The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nissan

  • Nissan redesigns Urvan for pleasurable experience

    Nissan redesigns Urvan for pleasurable experience

    Nissan first introduced the Urvan in 1973 and has since remained one of the foremost light commercial fleet and cargo vehicles ever with full-fledged versatility for businesses, hobbies or leisure, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

    The Nissan NV350 Urvan commuter and cargo van has been redesigned for product competitiveness consequent upon suggestive demand by professional services, fleet managers and small businesses.

    Now equipped with modern features and enhanced tweaks for the 2015 model year, Nissan says the new Urvan is a radical departure from the second generation Urvan model popularly called E23 launched 35  years ago to transport people, goods and services.

    Powered by newly developed QR25DE petrol (gasoline) engine and the YD25DDT diesel version, the Japanese automaker says both engines are offspring of Nissan improved technology for best-in-class fuel economy of 9.1km/litre for petrol and 12.2km/litre for diesel which reduce exhaust emissions by as much as 50 per cent.

    These engine variants are however mated to a combined 5-speed automatic transmissions that rotate at lower speed and make less noise while driving at high speed – an innovation that enables smooth and responsive acceleration from start to high-speed driving. Drivers would similarly appreciate the new Urvan alternator regenerative control which reduces friction and lower idle speed to guarantee stable driving performance and enhance fuel efficiency.

    A progeny of Nissan’s new tagline, ‘Innovation that excites’ and a concerted effort of product planning, design and engineering, the new Urvan 350 is undoubtedly a class-leading fuel efficient vehicle remodelled with ample load capacity and cargo space length of 3,050mm – the longest yet in the light commercial vehicle segment.

     

    Design features

    Unlike in previous models, the new NV350 is equipped with a host of improvements key among them being new economical engines, class leading fuel efficiency, confident and refreshing styling and a newly added wide body variant in response to high demand for core passenger commuting van. This is in addition to the strong and bold presence of the redesigned van with roomy and versatile cargo space and advanced equipment for greater convenience and comfort.

    Amit Sharma, Stallion NMN Head of Sales and Marketing said the NV initials stand for Nissan Van while 350 represents the total weight of the van put at 3.5 tonnes even though the van can carry a gross weight of 1.25 tonnes.

    The new NV350 exterior styling also features intelligent and modern design proposition particularly the aerodynamic front-end design incorporating three-dimensional and imposing angled strut grille with crisp bi-xenon headlight design and LED positioning lights for all grades. The Urvan’s distinctive rear combination taillights with high-mount LED stop lamp and an idiosyncratic character line also gives the vehicle a dynamic side view.

    Customers would similarly observe the van’s wheelbase of 15mm has been extended for maximum cargo space and utility. For example, a 50/50-split folding seat has been remodelled to allow for additional space when loading long items. Coupled with this are utility nuts provided on the side panel of the cargo space to personalise cargo space for utility and convenience.

    Other appealing features for increased convenience and comfort include: Push Engine Start button adapted for the first time in commercial vehicles, intelligent key, foot-operated parking brake and a vehicle information display at the centre of the instrument cluster.

     

    Interior

    Inside the vehicle, the driver enjoys plenty of new enhancements such as easier to read dials – thanks to the blue outline and white numbering; keyless entry, auto door lock with side door child lock, light green tinted window glasses, modern clear-cut instrument panel with a black upper area and grey lower section behind the steering wheel.

    The Urvan comes with expanded functional cabin expressing a premium feel, utilising light silver colour and planting on steering the shift knob, meters, air-conditioner dial and ventilation parts. Coupled with this is ample legroom for front passengers to provide best seating position with tilt steering and adjustable driving seat for the driver and front occupants.

    The new seat configuration has been redesigned such that they can be folded down to accommodate even longer items while the flat floor and boxy shape of the van provide generous room for more loadable goods.

    In the NV350 Wide Body (High Roof) variant for instance, the vehicle can comfortably accommodate 16 passengers with sufficient legroom between each seat rows while the Panel Van model is equipped with additional 185mm of space and larger door alloys for seamless loading of cargo, entry and exit.

     

    Safety

    Other key features on the new NV350 series are manual control body-coloured door mirrors, auto light system, LED High-Mount Stop Lamp, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), Brake Assist plus front ventilated disc brakes and rear drum. SRS air bag system for driver and front passenger are standard with load limiter pretension seatbelts for driver and front passenger.

    Sharma boasted that Nissan will continue to evolve the model to keep good sales over a long time and improve its product competitiveness while making the vehicle a best partner to support customers’ daily life and businesses.

