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 It has been replaced by a new model that was launched in Thailand in August 2012.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.

Nissan Almera Nismo Performance Package launched at KLIMS13 – aerokit and performance parts

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) officially launched the Nissan Almera Nismo Performance Package at KLIMS13. The name says it all – a Nismo performance package is now available for the Nissan Almera B-segment sedan. It’s a world debut, we were told, and Nismo’s senior VP of race car and product development Noboru Kaneko was in attendance.

The Nissan Almera Nismo Performance Package looks largely similar to the concept car that was showed at Super GT Sepang in June. The package consists of a Nismo aerokit and Nismo performance parts. The five-piece aerokit (front and rear bumper spoilers, boot spoiler, side skirts) is said to significantly reduce lift and drag for better aerodynamics and road-holding.

In the performance parts category, Almera buyers can add on a Nismo sports exhaust muffler (stainless steel, polished finished, etched Nismo logo) that is claimed to provide sharper engine response thanks to a less restrictive flow and a sportier note.

Nismo’s suspension system consists of shock absorbers and springs that lower the Almera by a substantial 30 mm. Nismo says that there’s increased lateral force support without compromising ride comfort.

Lastly, the rims you see here are 16-inch alloys with diamond-cut finish. They are paired with Continental Max Contact MC5 205/50 tyres with an asymmetrical tread pattern.

One can choose from two packages, the Nismo Performance Package (everything listed above for RM13,000) and the Nismo Aero Package, which includes only the bodykit, wheels and tyres for RM8,000. Both packages are available for all Almera variants and in all 4 colours.

Parts can also be bought individually, and below are the ala carte prices, inclusive of installation. Note that the interior mods you see in this showcar (seats, wrapped steering wheel) are for display only.

Nismo 5-piece aerokit: RM3,600 inc painting
Nismo sports exhaust muffler: RM2,000
Nismo 16-inch alloys: RM2,800 for four, inc centre caps and valves
Nismo suspension: RM3,000
Continental MC5 205/50 R16 tyres: RM1,600 for set of four, inc balancing & alignment   

Nissan Leaf launched at KLIMS13, EV goes for RM169k

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) launched the Nissan Leaf electric car at KLIMS13 this afternoon. The electric car, which has been in Malaysia for trials since the first half of 2012, is now available for sale at RM168,800 on-the-road with insurance, much lower than an early estimate of RM200k. The purchase price includes a home charging unit and a 3-year/100,000 km warranty.

The world’s best selling electric car is powered by an electric motor-inverter combo, which runs on current from a lithium-ion battery pack. Comprising 48 battery modules (each module has four batt cells), the Leaf’s battery pack has a capacity of 24 kWh, max power of 90 kW and 360V voltage.

Located under the seats, the battery provides a driving range of 195 km per full charge, as measured in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). A completely drained battery pack can be fully charged in around four hours with the supplied 6.6 kWh home charging unit (wall-mounted charger with cable, cabling works with PVC conduit, dedicated circuit breaker), so actual charging time may be less.
There’s also a solar panel on the Leaf’s rear spoiler that maintains the charge of the (other) 12V battery that runs the lamps, wipers, audio and other accessories. Currently, there are 15 public EV charging stations in the Klang Valley, Penang, Melaka and Johor Bahru set up by Tan Chong’s First Energy Networks. Nissan Leaf owners can use these charging stations free of charge.

The Leaf owner will never need to visit a petrol station again, unless it’s for refilling his/her tummy. ETCM says that the Leaf is 75% cheaper to run than a petrol-powered equivalent car based on current Malaysian electricity rates. Maintenance is cheap as well – you can expect 80% savings over a five-year period over an internal combustion engined car.

Safety wise, the five-star Euro NCAP-rated Leaf comes with six airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC). It’s a big hatchback, so there’s plenty of cabin space. The batteries are under the seats, so boot space is a decent 370 litres, expandable to 720 litres with the rear seats folded.

The RM168,800 Nissan Leaf is available in five colours – Pearl White, Brilliant Silver, Metallic Slate, Super Black and the signature Blue Ocean.

Nissan to introduce Infiniti in Japan next year – Q50 Hybrid will be the first model, badged as Skyline

The Japanese giants created luxury brands like Lexus, Acura and Infiniti in the late 1980s to move upmarket, allowing them to sell cars at a price and segment that a mass market Toyota, Honda or Nissan badge wouldn’t have been able to command. They were never meant for the Japanese domestic market, where a Nissan badge can be on everything from kei-cars to limos.
Toyota was the first to bring its luxury brand ‘back home’ by introducing Lexus in Japan in 2005. Now, Nissan is doing the same with the introduction of Infiniti in the Land of the Rising Sun, 24 years after the brand was launched in the USA.

The launch model will be the Infiniti Q50 Hybrid, to be called ‘Skyline’ in Japan, an unfamiliar marque balanced by a famous nameplate. To go on sale in February 2014, Nissan is targeting initial monthly sales of 200 units. The car will be priced from from 4.5 million yen (RM145,112).



