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Issue 11
Winter Edition
NISSAN GT-R
Godzilla
is Back
. 2008 Nissan Xterra - What Role Are You Playing Today?
. Nissan Navara - Go Anywhere Do Anything
. Altima Coupe - Nissan’s Exciting New Coupe Races in GCC
NISSAN GT-R
EDITORIAL
“At Nissan we have the products. We have credible plans. We are
embracing opportunities, prepared to handle whatever comes our way. We are building our future – and creating lasting value – one step at a
time, one product at a time. We have a lot to offer today, and so much
more promise yet to deliver. We are focused and on plan to deliver our
objectives. You can continue to expect the best from Nissan”.
MR. CARLOS GHOSN
PRESIDENT & CEO, NISSAN MOTOR CO. LTD.
The vision behind “SHIFT_” has led us to look at each car segment to identify what we can make
even better than before. This has resulted in the next generation of Nissan products. In this issue
you will witness the display of our latest models revealed during several regional motor shows.
Our newly revealed sporty model, which is generating enormous interest among the public, is the
Nissan GT-R. A legend in automotive design and engineering, the GT-R is one of the world’s fastest
vehicles, and probably the world’s easiest and most secure high speed car to drive fast. Fresh from
a triumphant debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Nissan GT-R was revealed for the first time to
the Middle East motoring enthusiasts during the Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai,
followed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan Motor Shows.
Another main strength this year lies in our newly-launched Nissan Altima Coupe. The celebrity
Altima Sedan, with the escalating sales in the GCC market, is now mounting with the arrival of
the new Altima Coupe. Nissan Altima Coupe’s unique exterior design is intended to stand out in
a crowd of sedan-based two-door models. A lot of thought and strive for distinction resulted in
its magnetic, perfectly proportioned style. The new dramatically designed Nissan Altima Coupe
presents a true expression of style, individuality and sportiness.
As part of our motivational schemes, we organised recently the Nissan NISTEC and NISAC
competitions, which showcased some of the best talent the regional national sales companies
(NSCs) have. It was a challenging event and all the contestants contributed their very best, with 13
GCC and non-GCC NSCs being represented by a total of 28 participants for both competitions.
We also celebrated the success achieved by RYMCO, our official distributor in Lebanon, securing
No. 1 market leader position for the third year in a row. The entire region is witnessing remarkable
growth, and we have surpassed our targets ahead of schedule and by a large margin. This coincided
with Nissan Middle East successfully achieving its Nissan Value-Up sales objectives a year ahead
of schedule. Testimony to the continued growth and success of our products thanks to our loyal
Middle East customers.
One of our main announcements is for Nissan Motor Company winning the 2008 Catalyst Award,
the annual worldwide prize that honours exceptional initiatives from companies that support and
advance women in business. This is the first time that a company headquartered in Asia has won the
award which was conferred on the strength of a Nissan programme called Women in the Driver’s
Seat: Gender Diversity as a Lever in Japan.
In today’s competitive automotive landscape, there is no place for half-measures, no place for
shortcuts and no substitute for great products. At Nissan, passion drives our brands, passionate
people drive our products.
And the next generation SHIFTs today.
MR. Toru Hasegawa
MANAGING DIRECTOR, NISSAN MIDDLE EAST FZE
1
contents
1 Editorial
10 News
28 Technology
30 Me & My Nissan
4
15
16
20
22
26
29
Issue 11
Winter Edition
Editorial Team
Monal Zeidan
Hakam Kherallah
Omneya Fawzi
Pankaj Dev
Neville Jal Darukhanawalla
Hania Tabet (TBWA/RAAD)
Suzan Dargham (TBWA/RAAD)
Vivian Hawat (TBWA/RAAD)
Design & Production
AdCom Advertising & Publishing
Editorial Office
P.O. Box 61111, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.nissan-me.com
Cover Story
Nissan GT-R
Godzilla Is Back
Heritage
Nissan And Record Breaking
Road Test
2008 Nissan Xterra
What Role Are You Playing Today?
Feature
Altima Coupe
Nissan’s Exciting New Coupe Races in GCC
Travelogue
Nissan Navara
Go Anywhere, Do Anything
Concept Car
Nissan Forum Concept
A Family Limousine
Motor Sports
Toyo Tyres 24-hrs of Dubai
Nissan 350Z Proves Its Mettle
Published for
Advertising
Nissan Middle East FZE
AdCom Advertising & Publishing
by Devshri Global Inv. Inc.
P.O. Box 34556, Dubai, UAE
Suite #215, 933 N.
Tel.: +971-4-3522337
Kenmore Street,
Fax: +971-4-3595983
Arlington, VA 22201, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
Copyright
Law prohibits reproduction in whole or part of any matter, without prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright SHIFT_2008
Legal Disclaimer
Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Nissan Middle East FZE and the publisher. We shall not be held liable in any manner.
Cover Story
NISSAN GT-R
Godzilla
I
s Back
A Little Bit Of GT-R In Every Nissan
It is a supercar legend. And
it has been reinvented in
a totally new avatar and
will be smoking rubber in
the Middle East in 2009.
With pumped up bodywork
punctured with vents, meaneyed headlamps, swooping
roofline – the all-new Nissan
GT-R has recaptured the flair
of the Japanese supercars
of yore. Other supercars
beware; be afraid, very
afraid… The GT-R is here.
4
T
he Gran Tourismo moniker has always
graced cars oozing with charisma, grace,
style and power. There have been many
distinguished cars carrying the GT badge – mostly
coming from Europe - but there has been one
outstanding car from the Far East; Japan to be more
specific, which has taken the GT tag to completely
new heights by adding yet another alphabet to those
famous two. So the GT becomes a GT-R.
Through the years, Nissan’s famous Skyline GT-R
has avowed motoring enthusiasts around the world,
spawning a diehard following while at the same time
instilling fear in competition much more expensive.
It is always a hard act to follow something iconic
and the Skyline GT-R was, no still is, an icon for
many. So when Nissan decided to do away with the
Skyline name and make a new icon for the new (and
old) enthusiast, with emphasis only on the GT-R
brand, it was a massive challenge.
Nissan put the Skyline nameplate to bed in 2002
whilst the GT-R in its concept form first saw the
light at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, stunning
public and industry alike with its dynamic and
aggressive styling. Then in 2005, again at the Tokyo
Motor Show, the GT-R Proto was unveiled and this
was to be the most definitive incarnation of today’s
production GT-R, with nearly 80-90 per cent of the
Proto’s features making it into production. The Nissan
GT-R, although no longer carrying the ‘Skyline’ badge
has heritage in the Nissan Skyline GT-R.
5
completion every GT-R undergoes a battery of
comprehensive tests to ensure the proper operation
of all vehicle components. 
To properly support the all-new GT-R, Nissan
has established special Nissan High Performance
Centres in Japan, where all certified advisors and
technicians have received extensive training. Total
support for the GT-R owner is offered for the first
three years of ownership, including measurement
and adjustment of the engine, transmission and
wheel alignment after the first 1000 km.
The new GT-R was launched on October 24 last
year and lives up to the concept of “an ultimate
supercar enjoyable to anyone, anywhere, at anytime”.
The 480PS twin-turbo GT-R features a newly
developed Premium Midship package, including the
world’s first independent transaxle 4WD developed
independently by Nissan. 
The GT-R slippery shape is moulded in a
combination of steel, carbon fibre and aluminium,
providing a unique combination of stiffness and
lightness, giving it a low coefficient of drag of 0.27
which enhances fuel efficiency.
The high level of advanced technology is evident
even in GT-R’s paint – which utilises a “double
clear coat” and “anti-chipping” process and is
painstakingly hand-polished by craftsman. GT-R
features Ultimate Silver as a special new colour.
GT-R was developed with a new understanding
and appreciation of the Earth’s natural forces
– gravity, inertial force and aerodynamics – and
translates those forces into a completely new
design, maximising tyre grip and airflow. A design
that is wedgy, with menacing headlamps and sheet
metal carved with lines that end up in an absolutely
curvaceous form. The GT-R has character, super
proportions and more sophistication.
This is seen by the in-car display designed by the
team that created Gran Turismo (the game that is). It
shows the car’s vital signs, plus some more info like
the g-force you are pulling when blasting through
fast curves. No doubt this info came in handy when
the GT-R lapped the awesome Nurburgring in a
time of 7m38s – the fastest a production car has
ever lapped this famed and daunting circuit!
Engines and transmissions are assembled in
a “F1-style clean room” environment and upon
Packaging and Driveline Apt for a
Supercar
The all-new Nissan GT-R uses a Premium Midship
package, an all-new platform which enables the use
of the world’s first application of an independent
transaxle 4WD system. The transaxle’s layout places
the dual-clutch transmission, transfer case and final
drive at the rear of the vehicle (instead of the usual
front location), which enables vehicle weight to be
evenly distributed throughout the car. This gives
GT-R a superb front-to-rear weight balance, while
enhancing leg and foot space and allowing for an
optimal pedal layout. 
