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SPYSHOTS: White Nissan Note sighted in Malaysia with registered Wilayah number plate

Remember that white Nissan Note that we saw in Bangsar? That one had a trade plate. Today we caught another Nissan Note in the Klang Valley, this time registered with a Wilayah number plate.
Could it be the very same car? Maybe, or maybe not – the Bangsar car was fitted with black steel wheels while this white one looks like it had alloy wheels. This could also very well be a grey import.
Malaysia first got a preview of the Nissan Note at KLIMS 2013, where the Honda Jazz-size tall roof hatchback was displayed together with a preliminary spec sheet. The spec sheet listed a 1.5 iltre HR15DE CVTC engine, producing 102 PS and 139 Nm of torque, mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox.
The last official word was that the Nissan Note was planned to be launched by the end of 2014. The word through the grapevine now is that the launch has been postponed while Tan Chong works on how to get a more competitive price on it. The new Honda Jazz probably has something to do with it, launched recently with attractive pricing and specifications, and the H badge is more popular with the consumers.
Nissan’s next product launches should be the facelifted Nissan Serena S-Hybrid MPV and the new Nissan X-Trail, both set to be locally assembled in Malaysia.

COMOS introduces EV car-sharing programme to the public, official launch to take place next month

Cohesive Mobility Solution (COMOS) is set to launch its electric vehicle (EV) sharing programme next month, and ahead of that, it has opened membership registration to the public. The scheme is the first of its kind in the region.
COMOS is giving 100 lucky members the chance to enjoy unlimited usage of the car-sharing services during the trial period, which is between the date of the programme’s launch in October and the end of the year. After that, full deployment will take place.
What has been achieved so far since the ‘soft launch‘ in June? Well, the Renault Zoe and Renault Twizy, both of which are not on sale for the Malaysian public, have been approved by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

According to COMOS executive chairman and ex-Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin, JPJ has decided that you need a car licence to drive the Twizy, which effectively classifies it as a car and not a motorcycle. You wouldn’t be allowed to take it on the PLUS Highway, apparently – most likely for safety reasons, as it wouldn’t be able to reach highway speeds.
To date, 46 Renault Zoes have arrived in Malaysia for COMOS, and 30 Renault Twizys are set to land in November. Nissan Leaf? Next year. 60 Klang Valley locations have been identified for charging stations, and at 15 of these, work has already begun.
By 2017, the aim is to have the service running in Langkawi, Penang, Melaka and Johor Bahru, with rapid charging stations located at every rest stop along the North-South Highway.

Branding agreements have been signed with Petronas, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Celcom. COMOS is working with UTM to develop and commercialise hydrogen charging systems for EVs, and Celcom will provide the payment gateway and vehicle connectivity.
COMOS also shared tentative pricing with members of the media at a recent briefing – membership fees of RM300 annually or RM50 monthly, along with RM20-25 per hour of usage.
It’s not just about private users – COMOS is also offering corporate leasing packages, which include unlimited mileage, periodical maintenance and a wall-mounted charger at the customer’s location.

There’re also advertising packages, which give you three free membership cards for one year. Both packages will include customers’ logos on the cars, and both are eligible for corporate double tax deduction.
Through the leasing package, COMOS claims to offer savings, over three years, of nearly RM30,000 for a Renault Zoe against a Honda Civic, and RM33,000 for a Nissan Leaf over a Honda Accord. These are based on tentative monthly lease prices of RM4,450 for the Zoe and RM5,300 for the Leaf.
EV tourism is also in the plans, under the COMOS EcoRide moniker. Tourists will be able to rent Twizys from hotels and tourist centres, and use them to explore, with navigation and voice-guided tours thrown in. The concept is planned for Langkawi, Putrajaya and KL. DBKL is also apparently interested in using the Twizy for patrolling purposes, Syed Zainal said.

With all said and done, I had a short spin in the COMOS Renault Zoe. It was late afternoon and the office crowd was taking to the roads in Mutiara Damansara in full force, which meant I could only have a quick fling around The Curve’s inner road.
Simple – all you had to do was touch the RFID membership card on a scanner located behind the windscreen’s bottom-right, a green light would flash and the car would unlock automatically.
You then get in, enter a six-digit PIN into a little machine on the windscreen’s top-right, answer some rudimentary questions (Do you possess a valid driving licence? Are there any damages to the vehicle?), press the start button (car key already in the slot) and you’re good to go.

Not much to be gleaned from the test drive (I drove it for all of ten minutes), safe for everything you’d expect – a good dose of instantaneous, low-down torque, along with whisper-quiet progress.
Low-speed brake pedal action took some getting used to – nothing much in the first few centimetres of travel, and then a lot of retardation thereafter. The brakes are regenerative, of course. The steering seemed to be devoid of any feel, feedback or weight, but ride comfort wasn’t bad.
Still, as much as we seem to love placing electric cars on an out-of-reach, out-of-reality pedestal, the Zoe drives very much like a… well, car. I eagerly await a second date for further inspection!

IIMS 2014: New Nissan X-Trail launched in Indonesia

Spotted at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2014 was the new third-generation Nissan X-Trail. Assembled in Cikampek, West Java, the Japanese seven-seater SUV made its debut in the archipelago a couple of weeks ago, making Indonesia the first country in ASEAN to receive it (the car was also launched in the Philippines last week).
Looking pretty much like a stretched Qashqai, the X-Trail features Nissan’s latest design language, with its “V-Motion” grille, slim headlights, D-pillar kink, C-shaped tail lights and assortment of sweeps and curves.
The interior will be familiar to anyone who’s driven the Teana, except for the standard third-row seats. Our man Danny Tan – who was at the show – says the seating arrangement is more 5+2, as the rear-most seats are only really suited for children.