    He said: “Once you see, touch and ride the new NV350 Urvan, you would feel the excellence of this new model Urvan available in four variants: 16-seater wide body high roof, panel van standard roof, 15-seater high roof and 15-seater standard roof.

    “The entire segments are competitively priced to serve a variety of markets from taxis, people movers, professional services such as ambulances, delivery vehicles, small businesses and the likes.”

  • Nissan, NASA partner to develop autonomous drive vehicles

    Nissan, NASA partner to develop autonomous drive vehicles

    Nissan Motor Corporation  and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have announced the formation of a five-year research and development partnership to advance autonomous vehicle systems and prepare for commercial application of the technology.

    Researchers from Nissan’s United States’Silicon Valley Research Centre and NASA’s Ames Research Centre at Moffett Field, Califonia will focus on autonomous drive systems, human-machine interface solutions, network-enabled applications, and software analysis and verification, all involving sophisticated hardware and software used in road and space applications.

    Researchers from the two organisations will test a fleet of zero-emission autonomous vehicles at Ames to demonstrate proof-of-concept remote operation of autonomous vehicles for the transport of materials, goods, payloads and people.

    The first vehicle of that fleet should be testing at the facility by the end of the year.

    “The work of NASA and Nissan – with one directed to space and the other directed to earth, is connected by similar challenges,” said Carlos Ghosn, President/Chief Executive Officer of Nissan Motor Co.

  • Nissan names Manchester City star Brand Ambassador

    Nissan names Manchester City star Brand Ambassador

    Nissan has named Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure as its newest global brand ambassador for the 2015 African Nations Cup (AFCON), holding in Equatorial Guinea early next year.

    The three-time African Footballer of the Year and UEFA Champions League winner has agreed to the deal which will see him work alongside Nissan’s global UEFA Champions League and Orange Cup of Nations 2015 partnerships.

    Mr Parvir Singh, the Group Managing Director (automobile division), Stallion Motors Limited and Nissan custodian in Nigeria announced the deal at a news brief in Lagos.

    He said Toure will as part of the contract be the face of Nissan’s advertising campaign in Africa and play key role at Nissan’s Orange Cup of Nations 2015 sponsorship.

    “Toure will also help connect football fans with the Nissan brand and increase excitement around Nissan’s innovative range of products and slogan, ‘Innovation that excites,” he said.

    Singh described Toure as a symbol of Africa pride which according to him was one of the reasons the Japanese automaker chose him as Nissan ambassador for the 2015 AFCON tournament.

    Toure acknowledged the appointment and was quoted as saying: “I’m proud to be partnering with Nissan across its UEFA Champions League and Orange Cup of Nations 2015 sponsorships. I have been fortunate enough to win lots of trophies in my career, but the Orange African Cup of Nations has always been my target as an African, so I am really looking forward to it and working with Nissan to help bring the excitement around both of these fantastic tournaments to fans around Africa and the rest of the world.”

  • Nissan, Renault sell 200,000 electric cars

    Nissan, Renault sell 200,000 electric cars

    A little less than four years ago, the first 2011 Nissan Leaf electric car was delivered to eager buyer Olivier Chalouhi in San Francisco.

    Earlier this month, Nissan and its partner the French carmaker Renault delivered their 200,000th electric car.

    Collectively, those cars have driven roughly 2.5 billion million miles (4 billion million km) without adding any airborne emissions to the atmosphere from the vehicle.

    The Renault-Nissan Alliance now claims a 58-percent share of the market for vehicles with no tailpipe emissions.

    Of those sales, the Alliance says that 66,500 were logged from January through early November of this year – a 20 percent increase on 2013 levels.

    Since December 2010, Nissan has sold just under 150,000 electric cars in the United States, Asia, and Europe; Renault delivered the rest in Europe and other regions.

    The Nissan Leaf is by far the best-selling electric car in history, and one of two current battery-electric vehicles from Nissan.

    The other is the e-NV200 small commercial van, now being evaluated for sale in the U.S.

    The Alliance has partnered with a variety of governments, organisations, groups, and companies to continue the rollout of DC fast-charging stations across the globe.

    Regardless of the pace, the gamble taken by the Renault-Nissan Alliance has clearly met one of its business goals: The two carmakers dominate the battery-electric vehicle business.

  • Stallion begins free Nissan service

    Stallion begins free Nissan service

    Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria (NMN) has begun its third nationwide free service campaign with comprehensive 80-point check-up during a two-week car care clinic from Novemer 3 to ovember 15.