Powering the GT-R is an all-new 3.8-litre twin
turbo V6 “VR38” engine, featuring plasma-sprayed
bores and a special twin-turbo exhaust manifold
system – Nissan’s first twin-turbo V6 since the
300ZX.  A secondary air management system
enables the newly designed power-plant to provide
approximately 40kgm of torque during ordinary
low-rev driving, which provides for an optimum
air-fuel ratio for around-town efficiently and helps
GT-R meet ultra-low emission vehicle (U-LEV)
standards in Japan.
Kazutoshi Mizuno
Chief Vehicle Engineer / Chief Product Specialist, gets all nostalgic on the
new GT-R. Here’s what he has to say…
T
he new GT-R inherits the tradition created by the long line of GT-Rs, the
highest class of the domestic Skyline series, and is now reborn as “The
supercar that creates the greatest inspiration” to the world. Not only that, it
also shows the way for all future Nissan vehicles. As a vehicle which represents
Nissan, it has been given the name “Nissan GT-R”. There are two major purposes
of this Nissan GT-R.
First and foremost, represented by dynamic performance and active safety, as
well as an approach toward environmental-friendliness and safety by a supercar,
the Nissan GT-R was born with the role to appeal Nissan’s technology to all
corners of the world. Beginning with the development of new technologies, the
developmental process and engineering team structure, methods for measurement
in testing and production, quality guarantee, performance guarantee, and through
to the unique sales and services structure at special Nissan GT-R dealerships, we
aimed to demonstrate the future for all Nissan models through everything created
for the Nissan GT-R project.
Second is the creation of a whole new supercar market. Traditionally, elements
such as the roads it could be driven on, weather conditions, and driving techniques,
6
put supercars in a market supposedly for a very limited class of users. We were
committed in developing the Nissan GT-R with a whole new concept, “a supercar
which offers a safety and a high performance supercar life for anyone, anywhere,
at anytime”. It is a supercar that offers speed and fuel efficiency, power and
clean air, high performance and safety. Nissan’s new GT-R, a multi-performance
supercar, creates a whole new position for supercars.
Racing cars remain stable under any condition by applying downforce and
distributing the load equally to all four wheels. They offer both comfort and a
feeling of stability described by drivers as ‘the tyres are sucked to the ground’.
Beyond that they are very safe, keeping the driver from harm even in high-speed
accidents. Why aren’t these technologies applied to mass-production cars to
benefit customers?
In my mind I formulated a study for applying racing technologies to massproduction cars, and shortly thereafter I ended my racing career and took charge of
developing consumer vehicles. I met with people I believed could share my dream,
and began developing the FM package. At the time most considered the idea
of applying racing technologies to mass-production cars just a dream. Dedicated
efforts by our team to make that dream come true resulted in the development of
the FM package and its realization in the Skyline and Fairlady Z.
The concept of the FM package is “flat-ride sport”. Flat body-control that
requires no eye movement creates a flat-ride environment that allows for precise
The GT-R’s new engine produces 480PS at
6400rpm and maximum torque of 588Nm from
3200 to 5200rpm. Putting the power to the
ground via all four wheels is an all-new GR6-type
dual clutch transmission, with paddle shifting and
a Borg Warner six-plate dual clutch for direct
control.
Suspension duties are handled through a special
Bilstein DampTronic system, which utilises
all pertinent vehicle information to provide
appropriate damping forces for all situations
and helps maintain a high level of control for
straight-line driving, cornering, and braking.
There are three levels of adjustability – R (Race),
S (Sporty) and C (Comfort), along with a choice
of full auto or semi-manual gear shifts and the
wherewithal to completely switch off all stability
control systems.
Four-wheel drive is an essential ingredient.
It is electronically controlled with mechanical
operation using pinion-type differentials, in
normal driving conditions power going straight
to the rear wheels and when required up to 50 per
cent heads up front.
Braking is essential for a daily-driven supercar
and GT-R features large Brembo full-floating
drilled rotors, low steel high stiffness brake pads
and Brembo mono block six-piston front and
four-piston rear callipers, which in combination
minimise fade and provide stable braking. Runflat tyres, exclusively designed for use on GT-R,
balance high grip and all-weather capabilities and
a comfortable ride in all driving situations. The
tyres are designed to maintain their integrity for
80km of travel at 80 km/h and also provide a
level of performance after a loss of pressure.
driving and sporty performance, putting every possible driving situation under the
control of the driver. We took this idea to a new level for the new Skyline. The
“Premium Midship package” used for the first time in the Nissan GT-R, is a result
of our challenge to create the world’s best supercar with total performance. This
package came about as we focused on the fundamental principles of cars, without
dividing them into categories like racing cars, mass-production vehicles and the
like. It’s the ultimate development of two core ideas: First, airflow can become
power. Second, when weight is evenly distributed to the four wheels, the tyres grip
the road surface, so grip limits can be determined by how we distribute weight.
Based on these ideas, every component in the Nissan GT-R, the body, engine,
transmission, suspension, tyres, everything, was newly developed exclusively for
the Nissan GT-R. We concentrated on the creation of performance through vehicle
packaging and ‘the development and utilization of an overall vehicle measurement
system’ for unified technology communication. Members from planning, designing,
testing, and production have come together as a dedicated team to develop this
vehicle and create a whole new sales and service structure.
There was a supercar boom in the late 1970s, and I am sure many people have
dreamed of owning a supercar and enjoying it to the fullest, with total confidence.
The Nissan GT-R has a different perspective and aspires to makes those dreams
come true. The Nissan GT-R represents a new dimension of multi-performance
in a supercar developed with a completely new approach, returning to the first
principles of moving in a straight line, cornering and braking. In the Nissan GTR I have instilled my hopes on how a car can excite people worldwide, how
automakers worldwide might react to it, and for the car itself, that it continues to
evolve to satisfy customers.
7
N
issan can now reveal that the Middle East
motor sport hero, who was one of the first
to test the legendary Nissan GT-R before
it was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show earlier
in 2007, is none other than the Middle East Rally
star Mohamed Ben Sulayem.
Nissan invited Rally legend Ben Sulayem
to test drive the Nissan GT-R super car at an
undisclosed race track location in Japan in late
2006, ahead of its official launch in Japan last
year. In the presence of Nissan CEO, Carlos
Ghosn, who also tested the super car, Ben
Sulayem took the advanced super-car through
its paces and tested the GT-R thoroughly on the
highly technical mountain test track. His initial
findings and comments on the car have confirmed
the ultra-high capabilities and performance of the
legendary Nissan GT-R. The verdict was clear –
nothing is normal about the new GT-R.
“High performance cars have a tendency to
handle best only when driven by experienced
drivers yet the GT-R has the handling,
transmission, traction and performance to enable
anyone to drive this car with ease. This makes
the GT-R stand out from other super-cars – it
enables performance from anyone,” explained
Ben Sulayem.
“Nissan sees the Middle East as key growth
market and is proud to build on this association
by bringing in a leading motor sports driver to test
the Nissan GT-R. We are very proud to see such a
positive response from Mohammed Ben Sulayem
and are pleased to see the high level of Nissan
engineering, design, performance and comfort
shine through the GT-R, demonstrating that there
is a little bit of GT-R in every Nissan,” said Toru
Hasegawa, Managing Director of Nissan Middle
East.
The GT-R is a truly world-class super-car,
powered by a brand new V6 3.8-litre twin turbo
engine, mating great horsepower (480 hp*), a
Inside Story
Secret Test Driver
For GT-R Revealed
Mohammed Ben Sulayem in exclusive
test drive of Nissan Supercar
wide torque spread, good fuel economy and low
emissions. The engine powers an independent
transaxle 4WD system - a world first - that
continuously adjusts torque front-to-rear and
vice versa. A new six-speed paddle shift dualclutch gearbox featuring the exceedingly quick
gearshift plus full automatic function for ease-of
driving. The big ventilated Brembo disc brakes
offer immense stopping performance.
The Nissan GT-R’s lightweight body, which
uses a new combination for the first time (Nissan’s
‘Premium Midship’), features die cast aluminium,
carbon fibre and advanced steel and has a class-
leading aerodynamic drag co-efficient of just
0.27 Cd, one of the world’s slickest cars.
Dampers, gear shift and VDC-R (Vehicle
Dynamic Control) are all manually adjustable,
by simple switches on the dashboard. The GT-R
includes a multi functional instrument display,
designed by the people who did the graphics for
the Sony PlayStation Gran Turismo game.
The Nissan GT-R was born with a challenger
spirit as one of the most accomplished and
technologically advanced high performance car
ever made.
*Japanese specs.
It’s not only power and the way it ride and handles to the GT-R’s psyche.
Nissan wants this car to appeal not only to aficionados of the GT-R mystique but
also the middle-aged middle classes this time round so the interior is of a much
higher standard than before. There is an incredibly high level sense of solidity,
with the fit and finish on a different plane altogether. The doors close with a welldamped thud, with seats swaddled in leather. Aluminium trim adds style while
reminding that this is a Grand Tourismo in the true sense of the word offering
flair and function to the sporty driver as well as to the bloke who just wants to
make a statement. There are side airbags in the front seats, while a Bose audio
system gets occupants in the mood with some awesome sound quality fit for a
premium supercar owner.