Two four-cylinder petrol engine choices are available – a Serena S-Hybrid-derived MR20DD 2.0 litre direct-injected mill developing 144 PS and 200 Nm, as well as a QR25DE 2.5 litre MPI motor from the Teana that produces 171 PS and 233 Nm. The former is available with either a six-speed manual or an Xtronic CVT, the latter only available with the Xtronic. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels.
Standard on all models are LED daytime running lights, auto headlamps and Active Ride Control. The 2.0 CVT adds self-levelling full-LED headlamps, auto wipers, heated door mirrors, keyless entry, push-button start, power-operated front seats, an Around View Monitor and an ECO mode switch, while the 2.5 is the only one with cruise control, 18-inch wheels (other models get 17’s), leather seats and dual-zone climate control.
Safety-wise, the Indonesian X-Trail comes with just dual airbags, but it also comes standard with ABS with EBD and brake assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Hill Start Assist, Active Trace Control (called Active Understeer Control on Malaysian-market Teana models) and ISOFIX child seat anchors on the second row bench. The 2.5 also benefits from Active Engine Braking.

Prices start at Rp. 383 million (RM103,300) for the 2.0 litre manual, rising to Rp. 413 million (RM111,300) for the CVT-equipped 2.0 litre and Rp. 431.5 million (RM116,900) for the 2.5 litre model. Five colours are available – Premium Bronze Metallic, Floral White, Phantom Black, Smokey Grey Metallic and Diamond Silver Metallic.
Malaysian distributor Edaran Tan Chong recently announced that the X-Trail will make its way to our shores by the end of the year, locally-assembled and ready to take on the Honda CR-V, the Mazda CX-5, the Ford Kuga and the seven-seater Chevrolet Captiva.

Nissan opens 18th 3S centre in Tawau, Sabah

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has opened its 18th Nissan 3S centre in Tawau, Sabah. With a total built-up area of over 3,458 square feet and an investment of RM1.5 million, the new 3S centre can display up to five Nissan models at any one time, and is staffed by 12 sales advisors and six technicians.
Amenities include a lounge and refreshment bar with WiFi connectivity, as well as a Kid’s Corner. The workshop is capable of servicing up to 40 cars a day.

“As our product line-up continues to grow and improve, it is important that we strengthen our after-sales support for our customers,” said ETCM executive director Datuk David Chen.
To date, ETCM has an extensive network of 106 showrooms, dealers included, and 59 Tan Chong Express Auto Service (TCEAS) workshops throughout the nation. Another 3S centre is in the plans for Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

COMOS Electric Carnival at The Curve this weekend – see and test drive electric cars, register as a member

Malaysia’s first electric car sharing scheme, COMOS, is having an Electric Carnival at The Curve this weekend (September 19-21). Visitors to the carnival will be able to get up close with, and test drive, the electric cars of the COMOS fleet.
Membership registration will also be open – sign up and there’s a chance you could become an exclusive pilot user and enjoy unlimited usage of the car-sharing services during the trial period – although no mention is made of when and how long the trial period is.
Back in May, we told you about Cohesive Mobility Solution (COMOS), Malaysia’s first EV car-sharing programme, under which Klang Valley residents would be able to rent either a Nissan Leaf, Renault Twizy or Renault Zoe on an hourly basis. We very recently spotted a trailer load of Zoes – probably the first batch of cars under the scheme.

The initial aim was to have 30-40 EV units operational in KL at the time of launch (targeted for August at the time), and 60 public charging stations. The vehicles would be purchased by COMOS, the cost of which would be recouped by rentals and revenue generated through the sale of advertising space on the cars.
COMOS is a partnership between CMS Consortium, Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia).
Private company CMS Consortium operates under the care of NADI Manufacturing, which is controlled by Proton’s ex-chairman Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh. COMOS’ executive chairman however, is none other than ex-Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin.

Nissan Almera facelift with V-Motion face rendered

The Nissan Almera has started getting its mid-life update in regions where it is sold around the world, with the first ASEAN country to get it being Thailand in January this year.
The facelift is more of an evolution of the ‘kamishimo’ trapezoidal face that Nissan was employing on its cars when the Almera made its debut, with bigger headlamps and more chrome on the front grille. This face has since been superseded by the new V-motion grille. In fact, the Pulsar hatchback start off with the kamishimo face and got updated to the V-motion face for its European debut.
So we had this idea – what if Nissan had gone the V-motion route for the Almera facelift instead? Malaysian rendering whiz Theophilus Chin whipped up these renderings for us showing how a Nissan Almera could look like with if it was given a major facelift. Do you think it’s better than the real facelift?

What you can do in a facelift is quite limited, especially on a relatively low-margin B-segment car, so most of the body shape has been retained to keep the rendering’s prospects as a ‘facelift’ realistic.
The Almera was responsible for Nissan Malaysia distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor’s sales to skyrocket from 28,318 units in 2012 to 45,780 units in 2013. The Almera revolutionised the B-segment market in Malaysia with a low automatic transmission entry price of under RM70k.
But the Almera’s competitors came fighting back with a vengeance – both the Toyota Vios and Honda City received new models and Almera sales dipped across the region in the first half of this year. Australia even decided to drop it from the country’s line-up.

