Archive for Nissan

This is the best spy video of Nissan’s upcoming spiritual successor to the Skyline GT-R yet. The Nissan GT-R in this video was captured doing some really intensive high speed laps at the Nurburgring track, and is seen tailed by a Porsche 911, which means Nissan’s power and handling performance targets should be similiar to the 911 as a competitor. Check out the video after the jump.

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Click here to read the rest of Nissan GT-R Spy Video

The above photo is quite a clear photo showing the rear three quarter profile of the new Nissan Latio Sedan to be introduced in the Malaysian market soon by Edaran Tan Chong Motor. This photo was snapped in Genting Highlands once again by reader Din. The Nissan Latio Sedan inherits the typical strange side profile that comes with every sedan that is based on a car originally designed as a hatchback, and check out that Bangle-style bootlid!

Related Posts:
Nissan Latio Sedan spotted on Jalan Kepong
Nissan Latio sedan and the Nissan Latio Sport hatchback spotted in Genting

LATEST UPDATE: Nissan Grand Livina 1.6 and 1.8 launched in Malaysia

Large families that can’t afford the likes of the Wish or Estima. There are so many of them in Malaysia, yet it’s baffling how a certain national car manufacturer has not addressed this need. For awhile, the only way Malaysians could get a cheap people movers was the Naza Ria, but while it was big and spacious people couldn’t really take the fuel consumption of the 2.5 liter V6 quad cam unit under the hood.

Then along came the Toyota Avanza and the Toyota Innova, but these were body-on-frame rear wheel drive designs, which were easy to design and provided good economies of scale because of platform sharing (Toyota IMV: Innova, Hilux, Hiace, Fortuner), however because it is essentially a truck-based design, comfort levels are not as high as they should be.

Enter Nissan’s Livina Geniss project. The Nissan Livina Geniss project spawned two MPVs - the 5-seater Livina and the 7-seater Grand Livina, and the latter will reach our shores sometime in the second half of 2007. It is an economical 7-seater MPV, much like the Toyota Avanza, however it has one key advantage over it. The Nissan Grand Livina is built upon a monocoque car chassis rather than adapted from a truck chassis. This means it is alot more comfortable.

Front wheel drive driving dynamics also mean it is relatively somewhat safer as most people are used to how a car handles when it is front wheel drive rather than rear wheel drive. A car-based chassis also means a lower center of gravity compared to it’s competitors. If you want to see what I mean, just compare the Toyota Innova to the Toyota Wish. Both are 7-seaters of similiar size, yet one is so tall, as if the Innova body was built on top of a generic frame, while the Wish is close to the ground, and looks like the whole body has been designed together with the chassis. The Grand Livina’s chassis is shared with other compact Renault-Nissan vehicles such as the Nissan Note, Renault Clio, and Nissan March.

Two engine options are available, the HR15DE (109hp at 6,000rpm, 148Nm at 4,400rpm) and the MR18DE (128hp at 5,500rpm, 174Nm at 4,800rpm), both now with CVTC Variable Valve Timing. The MR18DE comes with with a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed auto, while the HR15DE’s gearbox offering is similiar except the manual only has 5 cogs.

Based on paper specs alone, the Nissan Grand Livina looks like a much better choice than a Toyota Avanza or a Naza Citra, but let’s see how it really performs once it arrives on Malaysian shores with whatever specs Tan Chong decides to fit it with. For those who always desire a little bit more, you’ll be pleased to know that a bolt-on Impul supercharger for the HR15DE is already available, and will boost power up to 144 horsepower.

Click here to read the rest of Nissan Grand Livina to arrive in 2nd half 2007

It appears that the Nissan Teana will not be replacing the aging Nissan Cefiro after all. Edaran Tan Chong Motor is somehow placing the Teana in the top of the line Japanese D-segment CBU segment, occupied currently by the lone Honda Accord 3.0 V6. The Nissan Teana will be fully imported from Thailand and will go for RM230,000 OTR.

RM230,000 will buy you a generally nice looking car, however it seems overpriced for what it is. The Toyota Camry 2.4, also a CBU from Thailand, goes for only RM168,303.00, making it seem like a bargain. It also makes you wonder why the Teana has to be priced the way it is now, when Toyota can get the Camry in for much cheaper.

