Nissan X-Trail makes Thai debut – is Malaysia next?

The Nissan X-Trail debuts in Thailand today, making it the fourth country in the ASEAN region to get it after Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore.
This isn’t the X-Trail as you remember it – gone are the boxy looks that Nissan stuck to for two generations, and in comes 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.
Like Indonesia, the X-Trail will be available with the 7-seater body, with the third row of seats being more suitable to ferry kids, making it more of a 5+2 than a true 7-seater. Nevertheless, the option will come handy for those who have the occasional need.

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. Gear shifts are automatic thanks to Nissan’s smooth X-Tronic CVT gearbox.
Thailand specs include Around View Monitor, Active Engine Brake and Active Ride Control, a 5-inch colour display meter, and first in class LED projector headlamps. Some of these will be options limited to the higher end variants, of course.
Nissan expects to sell about 8,000 units of the X-Trail a year. Six colours are available – Radiant Red, Storm White, Black Star, Brilliant Silver, Deep Iris Gray and Midnight Jade – with prices starting from 1.1 million baht (RM112k). Comparatively, Indonesian prices start at Rp. 383 million (RM103,300) for the 2.0 manual, rising to Rp. 413 million (RM111,300) for the 2.0 CVT and Rp. 431.5 million (RM116,900) for the 2.5 CVT.

We’re expecting the Malaysian launch to happen very early next year, with enterprising Nissan Malaysia sales advisors having put up pre-booking ads on Malaysian car classifieds website oto.my already. The ads list two variants – a front wheel drive 2.0 litre going for “below RM150k”, and a four-wheel drive 2.5 litre going for “below RM170k”.
The outgoing X-Trail is only sold here in 2.0 litre 2WD form, currently retailing at RM148,815 on the road without insurance, so expect the base model of the new car to have a similar price tag.

NISSAN PRICE LIST

2015 Nissan X-Trail spotted on oto.my – sub-RM150k?

This is interesting – we spotted an ad for the 2015 Nissan X-Trail on our sister classifieds site oto.my. The third-generation SUV, which made its ASEAN debut in Indonesia in September, was advertised to arrive in early January, less than two months from now.
According to the description, the locally-assembled X-Trail will come in two variants – a sub-RM150k front-wheel drive 2.0 litre model and a sub-RM170k four-wheel drive 2.5 litre. The outgoing X-Trail is only sold here in 2.0 litre 2WD form, currently retailing at RM148,815 on the road without insurance, so expect the base model of the new car to have a similar price tag.

Standard equipment, at least on the top-spec model, is said to include keyless entry and start, a navigation system, cruise control and leather seats. At the moment, it is unclear if these variants are five- or seven-seater models (the current X-Trail is only sold here in a five-seater format).
The two powertrains available will be 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. Unlike in Indonesia – where the 2.0 litre model was available with a six-speed manual – we’re expecting the X-Trail to arrive with an Xtronic CVT as standard.

VIDEO: Nissan Note goes Zorbing to highlight safety

Have you heard of Zorbing before? If the answer is no, let Nissan show you how it’s done. The Japanese car company has created the world’s biggest working Zorb, complete with a full-sized Nissan Note safely cushioned inside.
The giant inflatable ball, which measures six metres in diameter and more than 18 metres in circumference, was constructed to highlight Nissan’s Safety Shield technology present on the Nissan Note, a large B-segment hatchback.
Safety Shield is a suite of driver assistance technology to alert motorists to potential hazards. It includes Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection. The package is powered by 360° Around View Monitor tech which relies on the Note’s unique self-cleaning rear camera.

Originating in New Zealand, Zorbing sees thrill seekers roll downhill inside an orb made of strong wearing inflatable plastic. It’s usually made of two inflatable layers, shielding the human inside from outside dangers.
Nissan’s bespoke Zorb took more than two months to build and weighs more than a tonne. Nicknamed “CarZorb”, the structure was tested at a “top-secret military training facility” in the UK and was successfully rolled down a course of steep hills in the two-minute film above.

