Nissan X-Gear facelift launched – 1.6 auto, RM89,800

Coming in six months after the updated Grand Livina MPV arrived in Malaysia, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has just launched the Nissan X-Gear facelift.

The SUV-style 5-seat hatchback with SUV-inspired looks (labelled as a crossover by Nissan) gains a fresh new look for 2014. Like the Grand Livina before it, the new X-Gear features a completely reworked front end. The lights are now much larger, placed within shapelier front fenders and engine bonnet for a more modern appearance.

Clear to see, the chrome grille with smoked horizontal elements is all new as well, as are the bumpers, roof rails, side mirrors and 15-inch V-spoke alloy wheels. Round the back, the whole tailgate is new, while the horizontal tail lamps stretch out the vehicle’s perceptible width. 5 colour options are available – Garnet Red, Diamond Black, Bronze Gold, Brilliant White, Tungsten Silver.

The visual makeover continues inside too. The new 3-spoke steering wheel sports a much more contemporary design than before, and now holds audio buttons to control the updated 2-DIN head unit. Behind the helm, you’ll find the distinctive Fine Vision Meter cluster with Multi-Information Display (MID) that replaces the outgoing model’s simple amber-on-white instruments.

A new seat fabric design completes the enhancements to the cabin, which stays unchanged otherwise. That’s no bad thing, though, as the X-Gear has always had a flexible interior. The 60:40 split-folding rear seats open up the boot space from 383 to 769 litres. And if that’s not enough, the functional roof rails are rated for a 25 kg load.

Under the hood, the familiar aluminium-block 1.6 litre HR16DE making 105 PS and 150 Nm of torque stays, paired to a four-speed automatic transmission. The newer 1.5 litre HR15DE and CVT gearbox eludes us again. Safety wise, the front seat belts now feature pre-tensioners and load limiters, and dual airbags, ABS and EBD are standard.

 

The new Nissan X-Gear 1.6L Auto is priced at RM89,800 – on-the-road with insurance, including a three-year or 100,000 km warranty. To recap, the 2011 X-Gear was sold at RM82,800. ETCM currently offers an attractive monthly instalment package of just RM599 for the new model (subject to terms and conditions).

As always with Nissan models here, there’s an extensive options list available on top of the standard vehicle. The Impul Complete Package menu consists of an Impul rear roof spoiler (RM700), 17-inch Impul Aura SX-20 wheels (RM4,500), matching Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 tyres (RM1,800) and a set of Impul sports suspension system (RM2,800).

Also offered as cost options are window tinting (RM950-RM2,600), door visors (RM320), leather upholstery (RM1,800), 6.5-inch multimedia navigation system (RM3,300) and LED wing mirror indicators (RM400).

Renault-Nissan Alliance to work closer together

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is the longest-running and probably one of the most successful automotive partnerships around, having formed way back in 1999. In those 15 years, Nissan went from near bankruptcy to becoming one of the most profitable manufacturers, and the Alliance has become one of the leaders in electric vehicles.

But despite sharing the same chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, Renault and Nissan have basically been run all this time as separate entities. This will change come April 1, however, as the Alliance has announced that the two will be converging in four key areas, with new Alliance executive vice presidents, many of them coming in from either Renault or Nissan, managing each of them.

Essentially, the two companies will work more closely on research and development, including electric vehicles and the new Common Module Family platform. The Alliance will also streamline manufacturing and supply chain processes, consolidate purchasing to improve economies of scale and employ common HR practices across both companies, with an aim to create at least €4.3 billion in synergies annually by 2016.

To keep the change in organisational structure in check, there will be a new management committee for the Alliance, which Carlos Ghosn will head. In addition, senior vice president for the Alliance CEO Office and global logistics Christian Mardrus will now become Alliance executive vice president of the Dutch holding company Renault-Nissan BV as well as the Alliance CEO Office.