    The campaign slated for designated Nissan cars up to 2012 model year is aimed at extending the advantages of Nissan excellent services to customers and delivering world-class consumer experience to Nissan growing clientele as the yuletide approaches.

    Announcing this incentive in Lagos, Stallion NMN General Manager, After Sales Service, Mr Srinivasa Jayaram, said: “the free service campaign is a thorough examination of the engine, transmission, electrical, under-body, Air Condition, exterior et al with series of discounts on mechanical and body repairs.”

    Stallion NMN will extend the services to three other locations including Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt, where customers will be availed of Nissan car wash, special discounts on oils, select accessories, consumables and other value added services.

    Jayaram said: “We recognise the importance of excellence both in the quality of our vehicles and in after sales service.”

    Stallion NMN in May last year appointed Nissan national sales custodian and has moved swiftly to reposition the brand as Nigeria’s foremost automobile.

  • Police warn vehicle owners

    The Ogun State Police Command have warned owners of abandoned and accident vehicles parked at Eleweran  Division to come and remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction two weeks after this publication.

    The vehicles are: Mitsubishi Bus XS 732 MUS, Nissan Sunny car DH 834 LSR, Mazda car  SNK 814CD, Nissan Blue Bird AV  175 AA, Honda Accord car SMK 102 BR and nineteen (19) motorcycles.

  • Nissan’s made-in-Nigeria vehicles go on sale

    Nissan’s made-in-Nigeria vehicles go on sale

    The made-in-Nigeria Hyundai vehicles have gone into commercial sales in the country, the Stallion Group said yesterday.

    They are being sold at prices between N1.594 million and N1.990, the Group Managing Director of Stallion Automobile Division, Aprvir Singh, said .

    Stallion Goup Chairman Sunil Vaswani said the vehicles being assembled at the Hyundai Motor Plant in Lagos are “affordably priced,” in order to give Nigerians a break from the strangle-hold of wholesale vehicle importers.

    Some of the Hyundai passenger cars which are priced between NGN1.5m and NGN1.9m, are i10, Grand, Accent,Elantra and iX35.

    In the truck and bus segments, the 10-ton HD160, seven-ton HD 120, five-ton HD78 and three-ton HD65 as well as 28+1 seater Hyundai County bus and 30-seater Stallion County bus are now being  supplied to the market.

    The  company announced last month the commencement of locally-produced Hyundai range of vehicles, having inaugurated and rolled out the first set of made-in-Nigeria Nissan automobiles in April.

    Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited’s plant Managing Director Tokunbo Aromolaran said the vehicles are certified to the world’s highest automotive operating standard – ISO/TS 16949.” ISO/TS 16949 is the highest automotive operating standard in the world and its benefits include improved quality processes at the facility along with streaming supply chains both leading to a better overall product,” said.

    The plant supported its ambitious growth plans by prioritising the need for a faster and more efficient environment to facilitate concurrent product development and support a rapidly changing requirement for a vehicle programme, Mr. Aromolaran added. He said: “Today, we are glad to inform Nigerians that we have delivered on our promise to make available affordably priced vehicles – thanks to strong-willed President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the indefatigable supervisory roles of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment headed by Dr. Olusegun Aganga.”

    The plant director added that the first phase of delivery, established a system of record for the complete vehicle programme which will gradually be expanded to meet the ever-increasing demands for functional vehicle in Nigeria.

    “Prospective customers can now walk into any of our dealership showrooms nationwide to buy value-driven made-in-Nigeria Hyundai certified vehicles.Hyundai i10, Grand, Xcent and Elantra are elegantly crafted functional cars with eye-popping styling, good fuel economy, and fantastic driving experience with modest starting price that is affordable to every desiring buyer,” Aromolaran assured.

    Stallion Motors dealers in Lagos, Warri, Asaba, Anambra and Abakaliki have also commended the initiative, saying  that this would expand customers’ options of below N2 million range of vehicles.

  • Nissan unveils new Pathfinder

    Nissan unveils new Pathfinder

    Unlike the past three generation models and the nameplate’s 28-year history, the new Nissan Pathfinder casts aside its truck-like off-road roots for a more sophisticated, comfortable, car-based and family-ready crossover SUV.

    Better explained, the Pathfinder has traded off its previous Navara-sourced ladder frame underpinnings in favour of a bitumen-bias unibody structure with an ultra-flexible seven-seat cabin.

    Stallion NMN Managing Director Parvir Singh described it as “Perfect match for families.”

    Nissan says the new Pathfinder adapts to the needs of consumers by breaking away from its “proper off-roader” status to become urbane-friendly SUV with far more refined proposition yet offering a dramatically improved ride quality and fuel economy than its predecessor launched in 2004.

