Yokohama – Dec. 5 – The all-new Nissan Sylphy came home to Japan Wednesday, after launches in the U.S., China, Thailand and other countries.
The sedan’s premiere at Nissan’s Yokohama headquarters was feted by the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, as Nissan executives and the media attended.
The Sylphy is built on a new platform with a new powertrain, including a new 1.8-liter engine and next-generation XTRONIC continuous variable transmission, now selling in dealerships across Japan.
The model achieves 16% greater fuel efficiency than the last Sylphy.
Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga expects its roominess and enhanced exterior to make it a formidable class competitor.
“In Japan this is an M-class sedan. Globally it’s a C-segment sedan. And that market is extremely competitive, because it’s occupied by so many models from rival carmakers. So, if you don’t make an attractive car, it’s hard to get market share,” said Shiga. “The exterior has a quality, elegant design, which is very important. It’s a C-class, but it’s a car that meets the needs of the D-class co
nsumer.”Sylphy is one of Nissan’s global core models along with the Latio compact sedan and Note, which went on sale this fall.
Nissan targets global sales of 500,000 units annually, eventually reaching 120 countries.
The Sylphy is now the fourth production model made at Nissan’s Oppama plant in Japan, joining a combo of the Juke, the Cube and the pure-electric LEAF.