GT-R’s styling follows the function over form theory. Sculpted performance
bucket seats give the driver and passenger a comfortable driving experience, and
soft pads are utilised on the lower portion of the instrument panel and doors to
give an extra level of comfort and safety.
The instrument panel surrounds the driver, with all meters and multi-function
meter at a uniform height to minimise the driver’s head movement when travelling
at high speeds. A large centre-mounted tachometer, with gear display on its upper
right, as well as the easy-to-read graphics of the display, gives the driver instant
detailed information, essential for the performance nature of the GT-R. A large,
metallic-framed centre console features the ergonomically designed shift lever
and a red “engine start” button. 
The screen interface features not only the navigation system, but also an
enriched entertainment system with a Music Box hard drive, DVD and CD player,
and Bluetooth® audio function. 
For special use in the GT-R application, the multi-function display also includes
mechanical and driving information for safe high performance driving, including
accelerator opening, brake pedal pressure, and steering angle. It also includes an
“optimal gearshift map,” to encourage economical vehicle operation.
Standard safety equipment includes a pop-up engine hood, system for enhanced
pedestrian safety, driver and front passenger SRS Air Bag System, front seat belts
with tension reducer, front seat belts with load limiter, and three-point rear seat
belts. Driver and front passenger SRS Side Air Bag System and SRS Curtain Air
Bag System are also offered.
The GT-R went on sale in Japan in December last with 1000 units rolling
off the production lines per month to ensure high quality control whilst further
fueling the already insatiable demand.
There’s no doubt: Nissan has a winner in the GT-R and going by the response
garnered at the Dubai Motor Show last year, the GT-R is sure to embrace many
converts in the Middle East to its cause. Converts from European and American
sports cars, that is.
It is truly a supercar for the masses with the style, design and guts to take on
the establishment with aplomb. Now you don’t need big bucks to go chasing the
big boys. The big boys are gonna chase you…and fail!
Neville Jal Darukhanawalla
*Please Note: All Specs in this article are pertaining to Japanese version
Design talk...
Hiroshi Hasegawa
Product Chief Designer
This is the first globally marketed GT-R in the
history of the line, which started with the PGC10 GT-R
in 1969. Through the process of design I worked to
give this car an overwhelming presence, persistently
expressing the originality of Japanese car culture.
This is why the body is not derived from a production
sedan or coupe, but is one of a kind, the first in GT-R
history. This is our ultimate, most faithful rendition of
the GT-R redefined.”
“What makes a Nissan GT-R boils down to two
ideas: ‘design backed by function to realize exceptional
performance,’ and ‘continuation of the original design heritage’.”
“Landmark features from the Nissan GT-R design history that the new model
maintains are the edgy box-shape of the PGC10 GT-R of 1969, the four round
taillamps of the KPGC110 GT-R (1973), and the grille opening of the R34 GT-R
(1999), a symbolic use of the cooling feature in the design.
Shiro Nakamura
Senior Vice President, Design
We wanted to design a car that looked uniquely
Japanese - it is very definitely not a European or
American fast car. We also wanted to highlight the
functionality of the car - it is a car that is easy to use
and easy to drive - and continue the proud heritage
of the GT-R.”
“The mission was to achieve a distinctive car, a
supercar, but not a normal fast car – it’s chunkier,
more practical and more muscular. The element of functionality is core to the GT-R.
It’s not too low; it’s easy to get in and out of, has good visibility and is easy to drive.
That functionality is reflected in the design. It is clearly not an Italian, German or
American car - it is unmistakably Japanese. It is very mechanical, almost like an
animated robot - it is obviously made from metal, has big shoulders and looks strong
and muscular. The previous R34 GT-R had the same image. Almost like you could
be playing this car on a video game.”
“We didn’t want a nice elegant shape - we wanted an original shape. Some
people who buy this car will also have a Ferrari and a Porsche. This car must be
different from all others. I see it as a car influenced not by feminine beauty, like
Italian cars, but by masculine beauty - it is strong, well toned, well muscled. It has big
deep flanks and is very toned – that’s part of the muscled stance.”
“Designing a car is always a balance between engineering and aesthetics. But
with the Nissan GT-R we had very little conflict. We knew this car had to be Nissan’s
technological showcase.”
“An underlying philosophy of the Nissan GT-R is that it is a fast car that’s easy
to drive fast. So there is nothing intimidating about the controls. Everything feels
instantly familiar, apart from the novel multi-function meter - which is also highly
intuitive and we believe will prove very popular with owners.
8
9
NEWS
NISSAN URVAN SALES EXCEED 1,000 A MONTH
November sales of Nissan Urvan a record achievement
Gulf sales of Nissan’s Urvan have surpassed a
significant milestone with over 1,000 units sold in
November last year, for the first time ever. Across
the GCC, Nissan’s National Sales Companies sold
a total of 1,022 Nissan Urvans, demonstrating its
strong appeal in the Light Commercial Vehicle
(LCV) market.
“Businesses across the region are looking for
reliable commercial vehicles that are economical,
comfortable and also convenient. These businesses
have found everything they need in the Nissan
Urvan. This is clearly proven by Nissan and its
National Sales Companies exceeding sales of 1,000
units a month in the region,” said Reza Alavi, Head
of the Light Commercial Vehicle Business Unit at
Nissan Middle East.
“Nissan Urvan annual sales have been consistently
rising over the past few years and this month is a
record achievement. This performance represents a
50 per cent increase compared to last year’s average
monthly sales.” added Alavi.
The Nissan Urvan offers unique features that
offer significant economic benefits as well as more
comfort, flexibility, convenience, safety and better
performance than its competitors. It is the ideal
business partner for transporting passengers and
cargo in superior comfort, cost-efficiency and
convenience.
“The November figures are the result of
remarkable collective efforts by Nissan’s National
Sales Companies to satisfy customer requirements
across the Gulf. The Nissan Urvan benefits from
the best support and customer care services in the
region, championed by Nissan Middle East,” added
Alavi.
The Nissan Urvan is available in four options
– a luxury 12 passenger microbus, a standard 15
passenger microbus, a six passenger Half Panel
Van (HPV) or as a three passenger van with large
and versatile carrying capacity. Nissan’s Light
Commercial Vehicles range also offers the Nissan
Civilian bus that seats up to 30 passengers and the
famous single-cab and double-cab Nissan Pickup
that offers a premium choice to entrepreneurs and
individuals alike.
Genuine Nissan Accessories
Load Warrior by Yakima - Xterra
Nissan has introduced a range of genuine accessories for your favourite Nissan model.
So pamper your Nissan with great add-ons to enhance the looks as well as add more
functionality. Without a doubt, ‘Nissan Genuine Accessories’ are the way to go to add
more value to your Nissan. Discover a wide selection, with everything from floor mats
to roof spoilers.
But that’s just part of the story, because you can pick up all of our car accessories
knowing you’re getting the best price and peace of mind as all accessories bought along
with your new Nissan is guaranteed by the company. Custom-designed to custom fit
your Nissan; these accessories are durable and tough, and meet stringent Nissan quality
standards.
Go now to your nearest Nissan dealership and pamper your car.
NISSAN HONOURED FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROGRAMME
Nissan Motors Co. Ltd has won the 2008 Catalyst
Award, the annual worldwide prize that honours
exceptional initiatives from companies that support and
advance women in business.
This is the first time that a company headquartered
in Asia has won the award which was conferred on the
strength of a Nissan programme called Women in the
Driver’s Seat: Gender Diversity as a Lever in Japan.
“Nissan worldwide is
very conscious of the
role of women
in business and in the automotive market,” said Toru
Hasegawa, Managing Director at Nissan Middle East.
“Nissan Motor Co. Ltd is determined to promote women
and spread gender diversity in its workplace. We empower
women who are great leaders and present innovation to
our company. With this, we tend to inspire and encourage
other manufacturers to embrace gender diversity.”
Since 2004, women in Nissan management positions
have increased from 36 to 101 and the percentage of
women managers in the design, planning and product
planning function has doubled. The percentage of female
sales staff at Nissan dealerships has also increased, while
the percentage of women in manufacturing plants more
than doubled.
Components of the initiative include career advancement
support through specialist career advisors for women only,
as well as ergonomic adjustments to equipment and other
improvements in facilities and working conditions at plants
that allow women to contribute fully.
The business case for having women as decision-makers
and in positions of influence was developed in response
to research by Nissan identifying women as influencers of
two-thirds of all car purchases.
Nissan
Qashqai A Hit in
Europe… And In Middle
East Too!
10
Just nine months into its life cycle, the Nissan Qashqai has taken Europe by storm, selling over 100,000 units in just nine
months! And this trend seems to carry on in the Middle East too – the Qashqai generating tremendous response and sales in
the two months since its launch here.
The Qashqai was launched in Europe last year in
March and has exceeded sales forecasts in the European markets of Holland, Portugal and Austria, Greece, Slovakia and Norway. Built in
the UK, this latest urban crossover from Nissan has taken the fancy of the car buying public there; the UK along with Russia being the Qashqai’s two largest markets.