    The previous Pathfinder was a rugged truck-like – adept off-roader with remarkably towing capabilities but Nissan has transformed these characteristics to an SUV with comfortable cabin, improved fuel economy and aesthetically appealing looks.

    That is why the new Pathfinder is built on a unibody structure shared with the equally new Infiniti JX crossover with a sliding second-row seat that can tilt and fold forward even with a child seat in place, making access to the adult-friendly third row much easier.

    Targeting existing family favourites such as Toyota Prado, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX – 9 amongst others, the new Pathfinder adopts a 260-horsepower 3.5-litre V6, matched to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

    And justifiably lighter than its predecessor, weighing 500 pounds – one factor in fuel economy estimates of 20 mpg city / 26 mpg highway and 22 combined, the new Pathfinder crossover SUV is currently ranked one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in a class that includes the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander.

    Though the Pathfinder has given up some towing capacity to its forbear, but it can still tow 5000 pounds – an appreciable weight for a midsize, seven-passenger crossover whose primary duty, especially in Nigeria, won’t stray from pulling a mere cruise boat.

     

    Body styles

     

    The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder R52 crossover SUV is available in four trim levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum but only the ‘S’ (base) and ‘SV’ are available in the local market, Stallion NMN, Nigeria authorized Nissan distributor affirmed.

    Standard equipment on the ‘S’ includes 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, keyless entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, a height adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split second-row seat (slides, reclines and folds); a tilt-and-telescopic steering and a six-speaker sound system with six-CD changer.

    The ‘SV’ adds automatic headlights, keyless ignition/entry, an eight-way power driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a 7-inch colour multi-information display, a rear-view camera and an upgraded audio system with a single-CD player with satellite radio and a USB/iPod interface.

     

    Performance

     

    The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 good for 260 hp and 240 pound-feet of torque. A CVT and front-wheel drive are standard. An optional all-wheel-drive system automatically apportions power between the front and rear axles as needed or allows the driver to lock in a 50/50 ratio.

    According to auto expert, EPA, its fuel economy estimates are 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 19/25/21 with 4WD.

     

    Safety

     

    Standard safety features include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.

     

    Interior design and special features

     

    The new Pathfinder’s cabin is elegantly crafted and boasts quality materials as the luxury Infiniti JX brand, given the variety of rich finishes and easy to reach intuitive controls.

    Coupled with this is the seat comfort up front which is as good as the second row that slides and reclines to optimise comfort for passengers or cargo space.

    Access to the third row seat is eased by the second row’s tilt and slide feature, which can be used even when a child seat is in place. The third row seat offers enough headroom for 6-foot passengers, and maximum cargo space stands at 79.8 cubic feet.

     

    Engine/Transmission

     

    And under the bonnet, the Pathfinder is equipped with the tried-and-tested 190kW/325Nm VQ35 3.5 litre petrol V6 engine across all variants, with a CVT auto as the sole transmission. However, official combined fuel consumption is 9.9L/100km for 2WD models and 10.2 for 4WD.

     

  • Nissan Sentra comes with new styling

    Nissan Sentra comes with new styling

    There is something unusual about the new Nissan Sentra that distinguishes the mid-class sedan from the Toyota Corolla that has for sometime charted the way in this segment.

    Its Asian makers said: “The contemporary Nissan Sentra has undergone tremendous transformation with exceptional upscale features that are evidently glaring and trendy to give the car an edge over competitions.”

    The new design, it added, is the most revolutionary in Nissan Sentra’s 30-year history.

    “This model represents the most innovative, highest quality, highest value sedan lineup in Nissan history, and with the complete redesign, it is closer in look and feel to ‘D’ Segment vehicles than a typical compact sedan,” the Japanese automaker affirmed.

    But what makes the new Sentra tick? Designed to order with approximately 15.2-foot-long, the Sentra now has ample rear-seat legroom, measuring 37.4 inches, which is more than the back-seat legroom of a typical compact car.

    The new Sentra is also five percent lighter than its predecessor but slightly larger in overall dimensions with more interior room and aerodynamic looks.

    Amazingly, the car tops 68km per-gallon fuel economy rating for combined city/highway travel, and it is easy to see why the Sentra is a noteworthy new model.

    “If you think that 68km per gallon is unattainable figure, then have a try in the new Sentra and discover how frugal the car is with fuel even when driven in normal fashion and the travel included a highway in the mountains and foothill roads,” Mr Stallion NMN Head of Sales and Marketing Amit Sharma said.