 

 

 

 

 

Nissan NV350 Urvan 14-seater van launched – RM110k

The Nissan NV350 Urvan has been launched by Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), with the 14-seater microbus priced at RM109,800 (Peninsular Malaysia) on-the-road with insurance. The NV350 Urvan comes powered by a 2.5 litre turbocharged diesel engine and is paired to a five-speed manual transmission.
“This multi-purpose commercial vehicle provides transportation for business and leisure purposes, and now has a new and more powerful diesel powertrain with improved fuel efficiency to add on to its modern styling, comfort, and safety features,” said Tan Keng Meng, director of marketing and product planning for ETCM.
Imported from Japan, the NV350 is the successor to the current Nissan Urvan, boasting improved engine noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels compared to its predecessor. From an aesthetic point of view, the new Urvan sports a front grille similar in design to the Nissan Navara pick-up truck.
Step inside and the highlight of the interior is a 3.5-inch multi-function display that provides real-time data on fuel consumption, a gear-shift indicator to advise drivers on when to change up, odometer and trip meter figures. The car is equipped with ABS and Brake Assist.
The Nissan NV350 Urvan comes with a three-year or 100,000 km warranty.

SPYSHOTS: Nissan X-Trail CKD testing in Malaysia

Pics of a mystery SUV with a taped up rear end is making the rounds on social media, and we can tell you that it’s a third-generation Nissan X-Trail. Clues include the shape of the black “diffuser” area (middle section protrudes slightly) and the positioning/shape of the tail lamps, which resemble the second-gen Toyota Harrier’s.
The new X-Trail is of course coming to Malaysia – very soon, in fact. Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) revealed in August that the SUV will be introduced by the end of this year, in locally-assembled CKD form. This means that Nissan will finally have a direct rival to the popular Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 duo. The original X-Trail was a success for ETCM, but the second-gen didn’t really catch on here.

The latest X-Trail was recently launched in Indonesia, and we got up close with the now curvy SUV at the 2014 Indonesia International Motor Show. Nissan’s mid-size SUV is available with seven seats for the first time, and that’s what our ASEAN neighbours get.
Two engines are available there – a Serena S-Hybrid-derived MR20DD 2.0 litre direct-injected mill (144 PS, 200 Nm) and a QR25DE 2.5 litre MPI motor from the Teana with 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 automatic. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels. Prices range from Rp. 383 juta (RM103,300) to Rp. 431.5 juta (RM116,900).

Nissan Kicks Concept previews Brazil-only crossover

Remember the mystery Nissan model that was teased just a while ago? It’s now here in the form of the Nissan Kicks Concept which serves to preview an upcoming model designed specifically for the Brazilian market. The car will make its world premiere very soon at the 2014 Sao Paulo Motor Show.
The concept measures in at 4,300 mm in length, is 1,800 mm wide and stands at 1,600 mm tall. Designed at Nissan’s Global Design Centre in Japan, the concept is styled to reflect a car that “is designed to have the appearance of a striking premium car that captivates the look and to be a vehicle whose owners would be proud to own and drive,” says VP of Nissan’s global design department, Shiro Nakamura.

A rather pronounced front bumper along with a bold V-shaped front grille further adds to the active, somewhat brutish persona. Smatterings of orange can be found on the roof and also as part of the wheel details ensure that the concept really sticks out, à la Citroen DS3 Racing.
Technical specifications are still sketchy, with Nissan only willing to say that the production version just might be sold outside of Brazil – the same case with the Ford Ecosport. Looks like the stage is set for another B-segment SUV to rival the likes of the Peugeot 2008, Honda HR-V/Vezel and upcoming Mazda CX-3.

GT Academy – Gran Turismo driver development competition set to expand into Malaysia in 2015

Malaysians, you may have a real shot of becoming an international professional racing driver soon – and you will only need a PlayStation and a copy of Gran Turismo to be eligible.
That’s right – the GT Academy driver development competition, held in collaboration with Nissan, is set to expand into Malaysia as well as Indonesia and Japan next year (and Brazil in 2016) if a file hosted on FIA’s official website is believed. If so, these countries will join the 10 regions/countries already participating in the programme, including Europe, North America, Australia, India and Thailand.

GT Academy pits gamers against each other, first through online qualifiers held in Gran Turismo itself, with the top scorers invited to the National Finals held in their respective countries. The fastest drivers from each country will then be sent to Race Camp at the Silverstone Circuit in the UK to battle it out in a series of real-life physical and driving challenges.
The overall champion undergoes a rigorous Nissan Driver Development Program to train and licence them to become a professional racer, and will participate in races around the world under Nismo’s wing. Past winners including Lucas Ordoñez and Jann Mardenborough have already gone on to compete in top-flight international racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Nissan electric taxis delivered to Madrid and Barcelona

Every other headline with Madrid and Barcelona this weekend will be about the El Clasico and the fierce rivalry between the rival clubs and cities, but here’s something they have in common. Nissan has delivered electric taxis to both cities – the Leaf to the Spanish capital and the e-NV200 to the Catalan hub.
The latter is an important step in the execution of an agreement between the Japanese manufacturer, the City of Barcelona, and the Barcelona Metropolitan area. The e-NV200 is built in Barcelona for the world. Production started in May this year.

