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Nissan launches Teana in Japan

Nissan revealed the newest version of the Teana luxury sedan in Japan this week, giving Australian motorists a preview to what will most likely be the next generation of Maxima.
Based on Nissan’s new D platform, the 2009 Teana sports an exterior that is


Nissan revealed the newest version of the Teana luxury sedan in Japan this week, giving Australian motorists a preview to what will most likely be the next generation of Maxima.

Based on Nissan's new D platform, the 2009 Teana sports an exterior that is a lot more subdued than that of the American Maxima, which was the first to show off Nissan's puzzling new corporate 'face'. Unlike the US Maxima, the new Teana is an evolution of the previous design, with the same soft corners, arched roofline and general proportions of the outgoing model.

Inside there are lashings of luxury everywhere, like a motorised ottoman that turns the front passenger seat into some kind of mobile La-Z-Boy. The dated-looking orange instrument panel of the last Teana/Maxima is now replaced by a more soothing violet-on-black design, while there's a proper navigation and entertainment screen mounted in the dash. Top-spec models also get heated and ventilated front seats as well as an enormous panoramic glass roof.

The Teana is available in Japan in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive form, with the front-drivers being powered by either a 136kW 2.5-litre V6 or the aging 3.5-litre VQ35DE V6, which puts out 185kW. The AWD 250XL FOUR is powered by the 2.5-litre QR25DE inline-four and all models deliver power to the wheels via Nissan's XTRONIC CVT gearbox, which also features paddles shifters and downshift rev-matching on the 3.5-litre models.

Will we see the Teana come Down Under badged as a Maxima? Our current version of the Maxima is essentially the old model Teana so the odds are high, however don't expect many of the luxury goodies to make it over here. Engine choice is also likely to be limited to the 3.5-litre V6 too, however the smaller capacity six might make it on the merit of its greater fuel economy. The all-wheel-drive model will probably stay in Japan for the time being. The Teana is due to go on sale in Japan tomorrow, with prices starting from JPY 2,467,500.

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Press Release

TOKYO (June 2, 2008) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the sales launch of the fully redesigned Teana luxury sedan at dealers across Japan.

With its modern styling, impressive ride comfort and thoughtful appointments for all passengers, the Teana has been designed and engineered to provide lasting value in a modern luxury sedan. Teana will be marketed under the tagline of "SHIFT_hospitality," reflecting its new dimension of hospitality, superb comfort and quiet, roomy interior.

Teana 250XV (fitted with optional equipment)

Teana 250XV (fitted with optional equipment)

The new Teana offers a number of significant “firsts” – including being the first Nissan model in the Japanese market to utilize the newly developed “D” platform and the first in its class to feature a stylish glass roof.

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Graceful, Elegant Exterior Styling

Teana’s new, meticulously executed exterior design presents a modern, artistic form. Defined by its bold yet elegant character line, which forms a sweeping arc extending from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

The powerful front end is highlighted by a new grille, bumper and headlight design. The grille is composed of horizontal bars, with a three-dimensional look as if cut from a sphere, while the headlights are designed with a vertical motif that flows dynamically from the front. Bi-xenon headlights and Active AFS (Adaptive Front lighting System) are offered as a factory-installed option on the Teana 250XV and 350XV models.

Teana’s body side treatment blends richly flared body panels with boldly curved lines. The elegant, six-light windows are designed to emphasize the luxurious space of the interior. The outside mirrors are also optimally shaped to minimize wind noise and the side moldings are executed in a sword motif, imparting a sense of fine quality.

In the rear, the combination lights’ sculpted forms project outward from the body, creating an impressive, wide-looking rear view. The rear bumper provides a feeling of stability and premium quality.

The Teana is offered in a choice of six attractive exterior colors, including the addition of Deep Amethyst Gray as an all-new Nissan color. All Teana body colors come standard with Nissan's Scratch Shield, which self-repairs minor scratch marks in the paint surface.

A Relaxing, Artistic Interior With Wave-like Design Themes

The Teana interior is meticulously executed with an emphasis on comfort and fine quality, combining relaxation that soothes both mind and body and hospitality befitting a modern living room for all passengers.