The Honda Accord 3.0 V6 CBU also comes from Thailand, and goes for RM212,800, even cheaper than the Teana V6 2.3L! It also has bigger and more powerful engine, plus a sunroof, but the Teana has 6 airbags while the Accord 3.0 V6 only has 4. However, the Teana also still uses a 4-speed auto, while rivals have gone 5 speeds.

The Teana could give it’s competitors an edge and end up being somewhat worth it in terms of ride and handling though, but I can’t exactly do a comparison looking at spec sheets so we’ll have to leave it at this for the moment. There must be some reason why the Teana ended up being priced like this, but I don’t know why.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Nissan Teana on sale for RM230,000 OTR!

[UPDATE #2: The Nissan Latio is now available for booking in Edaran Tan Chong Motor showrooms nationwide. Click here for more details like prices, specs, etc.]

Here’s another shot of the Nissan Latio sedan, sent in by reader Zuzrin. The Nissan Latio sedan was spotted going on rounds along Jalan Kepong towards the MRR2. It has all it’s emblems and logos, including wheel caps removed.

So, when are we going to see it in the showrooms?

[UPDATE: The Nissan Latio will be launched in Malaysia sometime at the end of June 2006. Keep your fingers crossed and your money in the bank before parting with your cash on a new car in the RM80k to RM110k range and wait to see if the new Latio is a worthy choice. Click here for more details!]

Related Posts:
Nissan Latio sedan and hatch spotted in Genting
Tan Chong’s plan for Nissan in 2006

Here are a new batch of photos sent in by contributor Adam, who previously shared with us photos of the CBU Toyota Camrys in a holding bay before the Camry was launched in Malaysia. This time, we get to look at the upcoming Cefiro replacement to be launched by Edaran Tan Chong - the Nissan Teana!

I’m not sure why the name change, as the Cefiro has built up a good name here in it’s segment, but then again if I was so smart I’d be working in a car manufacturer’s marketing department instead of sitting here typing this. The badge on the rear of one of the cars says 230JS. This means we’re sure the 2.3 liter model will be offered here, and this will likely be coupled with a 200JK 2.0 liter model.

In Singapore, this car is called the Nissan Cefiro, so let’s have a look at the Singaporean specs to have an insight into what the specs are. The 200JK has a QR20DE inline-4 engine, while the previous Cefiro 2.0 liter used a V6. However, I think an inline-4 is a better idea as small displacement V6 engines tend to lack push at lower revs, like my Perdana’s. The QR20DE makes 145PS at 6,000rpm, and 195Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. It has CVTC variable valve timing, and has a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

The 230JS (called 230JM in Singapore, different trim levels?) has a VQ23DE engine, a 2.3 liter V6 that makes 173PS at 6,000rpm and 225Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. This makes it the only car in it’s segment with a lovely silky smooth V6 engine, something Cefiros have always been known for.

This model also comes with a 4-speed auto, putting it at a disadvantage to the Camry and Accord’s 5-speed autos, of course this is on paper only. How the car drives can only be told if you actually drive it. But the lack of a 2nd overdrive gear might cause the new Cefiro to lose out on highway cruising smoothness and fuel economy compared to it’s competitors.

One more thing… completely built up cars in a holding bay similiar to the Camry: does this mean the new Nissan Teana is a CBU? BTW, check out Adam’s food blog.

More photos after the jump.

Related Nissan Spyshots
Nissan Latio Sedan and Nissan Latio Sport Hathcback spotted in Genting

Click here to read the rest of Nissan Teana Spotted

This is the new Nissan X-Trail. What? No, I did not exactly upload a photo of the old X-Trail in error. This is really the new Nissan X-Trail, which pretty much looks like the old one from the exterior. However, it’s actually different on the outside and the inside, so let’s have a look at the changes.

Look after the jump for the full article.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Nissan X-Trail unveiled

[UPDATE #2: The Nissan Latio is now available for booking in Edaran Tan Chong Motor showrooms nationwide. Click here for more details like prices, specs, etc.]

[UPDATE: The Nissan Latio will be launched in Malaysia sometime at the end of June 2006. Keep your fingers crossed and your money in the bank before parting with your cash on a new car in the RM80k to RM110k range and wait to see if the new Latio is a worthy choice. Click here for more details!]