“Today’s motorists have a wide range of requirements when choosing their SUVs, which is why Nissan has the largest range of SUVs in the Middle East,” said Abdul Ilah
Wazni, SUV Brand Manager at Nissan Middle East. “An increasingly important factor for customers in making their decisions is fuel economy and the opportunity to take cars over all types
of terrain; making the Qashqai an ideal choice for many.”
With the Middle East being a playing ground for SUV-like vehicles, the Qashqai has created a veritable niche for itself combining the merits of a SUV along with the styling, size and agility of
a traditional hatchback to envelope new converts to its cause.
“Qashqai is a new concept in compact crossover SUVs; providing the economy of a compact car with the ruggedness and off-road capability expected of an SUV, the Qashqai combines these
elements to provide drivers with two increasingly popular requirements – fuel economy and off-road capability,” added Abdul Ilah.
A 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine is the powerplant of choice in the Qashqai. Developing 142hp/5,200 rpm with torque of 20.5 kg-m/4,400 rpm, this unit has the power and the
efficiency to cater to a wide audience of buyers. Nissan’s excellent Xtronic CVT transmission with six-speed manual-shift mode is employed to send power to all four wheels shod
with 17-inch tyres. Nissan’s highly praised electronically controlled ALL MODE 4x4® system and a four-wheel drive is implemented to provide greater traction for safer
driving and extra control in all weathers. Other safety features include side and curtain airbags and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).
Main features include front fog lamp, Bluetooth Hands Free Phone System, Xenon head lamps, auto air-conditioning with dual zone temperature control, six-speaker
audio system with six-disk CD changer, rear parking sensors, intelligent key, fine vision instrument gauges, cruise control, illuminated steering wheel controls and
rain-sensing wipers.
In May 2007, the car was awarded the maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection from the European New Car Assessment
Programme (Euro NCAP), with the highest-ever score for any vehicle.
Hatch Tent - Armada
Roof Spoiler - Qashqai
Running Boards, Body Side Moldings,
Splash Guards - Path Finder
Emergency Road Kit - Altima
Rear Park System - Qashqai
All-season Floor Mats - Xterra
11
NISSAN No.1 FOR THREE YEARS IN ROW
Nissan Middle East celebrated the success
achieved by RYMCO, its official distributor
in Lebanon, securing No. 1 market leader
position for the third year in a row.
Abdo Sweidan,
CEO of Rasamny
Younis Motor Co.
(RYMCO), received
the award on behalf
of his company
from top executives
from Nissan HQ
in Japan as well as
Nissan Middle East
management.
RYMCO is one of
the leading vehicle
retail
dealerships
in
Lebanon,
representing both
Nissan and Infiniti
brands. The award
was also given
to RYMCO in
recognition of its contribution to consolidating
Nissan’s brand equity in the Lebanese market.
“What has been achieved in Lebanon is a huge
success. Generally, the entire region is witnessing
remarkable growth, and we have surpassed our
targets ahead of schedule and by a large margin”,
Gilles Normand, Corporate Vice-President Nissan
Motor Co. Ltd told a gathering of Nissan Middle
East office in Dubai.
He laid particular stress on the significant increase
in sales in a number of overseas markets, including
Russia, China and the Middle East.
“Our achievement is a signal of our confidence
in the Nissan brand and winning mindset. We have
great products to sell and service, and the challenge
was to grab the top position in sales. To come
second was not an option for us at all”, said Abdo
Sweidan, CEO of RYMCO.
He said the uphill task of gaining the top position
in a competitive market like Lebanon started in
2005. “In 2004, Nissan was in the second position.
In 2005, we scored the first position. 2006 was the
year we repeated our success with slightly higher
sales. At the end of 2007 we managed to keep our
#1 position and strengthen our market share up to
19%”, he revealed. He said many more challenges lie
ahead in 2008, but they were confident to continue
their strong sales momentum.
Lebanon is seen as a trend setting market in the
Middle East and a top tourist destination for GCC
travelers.
Nissan Middle East
anticipates retail sales in the
territories that fall under
its jurisdiction will register
remarkable growth in the
fiscal Year 2007(April 20007March 2008).
“Nissan Middle East
estimates retail sales in its
territories in the fiscal year
2007 (April 2007 to March
2008) will reach 184,000
units, representing a 35 per
cent growth compared to the
fiscal year 2006”, commented
Toru Hasegawa, Managing
Director of Nissan Middle
East.
“Nissan has the largest SUV lineup of
any auto-manufacturer in the region, giving
customers an option to suit every lifestyle and
budget. Add to this a superb range of awardwinning passenger cars such as new recentlylaunched all-new models, such as the Altima
sedan and coupe, the Xterra, Qashqai and Navara
SUV’s, have been a major boost to Nissan’s
profile in the region,” added Hasegawa.
Nissan NISTEC and NISAC competitions wrap up
Nissan’s 12th NISTEC and 2nd NISAC
competitions ended, showcasing some of the best
talent Nissan’s regional national sales companies
(NSC) have to offer. It was a challenging event and
all the contestants contributed their very best, with
13 GCC and non-GCC NSCs being represented by a
total of 28 participants for both competitions.
Dubai technician, Rohan Janaka, has proven
himself to be the best Nissan technician throughout
12 Middle Eastern countries. He will be flown to
Japan to be honoured at the company’s headquarters
for his achievement.
Janaka, who works at Arabian Automobiles, the
Nissan distributor for Dubai and Northern Emirates,
overcame intense competition to win the Middle East
12
finals of the Nissan International Service Technical
Contest (NISTEC). He held off tough competition
from 16 other competitors, representing 13 Nissan
dealerships from the six GCC countries, as well as
Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and
Azerbaijan.
Janaka’s Arabian Automobiles colleague, Anil
Tauro, took the silver medal, whilst bronze was
awarded to Ricardo Lopez from Qatar’s NSC
Saleh Al-Hamad Almana Co. Tauro also won ‘Best
Performance’ award for the category ‘body electrics’,
whilst Janaka and Lopez took the same prize for
‘Periodic Maintenance & Chassis Repair’ and ‘Engine
Management’ respectively.
In the corresponding Nissan Service Advisor
Contest (NISAC) for service advisors personnel,
Arabian Automobile’s Raj Varghese was awarded with
the gold medal, whilst silver went to Gamil Ibrahim
Rabie and bronze to Mustafa Ali Alheyyari, both from
Saudi Arabia’s NSC Al-Hamrani United Co. Varghese
also won ‘Best Performance’ for the ‘Receiving and
Handling Telephone Calls’ category, and Al-Hamrani
United’s Ahmed Taj Elsir for ‘Vehicle Delivery’.
The NISAC contest, although covering the GCC
countries, managed to attract an impressive 11
finalists. The winner was recognised at a ceremony
held at Metropolitan Palace Hotel.
“Both the NISTEC and NISTAC competitions
are part of Nissan’s motivation scheme for dealers
and employees. Each competition is always
contested at every level, including individual
dealership, country qualification and area finals.”
said Abdul Hamid Saleh, General Manager, DLR
Development and Customer Service Department,
Nissan Middle East & North Africa and CIS
Region.
The competitors were judged upon their practical
skills, such as maintenance and engine management
for NISTEC and consultation proficiency for
NISAC.
“We are extremely proud of the results of both
the competitions. It was an excellent opportunity to
show our utmost appreciation to our dealers and
their staff. The true power behind any company is
the talent and motivation of its people and that’s the
vision at Nissan Middle East”, concluded Saleh.
NAVARA TAKES THE HONOURS
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH
Motoring editors from Russia to South Africa
have named the Nissan Navara in their 2007 honours
list, bestowing awards from ‘Car of the Year’ to ‘Top
Pick-up’.
Almost 50 years after Nissan pioneering in the
compact pick-up truck, the all new Navara sets the
standards around the world.
In South Africa, Bakkie and Truck Action
magazine designated the Navara as ‘Best Bakkie
2007’, following its ‘Double Cab of the Year’ title
awarded by Caravan and Outdoor Life Magazine in
2006.
In Europe, the Navara was named 2007 ‘Car of
the Year’ by Russia’s Autopanomara magazine, ‘Best
Pick-up of the Year’ by Formula Todo Terreno in
Spain, ‘Pick-up of the Year’ by the UK’s 4x4 magazine
and ‘Top Pick-up’ by the ‘Professional Juries’ panel
in Russia – representing editors -in-chief and leading
journalists from the automotive media.
In France, the Navara was chosen as best ‘Sort
Style’ at the 4x4 Motor Show and ‘Best-Selling
Pick-up in Europe’ by Turkey’s Hurriyet Otoyasam
Gazetesi auto magazine.
Having been launched in the Middle East this year,
the Navara’s latest international awards underline
its distinguished pedigree. Now the Navara is part
of the region’s biggest Nissan SUV line-up. Along
with all Nissan SUVs, the Navara – has undergone
extensive testing to make sure it more than matches
the rigours and extreme temperatures
of the desert environment.
Double-cab Navara, is available
in a 4WD & 2WD models in Nissan
showrooms. The 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder,
16-valve petrol engine turns out 162
hp at 5,200 rpm and 41 kg-m torque
at 2,000 rpm, while the turbo diesel
equivalent produces 171 hp at 4,000
rpm and the same torque output.