The seats feature a vibrational absorption urethane cushion material and are shaped so that the occupant's entire body is uniformly supported for enhanced ride comfort. In addition, the seat pads adopt a slab urethane layer to form a three-layered structure that noticeably improves the soft feeling of the seating surface. The double-stitching and three-dimensional shape of the seats conveys an enhanced sense of quality and outstanding workmanship.

The driver's seat incorporates an adjustable lumbar support mechanism that reduces the feeling of fatigue on long drives, while the front-passenger seat continues to offer the power ottoman that has been a popular comfort feature on the first-generation Teana.

Teana’s new instrument panel design is highlighted by soft padding, which appears to “float” above the wood-grain paneling. The center cluster panel is integrated with the instrument panel, and the new center console design, which combines slope and wavelike cues, projects a rich three-dimensional image. Even the door trim imparts a comfortable, sofa-like image, while the armrest design projects the impression of abundant size and unity with the seats.

Indirect lighting is thoughtfully provided in the center console and the door assist grips (excluding the driver's door) to illuminate the surrounding area. Even the door assist grips, while based on ergonomic principles, incorporate a wave-like line for a distinctly fresh look.

Other interior features created for enhanced passenger relaxation include a front-seat ventilation system and large rear-seat headrests. (The front-seat ventilation system and large rear-seat headrests are factory-installed options, offered in a set together with genuine leather seats on the Teana 250XV and 350XV.)

Teana is the first in its class to feature a stylish glass roof, extending the open, airy feeling of the interior to the rear-seat area. The new roof is made completely of glass and incorporates a flexible opening/closing mechanism. The front seat have a power glass roof and inner sunshades over both the front and rear seats open/close by motor power (standard on the 350XV and a factory-installed option on the 250XV, 250XL and 250XL FOUR.)

In addition, Teana comes with an intelligent air-conditioning system featuring a one-touch clean air filtering function for improving the interior air quality at the touch of a button (standard on the 250XV and 350XV and a factory-installed option on all other models).

Teana’s new Bose surround sound audio system is designed to deliver concert-hall-like sound quality. The multiple channels of this Bose-original digital surround sound system reproduce the sounds of musical instruments and singing voices with real, three-dimensional quality – as if listening to a live performance. Bose Centerpoint™* signal processing circuitry also reproduces two-channel asynchronous sound sources such as conventional CDs and DVDs in a 5.1-channel surround sound format for listening quality comparable to that of home theater systems. The Bose system is standard on the 350XV and a factory-installed option on the 250XV.

* Centerpoint™ is a registered trademark of Bose Corporation of the U.S.

The new Teana also comes with Nissan's HDD-based CARWINGS navigation system, featuring a touch panel screen for greatly improved ease of operation. In addition to navigation functionality, the system incorporates enhanced entertainment capabilities, including a music box and DVD audio/video playback. It also includes a Bluetooth hands-free interface (standard on the 250XV and 350XV and a factory-installed option on all other models).

Nissan's Intelligent Key System is also standard on all models. This system provides improved anti-theft functionality, including electric-assisted power steering lockup, engine immobilizer and other deterrents linked to the ID code stored in the key fob.

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Significantly Enhanced Performance and a Flat, Comfortable Ride

The fundamental attributes of the new VQ25DE engine and the VQ35DE V6 engines have been thoroughly enhanced to deliver class-leading performance. The 2.5-liter VQ25DE engine generates maximum power of 136 kW (185 PS) at 6000 rpm and maximum torque of 232 N-m (23.7 kgm) at 4400 rpm.

The larger 3.5-liter VQ35DE engine produces maximum power of 185 kW (252 PS) at 6000 rpm and maximum torque of 335 N-m (34.2 kgm) at 4400 rpm. Both of these VQ engines deliver 80% of their maximum torque at 1600 rpm for exceptional driving ease, combined with smooth, effortless revving to 6000 rpm for acceleration performance.

The VQ engines utilize a six-point engine mounting system that better disperses engine torque-induced vibration and has lower spring constants for reduced engine noise during start-off acceleration.

Teana 4WD models utilize the QR25DE engine, which achieves a 4% improvement in power output, as well as greater torque at low to intermediate speeds. This engine generates maximum power of 123 kW (167 PS) at 5600 rpm and maximum torque of 240 N-m (24.5 kgm) at 4000 rpm.