You can see that there seems to be stark differences in how the B-segment sedan market is carved up now – on one hand, you have cars like the Vios and the City who seem to have moved so well up the value chain that they are now bigger and more premium, with more equipment than ever before, rendering C-segment cars irrelevant to most buyers.
On the other hand, you have cars like the Nissan Almera and Mitsubishi Attrage which seem to have been planned around the Thai eco car program with 1.2 litre engines, thus end up being noticeably more low rent. Other car companies like Honda didn’t participate in the program with their sedans, instead choosing to field new models like the Honda Brio.
The Almera of course remains the most affordable 1.5 litre B-segment sedan at RM 69,827.00 – the Attrage undercuts it by offering a 1.2 litre sedan for RM 67,978.50. The most affordable automatic variants of the City and Vios are priced at RM 73,626.00 and RM 75,087.50 respectively. You can compare the mentioned entry-level B-segment sedans at CarBase.my.

Nissan CPO Andy Palmer to become Aston Martin CEO

Nissan chief planning officer Andy Palmer will be leaving the company to become CEO of Aston Martin, the British carmaker has announced.
The 51-year old, who also has been running Infiniti since Johan de Nysschen moved to Cadillac in July, was reportedly the main target of Aston Martin for recruitment. Former Aston boss Ulrich Bez stepped down late last year.
“After he completes a transition period from his current employer,” Palmer will pass the baton to Philippe Klein, product planning chief of Renault. Klein will then report directly to Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Palmer started his professional career in 1979 at the age of 16, as an apprentice at Automotive Products Limited (UK). In 1986 he joined Austin Rover to eventually become Rover Group’s transmissions chief engineer. Palmer joined Nissan in 1991 and has been based in Japan for the past 13 years.

“We’re delighted that Andy will join us as our new CEO at this important time at Aston Martin,” said a statement from Aston Martin’s shareholder board.
“Andy’s wealth of experience on the global automotive stage in marketing and sales, engineering and technology, and luxury and brand management will be instrumental in taking Aston Martin forward through its most significant and ambitious period of investment to date.”
We had the opportunity recently to catch up with Palmer at the launch of the Nissan NP300 Navara in Bangkok, where he shared with us Nissan (and Datsun’s) plans for our region.

SPIED: Nissan Serena S-Hybrid facelift on trailer

Reader Zulhafiz Ramli has kindly sent in these photos of a covered Nissan Serena S-Hybrid on a trailer. He managed to grab a shot of the rims – those are the facelift model‘s rims. Does this mean the facelift is heading towards an introduction here in Malaysia?
The pre-facelift MPV was launched in Malaysia in July 2013, fully-imported (CBU) from Japan and priced at a competitive RM150k, thanks to its duty-free status at the time. The tax exemptions have since expired, although existing units retain that selling price. We understand that Edaran Tan Chong Motor has plans to locally-assemble the vehicle – could we be looking at a CKD unit here?

Unveiled last year at the Tokyo motor show, the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid facelift has an updated front bumper, new-shape headlamps and a redesigned front grille. There are also new alloys and new LED tail lamps with S-shaped internals.
New equipment available in Japan includes Emergency Brake and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Around View Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD), Emergency Assist for pedal misapplication and Driver Attention Alert.

Nissan Merdeka Deals, savings worth more than RM6k

In conjunction with Merdeka Day celebrations, Edaran Tan Chong Motor is offering attractive deals for selected Nissan models. The Merdeka campaign is until September 30, and eligible models are the Nissan Navara pick-up truck, Grand Livina MPV, Almera B-segment sedan and Serena S-Hybrid MPV, some with deals and savings worth more than RM6,000.
The Serena S-Hybrid, launched here in July 2013, comes with a free Navigator system, on top of a “special personalised package”. Imported CBU from Japan, the Highway Star trim level comes with unique front grille and bumpers, 16-inch alloys with sportier suspension and a dark interior theme.
Speaking of sporty, ETCM is giving 50% discount off the Impul aerokit for the Grand Livina and the Nismo aerokit for the Almera. Attractive trade-in deals and downpayment rebates are in store for the Navara.

DRIVEN: 2014 Nissan Elgrand tested from every seat

You get a job, you get married, and then you have kids. Hopefully in that order. You watch your first child open his or her eyes for the first time and curiously look around the ward. And everything changes – you cease to be a manager or senior manager or whatever fancy corporate title you hold at your office. Your primary job title has now become provider and protector of your family.
It’s no longer about horsepower, torque and acceleration times from now on. It’s all about making sure your family is able to travel in the most comfortable and safest vehicle you can afford. And for the longest time, the well-to-do family man has been shopping at grey importers for his weapon of choice. It’s not an uncommon sight to see a sea of white or silver MPVs imported from Japan parked at these dealerships. Now, the official importers are having a go to get some market share as well.

