.

Nissan Leaf Aero Style bodykit shown at Tokyo 2013

Nissan showcased this kitted-up Nissan Leaf at their Tokyo 2013 stand, which will be released domestically in Japan in December 2013. The kit is called the Nissan Leaf Aero Style.
The bodykit features a new front bumper with buil-in LED daytime running lights, side sill protectors, and a rear under-protector. The Aero Style kit also includes 17-inch alloy wheels finished with a special blue accent.

The Nissan Leaf was launched at KLIMS13 with a price tag of RM168,800. Has anyone here booked one yet? Perhaps you can consider this to curry up your Leaf!

Nissan IDx Freeflow & Nismo – Datsun 510 reborn?

Retro-futurism is a popular design theme for automakers these days. Modern reincarnations of popular classics with heavy touches of retro range from small cars like the MINI and the Fiat 500 to muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro.

It looks like Nissan wants in on the game too, and they’ve showcased these Nissan IDx Freeflow and Nissan IDx Nismo concept car duo at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.

The IDx duo look like a modern interpretation of the old Datsun Bluebird 510, which competed in races like the Trans Am Series and the Australian Rally Championship in the ’70s and ’80s. It’s about 4.1 metres in length, 1.7 metres in width and 1.3 metres in height. The Nismo version is wider at 1.8 metres.

Although it’s just a design concept for now, Nissan proposes for the car to use the company’s 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, mated to a CVT gearbox with a 6-speed manual shift mode for the Nismo car and a less powerful engine of between 1.2 litre to 1.5 litre in size mated to a CVT gearbox for the Freeflow.

Nissan GT-R Nismo debuts – 600 hp, 7:08 ‘Ring time

It’s finally out – the hotly-awaited Nissan GT-R Nismo has been revealed in Japan. It’s big news not because everyone can’t wait to buy one, but because we want to know just how much faster it can be over the standard car, which is plenty fast by anyone’s standard.

For starters, the ultimate GT-R gets a tuned-up 3.8 litre twin-turbo V6 with 600 hp and 652 Nm of torque, with bits and pieces taken from the Nismo’s racing parts bin. New high-flow, large diameter turbochargers improve breathing, while optimised individual ignition timing control for each cylinder and upgraded fuel pump improve combustion.

It’s more than just a power upgrade, of course, as overall performance has also been given a thorough once over through optimised aerodynamics and suspension, to achieve a well-balanced machine that is at home on both the road and track. Nissan also claims that it has done so without compromising refinement.



Bespoke springs and Bilstein DampTronic dampers deliver enhanced grip and handling. Three dynamic settings are available: Comfort, Normal and R, for circuit applications. Dunlop rubber developed exclusively for the GT-R Nismo – 255/40 R20 front and 285/35 R20 rear – plus tuned suspension linkages and special anti-roll bars add to the dynamism.

The Nismo has improved chassis rigidity by using adhesive bonding on top of usual spot welding treatments for extra precise response under extreme loads. That’s the benefit of a factory-tuned special – you just can’t get the same treatment from aftermarket shops.

For good measure, a team was sent to set a time at the Nurburgring, and they didn’t disappoint. The GT-R Nismo completed a lap of the Green Hell in 7 minutes 8.679 seconds, making it the fastest volume production car there. That’s a good 10 seconds quicker than a standard GT-R’s best time and more crucially for Nismo, six seconds faster than the Lexus LF-A Nurburgring.



On the outside, a new aerodynamic package generates an extra 100 kg of downforce at 300 km/h compared to the standard car. The front bumper, engine undercover strake and carbon-fibre rear spoiler are functional additions, designed with the latest Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation techniques.

Five body colours are available: Brilliant White Pearl, Meteor Flake Pearl Black, Ultimate Metallic Silver and Vibrant Red, and unique to the GT-R Nismo, Dark Matte Grey seen in the pictures here. There’s only one set of wheels to choose from though; black six-spoke alloys inspired by Nissan’s GT500 race car.

Inside, there are sculpted carbon-fibre backed Recaro seats with red highlights, Nismo steering wheel dressed in Alcantara and a carbon-finish instrument cluster. As for the price, expect it to command quite a healthy bump over the standard car. Who’s to say it’s not worth the premium?

Nissan Note mini-MPV seen at KLIMS, coming soon?

The Nissan booth at KLIMS13 houses 2 newly launched cars – the Nissan Leaf EV and the Nissan Almera Nismo Performance Package – but there was also another model that caught our eyes.
The Nissan Note is a B-segment ‘mini-MPV’ type of hatchback not unlike the Honda Jazz. The second-gen Nissan Note made its debut in the second half of last year.

In Japan, the Note is powered by a choice of two 3-cylinder mills, both 1.2 litre jobs. The first is the 80 hp/106 Nm HR12DE, as used by the March/Almera in Thailand. The second is the HR12DDR, a supercharged unit with 97 hp/142 Nm. Both are paired to an Xtronic CVT gearbox, with Idling Stop System available for 2WD versions.

In the UK, where the Note rolls out from Nissan’s huge Sunderland plant for Europe, the Note can be had with the above 1.2L engines as well as a Renault-sourced 1.5 litre turbodiesel that emits just 95 grams of CO2 per km and returns 3.6 litres per 100 km (27.8 km/l).

If Malaysia does get the Note, it will likely share our Almera’s powertrain – namely a 102 hp/139 Nm 1.5 litre HR15DE coupled to a four-speed auto, as revealed by the exploratory specs displayed on the info board next to the car.

Top-spec Notes get Nissan’s Safety Shield bundle of systems, comprising Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Moving Object Detection. MOD works with Around View Monitor to enhance the driver’s field of vision. When the system detects something (or someone) moving behind the car, an audible and visual alert is given.

Around View Monitor combines the feeds from cameras mounted on the front grille, tailgate and both door mirrors to project an overhead 360-degree helicopter view of the car and its surroundings. The camera image is constantly scanned for dirt and if need be, a jet of water and then compressed air is fired at the lens to clean and dry it.

Before KLIMS13 started, we found the Note listed on Nissan Malaysia’s website as an “exploratory model” (page was taken down soon after) so ETCM might be looking at introducing the model here in the future. There’s an Impul version of the Note, too.