Bangkok 2014: Nissan Pulsar DIG Turbo with 190 hp

At the 2014 Bangkok Motor Show, Nissan showed off a hot version of the hatchback version of the Sylphy. Yes, that’s what the Nissan Pulsar DIG Turbo is, the range topping Pulsar in Thailand. The five-door “premium sports hatchback” was launched in the Land of Smiles this time last year, with naturally-aspirated 1.6 and 1.8 litre engines.

The Pulsar DIG Turbo is powered by a Direct Injection Gasoline (that’s the DIG) 1.6 litre MR16DDT turbo engine with Twin C-VTC. It makes 190 PS at 5,600 rpm and 240 Nm at 2,400 rpm, leading Nissan to say that this car has “2.5 litre class power”. To compare, the standard 1.6 makes 116 PS and 154 Nm, while the 1.8 pushes out 131 PS and 174 Nm.

Like the rest of the range, the Pulsar DIG Turbo is equipped with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT gearbox, but there’s a six-speed manual mode here. It also comes with uprated brakes with larger discs, a revised steering system and retuned suspension for a sportier feel. Safety wise, there’s VDC and six airbags.
The Pulsar DIG Turbo won’t appeal to all, and Nissan Thailand probably knows that, which is why only 350 units of each colour (black, red, pearl white) will be made available here.

2015 Nissan Murano teased, will debut at New York

This headlight is part of the new Nissan Murano, which the company has teased with this solitary image as well as the video below ahead of the car’s debut at the New York Auto Show next month.
Following in the footsteps of the new Qashqai and X-Trail/Rogue, the Murano is set to feature design cues from Geneva 2013′s Resonance concept, including the boomerang-shaped head- and tail lights, large V-shaped grille and curvaceous surfacing all around.

Nissan is touting the new Murano as a “halo vehicle” for its SUVs and crossovers and claims that it will be the first to feature a new design language for its future vehicles. The company have been teasing the new design language for a while now – first with the Resonance, then the Friend-ME concept in Shanghai and the Sport Sedan concept in Detroit.

Not much is known about the new Murano, but the Resonance did debut with a 2.5 litre DOHC engine (presumably a VQ V6) mated to an electric motor and Xtronic CVT transmission through the proprietary “one-motor, two-clutch” system (one between the engine and the motor/transmission combo, another between the motor and transmission themselves), so we will presumably see this drivetrain on at least one variant.

Nissan sedan concept teased ahead of Beijing debut

Nissan has teased the yet-unnamed sedan concept it’s bringing to Beijing next month – or at least, that’s what we suppose is hiding beneath that cloth.

The obscured vehicle is pictured beside Auto Shanghai 2013‘s Friend-ME concept, displaying their C-shaped headlamp signatures. This is a further allusion to a relationship between the two.

The Friend-ME concept was aimed at Chinese males in their mid-20s; the new one is built around China’s digital lifestyle, and “expresses Nissan’s passion and focus in the world’s most dynamic auto market.”

The sedan concept will be the second time for Beijing-based Nissan Design China to realise a concept design in collaboration with the Nissan Global Design Centre under the leadership of Nissan senior VP and chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura.

Nissan is also set to bring the Teana 10th Anniversary Special Edition, X-Trail, NV200 Xtronic, BladeGlider concept and Autonomous Drive car to the show.

Nissan to bring sedan concept to Beijing next month

Set to take centre stage on the Nissan stand at next month’s Auto China 2014 in Beijing is a sedan concept (Sport Sedan concept from Detroit ’14 pictured).

Details are scarce, but the Japanese carmaker makes reference to the Friend-ME concept that turned up in Shanghai last year, so will this be a Friend-ME sedan of sorts?

The Friend-ME concept was aimed at Chinese males in their mid-20s; the new one is built around China’s digital lifestyle, and “expresses Nissan’s passion and focus in the world’s most dynamic auto market.”

The sedan concept will be the second time for Beijing-based Nissan Design China to realise a concept design in collaboration with the Nissan Global Design Centre under the leadership of Nissan senior VP and chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura.