Malaysian Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor was one of the first to officially enter this segment with the launch of the Nissan Elgrand in Malaysia back in 2012. UMW Toyota followed later with the Alphard this year, and ETCM followed up by quickly bringing in the latest facelift of the Elgrand, which was globally unveiled at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show.
These large luxury MPVs such as the Toyota Alphard and Nissan Elgrand are displacing traditional choices at the RM300k-RM400k range, which used to belong exclusively to Euro sedans and SUVs.
Specifications, and differences compared to the pre-facelift Elgrand

Left: Pre-facelift Elgrand, Right: Facelift Elgrand Like the pre-facelift model, the Elgrand continues to be offered with a 3.5 litre engine only, while its competitor the Alphard has a more affordable 2.4 litre model. This means a relatively high road tax cost, although with the Elgrand, being an MPV, it’s not as a high as a 3.5 litre sedan (about RM2.4k versus RM4.2k).
The engine is Nissan’s venerable VQ35DE, offering 280 PS at 6,400 rpm and 344 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. In this application it’s paired to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT transmission, which has a six-speed manual mode.

Upgraded specs over the pre-facelift model include LED headlamps, multi-spoke 18-inch wheels, a new Fine Vision instrument panel with a five-inch colour Drive Assist Display between the dials and a leather steering wheel with MID and cruise control buttons.
The interior trim has been revised from medium brown in the pre-facelift car to a new, darker deep wood grain. The black leather seats now have a diamond-shaped quilted pattern and brown double stitching.

The power folding function for the third row seats has been removed, but this allows for the third row to gain a new sliding function for you to adjust between having more luggage space and more third row legroom. Other features include powered rear sliding doors and a powered boot.
Safety wise, the Elgrand comes with six airbags (dual front, side, curtain), ABS, EBD and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC). Nissan’s Around View Monitor provides a bird’s eye view of the vehicle to assist parking. This is done by stitching together images from four 180-degree wide-angle cameras.

While this system sounds like a great idea, it’s let down by being displayed on a relatively low resolution screen. Even Tan Chong’s own TCAT head unit has a screen and reverse camera that looks way sharper than Nissan’s own OEM screen and camera.
With everyone spoiled by the high resolution displays on our laptops and mobile phones these days, car companies should really rethink the resolution of screens and cameras that they equip in cars.
Driving the Nissan Elgrand – life in the first row of seats

The Elgrand’s 3.5 litre V6 fires up with occasion. Hearing it start up in a quiet parking lot would make you think it’s probably some kind of an expensive sports car, only for you to find a big lumbering MPV when you turn your head to ogle.
It’s a pretty large vehicle, the Elgrand. After the delicious sounding engine start up sound, the next thing you’ll notice when you drive off is how slow the steering is geared. This means you’ll have to turn more of the steering wheel to get the wheels to turn as compared to what you’d normally be used to in a sedan. That said, the Elgrand is relatively easy to manoeuvre, and even parking isn’t that much of an issue thanks to the Around View Monitor.

The V6 has gob-loads of power, and the Xtronic CVT puts it to the ground ever so smoothly. Revs are kept consistently low, but if you need that extra bit of power, the CVT gearbox smoothly brings the revs up. Nissan’s CVTs are some of the best in the business – there’s no irritating rubber band effect here. CVTs are usually used on small engines, but perhaps more large engines should get them too?
It feels like just the right amount of power because you can summon additional acceleration at any time, and while the engine-gearbox combo doesn’t deliver a surge that kicks you back into your seat, the added acceleration feels acceptable. I think the smaller engine (which you’ll be able to find in grey market Elgrands) would feel a little underpowered in this case.

The Elgrand is a tall car (though not as tall as the Alphard), so you can expect it to lean quite a bit through the corners. Other than obvious reasons of safety, you shouldn’t take corners too fast in this vehicle because your second row passengers that are probably family members that you love are going to feel a little nauseated.
There’s a little storage console in the middle of the front two seats, which integrates four cupholders (two front and two rear) and a USB port in the middle. A further two cupholders pop out from the dashboard just below the seat heating controls.
How does it perform as a chauffeur-driven car?

If you’re going to be driven around in the Elgrand, you’ll probably be sitting in the middle row, which has two individual “captain chairs”. These have manual adjustment – they can slide back and forth, they have integrated ‘floating’ armrests that you can flip up and down, and there’s even an ottoman leg rest which you can raise. However, tall people won’t find this feature very useful.
The seats are nice and supportive, and the rear air con controls and vents are just above you. There’s also a larger range of adjustment than usual because you can even adjust the angle of the top half of the seat back separately from the seat.

There’s another storage console in between these two captain seats, which integrate four cupholders, and you can fold this down to make it easier to move between the second and third rows.
There are some advantages and disadvantages in being chauffeur driven with a big Japanese MPV instead of the ubiquitous Mercedes-Benz S-Class. An S-Class beats the MPV in the sense that the its seats are way more comfortable, and the front passenger seat of an S-Class can be controlled by both the driver and the rear passenger, so you can adjust your legroom on the fly.

Having a low centre of gravity, the S-Class has a much smoother ride, especially through the bends. So if you decide to work on your laptop in the car – which is really a good way to reclaim the hours that we spend in traffic jams these days – there’s less chance of you getting motion sickness.
A sedan will also handle better and brake better, so if by any chance you get into some kind of a hairy situation, you’ll fare better in the sedan.

One big plus point of travelling in the Elgrand is that the rear blowers are a lot more powerful, and they do a better job at cooling without being overly noisy. Since they’re positioned right above your head, you get the perception of being in a cool cabin with less effort than the blowers in an S-Class, which is positioned relatively far away.
Of course, if you compare the cost of acquisition based on brand new car prices, an Elgrand is significantly cheaper than an S-Class. So you do get a lot more interior space compared to an equivalently priced Mercedes-Benz, which would be an E 250.