Navara is equipped with either a
5-speed automatic transmission and
6-speed manual. Some of the key
features include power door locks, front fog lamps,
6-speaker audio system with CD player, power
windows, keyless entry, guard frame protector, dual
airbags, anti-lock braking, and Xenon headlamps.
One-time luxuries for pick-ups, such as cruise
control, premium trim and upholstery, are standard
equipment on the Navara. The double cab seats five
while still providing ample storage space in the rear
load bay.
Inside, comfort complements the exterior
ruggedness, with superior fittings and finishes
having overtaken the Navara’s early commercial
origins.
“The Navara is a consistent award-winner, and
the latest honours add to a long list of accolades,”
said Abdul Ilah Wazni, SUV Brand Manager at
Nissan Middle East. “Middle East owners are now
discovering why this vehicle is so enduringly popular
and we are confident that by the end of 2008 it will
also be an award-winner here.”
The all-new 2008 model makes another awardwinning addition to Nissan’s SUV line-up in the
region, which with eight different nameplates is
already the largest offered by any manufacturer.
The Navara – along with fellow newcomers
Qashqai and Xterra – has joined the five established
members of the Nissan SUV stable: the Armada,
Murano, Pathfinder, Patrol and X-Trail.
Yemen’s Ministry of Defence Selects Nissan
Tehama Trading Company, Nissan’s Yemen NSE recently delivered 50 vehicles
(30 nos. Sunny, 10 nos. Civilian Bus & 10 nos. Urvan Bus) to the Ministry of
Defence, Govt. of Yemen.
NISSAN POWERS
GULF CUP CRICKET
A total of 27 teams from the UAE,
UK and India played in the Nissan Gulf
Cup cricket tournament for young players.
Sides from top six UAE universities took
part for the first time at the Sheikh Zayed
Stadium in Dubai. This is the fourth successive year that
Nissan has sponsored the event, which
develops cricketing talent at three age
levels – under-11s, under-14s and under17s. Monal Zeidan, General Manager,
Marketing and Corporate Communications
at Nissan Middle East said, “Nissan is keen
to power sporting challenges that enrich
people’s lives.”
“The Nissan Gulf Cup gets bigger
every year. With such an exciting line-up of
international young cricket talent and with
the sport being so popular in the GCC
region, it has been our pleasure to give
future generations a challenging platform
to compete,” added Zeidan.
Participants were exposed to the four
new Nissan models that recently joined
the large Middle East line-up from Nissan
such as all-new Nissan Altima, Xterra,
Qashqai and Navara, concluded Zeidan.
13
Heritage
Nissan And
Record
Breaking
The R380’s international speed records
NISSAN AT REGIONAL
Readers will be aware of Nissan’s record breaking exploits in the Middle East
with the 24-Hr Nissan Altima Endurance Drive in 2006 and 2007. But did you
know that Nissan set its first international speed
records way back in 1967. Betcha,
you didn’t, but now you
know. Read on…
KUWAIT
RIYADH
O
n separate
occasions in 1965
and 1967, the celebrated
R380 set out to break multiple international speed
records. The first was in October 1965: the 3rd Japan GP
was meant to be held that year, but it was postponed to 1966. Prince
Motors, which had been developing the Prince R380 specifically for the scheduled
1965 event, decided that instead it would put the racing to the test by pitting it
against a range of international speed records.
The date was October 6, and the place was Yatabe, Ibaraki Prefecture. Yukio
Sugita of Prince’s Driving Test Section got into the cockpit and proceeded to
set new international speed records, one after another, in four categories over
distances ranging from 50 to 200km. However, at that time the Yatabe course had
not obtained FIA approval, so the 6 new records were valid as Japanese records
but not world records.
DUBAI
JORDAN
International speed records set by Prince R380 (Oct. 6, 1965)
Two years later on
October 8, 1967, it was the
turn of T. Yokoyama of the Nissan Racing
Team. Following the Nissan-Prince merger in the previous
year, the vehicle had been renamed “Nissan R380-II”. There were high
expectations riding on the R380, which had beaten its old rival Porsche in the
3rd Japan GP. And this time, with FIA approval, it set new world records in the 7
prescribed events (50km, 50 miles, 100km, 100 miles, 200km, 200 miles, 1 hour).
International speed records set by Nissan R380 (Oct. 8, 1967)
*2nd attempt at 50km took place on Oct. 14.
Distance/time
JEDDAH
14
Time elapsed
Average speed (km/h)
Previous record (km/h)
Time elapsed
Average speed (km/h)
50km
12’51”44
233.33
230.51
Distance/time
50km
11’42”88
256.09
Previous record (km/h)
230.51
50km*
12’35”82
238.15
230.51
50 miles
18’54”38
255.37
237.21
50 miles
20’35”85
234.40
237.21
100km
23’33”60
254.67
239.35
100km
25’33”97
234.69
239.35
100 miles
38’15”09
252.44
229.36
100 miles
41’06”67
234.88
229.36
200km
200km
51’04”68
234.93
229.18
200 miles
1 hour
-
235.06
229.23
1 hour
47’37”20
251.99
229.18
1:16’52”35
251.22
228.54
-
250.98
229.23
15
Road Test
2008 Nissan
Xterra
What Role Are You Playing Today?
16
What do you think would happen when
die-hard automotive enthusiasts, the
new Nissan Xterra and the undulating
sand dunes of the UAE come together?
Absolute fun, of course!
17
W
e are in the sand dunes near Nizwa, a few
kilometres off the Dubai-Hatta highway.
Our choice of wheels is a canary yellow
Nissan Xterra and we are having…Fun. Yes, fun with
a capital F as the rugged Xterra just refuses to give in
to all our attempts to flounder. Up and down, around
some steep bowls, on soft loose sand – whatever we
try and subject it to, the Xterra just goes about its
job with a tenacity that is truly astounding. It is truly
the genuine article: a proper, nay real, adventure
vehicle that does not pretend to be anything else
whilst handling everyday life on pavement with
poise.
Sports Utility Vehicles or SUVs are supposed
to sell to a fairly well-defined market that at one
time were prepared to forgive a trailbuster’s lack
of refinement. As more buyers moved over from
cars, the next phase saw a gradual trade off from
ultimate 4x4 prowess to performance on-road. With
the Xterra, Nissan provides yet more evidence that
manufacturers are now really having to push the
envelope.
With the Xterra, Nissan has brought back the hard
hitting off-road SUV in a package that fits in just
right up there in the urban jungle as well. With its
rugged and no-nonsense handsome
looks, the Xterra shares
the Pathfinder’s F-Alpha platform which is also to
be seen on the larger Armada. The Xterra is shorter
in wheelbase to the Pathfinder and where the latter
seems more suburban and relaxed, the Xterra is all
bare-bones with an almost youth inducing elixir in
its personality. You know the kind that makes you
get up and go with a spring in your stride.
With a well-engineered fully boxed ladder frame
and sophisticated electronics help maintain traction
and stability over all kinds of doubtful terrain.
Powering the Xterra is the robust and powerful
4.0-litre VQ40DE V6 engine. The nearly square
engine belts out 291 hp @ 5600rpm and giving it
thrust is 409 Nm @ 4000 rpm of torque (All figures
are gross). This enables the Xterra’s 2500 kg gross
vehicle weight to be moved without much fuss. In
fact, the VQ engine always seems to have something
in reserve, and the power comes on without
any noticeable strain.
A tall vehicle, with the driver
sitting up high, the Xterra
was a treat among the
sand dunes of
Nizwa.
Coming off the tarmac and onto the loose stuff, just
a flick of the shift-on-the-fly switch gave traction to
all four wheels via the slick 2-speed transfer case.
Incidentally, one can switch from 2WD to drive on
all four wheels at speeds up to 100 kmph. In order
to tackle real gnarly terrain yet another twist of the
switch enables the 4LO function that provides an
impressive crawl ratio that includes dual speed offroading situations. We tried it to see how it works
and it duly impressed. Other than this instance, we
did not drop down into 4LO and the entire rumble
in the desert was executed in 4H.
Three trim levels will be available in the Middle
East: Xterra X, S, and SE. All feature power windows
and mirrors, power-assisted steering, audio system,
manual air-conditioning, remote keyless entry, alloy
wheels, low tyre-pressure indicator and separate
steps on rear bumper and rear bumper side.
The S version comes with front fog lamps and a
six-speaker audio system with 6-disk CD changer.
The top-of-the-range SE adds movable aerodynamic
roof-rail cross bars, trip computer, cruise control
and 17-inch tyres.
Standard safety features include dual airbags, antilock braking with electric brake force distribution
and brake assist. The SE adds inflatable curtain
airbag, and vehicle dynamic control.
Driving Impressions
This is a true SUV in the real sense of the word.
The days of the lumbering SUV are long gone and
the Xterra shows a fast turn of speed. Acceleration
is brisk and planting the right foot to the throttle
while ambling will whisk you past slow moving
traffic with some rapidity. The transmission is tough
and thanks to its electronically controlled algorithms
provides fuss-free shifts, even on kickdown.
