Global Vehicles
March/Micra first car from Nissan/Renault platform
 The new Nissan March/Micra is the first product of a Nissan/Renault jointly developed small-car platform that will also be the basis for the Renault Clio replacement. |
The updated March (Micra, in Europe) small car is the first Nissan/Renault joint platform, which will be used by the French manufacturer in its next-generation Clio/Twingo small cars. These cars compete in the increasingly competitive European B-segment and the Japanese "Liter" (denoting engine swept volume) car category, contested by such models as Toyota's Vitz/Yaris and the new Honda Fit.
The new March is slightly shorter at 3695 mm (145 in), but 75 mm (3 in) wider at 1660 mm (65 in) and 100 mm (4 in) taller at 1525 mm (60 in), respectively, and rides on a longer 2430-mm (96-in) wheelbase. It's roomier in all directions inside, now comfortably accommodating a driver up to 184 cm (72 in)—versus 178 cm (70 in)—tall. It is offered in three- and five-door guises, sharing the same silhouette.
Nissan's forte has been in its powertrain design and development capability, maintained even in its darkest pre-Ghosn days. It has updated the base 1.0- to 1.4-L small-car engine family, now designated CR to the previous engine series CG. The DOHC engine employs the single-stage, silent-chain camshaft drive, as in other recent Nissan engines. Three displacements are offered in the range: the base 1.0-L unit with 71 x 63 mm (2.80 x 2.48 in) internal dimensions, the middle 1.2 L with the same bore but longer 78-mm (3.07-in) stroke, and the 1.4 L with wider 73-mm (2.87-in) bore and longer 83-mm (3.27-in) stroke. Maximum power outputs are 50, 66, and 72 kW (68, 90, and 98 hp), respectively.
 The March accommodates four people in comfort and features a multiple airbag system. |
Two transmission types are offered: a five-speed manual transmission and an electronically controlled four-speed automatic. The automatic is conventional in that it combines torque converter and a planetary geartrain. The previous-generation March employed the steel-belt CVT supplied by Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru). With Fuji now entrenched in the GM Alliance, and with Nissan's JATCO and Mitsubishi Motors' transmission unit merging, Nissan's small-car transmission strategy has entered a new phase—albeit in the short term. The JATCO/Mitsubishi combine is fully capable of and is producing advanced CVTs, and will soon return to the small-car segment with a new design.
The chassis is straightforward as small cars go, with ubiquitous MacPherson struts up front and a twist beam/trailing arm system in the rear. The U-shaped twist beam has its opening at the bottom, which allows the lowest placement of the axle, according to Nissan. Nissan will add a hybrid on-demand all-wheel-drive version, which employs an electric motor to drive the rear wheels when extra traction is needed.
- Jack Yamaguchi
Nissan tops Skyline range
 The 350GT is the top performance version of Nissan's Skyline (Infiniti G35 for the U.S.). It is powered by a 3.5-L version of the VQ quad-cam 24-valve V6. |
The Nissan 350GT is a new top-of-the-range model for the Skyline series of sports sedans. Similar to the Infiniti G35, it is powered by the same quad-cam, 24-valve, naturally aspirated 3.5-L version of the VQ V6 engine family. The smaller 2.5- and 3.0-L engines in the Japanese Skyline are Neo-DI gasoline direct-injection units with unique cylinder heads that operate in lean-burn environment for optimum fuel economy. The 3.5-L VQ35DE operates largely in the stoichiometric envelope for power and lower exhaust emissions; the 350GT satisfies Japanese SULEV standards. The direct-injection Neo-DI meets the interim 2001 regulations, its HC and NOx emissions higher due to an ultra-lean burn. Emissions levels and fuel consumption of the two versions are shown in the table, measured on the Japanese 10/15-mode urban test cycle. The 3.5-L engine is rated at 200 kW (272 hp) at 6000 rpm and 353 N•m (260 lb•ft) at 4800 rpm.
 The 350GT is equipped with Nissan's Extroid toroidal continuously variable transmission that can be manually shifted through eight forward ratios by steering-mounted paddles or by the shift lever. |
The 350GT differs from the Infiniti G35 in that the former is equipped with Nissan-JATCO's smooth Extroid toroidal CVT; the G35 is fitted with the JATCO five-speed automatic. In addition to the fully automatic operating mode, the Extroid can be "shifted" manually through eight forward ratios, from 2.857: to 0.660:1, by a shift lever or Formula One-like paddles on the steering wheel.
 The 350GT suspension has firmer spring and damping rates. |
- Jack Yamaguchi