The Elgrand can also fit four adults in the second and third rows very comfortably with plenty of legroom, especially when you position the seats for maximum cabin area as opposed to luggage area, so it’s more suitable for business meetings too.
This is one huge MPV basically – it’s incredible how much legroom there is even in the third row!
How is it as family transport – child seat and luggage flexibility

Since the Elgrand can seat six very comfortably, it’s inevitable that it should sometimes have to carry six people’s worth of stuff. We recommend items to be stored in the luggage area only, as storing them on the floor in the passenger cabin will turn them into projectiles in an accident.
With the third row adjusted to the maximum rear position, the boot is 150mm deep, enough room for a compact stroller and various other groceries. The good news is that you can slide the third row forward to increase luggage space to 240mm deep. This wasn’t possible with the pre-facelift car. The third row is also split 60:40 so you can slide them back and forth individually for more flexibility in adjusting between luggage area and legroom. There’s also a luggage hook on the back of the 60 split section.

ISOFIX child seat anchorage points are only found on the second row captain seats, which hinder the flexibility of child seat installation somewhat. It would have been nice for the third row to get ISOFIX points as well, so you can have one child in each second and third row with an adult seated next to them for company and care. Third row ISOFIX seems to be a feature exclusively available in European MPVs (such as the seven-seater Volkswagen Sharan) and three-row SUVs only.
So with the Elgrand, you’ll have to use a regular seat belt-secured child seat for the third row if you want such a setup. You just need to make sure the seat is secured properly, as an improperly secured child seat is unsafe in accidents. Belt-secured seats are just as safe as ISOFIX seats, but what ISOFIX does is minimise incorrect installation.

As for ease of ingress and egress, It’s pretty easy to move between the second and third row thanks to the gap between the captain seats. The fact that the second row uses manual adjustment instead of electrical adjustment turns out to be a plus point in this case, as it also makes it easy and quick to fold the seat forward to access the third row from the sides instead of through the middle.
Another neat feature is an additional wide angle pop-down mirror near the rear view mirror that’s angled to let you easily see all your passengers at a single glance.
How different is the Elgrand from the super popular Toyota Alphard?

Firstly, the Elgrand is only available as a 3.5 litre, while the Alphard has a cheaper 2.4 litre option. This can represent significant savings – a RM329k purchase price for the 2.4 litre Alphard compared to the Elgrand’s RM388k price tag. The 2.4 litre engine also has significantly lower annual road tax costs – RM729.60 versus RM2,436.80. Compared to the 3.5 litre Alphard however, the two MPVs are priced very close to each other, with the Alphard costing RM387k, and they both have similar annual road tax costs.
Although it physically looks smaller, the Elgrand is actually longer and wider than the Alphard, with a 3,000 mm wheelbase compared to the Alphard’s 2,950 mm. The Alphard looks bigger because of its taller height at 1,905 mm versus the Elgrand’s 1,815 mm. Naturally, the fact that it is taller translates to the Alphard having greater headroom inside, so it might be easier to walk around in the cabin.

Toyota took a very different approach to the third row of the Alphard compared to the Elgrand. The third row of the Alphard can seat three, but the middle passenger will be pretty much sitting on where the third row bench splits, as it has a 50:50 configuration compared to the Elgrand’s 60:40.
There’re also no sliding or fold-down adjustments – you have to fold them up and hang them by the side of the rear windows like an old Mitsubishi Pajero. The seats themselves are smaller in the Alphard, while the Elgrand’s third row has taller seatbacks so they’re more comfortable for adults.

Another thing to point out is that the captain seats of the Alphard (pictured above, left) have an armrest design that is basically integrated into the seat like a ‘shell’ – think of an airplane’s business class seat which has solid plastic flanking your thighs. This actually prevents you from spreading your legs out if you’re big sized and it feels pretty restrictive. No such problems with the Elgrand, and since you can pretty much flip up the armrests out of your way, you have easier access to a child sitting next to you in a child seat.
You can compare the Elgrand against the Alphard side by side on CarBase.my. Of course, the Alphard is a more recognisable product, and as a result it enjoys a plus point that regular commenter Sam Loo refers to as ‘good RV’. The 3.5 litre Alphard also has a six-speed stepped automatic gearbox for those who dislike the feel of a CVT gearbox.
A fantastic people mover if you have the dough

I started off this story adding ‘well-to-do’ in front of family man, because of how expensive all these luxury MPVs are. If you’re an average Joe who can only do a little better than an Alza or Grand Livina, you’ll probably be shopping for a Nissan Serena S-Hybrid instead, which also offers a lot of interior space, albeit in a less refined and narrower cabin. It will also be cheaper to run, with the only downside being the availability of only two airbags.
The Elgrand is significantly more comfortable and safer, at more than double the price. It’s also very capable in the face of its more popular competition. Despite it being essentially a square box on the interior, Nissan has managed to trim it properly so it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting in an empty van. If you’re shopping for something at that price range, don’t forget to check this one out.

Nissan Sylphy Tuned By Impul introduced – aerokit, bigger wheels and tyres, lower springs

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has introduced the Nissan Sylphy Tuned By Impul, with various bits of added kit not unlike those seen on other Impul packages for the X-Gear, Grand Livina and Almera.
UPDATE: The Nissan Sylphy Tuned By Impul upgrade is available as a full package for RM7,900 for the E variant and RM6,000 for the VL, not RM10,900 and RM10,300 respectively as written earlier.
Outside, there’s an aerokit comprising of front and rear bumper extensions and side skirts. A boot lid lip spoiler is available on the E model; the higher-end VL retains the stock spoiler with an integrated centre brake light. The price of the kit is cheaper for the VL as a result – at RM3,000 – versus the E model’s RM3,600.