    The entire Sentra variants come with 130-horsepower, four cylinder engines that produces a maximum 128 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm.

    A peep in the cabin says much more with upscale feeling,inside and out, such as the light-emitting diodes accent headlights, tail lamps and chrome-look door handles which are standard on all models.

    And unlike the previous model, the dashboard has also been modified with soft-touch feel and a pleasant appearance, just as the centre armrest between front seats is cushioned.

    While leather-trimmed seats are available, the premium gray-coloured, cloth-covered seats provided good support especially on hot afternoons.

    The optional navigation package, which added voice recognition control, hands-free text messaging, a rearview monitor and colorful, 5.8-inch display and touch screen, could attract a little more but it is amazingly priced when compared with competitors in this segment.

    Nissan did not compromise on the front-seat legroom to add space to the back seat. Front-seat passengers get a full 42.5 inches of legroom, and the front seat tracks are long to accommodate many sizes of passengers.

    Coupled with this is the 15.1-cubic-foot trunk which is generously sized and is 18 percent bigger than the Corolla’s trunk. All this comes from a 2.3-inch longer car than its predecessor.

    Although the Sentra is a bit shorter in height than the previous model, at 58.9 inches, it is taller than most compact sedans.

    While the Sentra has intriguingly grown larger, it is some 150 pounds lighter with improved aerodynamics that helps account for fuel economy.

    Nissan says the new Sentra  epitomises Nissan’s new tagline, innovation that excites.

    Available in 1.8-Litre engine, double overhead cam four-cylinder that develops 10 less horsepower than its predecessor’s 2.0 litre unit, the new Sentra is astonishingly solid with decent throttle response which delivers 96kW of power and 174Nm of torque in both the manual transmission and CVT (continuous variable transmission.)

    The Sentra’s agility in traffic is also a soothing relief as Nissan engineers have found the right combination to deliver adequate power and better-than-expected, real-world fuel economy.

    The new Sentra comes with “eco” button that conserves fuel when activated, thus reducing unnecessary anxiety on gas mileage. Its suspensions are built to soften road bumps for a comfortable ride and access mountain curves with poise.

    Perhaps one of the most quiet in its class, the Sentra doesn’t have the kind of sound deadening and noise isolation that is found in most upscale cars, so the interior acoustics insulate sounds and disturbing noise from nearby trucks and engine that ordinarily, could permeate the passenger compartment.

    Nissan Sentra’s four out of five stars in overall crash testing and side crash test recently earned the car a plush credit in safety, which is reassuring when talking safety.

     

  • Monthly sales: Nissan leads

    Nissan Motor Comporation has outperformed Asia-based carmakers, including Toyota Motor Corporation with its mid-size sedan, Altima also known as Teana outsold Camry for the first time in 12 years at the end of February.

    Bloomberg, a premier site for business and financial market news reported that Nissan’s United States growth of 14 per cent this year through February contrasts with declines of 5.7 per cent for Toyota.

    Altima, Nissan’s top seller, rose by 11 per cent to 30,849 in February, for a total of 53,364, while Toyota’s Camry sales fell 7.3 percent to 28,998 last month, for a year-to-date total of 52,330.

    Nissan has to this end set clear objectives and measures for boosting quality-up through the fiscal year 2016 with an ultimate goal “to become the top level in the area of quality from the customers’ perspective.”

    The automaker said: “Over the course of our midterm plan ‘Nissan Power 88’, our objective is to establish ‘NISSAN’ in the leading group of global automakers in product quality and to elevate ‘INFINITI’ to leadership status among peer luxury products by promoting quality programme called ‘Enhancing quality’ ”.

    The automaker added that through Nissan “Enhancing quality”, customers can expect better-built cars that can deliver optimum performance throughout their lifecycle.

    VON Automobile Nigeria, local Nissan assemblers and Stallion NMN, country representative for the brand have applauded Nissan’s rising profile in global markets, saying: “Nissan has the potential to become world leading brand when viewed against its vast experience in the last 80 years.”

    Managing Director, VON Automobile Nigeria Limited, Mr Tokunbo Aromolaran, who gave this hint in Lagos, said: “Nissan plant in Nigeria will soon change the game in Africa’s most vibrant market when the VON Automobile plant with an annual installed capacity for 45,000 vehicles goes into full swing in April.”

    He said Nissan’s intention is to make Nigeria a significant manufacturing hub in Africa by doubling the annual sales by 2016.

    “We started 2013 on a high note and markets in Africa showed favourable growth indices suggesting positive achievement,” Mr. Aromolaran said.