The Q50 made its debut at the Detroit show earlier this year, before a European premiere in Geneva added a Mercedes-sourced diesel engine to the mix. The hybrid is powered by a 3.5 litre V6 with 302 hp and 350 Nm, combined with an electric motor that does 67 hp/270 Nm. Combined output is 360 hp. It’s a fast car, with 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and a 250 km/h top speed.

This move is part of Infiniti’s plan to significantly boost volumes – the brand sold 173,000 cars in 2012, but is looking to shift half a million vehicles a year by 2017. Will Japan help much? Last year’s domestic sales for Lexus fell 3% to 42,300 vehicles, accounting for less than 10% of total global sales for Toyota’s luxury brand.

Like what you see? It was announced back in May that the Infiniti Q50 will be coming to Malaysia, and you can view the 3-Series-fighter at this weeks’s KLIMS13 show, where Infiniti will have a booth for the first time.

Nissan Note to be shown at KLIMS13, production Almera Nismo Performance Package to debut

Before its KLIMS microsite was taken down from Nissan Malaysia’s website last night, we managed to catch a view of what the brand is bringing to the show – mentioned as one of the company’s displays at the upcoming KLIMS13 show is the Nissan Note. The car isn’t being launched into the market, but has been tagged as an “exploratory model” – read into that how you will.

The Note made its debut in Japan last year, and the second-gen mini-MPV is available in its domestic market in two engine choices, both three-cylinder 1.2 litre units – there’s the 78 hp and 106 Nm HR12DE, as seen in the March and Thai-market Almera, as well as the supercharged HR12DDR, with 97 hp and 142 Nm on tap. Both engines are paired with an Xtronic CVT gearbox.

What will be launched at the show, aside from the Nissan Leaf, which is reportedly priced at RM168,800, is the Almera Nismo Performance Package – the car was shown in concept form back in June and now, the productionised form is ready.



Meant as an alternative to the Impul package already available for the car, the production bits don’t veer too much from that seen on the concept, from the details glimpsed before the site went off air.
The concept was dressed up with an aero kit made up of Nismo front and rear spoiler extensions, side skirts, a boot lid spoiler, sports suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels and exhaust muffler.

Plenty of Nismo dress-up knick-knacks as well, from carbon door mirror covers and a smoked front grille to fuel filler cap cover and emblems. We caught sight of a RM13,000+ pricing for what’s listed as a primary (or complete) package, but we’ll know for sure, in a few days.

Nissan Leaf to be launched at KLIMS – RM168,800?

Malaysian Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor have announced the pricing for the Nissan Leaf on their website. The Nissan Leaf is listed with a price tag of RM168,800 on the road, which is significantly less than the RM200k price tag indicated by a research house earlier.

There’s not much other details to go by for now, but as the Nissan Leaf will be officially launched at KLIMS13 later this week, we’ll be back with more details then. As the Leaf needs a special higher amperage charging point to be installed at your house (unlike the i-MIEV which can use a normal wall socket), we need to know details on what the cost of installing the charger is.



The Nissan Leaf will be the second EV to go on sale in Malaysia. A Tan Chong subsidiary called First Energy Networks (FEN) has so far set up EV charging stations at Bangsar Shopping Centre, Suria KLCC and Lot 10 as well as Petronas Solaris in Serdang.

2014 Nissan Qashqai – second-gen officially unveiled

The second-gen Nissan Qashqai (Nissan Dualis in Japan) has officially broken cover. Looking considerably tauter and more athletic than its predecessor thanks to prominent body creases, sharp-edged headlamps and an angular greenhouse, the crossover is also now 49 mm longer, 20 mm wider and 15 mm lower. It’s set to go on sale in Europe early next year.

Like the third-gen Nissan X-Trail, the new Nissan Qashqai is based on Renault-Nissan’s Common Module Family (CMF) platform. Designed and engineered in Europe, for Europe, it’s the work of Nissan Design Europe in London as well as Nissan Technical Centres in Cranfield, UK and Barcelona, Spain. It will be built in Sunderland, UK.

MacPherson struts sit up front; out back, 2WD cars get a torsion beam while All-Mode 4×4-i models ride on multi-links. There’s double-piston dampers and a redesigned electric power steering system with 5% lower gearing, plus Normal and Sport modes of feedback. LED DRLs are standard; higher-spec variants get all-LED headlamps with a unique light signature. 19-inch alloys are optional.

A roof spoiler with winglets, a flat floor and an Active Grille Shutter help the 2014 Nissan Qashqai achieve a 0.32 drag coefficient. Active Grille Shutter, standard on manual-gearbox diesels, closes off airflow through the radiator when not needed, automatically shutting at speeds above 30 km/h and only opening when sensors detect that cooling is needed.

The interior shares more than a few similarities with the new X-Trail’s. There’s more leg and shoulder room, and despite the car being lower, there’s 10 mm more headroom. The boot holds 430 litres of luggage with the back seats up – 20 litres more than the outgoing Qashqai – and the tailgate now opens 150 mm higher.

Like the X-Trail, it’s got a dual floor – there are two reversible floor panels that can be raised or lowered, offering 16 possible configurations to either maximise luggage volume or provide a flat floor when the rear seats are folded.