Both the VQ25DE and QR25DE engines operate on regular gasoline in consideration of better economy.

All Teana models are fitted with Nissan's new XTRONIC CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) incorporating Adaptive Shift Control (ASC), a newly developed shift control system. ASC controls the shift timing according to the driver's personal driving style and the driving environment in order to optimize both power performance and fuel economy. The XTRONIC CVT used on the 3.5-liter-equipped models also includes a six-speed manual shift mode and features a synchro-rev control system that controls the throttle during a downshift to synchronize the engine speed with the transmission for smooth, responsive shifting.

Teana is the first Nissan model in the Japanese market to feature the newly developed “D” platform. This platform optimally balances a flat, comfortable ride with the quietness, superb handling and stability of a car one class higher.

To help ensure high body stiffness, the Teana adopts an X-shaped cowl top structure for increased coupling stiffness with the instrument panel and a new joint member structure for greater coupling stiffness between the upper and lower structures. Along with the extensive use of a high grade of ultra-high tensile steel (980 MPa class), the body has a multiple load path construction that better absorbs and disperses impact energy. This further evolution of Nissan's high-strength Zone Body achieves both enhanced crashworthiness and weight savings.

Teana’s newly developed front suspension incorporates shock absorbers with built-in rebound springs that suppress the extension stroke during body roll to provide stable cornering performance. A newly developed multi-link suspension is used at the rear. Additionally, the shock absorbers are positioned closer to the tires to provide excellent driving stability, even at a lower level of damping force.

Extra attention was also paid to the control of noise, vibration and harshness. Low interior noise levels are achieved through effective isolation of noise outside the cabin by applying paint sealer and foam materials to block tiny holes and gaps in the body structure and by optimally positioning sound-absorbing materials.

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Advanced Safety and Environmental Technologies

The new Teana utilizes a number of advanced safety and environmental technologies. For enhanced driving convenience, the Teana comes with a side blind-spot monitor, which helps provides visual assistance by reducing the left front blind spot when positioning the car alongside the curb, parking or meeting oncoming traffic on a narrow road. Teana also features a back-view monitor, which uses a small CCD camera to take a color picture of the area behind the car for display on the navigation system monitor. Both monitor systems are standard on the 250XV and 350 XV and are offered in a set with the navigation system as a factory-installed option on all other models.

Teana’s advanced safety systems include:

o VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) including TCS (Traction Control System) functionality (standard on 350XV and a factory-installed option on the 250XV)

o Low-friction seatbelts in all seat positions

o Three-point ELR rear seatbelts for three passengers (with self-standing buckles)

o Driver's seatbelt with double pretensioners (shoulder/lap belts)

o Front seatbelt with pretensioner and two-stage load limiter

o High-strength Zone Body construction for high safety

o Impact-energy-absorbing body structure for mitigating pedestrian injuries

o SRS air bag systems for the driver and front passenger

o SRS side air bag systems for the driver and front passenger*1

o SRS curtain air bag systems*2

o

Front-seat Active Head Restraints

Teana is also designed with an awareness and sensitivity toward the environment. For example:

o QR25DE engine models achieve fuel economy 5% higher than Japan's 2010 fuel economy standards

o VQ25DE engine models achieve fuel economy 5% higher than Japan's 2010 fuel economy standards when fitted with optional equipment so that the vehicle weight is 1,520 kg

o U-LEV certification is achieved for all models by emitting 50% fewer exhaust emissions than Japan's 2005 exhaust emission standards

o Achieves a recyclability rate of more than 95% by weight (as calculated according to the guideline adopted by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. in 1998 concerning the definition and calculation method of the recyclability rate of new cars)

o A reduction of interior volatile organic compounds (VOC)

o A fuel economy indication function

o Clean interior environment features developed from the three perspectives of clean air, human skin friendly and sanitary/clean

*1 : Standard equipment (Offered in a set with *2 as a factory-installed option on the 250XE and 250XE FOUR)

*2 : Factory-installed option (Offered in a set with *1 as a factory-installed option on the 250XE and 250XE FOUR)

Sales target:

1,000 units/month

Price range:

2,467,500 yen to 3,948,000 yen, including consumption tax

Sales launch events:

Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8 and Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15, 2008

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