Also available are 17-inch Impul Aura SX-20 wheels at RM4,500 for a set of four, while stickier Continental Premium Contact 2 tyres come in at RM1,800 a set. Rounding out the upgrades are a RM1,000 set of Impul sport springs that sit the car 25 mm lower than standard. As a full package, the parts cost a cool RM7,900 for the E and RM6,000 for the VL.
The Nissan Sylphy Tuned By Impul will be shown at the Nissan Teana and Sylphy Public Test Drive Event at Desa ParkCity on August 16 and 17, from 10 am to 10 pm. Discounts on these Impul packages will be offered with the purchase of a new Sylphy.

Nissan NP300 Navara-based seven-seater SUV coming

An SUV based on pick-up underpinnings is quite familiar ground – Mitsubishi has its Pajero Sport, Ford its Everest, and there’s the Toyota Fortuner as well as the likes of the Chevrolet Trailblazer up and about. Nissan had it too, in the form of the previous-gen Pathfinder.
Now that the current fourth-generation R52 Pathfinder has moved away from a truck-based, body-on-frame layout for a unibody one, there’s an obvious gap in the automaker’s portfolio, and an offering based on the new NP300 Navara would provide the necessary solution.
Two months ago, during the NP300 launch in Thailand, Nissan chief planning officer Andy Palmer did hint of the possibility of such a spin-off being developed, but there was no official indication that plans were in place for this.

Now, it has been reported that the automaker has said it has begun development on an SUV based on the NP300. No details have emerged, but powertrain choices shouldn’t differ from that offered on the truck, these being the new YS23 2.3 litre and updated YS25 2.5 litre, with a seven-speed auto being the primary transmission pick.
In case you missed it earlier, rendering wiz Theophilus Chin’s depiction of what a Navara-based SUV could shape up like shows a rather buff vehicle, with plenty of bulges fore and aft. Will the real deal be more muscular than this?

2014 Nissan X-Trail CKD coming to Malaysia this year

The new Nissan X-Trail will be coming to Malaysia by the end of the year, Malaysian Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor revealed to the media at its Raya open house today. The SUV will be locally-assembled by ETCM.
The 2014 Nissan X-Trail made its global debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show with a more sophisticated design compared to its boxy predecessors. It is built on the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s new Common Module Family (CMF) platform, with a 2,705 mm wheelbase.
Aesthetic details include Nissan’s new V-Motion face, C-shaped tail lamps, LED daytime running lights, rear doors that open to almost 90 degrees to ease entry, and a stylish D-pillar kink. Nissan will also offer LED headlamps on higher trim levels.


Top: X-Trail 5-seater, bottom: X-Trail 7-seater
Unlike the previous generations that were strictly five seaters, the new X-Trail is available in both five-seater and seven-seater variants, with no increase in wheelbase for the three-row version. We don’t know for now which variant will be available in Malaysia, but in markets like Australia, both seating configurations are available.
Since the X-Trail isn’t available in ASEAN yet, we can only look Down Under for reference. Two engine options are on offer in Australia – a 2.0 litre MR20DD and a 2.5 litre QR25DE, both four-cylinder units. The latter is also found in our Nissan Teana 2.5 but with slightly different output numbers – 169 hp at 6,000 rpm and 226 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm.
The 2.0 litre is not the same engine as the one in the Teana 2.0. It has direct-injection, so it has more in common to the unit found in the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid. Output is 142 hp at 6,000 rpm and 200 Nm at 4,400 rpm. A six-speed manual is available for the 2.0 2WD, but every other Aussie variant uses an Xtronic CVT gearbox with a six-speed manual mode.

Other features include a five-inch colour TFT MID positioned in the middle of the instrument cluster, a NissanConnect seven-inch colour touchscreen navigation and infotainment system, a powered tailgate, and a two-tier cargo area that can hold up to 10 kg top and 75 kg bottom.
Tech features include Active Ride Control, Active Engine Brake and Active Trace Control. Active Ride Control detects extreme road surface undulations and alters the damping to compensate. Active Engine Brake tells the Xtronic CVT to add a degree of engine braking when cornering or coming to a stop. Active Trace Control (also found on the new Teana) brakes individual wheels during hard cornering to minimise understeer.
On 4WD variants, the electronic four-wheel drive system offers 2WD, Auto or Lock modes, selectable through a dial on the centre console. Uphill Start Support and Advance Hill Descent Control are also on the menu.
We’ll be back with more info on the Malaysian spec X-Trail as soon as we have it. See the videos and pics below and tell us what you think. Good alternative to the popular Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 duo?

ETCM to hold Nissan Safety Driving Experience – a one-day driving programme open to Nissan owners

Edaran Tan Chong Motor will be organising a one-day driver safety training programme for Nissan owners – the Nissan Safety Driving Experience, as it’s called, will take place on September 6 at Mardi’s Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) facility in Serdang.
The six-hour programme, which kicks off at 8.30 am, will consist of a theory session and five practical courses, where participants will be taught how to avoid accidents, control a skid, practice emergency braking as well as engage in slalom exercises techniques on obstacle courses. Participants will also be assessed with a series of tests to measure the level of their driving skills.