While we primarily tested the Xterra in its natural
habitat – off the beaten track – it provides evenhanded ride comfort on tarmac, with enough
shuffling and transmission of road irregularities
via those big 265/65 17-inch boots to ensure you
know you are not driving a car. That aside, in audible
terms it certainly does not lack refinement, whether
on smooth or rough surfaces.
The rack and pinion steering with speed-sensitive
assist offers good insulation from kickback with
limited lack of feel and feedback. Even when pushed
hard into a corner, the Xterra does not seem to roll
much for a vehicle of this type. When the relative
high level of grip (for a 4x4) begins to be exceeded,
a predictable mild understeer and fairly benign
responses
to throttle control ensures that
the Xterra remains stable at
the speeds it is capable
of. The 4.0-litre
engine has
some guts in the midrange and the Xterra always
accelerated well when coming out of a corner.
The whole talking point about the Xterra is
about its prowess in the rough. On our little escape
to Nizwa, the Xterra just about flattened every dune
in its stride and when we chanced upon a massive
climb it just got down to business, unleashing its
full complement of 291 horses and climbed straight
up without a sweat. I say this because on that day
there were plenty of other vehicles around (this
area is a favourite with tour operators and off-road
enthusiasts alike) and we could see many try the
ascent and fail repeatedly before finding success.
In our case, as with the others, it was a challenge
but with its all-terrain tyres, traction control and
locking differential, the Xterra got us in and got
us out again.
Safety equipment in the Xterra includes an
advanced air bag system (AABS), which consists of
dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt
sensors and a front occupant classification sensor.
Also standard are three-point seat belts for all rear
seat occupants (including the center-rear position)
and a child seat anchor system. A Supplemental
Airbag Package, optional for all models, includes
side-impact air bags built into the front seats so they
move with you, a rollover sensor, and side curtain
air bags. Standard active safety features include
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), four-wheel disc
brakes with anti-lock (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
There are many niches within the SUV
market. But mainly the broad choice
is between city-crossers or high-speed
expresses. The Xterra manages to blend in
a bit of both of these in a comfortable and
capable expression of the 4x4 lifestyle that
is so prevalent here in the Middle East. It
offers the most go for the money and is in
its element whether playing dirty Harry or
the suave gentleman. It’s like saying, “what
role are you playing today”?
Pankaj Dev
18
19
FEATURE
Altima Coupe
Nissan’s Exciting New Coupe Races in GCC
I
t is always a brave thing to give an added fillip
to something already at the top of its game.
Take the Nissan Altima sedan for example. It
is one of the most handsome sedans on the market
today and doing very well in terms of sales, thank
you. This is because of a number of reasons, one of
them being an inherently good design coupled with
a dynamic chassis and willing powerplants. So what
does one do to make a good thing better?
It is difficult to change a stunning shape and
make it into a fashion statement. But with the
Altima Coupe, Nissan has come up with a stylised
car which, while keeping the family image in
perspective, is a perfect foil to its four-door brother.
And it is to be launched in the Middle East soon! In
fact, by the time you are reading this magazine, the
Altima Coupe will already be flying out of Nissan
dealerships in the region.
Like mentioned above, the Altima sedan is a
handsome car and the Coupe version fires up the
desire for customers wanting a more personal
expression of style, individuality and fashionable
appearance. The Altima Coupe’s unique exterior
design is intended to stand out in a crowd of sedan-
20
based two-door models with magnetic, perfectly
proportioned styling with a shorter wheelbase,
shorter overall length and lower height than the
Altima sedan.
This smaller size and lighter overall weight also
contribute to the Coupe’s sportier driving feel –
other desired attributes of the typically younger,
more performance-oriented coupe buyers.
Let’s get one thing clear: the Altima Coupe is not
a sedan with the rear doors chopped off. While the
family resemblance to its sedan sibling is clear, the
Coupe has its own distinct look and shares only the
hood with the four-door Altima. All other panels,
grille, headlights and rear combination lights are
unique to the Altima Coupe. Which is a good thing
as anything else, one can confuse the coupe with
Nissan’s Z-car which is not at all a bad comparison.
The Coupe’s overall length (182.5 inch) is shorter
than the sedan by 7.1 inches and the wheelbase
(103.5) is down by 4 inches. Overall height too (55.3
inch), as befitting a coupe is lower from the sedan
by 2.5 inches.
The interior is familiar to that of the sedan. The
dashboard is identical with its large and sporty gauge
cluster and centre stack. The cabin is refined with
high quality plastics topped off with aluminium
accents in keeping with the Coupe’s sporty yet
upscale look. To further accentuate its sporty feel,
the handbrake returns to its position alongside the
gear shifter rather the footbrake as seen on the
four-door. The seats are pretty comfortable and
supporting, making for hours of driving without
the driver feeling fatigued. Access to the rear seats is
quick, thanks to easy reach levers. Furthermore the
rear bench seat is reasonably functional for a coupe,
with satisfactory knee and adequate headroom.
Underneath the svelte bodywork though, the
coupe shares the fourth-generation Altima sedan’s
platform, powertrain and user-friendly features and
innovations. The highly acclaimed ‘D’ platform has
been suitably tweaked to ensure increased body
rigidity. Coupled to this is a redesigned suspension
which enables the Altima Coupe to stake its claim as
one of the best performing large front-wheel drive
coupes available in the market today.
And this was ably demonstrated as we subjected
the Altima Coupe to a series of sporting manoeuvres
and it responded with alacrity and verve. The power
delivery from its 3.5-litre engine (the Coupe will only
be available with this powerplant in the Middle East)
is similar to that of its sedan sibling but at the same
time having an edge of its own. There is no deep
throated growl a‘la the 350Z but that should not take
anything away from the way it performs. The growl
may not be there but that does not mean the Altima
Coupe does not have the grunt. It accelerates with
a strong purr as the 285 horsepower comes into
play and with 365 Nm of torque to swiftly propel
it forward; the Altima Coupe is no slouch thanks
to its Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control
System (CVTCS). This system enables a wider rpm
range for greater low-end torque and a relentless
rush to the redline. Power is sent to the front wheels
via Nissan’s advanced 6-speed Xtronic CVT with
manual shift mode. While most CVTs suffer from
a rubber band effect – you can hear the engine rev
up while waiting for the transmission to catch up
– Nissan’s CVT has all but eliminated this effect.
So the engine speed is always in the right power
band making for smooth driving, whether you are
cruising or driving sportily.
New suspension geometry, shock absorbers with
rebound springs, engine placement that is lower in
the subframe and equal-length half-shafts that have
equal angles and are more parallel to the ground all
help to virtually eliminate torque steer – a fact that
really surprised us during the days we spent with the
car. The ride and handling came as a pleasant surprise
as although the Coupe retains the overall suspension
geometry of the sedan, it has been specially tuned
give the Coupe the sportiness it demands. There is
more intuitive damping with less harshness and the
ride, although firm does not border on harshness
that many other similar cars display. What you get is a
supple ride with handling befitting a sports coupe.
Also contributing to the Altima Coupe’s sporty
performance feel are a standard twin-orifice
vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion
steering system and 4-wheel disc brakes with
standard 4-wheel, 4-channel, 4-sensor Anti-lock
Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force
Distribution (EBD).
The Altima Coupe comes with a host of
impressive amenities like the standard Intelligent
Key with Push Button Ignition and Bose-developed
audio system with nine speakers, Bluetooth HandsFree Phone System, satellite radio and dual-zone
automatic temperature control.
Standard safety features include Zone Body
construction with front and rear crumple zones and
Advanced Air Bag System (AABS), which includes
dual-stage front supplemental air bags. Also
standard are front seat side-impact supplemental air
bags for chest protection and roof-mounted curtain
side-impact air bags for front and rear outboard
occupant head protection. Also included are front
seat Active Head Restraints and Tyre Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS).
The Altima Coupe is a brave decision by a
company who is not averse to taking the lead. While
the coupe market is not really hot at the moment,
thanks to the non-availability of exciting models,
the Nissan Altima Coupe is a shining beacon and is
sure to be a hit with those, especially women, who
want to a car that makes a statement.
Hey, in fact, if you’re looking for style,
performance and affordability, the new Altima
Coupe delivers.
Neville Jal Darukhanawalla
21
TRAVELOGUE
Nissan Navara
Go Anywhere, Do Anything
M
y bags were
packed and
I was ready
to go. Our travelogue for
this issue was scheduled to
take in the rustic delights
of Algeria but some
unforeseen circumstances
in the form of some unrest
in this North African
country scuppered my
trip. With time running
out, we decided to forego
another travelogue and
instead sample some more
delights of the UAE’s vast
expanse of golden brown
and red sands.
Our vehicle of choice
was the newly launched
Navara lifestyle pick-up
and we chose this vehicle for our day long
journey traversing some of the sandy expanses
not really frequented by the usual off-roading
crowd. This meant we took the Emirates
road from Dubai to Umm Al Qawain, leaving
the expressway at exit 96 and taking to the
unbeaten path.