These spyshots were sent in by reader Din. Finally, some signs of an all-new new Nissan model in Malaysia! Many of you have seen these two cars around with Singaporean number plates during the Chinese New Year festive season, as their Singaporean owners come back up to Malaysia to visit relatives. I’m talking about the Nissan Latio sedan and the Nissan Latio Sport hatchback.

Both a Nissan Latio sedan and a Nissan Latio Sport hatchback have been spotted with trade plates going around Genting with their Nissan badges covered with cardboard and sticky tape. This could mean our choices in the circa-100K and below market will be expanded by the end of this year with the introduction of these two models.

This shot is a little blur, but it shows the same black Nissan Latio sedan in the first photo, but there is also a greyish Nissan Latio Sport tailing it. If you look at the promo image after the jump from Nissan’s Singaporean website, you can see both cars clearly undisguised, with the same colours as the ones driving around in Genting.

In Singapore, both the Nissan Latio sedan and Nissan Latio Sport hatchback are powered by 1.5 liter engines - the new generation HR15DE making 109hp at 6,000rpm and 148Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The relatively high RPM at which peak torque kicks in worries me a little, as it might cause the Nissan to have a very Campro-like driving experience, so if there are any Singaporean readers who have driven this car and would like to give feedback, you’re very most welcome to do so. In the USA, the same car is known as the Nissan Versa, and comes with a 1.8 liter engine mated to a CVT gearbox.

A new model in Nissan’s range is seriously quite overdue, as more than a year ago Nissan told The Edge Daily that it’s plans for 2006 was to launch a new luxury sedan and a luxury crossover SUV, and while some say the new Teana test drives are already available, there’s no official launch yet. It is 2007 now. Read this post dated 22nd February 2006 or this The Edge Daily article. This Nissan Latio sedan and hatch duo will most likely be the equivalent to the Toyota Vios and Yaris, or the Honda City and Jazz, which essentially are sedan and hatch versions of the same car.

More photos of the Nissan Latio sedan and hatchback after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Nissan Latio sedan and the Nissan Latio Sport hatchback spotted in Genting

Another pointless shootout with suprising results by the folks over Fifth Gear. Who do you think will pull away in a race between a Nissan Murano GT-C and a Honda S2000? We find out after the jump… but first some brief introduction on what exactly a Nissan Murano GT-C is and what gives it the credentials to go against a proper sports car?

A Nissan Murano as we all know is a crossover SUV of sorts by Nissan, but the GT-C tag at the end of this model is more than just a styling exercise with a cool bodykit. The VQ35DE motor has been turbocharged with a single Garrett turbo-charger, resulting in an increase in power from 231bhp to nearly 350bhp at 6000rpm and 360Nm of torque at 3600rpm, mated to a CVT gearbox to ensure the engine always runs in the powerband. The Garrett turbo is a hybrid unit, built with a turbine from a Garrett T3 and a compressor from a Garrett T4.

Though turbo-ed, the VQ motor retains its high compression ratio of 10.3:1. Other enhancements include suspension and brake systems to match the new power.

Enjoy the video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Nissan Murano GT-C vs Honda S2000

Nissan’s SUV offensive continued with the Nissan Rogue, positioned somewhere between the current Nissan Murano and the recently unveiled Nissan Qashqai, set to be a competitor against the likes of the Honda CR-V, in fact it’s size is similiar, only slightly bigger. Something not as high and and luxurious as the Murano.

Designed first and foremost as a people mover (only 5 seats though!) with rugged yet sleek SUV looks and built on the Nissan Sentra’s C platform, the Nissan Rogue is front wheel drive in standard form with an optional all wheel drive drivetrain that can be specified. Two trim levels are available, the base Nissan Rogue S and the high spec Nissan Rogue SL. Both are powered by a 4-cylinder 2.4 liter engine equipped with a CVT transmission making 170 horsepower and 233Nm of torque. With the optional all wheel drive specified, you get an automatic transmission instead of a CVT.

The Nissan Rogue will make it’s debut 2007 Detroit Auto Show early next year. More photos after the jump

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Nissan Rogue