Nissan is also set to bring the Teana 10th Anniversary Special Edition, X-Trail, NV200 Xtronic, BladeGlider concept and Autonomous Drive car to the show.

Nissan Friend-ME concept at Auto Shanghai 2013

Nissan Juke facelift makes debut at Geneva show

The facelifted Euro-spec Nissan Juke has made its first public appearance at the ongoing Geneva show, looking… not very different. In Nissan’s words, “to radically alter the proportions would undermine the Juke’s unmistakable presence,” and we couldn’t agree more.

There are now 370Z-inspired headlamps (now xenons, incorporating LED DRLs as standard), revised tail lamp graphics (now with LED light guides), updated front and rear bumpers, a slightly-changed grille and new 16- to 18-inch alloys. The door mirrors now hold LED indicators and, where fitted, Around View Monitor cameras.

More changes are to be found under the skin. A new 113 hp/190 Nm turbocharged 1.2 litre DIG-T engine replaces the naturally-aspirated 117 hp/142 Nm 1.6 litre HR16DE unit.

Fuel economy and CO2 emissions for the 1.2 litre DIG-T are a claimed 5.5 litres per 100 km and 126 grams per km respectively (2WD, start-stop as standard).

The 1.6 litre DIG-T engine has been enhanced to give more low-end torque. Its compression ratio has been upped from 9.5 to 10.5, and there’re improved low-friction technologies and cooled exhaust gas recirculation. It now delivers 190 hp – two horses more than before. The 1.5 litre dCi diesel engine continues as is.

The facelifted Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T 4WD comes with a six-speed manual as standard; Xtronic CVT optional. In 2WD versions, luggage space is up by 40% to 354 litres, thanks to changes in the boot area. A sunroof is available as an option.

Where tech’s concerned, Nissan Dynamic Control is available on select variants, offering Normal, Sport and Eco driving modes. The latest-gen 5.8-inch NissanConnect touch-screen also features, along with Nissan Safety Shield (Around View Monitor, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Moving Object Detection).

The Nissan Juke facelift also introduces a range of personalisation options for outside and inside – you can specify what colour you want your mirror caps, headlamp finishers, bumper inserts, centre console, seats, gear knob, door trim etc. to be in. Also on Nissan’s Geneva stand is the Juke Nismo RS.

Nissan Juke Nismo RS – 218 PS, 280 Nm, LSD for FWD

The Nissan Juke range has a new flagship, the Nissan Juke Nismo RS. Previewed at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the Juke Nismo RS is based on the Juke Nismo, but packs more power, a sharper chassis, stronger brakes and extra equipment.

The Juke Nismo’s 1.6 litre DIG-T engine has been boosted to 218 PS from 200 PS, while torque in 2WD/manual transmission versions is up by 30 Nm to 280 Nm. To ensure the chassis can successfully transfer the extra grunt to the road, 2WD models also benefit from the addition of a mechanical limited slip differential on the front axle.

An LSD is not required in 4WD versions which have torque vectoring, Nissan’s Xtronic transmission and 250 Nm. The performance gains are matched by a retuned exhaust system with a large diameter muffler.



Other improvements linked to the increased engine performance include strategic body strengthening to increase torsional stiffness, while the brakes have been enhanced for even better resistance to fade – front disc size is up from 296 to 320 mm, while the rear discs are now ventilated. Revised spring and damper settings complete the chassis changes.

Nismo exterior design cues include red door mirror caps and a red pinstripe that encircles the bottom of the car. The package is completed with new LED daytime running lights set within the lower air intake grilles, while 18-inch alloys accentuate the Juke’s bold stance.

The Nismo treatment continues inside with a performance-oriented steering wheel, pedals, gauges, gear knob and door trims. Special suede-trimmed Nismo sports seats with red stitching provide extra support. Options include Recaro bucket seats, xenons and Nissan’s Around View Monitor and Safety Shield.