Before we get on with the nuances of the
terrain and such, it is only fair that I devote
some lines to the Navara. While SUVs are a
statement of intent, lifestyle pickups like the
Navara are the proof. And with four doors and
a pickup deck to carry all your favourite toys
– to the desert or beach or…the list is endless
– the Navara makes for a compelling case to
flaunt your freedom and lifestyle without being
pretentious.
So what’s happening with pick-ups? Four
doors that is. And the Navara is a good
embodiment of owning a multi-purpose
vehicle - in the truest sense of the word –
which has the advantage of taking on manifold
personalities, ensuring you stand out from the
me-too crowd.
Two engine options are available – a 2.5-litre,
4-cylinder, 16-valve petrol unit churning out 162
hp at 5200 rpm and 25.5 kg-m of torque at 4499
rpm (gross) and a turbo diesel equivalent in
22
three different stages of tune. We opted for the
oil burner for our trip – a welcome change from
driving around in vehicles using petrol as the
means of ignition. With a 6-speed manual gearbox
and 4WD available at the flick of a rotary knob
situated on the centre column of the dashboard,
we were excited to explore the great outdoors in
the Navara. Again, driving a manual would add
another dimension and the prospect of shifting
gears myself was going to be a good motivator.
By the way, our Navara came with the 2.5-litre
turbo-diesel with intercooler powerplant
designated YD25DDTi, developing 172
hp@4000rpm (net) and 42
Kg-m of torque at a
lowly 2000rpm. The
other stages of tune
in this engine make
142 hp with different
torque figures.
23
I must admit though, I was a bit intimidated
at first to take it into the desert but once into
the golden brown stuff, all inhibitions and
apprehensions vanished and the Navara and
me became one.
There was a time when pick-ups were only gauged
by the vehicle’s toughness, reliability, power and the
ability to lug a certain amount of cargo. Nobody
was much interested in how it looked. So Nissan
is, in a way, entering uncharted territory by aiming
a substantial proportion of its Navara at crossover
buyers interested in a workhorse that thinks it’s a
racehorse.
The Navara is undoubtedly one of the best
looking pickups one can get. Look at it this way,
if you want a working pick-up, plain Jane is what
you get. If you want a double cab, you get a sport
utility. And as these pictures of these pages show,
Nissan’s concept of ‘SUV in a pick-up’ makes a bold
statement, from its macho-looking nose with trendy
clustered lights, to its curvy styled loadbox panels
and centre-latch tailgate.
The Navara is akin to a big boxing glove – tough
with the punches but soft to the touch. The result is
a tough vehicle in a most modern form. The tough
part of the design equation includes such elements
as the bumper mounted on to the ladder frame.
Being a topliner, our Navara came with the
customary roll bar, roof rack and side rails with
anti-slip inserts. Nissan offers a range of custom
accessories to further enhance the Navara’s good
looks. Overall, we would rate the Navara’s image
as alternative and sporty for this genre. Clearly,
younger, more affluent buyers are in the frame –
the kind that is most interested in knowing that
the Navara’s genes are borne out of some serious
workouts in the world of rally raids, having taken
many stage wins in events like the Dakar and the
UAE Desert Challenge in the years gone by.
24
The cabin ambience and trim are good too, not
like a LCV, but more of a passenger car. A neat and
functional facia greets the driver with spacious and
comfortable interior. There is a premium music
system, a three-spoke steering wheel with cruise
control buttons, faux pas wood trim and power
everything. The Navara easily seats five.
Making the transition from road to the great
unknown, i.e. from rear-wheel drive to 4x4 – which
is possible on the move – is a cinch thanks to the
click of the rotary knob on the centre facia. The
front hubs lock automatically on engagement of
four-wheel drive. Our off-road sortie showed wheel
travel to be fairly good and dune-climbing ability
to be excellent. One is able to putter along in low
range first and second gears at idle speed, only
tickling the throttle pedal to gain some momentum
on particularly testing uphills. This is thanks to the
enormous amounts of torque that come into play
pulling the Navara past almost anything the terrain
throws at you.
I remember one particularly rough crest which
had another lip out of sight and the Navara yet did
not bottom out. Top marks to the suspension with
the independent front with double wishbones and
coil over shock and rear rigid leaf springs. This may
sound anarchic but the fact is that it works and very
well too! The road holding on black top may not be
as plush as a SUV but for a pick-up it is really good
as is the ABS assisted braking which is surefooted in
bringing this big fella down from speed.
The terrain around Falaj Al Mualla in Umm Al
Quwain is undulating but without any massive dunes
as found in Nizwa or other locations in Dubai. With
the UAE having being blessed with intermittent
rain showers in early January, the desert showed
encouraging signs of vegetation with many shrubs
and bushes having sprouted up. The ground too was
reasonably packed up but this can be a good and
a bad thing as sometimes the crest of a dune can
easily crumble, leading to an unpleasant situation at
times.
There are plenty of trails leading to lush green
farmlands which suddenly spring up out of nowhere.
This makes a welcome change in topography and
scenery and most often than not black tops are
quite close so that an exit, whenever needed, can
be accorded.
In many ways, this short trip was a welcome
change as I could get back home at the end of the
day after having spent a few entertaining hours with
the Navara amidst some scenic desert vistas without
having to break into a sweat.
For sure in the next issue we will be back with
a full fledged travelogue. Wonder where our
wanderlust is going to take us…
25
Concept Car
M
Nissan Forum
Concept
A Family Limousine
26
anufacturers are always looking for
different niches to fill in as they stretch
the envelope in finding innovative means
of transportation solutions. While cars have always
been the most basic and traditional way to travel,
they soon grew in size and shape to accommodate
large families. Enter the minivan. Soon auto makers
explored the possibilities of converting hard core
utility vehicles for the road and the modern SUV
was born. This provided a vehicle with capabilities
to work and play hard and soon spelled the death
knell of minivans.
Minivans have been traditionally well accepted in
the USA and closer in our region, in Saudi Arabia
and Kuwait. While many manufacturers have taken
a step back from making minivans entirely, there are
some who continue to be dedicated to providing
these traditional family movers.
For the companies that dropped their minivans
but still need to offer shoppers something for large
families, change is coming, as now Nissan showed a
concept at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show that could
bring a crossover with strong minivan overtones to
its line-up.
The concept is the Forum which represents
the next revolution in family transportation. The
challenge, Nissan officials add, is “making family
passenger vehicles more appealing to both drivers
and passengers.”
The Forum concept isn’t unrecognisable to
minivan drivers and owners. It has the big box in
back for kids and cargo, but Nissan designers have
gone with a higher beltline, styled side glass and
a wider stance, to give a more sporty feel to the
traditional one-box van. Emphasising that theme
is a curvaceously sweeping grille that is accented
by a soft LED light bar. While the sliding doors
that parents love hasn’t been eliminated, its tracks
have been carefully hidden, thanks to the Forum’s
trackless sliding door design. This has been made
possible by a special patented hinge system.
The front doors swing open to a 90-degree angle.
Further enhancing the sense of spaciousness, the
Forum’s sides have lost the typical B-pillars that
would reinforce the middle of its body; instead,
designers have penned in stronger door and roof
frames. Atop the Forum, the huge SkyView roof
contains hidden sunshades, permitting the glass to
be closed off on hot days.
“From a conceptual standpoint, the Forum is
closer to a family limousine than the minivans Gen
Xers have grown up with. But unlike a real limo - or
sometimes traditional minivans - the Forum driver
is just as important as the passengers,” explains
Rachel Nguyen, Nissan North America’s Director
of Advanced Planning and Strategy.
As the name suggests, the interior of the concept
is seen as a place to bring people together. It is divided
into two connected zones. There’s the parents’ zone,
up front, with comfortable but sporty seats, as well
as the vehicle’s gauge and control center, as well as
electronics like Bluetooth, for hands-free calling.
Mood lighting under the upper and lower consoles
further invites occupants to spend more time in the
Forum, making for a calm environment.
The rear, or children’s, zone is dedicated to keeping
kids safe, comfortable - and something parents will
appreciate - entertained. As you’d expect, that means
a variety of the latest infotainment systems. There’s
even a console-mounted microwave, accessible
from the front or middle rows, sized for making
popcorn.
The second row’s turntable-style seating allows
the twin buckets to rotate 90 degrees and face out
for tailgating and picnicking. Or the seats can swivel
a full 180 degrees, to face the rear three-seat bench,
creating a sort of living room environment.
Close watch on rear cabin occupants is provided
Forum also employs Nissan’s advanced Around
View Monitor (AVM) system. The AVM system
includes front, side and rear-mounted cameras and
an advanced controller that combines the images
together to give the driver a unique view of all four
sides of the vehicle – helping to reduce driver blind
spots when parking.
Forum’s efficient, intelligent design features
also extend to the powertrain. Though as a design
exploration, Forum’s emphasis is limited to form
and functionality, conceptually a modern, nextgeneration family passenger vehicle would include
a clean diesel or other environmentally sensitive
powerplant.