The seats benefit from extra bolsters in the pelvis, lumbar and chest areas – Nissan claims its engineers were inspired by NASA to use advanced medical scanning techniques to analyse pressure and blood flow in the lower back of seated passengers.

A new NissanConnect infotainment system now incorporates smartphone connectivity and a seven-inch touch-screen. Additionally, there’s a five-inch colour TFT screen within the instrument panel that boasts 12 graphic displays on rotation.

Two petrol and two diesel engines have been announced – we’ll start with the petrols. Replacing the previous car’s naturally-aspirated 1.6 litre unit is a 115 PS/190 Nm 1.2 DIG-T that’s capable of returning 5.6 litres per 100 km and emitting 129 grams of CO2 per km. The engine is connected to a six-speed manual, and comes standard with start/stop and a regenerative alternator.



Set to join later in 2014 is a 150 PS/240 Nm 1.6 DIG-T that’s capable of returning 5.6 litres per 100 km and emitting 132 grams of CO2 per km. The oil burners, of which torque figures have not been disclosed, are a 110 PS 1.5 dCi and a 130 PS 1.6 dCi. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the smaller engine are quoted at 3.8 litres per 100 km and 99 grams per km.

The bigger engine does 4.4 litres per 100 km/115 grams per km in 2WD manual form, 4.9 litres per 100 km/129 grams per km in All-Mode 4×4-i manual form and 4.6 litres per 100 km/119 grams per km with the Xtronic CVT.

Safety Shield tech on the second-gen Nissan Qashqai includes Front Collision Avoidance, Driver Attention Support, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Moving Object Detection and High Beam Assist. There’s also Chassis Control (Active Ride Control, Active Engine Brake and Active Trace Control), Intelligent Parking Assist, Hill Start Assist and Around View Monitor.

Nissan Dayz Roox – expanding the Dayz K-car range

It’s called the Dayz Roox, and it’s Nissan’s second model in its new Dayz minicar range. The tall wagon – which will be sold in standard and Highway Star forms – will be on display in Tokyo, and is slated for domestic introduction early next year.

It’s the second Nissan-Mitsubishi minicar offering from NMKV, a joint-venture company formed by both automakers in 2011 to develop minicars for the Japanese market. Earlier in the year, the Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK were introduced in Japan.

The Dayz Roox features one-touch auto sliding rear doors, a battery-assist system as well as an Around View Monitor, and a host of keep cool kit keeps occupants comfy – the list includes a rear ceiling fan, roll-up sunshades and green UV-cut windshield glass.

In related news, a report indicates that Nissan will end its OEM procurement of minicars from Suzuki. The arrangement began in 2002, with Nissan taking the Suzuki MR Wagon and Palette models and rebadging them as the Moco and the Roox. The arrangement is set to end as early as next year, a natural process given the existence of NKMV and the growing relationship between Mitsubishi and Renault-Nissan. The Dayz Roox takes over from the Palette-based Roox in the scheme of things.

Nissan BladeGlider Concept previews a future EV

If Nissan has its way, our future world would be filled with arrow-shaped electric cars. We’ve just seen the ZEOD RC Le Mans electric racecar and on its way to the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show is this, the Nissan BladeGlider Concept.

More than a concept, the BladeGlider is both a proposal for the future direction of Nissan EV development and an exploratory prototype of an upcoming production vehicle from the world’s leading EV manufacturer. Developed with form following function, Nissan crafted the vehicle’s unique layout to give the driver and passengers “sustainable exhilaration”.

Its shape alone, with a narrow 1.0-metre front track, challenges the convention that has dominated our roads since the birth of the internal combustion engine. The BladeGlider has its conceptual roots in two aerial images: the soaring, silent, panoramic freedom of a glider and the triangular shape of a high performance “swept wing” aircraft.



In terms of engineering, the BladeGlider’s developmental focus was aerodynamics: achieving low drag (cdA) while generating road-hugging downforce. Having the front wheels close together reduces drag and enhances manoeuvrability for high-G cornering, assisted by 30:70 weight distribution. Downforce is created by the highly rigid yet lightweight carbon-fibre underbody, hence the lack of drag-inducing wings.

When the BG matures into a production car, it could be Nissan’s first use of in-wheel motors, which provide rear-wheel propulsion with independent motor management, while also contributing to freedom of upper body design and space-efficient packaging.

To power the electric motors, the BladeGlider employs Nissan’s lithium-ion battery technology as used in the production Nissan LEAF, which will go on sale in Malaysia soon. Battery modules are mounted low and towards the rear to enhance stability and handling.



This glider can be shared with two passengers in a V-shaped seating configuration. Passengers sit 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.

As a final touch, the driver’s seat automatically slides laterally when you open the door, enabling easy access to passenger seats.

“I think that the excitement of the racing car should be mirrored in the excitement of driving the road car,” said Ben Bowlby, director of Nissan Motorsport Innovation, who has supported the BladeGlider’s development. “I think there are elements we can bring from the race track to make these future road cars more exciting, more fulfilling and give greater driving pleasure.”
Looks a little like the BMW i8 from the rear three quarters, don’t you think?