Click to enlarge.
The programme aims to educate Nissan owners on handling their cars in various driving conditions and better equip them with the right driving techniques and minimise risks if the need to face potential road hazards and incidents arise.
Do take note, however, that the Nissan Safety Driving Experience is only open to owners of the following Nissan models, namely the Almera, Teana, Sylphy, Latio, X-Gear and Grand Livina, and that you’ll have to bring your ride along for the programmme. But, what better way to learn things than with your own car, eh?
Entrance fee for the course is RM100 per person, with a maximum of two persons to a car. Participants must be above 18 years old, and possess a valid driver’s licence. Registration for the event will close on August 29 – Nissan owners who wish to sign up should contact ETCM’s Customer Relations Department at 03-4047 8788 or email crd@tanchong.com.my.

DRIVEN: 2015 Nissan NP300 Navara – 4×2 and 4×4 tested on and off the beaten track in Chiang Mai

Traditionally, people have only bought pickup trucks to haul large, heavy cargo or to trawl through the most hostile of environments. The utilitarian nature of these vehicles mean that while some concessions have been made in the name of day-to-day liveability, these vehicles are still, for the most part, uncouth and rickety.
Things are changing, however, and there is a new breed of buyers who buy these things as lifestyle vehicles, especially in Malaysia where their duty-free status make them relatively cheap compared to SUVs. And as they get used more and more for leisure, naturally, there are more and more demands placed on them to be nicer and easier to drive in the concrete jungle.
With the new Nissan NP300 Navara, there does seem to have been a concerted effort to boost the appeal of the pickup beyond the traditional workman types. This is reflected in the “Tough. Smart.” tagline that sits in contrast to the “Mother Trucker” moniker the outgoing car gained locally. The spec sheet, for example, reads like it belongs to a D-segment sedan, so comprehensive are its creature comforts.
But all these trappings would be for naught if it continues to have all the refinement and the driving manners of a shed – if it wants to be taken seriously as a car that can still be used when it’s time to put down your hard hat, it has to be reasonably comfortable and easy to drive without compromising on its capabilities as a workhorse. So, has it managed to achieve this? We drive the new contender in Chiang Mai to find out.


The shift towards greater sophistication mirrors the general trend of the pickup market, but the Nissan NP300 Navara arguably goes the furthest, at least on higher-end models. Among the features available include LED projector headlights, keyless entry, push button start, dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a large colour TFT LCD multi-function display in the instrument cluster.
Safety equipment is also top-notch, with up to seven airbags (including one for the driver’s knee) as well as stability control, Active Brake Limited Slip, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist and a rear-view camera. If local distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor wants to keep its newfound reputation for safety it gained with the latest Sylphy and Teana, it would do well to retain most, if not all, of these features.

Left: new NP300 Navara, right: current Navara Complementing these upgrades is a smoother, more homogenous design compared to the minimalist, slab-sided predecessor. Nissan’s signature “V-motion” grille flows into the shapely bonnet and pushes the outer edges of the hood upwards. These lines are echoed in the sculpted fenders, and together with the interplay between convex and concave surfaces on the door section, they give the car an muscular, athletic stance.
It’s a handsome, thoroughly modern look, and buyers will surely appreciate the aerodynamic benefits of the more streamlined design. The flowing roofline, optimised glass surface offset and tailgate spoiler all help to cut drag massively. As a result, the coefficient figure drops from 0.43 Cd to 0.37 Cd, an outstanding number on what is still a large, bulky vehicle.
Top: new NP300 Navara, bottom: current Navara
Measuring 5,255 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and 1,785 mm tall, the NP300 Navara is slightly longer and lower spec-for-spec compared to the current model. The height decrease, compared to a slight increase in ground clearance reduces the cross-sectional area, further aiding aerodynamics. Also significant is a 50 mm reduction in wheelbase to 3,150 mm, which contributes to a smaller turning circle.
Sitting inside, you don’t notice any reduction in interior space. Nissan says it has played around with the seat base positioning and torso angles and pushed the dashboard further forwards to free up precious amounts of space. The result is decent amount of head- and legroom for the front occupants, although the rear quarters is still too cramped and upright for passengers to really be comfortable.

Up front sits a dashboard that would not look out of place in a modern Nissan sedan. The hard plastics do mar the illusion somewhat, but they are the norm in the segment – and at least in the Navara they feel durable and well screwed together. There are also many a cubby hole for you to store anything you could ever need to store, including a neat tray on top of the dash complete with its own power socket.
The optional powered driver’s seat provides much adjustability, and the Teana-esque zero-gravity inspired seats provide a decent amount of support on long journeys. But the steering wheel (also cribbed from the Teana) doesn’t move high enough in rake and there’s no reach adjustment, although the more vertical tilt does a lot to give the interior a more passenger car feel. And hey, there are rear air-con vents! On a pickup!

Left: new NP300 Navara, right: current Navara Pop open the bonnet and what you won’t find – at least in our trucks – is the new YS23 2.3 litre diesel that is derived from the Renault Master van. This mill will only be available in countries with fuel grades Euro 5 and above (such as Australia) and produces 188 hp at 3,750 rpm and 450 Nm of torque from 1,500 to 2,500 rpm. Fuel consumption is quoted to be 19% better than the old YD25 2.5 litre turbodiesel.
You also probably won’t find the QR25 2.5 litre four-cylinder petrol from the Teana that is currently being adapted for use on the pickup. That’s surely better suited to the oil-rich countries in the Middle East.

