‘Let the pickup wars begin’: Nissan launches Navara

Gracing the Navara launch at Sofitel are (from left) Nissan Motor Asia Pacific Co. Ltd. Business Management Department SVP Kenji Naito, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. corporate vice president Toru Hasegawa, Nissan Philippines Inc. president and managing director Antonio Zara, and NPI general manager for marketing SJ Huh. photos by Eugene Araneta

MANILA, Philippines–The all-new Nissan Navara pickup made a dramatic entrance during its launch on Monday night. With Nissan president Antonio Zara behind the wheel, the Savanna   orange pickup demonstrated its towing capacity by hauling out the main stage, on which Wolfgang was rocking out.

The entrance is appropriate for a truck that is certainly not short on power. With a turbocharged 2.5-liter diesel engine putting out  187.40 horsepower and 450 Newton-meters, the 4×4 model has a cargo capacity of one ton, and can tow 3.5 tons.

It features twin-cam, 16-valve configuration, with variable geometry turbocharger. The 4×2 model carries the same engine but with a lower output of  160.77 HP and 403 Nm. A first for pickups is the seven-speed automatic, with manual override mode. The manual transmission models feature six forward gears. The four-wheel-drive system can be activated on the fly, via a rotary switch.

Navara NP 300 is brimming with features never before seen in pickups. Instead of the rear using the conventional rigid axle with leafspring suspension, Nissan has equipped the Navara with a multilink suspension with coil spring. This promises a more comfortable ride without compromising the truck’s cargo capacity. The Navara uses a full-length fully boxed ladder frame for torsional stiffness.

Zara behind the wheel of the Navara

At the rear of the 4×4 pickup is a sticker that reads “VDC TCS HSC HDC.” These stand for the truck’s active safety features. Vehicle Dynamic Control (aka electronic stability program) helps keep the truck on the driver’s intended path, while Traction Control System helps to prevent wheelspin. Hill Start Assist helps to prevent the truck from rolling backward on an uphill slope. Hill Descent Control slows to a crawl when negotiating a steep downhill slope. Now all it needs is a PhD.

The new Navara is the latest generation in Nissan’s 80-year history of producing compact pickups. The styling is SUV-inspired, and an actual SUV that will be based on the Navara platform no doubt is already in the works.

Zara and NPI marketing manager Dax Avenido with Philippine Daily Inquirer chief operating officer Rene Reinoso

At front are boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights and LED headlamps, another segment first. There’s an available rear spoiler and blacked-out B-pillar for an extra dash of style. The steering has reportedly been tuned for a reduced turning radius.

Inside is a car-like cockpit, with available rear-view camera monitor, 5-inch LCD display, audio unit with Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming, cruise control, steering wheel controls, and push-button start system. The gauges on the 4×4 model are luminescent with integrated color display for the trip computer. Like the Altima, the Navara features the Nasa-inspired Zero Gravity Seats that reduce fatigue by placing the body in an optimum seating position.

Wolfgang’s Basti Artadi leads a raucous entrance for Nissan’s newest offering.

HASEGAWA: The Philippines is an important part of our global market.

“Everyday at Nissan, we challenge ourselves with possibility to make good products, even better. Trucks are definitely tough, that is a given, but what sets us apart, is that we redefined tough and we equipped it with innovation that makes it smart. The all-new NP300 Navara is the truck that will make you proud no matter what the situation, be it a rough road drive or a relaxed cruise in the city,” said NPI president Zara.

The Philippines is the first left-hand drive market to launch the 12th generation Navara.

And Zara had a special for the other brands.

“Let the pickup wars begin,” he said. “I challenge the other brands to bring their latest and best pickups.”

The all-new NP300 is available in Savanna orange, galaxy black, brilliant silver and alpine white. Introductory prices are set at:

• P1.49 million for the 4×4 VL seven-speed A/T

• P1.421  million for 4×4 VL six-speed M/T

• P1.256  million for 4×4 EL six-speed M/T

• P1.108  million for 4×2 EL seven-speed A/T Calibre

• P1.038  million for 4×2 EL six-speed M/T Calibre

• P938,000 for 4×2 six-speed M/T Calibre

• P898,000 for the 4×2 six-speed M/T

Nissan dealers are now accepting reservations and will start to deliver by the end of the month.