Madrid has now its first electric Nissan Leaf taxi. The Leaf is the best-selling EV in the world with more than 142,000 units sold globally so far. The handover event was held at the city’s Puerta del Sol, where the “zero km” measuring starting point of all Spanish roads is located.
“Declining air quality levels are a top concern across Europe and it’s great to see Madrid and Barcelona taking such positive steps in improving air quality through the incorporate of Nissan’s all-electric cars into their taxi fleets,” said Jean-Pierre Diernaz, director of EVs for Nissan Europe.
“These taxi bring a huge benefit not only residents but also for the drivers – thanks to the ultra-low running costs only an electric car can offer. This scheme demonstrates that sustainable transportation is easy and affordable for everyone,” he added.
The Renault Zoe EV will be available for rent under the COMOS programme from next month
Staying on the topic, Nissan’s alliance partner Renault is currently the most active brand promoting the electric cause in Malaysia, together with Cohesive Mobility Solution (COMOS). The latter’s executive chairman (and former Proton boss) Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin recently told us that his EV car-sharing programme is on track to begin operations early next month.
The public will be able to rent the Renault Zoe (funky Twizy to come later) for RM15 for the first half-hour and RM5 for every subsequent 15 minutes, with four downtown KL charging stations expected to be ready when the service rolls out.

Nissan Serena S-Hybrid Facelift open for booking – now CKD with LED headlamps, below RM140k

The Nissan Serena S-Hybrid facelift, which we spotted in Malaysia in August, is now open for booking by Edaran Tan Chong Motor, as advertised on the Nissan Malaysia official website. The facelifted Serena S-Hybrid made its world debut at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.
UPDATE: The CKD Serena S-Hybrid facelift is now launched, view our launch report.
ETCM launched the pre-facelift Serena S-Hybrid here in July 2013, brought in as a CBU import from Japan under the now expired CBU hybrid tax incentives. Now that hybrid incentives are reserved for locally-assembled models, the Serena S-Hybrid facelift will roll out from Tan Chong’s Serendah plant.
No change in drivetrain, so the FL carries over the MR20DD 2.0 litre engine with 147 PS at 5,600 rpm and 210 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. The direct injection twin-CVTC unit is paired to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT gearbox with Adaptive Shift Control.

An Idling Stop System shuts down the engine when idle, and restarts in 0.3 seconds after the brake is released. The official 15.2 km/l fuel consumption in Japan’s JC08 test cycle remains.
There are changes to the kit list, though. From what we can see for now, the MPV (in Highway Star trim, as before) will come with LED headlamps with LED signature lamps. The latter isn’t full blown DRLs, but positioning lamps. The LED headlamps are a highly visible upgrade from the current reflector halogens. At the back, the LED tail lamps have a new pattern.
New face aside, the 16-inch rim design you see here is fresh. Speaking of wheels, the CKD facelift gets a space saver spare tyre, which is more reassuring compared to the the CBU’s repair kit.

 

 

Other kit highlights include twin powered sliding doors, i-key keyless entry and push start, cruise control and leather wrapped steering. All are present in the pre-facelift. The rear AC has been changed from an digital unit with LCD screen to a simpler lever switch type.
However, now there’s a Premium Highway Star trim level that adds on a 10.1-inch roof-mounted LCD screen, 6.5-inch “multimedia navigator” with rear view camera/DVD player/Bluetooth, roof spoiler, V-Kool Elite window tint, combination leather seats and door visors to the standard car.
Safety wise, it’s status quo with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and two airbags. Isofix child seat anchors are available on the second row chairs, which are “captain seats” that can be moved inwards (stuck together) for better third row access. The Serena is advertised as an eight-seater, and there are eight three-point seatbelts.

Estimated prices are “below RM140k” for the Highway Star and “below RM150k” for the Premium Highway Star – both with a three-year free maintenance package to boot. To compare, the CBU pre-facelift car was priced at RM149,500 (on-the-road with insurance) without the LED headlamps or free services, so there’s savings to be had.