Nissan e-NV200 – production version makes debut

After years of testing, the production Nissan e-NV200 is finally revealed at the ongoing Geneva show. The van’s all-electric drivetrain is based on that used in the Nissan Leaf. When sales start in June, it will be offered as a van or a five-seater in Combi or more luxurious Evalia guises.

Apparently it isn’t simply an NV200 with an electric powertrain plonked into it – more than 30% of the e-NV200′s parts are unique. There are visual changes, a re-engineered chassis, interior revisions, a new battery pack and higher-capacity regenerative braking, amongst others.

It gets Nissan’s ‘EV face’ – familiar from the Leaf. The charging flap in the nose is flanked by unique crescent-shaped headlamps (LED on passenger models) that contain blue-tinted arrow-like position lamps. All versions get LED tail lamps, and the ‘electric blue’ theme extends to the badging.

The battery can be recharged overnight using a domestic single-phase 16 A, 3.3 kW supply, or in 4 hours if a 32 A, 6.6 kW supply is used. Use a CHAdeMO DC 50 kW quick charger (more than 1,000 of these have been installed across Europe) and the battery goes from zero to 80% charged in 30 minutes.

The Nissan e-NV200′s homologated NEDC range of 170 km is greater than the average 100 km daily driving distance of over half the fleets who use this class of van, Nissan says. The regular NV200′s payload and 4.2-cubic metre cargo area carries over.

The Leaf’s independent front MacPherson struts and second-gen 80 kW AC synchronous motor features here; the latter is now fully integrated with the battery charger and inverter. The lithium-ion battery has been changed to allow it to fit under the e-NV200′s floor without compromising cargo space, while retaining the 48 modules and 24 kWh capacity.

The battery is located in a reinforced zone low in the vehicle. Its mounting assembly helps boost the torsional and lateral stiffness of the vehicle by 20 and 35% respectively over the regular NV200. Due to the instant torque delivery, Nissan says the e-NV200 sprints to 100 km/h from rest quicker than the 1.5 dCi-powered NV200.

Step aboard and you’ll find a new instrument panel with a digital read-out – showing vehicle speed, range and charge state – while a power meter shows the state of motor output/regeneration. In place of the Leaf’s joystick-like gear lever is a simplified unit that shifts like a conventional automatic.
‘Real-world’ tests have taken place in Japan and Europe, with pre-production models handed over to companies such as FedEx, Coca-Cola, DHL, Ikea, British Gas and the Japan Post Office to operate as part of their everyday fleets. Feedback was collected and used to fine-tune the vehicle before series production began in Barcelona.

Nissan Smart Rearview Mirror – camera, LCD, action!

Nissan has detailed its Smart Rearview Mirror ahead of the technology’s debut at the Geneva show. The system involves an LCD monitor built into the rear-view mirror that provides rearward visibility courtesy of a high-res camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

A switch toggles between the LCD and a traditional mirror. Nissan says the LCD provides a wider and clearer view than a standard mirror, including of the vehicle’s rear flanks. This eliminates problems associated with thick and obstructive rear pillars, tall passengers in the rear seats or boot cargo blocking the rear window.

A clear image is provided no matter the weather, due to an image processing system that compensates for sunrise, sunset and even headlamp glare. The 1.3 megapixel camera is narrow-angle – Nissan says a standard wide-angle lens was not possible because the images, when adjusted to monitor size, produced a low-res image.

Conventional monitors have a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, but these could not be adequately displayed in a rear-view mirror, so an LCD with a unique aspect ratio of approximately 4:1 was developed.



“Smart Rearview Mirror will give our customers the best possible view no matter how tall the passengers in the back seat, or the road conditions,” said Nissan executive VP Andy Palmer.

“It also offers the possibility of new and exciting designs for our upcoming models because Smart Rearview Mirror is an alternative to a very wide rear window for good visibility. We’ll have the flexibility to create new shapes, and to further improve aerodynamics for better fuel efficiency.”

The Smart Rearview Mirror is set to be used first in the ZEOD RC and other Nismo race cars. Nissan plans to offer the system as a dealer option in Japan this spring, before it hits global markets from next year.