“Nissan has previously announced that it will be
offering a clean diesel engine in the United States in
the next generation Maxima, so a similar powerplant
by a ‘Kids Cam’ monitoring system, which utilises
2nd and 3rd row cameras mounted in the headliner
and connected to the main instrument panel
LCD display monitor.  Selectable camera control
switches are mounted above the rear view mirror.
A one-button audio muting ‘Time Out’ system,
with the controller located in the lower centre
portion of the steering wheel, allows the driver to
simultaneously mute all audio playing in the Forum
and broadcast the driver’s voice over all interior
speakers – enabling quick and easy communication
to both rows of rear seats.
Bose designed a SeatCentric system for the
concept, with a variety of speakers, including
some built into headrests and seatbacks.
Independent audio is available for each of
the Forum’s three rows.
would be a definite consideration for a vehicle like
Forum,” says Bruce Campbell, vice president,
Design NDA.  “Nissan is also an industry leader
in CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
technology, so you could predict smooth, responsive
performance worthy of the Nissan badge.”
While some people think that family transportation
vehicles are a thing of the past, Nissan’s view is that
vehicles just need to evolve along with changing
family dynamics. Quality time used to be more about
the quantity of time spent together with the kids.
Today, it’s more about dedicated moments for family
fun, entertainment and communication. Forum is a
great place to gather together and rediscover each
other once in a while.
If the Forum gets people talking the idea up at
Detroit, Nissan could very well find a place for this
new people mover.
27
Technology
MOTOR SPORTS
World’s First Distance Control Assist And
Navigation-Enabled Intelligent Cruise Control
N
issan has introduced two pioneering technologies,
released in Japan last December – the world’s first
Distance Control Assist and Navigation-Enabled
Intelligent Cruise Control systems.
Nissan’s pioneering Distance Control Assist system helps
control the distance between two vehicles under various
traffic conditions, from congested urban roads to highspeed expressways. The improved Intelligent Cruise
Control system integrates route-information via the onboard navigation system to monitor the vehicle’s cruising
speed to match actual road e.g. the sharpness of the next
curve on the road.
World’s First Distance Control Assist
The Distance Control Assist system determines the following distance of the
driver’s vehicle, as well as the relative speed of both vehicles, using a radar
sensor installed in the front bumper.
When a vehicle approaches close to the vehicle ahead and the accelerator is not
engaged, the system activates the brakes to decelerate smoothly.  Alternatively,
if the accelerator is engaged, the acceleration actuator is activated through a
“push back” mechanism to help the driver to release the pedal.
In a situation where the vehicle ahead slows down or brakes, requiring the
driver to respond by braking, the system instantly alerts the driver through
message and audio warnings. Simultaneously, the system pushes back the
accelerator to assist the driver to switch to the brakes.
Toyo Tyres 24-hrs of Dubai
Nissan 350Z Proves Its Mettle
Enhanced Intelligent Cruise Control
The Intelligent Cruise Control system operates using information from a
radar sensor installed in the front bumper.  When following a vehicle ahead,
the system controls following distance appropriately, using the driver’s preset
speed as the maximum limit.  With no vehicle ahead, the vehicle cruises at the
constant driver preset speed.
The new system features several pioneering
technologies:
Full-speed range following function
Previous systems functioned only within the range of
approximately 5-100 kilometres per hour, whereas the new
system functions across the full-speed range, starting from zero. 
The system is capable of activating the brakes in order to stop the
vehicle under certain traffic conditions.
World’s first use of navigation map data
Utilising route-information fed through the on-board navigation
system, the Intelligent Cruise Control system can modulate the
vehicle-speed in anticipation of the next curve on the road.  When
approaching a curve, the system gradually decelerates, and as it clears
the turn onto a straight road, the system seamlessly reverts to its
original speed.
When both the Distance Control Assist and Intelligent Cruise
Control are installed, the driver can select either function setting, using
a wheel-mounted switch according to different driving conditions.
28
A
24-hr race is one of the true tests of a
machine’s engineering and man’s endurance.
When the race has a grid of nearly 90 cars,
with various levels of power and thus speeds, it
makes for a cracker of an event where even just
finishing is a mean achievement.
And this is what happened in the third running
of the Toyo Tyres 24-Hrs of Dubai race held on
January 11-12, 2008 at the Dubai Autodrome. In
the midst of some serious competition was a lone
ranger – a team made up of gentleman racers run
by Bob Neville, a former motorsport director of
Nissan Europe – racing under the banner of Nissan
RJN Motorsport. Their racing car of choice: a
nearly stock Nissan 350Z. Their ambition: to finish
in the top three of their category and in the top 10
overall.
The Nissan ran in its VLN configuration (a race
series run in Germany), which included a rear wing
and front splitter to aid in the aerodynamics to
enhance the 350Z’s handling and provide a slippery
profile to get that extra tenth of a second. “I am
hopeful of a top 10 finish and a podium in the
class”, said Bob Neville, Team Principle of Nissan
RJN Motorsport at the beginning of the race.
A visibly wet track, an English weather and hard
racing – doesn’t it sound something like a cliché?
And that too in sunny Dubai! But these were the
conditions prevailing as the race got underway and in
typical no fuss manner the Nissan 350Z got stuck in
its task. Piloted by the quartet of Danish DTM star
Kurt Thiim, Britain’s Alex Buncombe and journalist
drivers Holger Eckhardt and Richard Meaden, the
350Z was soon in its groove despite lacking power
to its competition - its 380 bhp from the engine that
was basically stock with very little modification saw
it loosing out on its rivals by some margin.
Throughout the race the 350Z ran flawlessly
but then towards the last hour or so when running
in the top three in its class and fifteen overall, the
gearbox (which was standard also, by the way)
gave them problems. The subsequent loss of time
pushed the team down and at the end of a gruelling
24-hrs of hard fought racing, the 350Z came in 21st
overall and fourth in class. But for their misfortunes,
the team would have been much higher up in the
rankings but then this is motorsport for you.
This result is not at all bad when you consider
that the car was built in just three months in a
limited budget and is just at the beginning of its
development. It was a magnificent effort by a small
team who affirmed their faith in the 350Z and
intends to take it to the top in their class.
RJN Motorsport has notched an impressive
record since being formed in 1999-2000, with wins
in the FIA European Touring Car Championship,
the Moroccan Rally, the Goodwood Festival of
Speed and wins at Silverstone.
We wish them the best of luck.
29
ME & MY NISSAN
If you were a car, what would you be?
Nissan GT-R. I just love the strong design element and of course, its power.
What’s your favourite stretch of road?
Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai and the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway.
What’s your proudest achievement whilst driving?
I like to feel the car working well when driving fast.
What are the trends in your field of work?
In my field there is a lot of stress at times, so I feel the need to calm myself down
more often.
What made you buy a Nissan Murano?
I have always loved it and was happy my husband bought it for me.
Describe your Nissan?
It is the second most precious thing after my husband.
What kind of mileage is on the odometer?
40,000 trouble free kilometres.
If you were to switch careers, what would you do?
I am happy to be in the IT industry as sales is my forte. I cannot contemplate doing anything else.
NERMINE OSMAN
Nissan Murano
Yet to get over the euphoria of her country winning the
African Nations Cup football tournament, Egyptian Nermine
Osman does not come across as the typical soccer fan. “I
love sports,” says the bubbly 29-year-old (she has no qualms
giving out her age). “I go to the gym thrice a week, besides
swimming and playing basketball. Football is a passion, as
my husband is a big fan of the game.”
After all, a couple who watch football together stay together
for ever!
Nermine got her Nissan Murano as a wedding gift from her
husband Mustafa and she is in love with her set of wheels
ever since. Actually, she liked the class contours of the
Murano much before and had tacitly mentioned it to her
hubby who being the gentleman he is, got it for her. Working
at the Internet City in Dubai for software giant Oracle as
a sales account manager handling Egypt and some North
African countries, Nermine has been in the UAE for a year
and a half and loving it. Part of it has to do with the Murano as
she loves driving and can’t bear to be apart from her car and
husband …ok it is the other way round… for long.
So much so, that she says that she actually communicates
with her car and although her dream car is something else
(see alongside), the Murano has got her smitten.
A woman with her head on her shoulders, she gives credit to
her parents and elder sister to have sacrificed much to set
her up for a good career in life.
We put the SHIFT_ questionnaire to Nermine and here’s
what she has to say.
30
What’s in your car stereo right now?
A mixed lot – Arabic, English and French. I absolutely adore French music.
What would you do with the last tankful of fuel in your car?
I would only use it sparingly. Never know when I might need it.
Describe yourself in one word?
Romantic
What’s the maddest thing you have done in your Nissan?
I love my car, so I do not subject it to any craziness.
How sensitive are you to other people’s judgement?
I am very sensitive. I respect other’s opinions as long as it does not get too personal.
Your views on the traffic situation?
Bad. Rush hours are extremely taxing.
What’s the fastest you’ve driven on the public highway?
Too fast, let’s say!
Your favourite cuisine?
Junk food, honestly.
Your favourite phrase?
Wow and Allah!
Your favourite destination?
California as well as Hawaii
Home is where the heart is…what does your heart yearn for?
The warm hugs of my mother and sister and the sound advice of my father. I miss them and think of them a lot.