What you will instead be finding is an updated version of the YD25, available in countries with fuel grades Euro 4 and below (like ours). It dispenses the same power and torque as the YS23, but at different rpm levels – 188 hp at 3,600 rpm and 450 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. Improvements in fuel economy for this powerplant is a more modest 11%. There’s also a lower 161 hp, 403 Nm tune which we did not sample.
No matter what engine you end up with, the transmission choices will be the same: a revised version of the current six-speed manual, or a new seven-speed automatic transmission from the Infiniti QX80. And of course, it goes without saying that you’ll get a choice between a four-wheel drive system that is switchable on-the-fly, or rear-wheel drive.

The real departure is under the skin. Not at the front – where the new Navara has the same double wishbone suspension as before but with revised springs and dampers for a more refined ride – but at the rear.
While almost all pickups in the segment use leaf springs at the back, the NP300 Navara utilises a five-link live axle rear suspension with coil springs that has more in common with truck-based SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Such a setup is virtually unheard of in this segment – with the only exception in Malaysia being the oddball SsangYong Actyon Sports – and should provide for a better ride.

Crucially, the newfangled suspension is claimed to be just as strong as a leaf-spring unit, with payload and towing capacity ratings for the new car expected to remain more or less the same.
Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to test such a setup, as all the Navaras we were assigned to were Thai-market cars, which had conventional leaf springs. This was explained to us as being due to tax regulations in the Land of Smiles – a pickup with coil springs would be considered a passenger car and thus be taxed higher (apparently as much as a Fortuner), rather than the more favourable commercial vehicle bracket.

We were, however, assured that leaf springs would be confined to Thailand only, and that the rest of the world would be getting the multi-link rear setup. So watch this space.
Setting off, the improved manoeuvrability of the NP300 Navara compared to the outgoing car is immediately apparent. The narrower pillars obstruct visibility much less and a noticeably smaller turning circle help make the new truck feel a lot less cumbersome, despite it being longer and no less wide. The slightly heavy steering may put off those who have to park in tight spots very often, though.

The high-output YD25 that we had in our disposal is still a little vocal – although it’s definitely more muted that its predecessor – but there’s no arguing the level of performance you get. With maximum torque coming in at just 2,000 rpm, there is little lag to speak of, and the sheer amount of turning force pulls the near two-tonne truck (around 70 kg lighter than before) from low speeds very effortlessly, even in higher gears.
This effortlessness is matched by a six-speed manual that, longer lever throws and clutch pedal travel aside, is little more difficult to row than your typical passenger car stick shift. The wider ratios, along with the lower wind noise (tyre noise on the admittedly rough Thai tarmac could be quieter still), conspire to make the NP300 Navara a surprisingly relaxed cruiser at highway speeds.

This is even more true on the automatic model, with sixth and seventh gears both being overdrive ratios. Helping the transmission’s case are the shifts themselves, which are smooth and decently quick, and its willingness to let the monstrous engine do all the work in higher gears instead of constantly shifting down. The manual override accessible by pulling the gear lever to the left of “D” is also a nice touch.
The taller ratios at the top end and the improved aerodynamics really do improve fuel consumption, too – we saw around 13 km per litre on the 4×2 model and around 9.5 km per litre on the 4×4 on a mix of highway roads, winding tarmac and, on the latter, a large stretch of crawling through mud. Both are impressive figures for vehicles of this type, given the driving conditions.

Road manners is yet another area where the new Navara is greatly improved over the previous model. Despite the test cars being fitted with leaf springs at the rear, the usual bounce and crash over pitted roads have been noticeably reduced, and the aforementioned multi-link rear suspension setup that we should be getting is expected make the truck ride smoother still.
Pitch it into the corners and the car hangs on resolutely, exhibiting remarkably little body roll and a level of sure-footedness that makes the current Navara feel nervous in comparison. The steering is also more responsive than before, and while it’s still not the last word in feel or accuracy (there’s still over three turns lock-to-lock), it’s definitely less unwieldy.

No matter how refined or sophisticated the NP300 Navara may feel on the road, however, it still ultimately needs to win its bread over the rough terrain its owners will inevitably subject it through on a daily basis. Thankfully, it seems perfectly capable of doing so.
Traversing over kilometre after kilometre of muddy tracks complete with deep ruts and puddles on our test route proved easy pickings for the pickup as it sailed straight through without missing a beat.

More demanding was the specially-built 4×4 course that really tested the Navara’s off-roading abilities. Still, it remained composed throughout, easily cresting the steep hill that was built to showcase the car’s Hill Start Assist (which holds the car stationary when the brake is released for three seconds) and Hill Descent Control. Rolling down a 30-degree incline and trusting the car to do all the braking was unnerving to say the least.
The long suspension travel, electronic locking rear differential and Active Brake Limited Slip also impressed on the wheel articulation test, managing to find traction with two wheels in the air by braking the spinning wheels and sending power to the wheels with the best traction.

All-in-all, the new Navara looks to be a very impressive pickup that manages to blend off-road toughness and on-road tractability remarkably well. Minor niggles aside, Nissan’s latest truck seems more ready than ever to take on the class best, and while a more thorough and locally-relevant test will bring to light the car’s true abilities, the latent potential of this new Mother Trucker is already clear.
So, can the Nissan NP300 Navara be Tough as well as Smart? The answer, at least for now, is exceptionally close to being a yes.