Nissan Releases New-generation NV200 Vanette Compact Van

TOKYO .- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that the all-new Nissan NV200 Vanette, a next-generation light duty compact van, will go on sale at Nissan dealers across Japan on May 21.

Ideally suited for commercial, daily use and leisure activities, the NV200 Vanette is designed to revolutionize the traditional concept of light commercial vehicles in Japan. Along with distinctive styling, advanced functionality and class-leading fuel efficiency, it combines a cavernous cargo space with a compact overall vehicle size. Along with two-seat and five-seat versions, a new seven-passenger compact segment wagon version - capable of being utilized for both commercial and private use - has been added to the lineup.

Following its debut in Japan, the NV200 Vanette will be launched in other markets around the world. Nissan will continue to sell the current versions of the diesel, 4WD and truck models.

Qualified for the preferential tax breaks
Powering the NV200 Vanette is a newly adopted 1.6-liter HR16DE gasoline engine, which combines outstanding environmental friendliness with impressive driving performance. The NV200 Vanette achieves best-in-class fuel economy of 14.0 km/liter*1. Van models qualify for tax breaks under the preferential tax scheme*2 implemented on April 1, 2009 to encourage the acceptance of eco-friendly vehicles. The automobile acquisition tax and the automobile weight tax are reduced by 75% on the automatic transmission-equipped models and by either 50% or 75%*3 on the manual transmission-equipped models.

Nissan collectively refers to models that qualify for these preferential tax breaks as the Nissan ECO Series (NECO Series), which also includes mini-vehicles and light commercial vehicles. Nissan hopes to stimulate consumer demand for eco-friendly vehicles by offering customers a broad selection of products to choose from.

A Dynamic, Distinctively Different Exterior Design
Unlike most current commercial vehicles, the new NV200 Vanette offers styling that is both functional and attractive. The exterior design dynamically blends a large, square cargo area with a uniquely sporty front end. Combining sharpness and elegance, the NV200 Vanette’s low, wedge-shaped waistline contributes to superior driver visibility, while also providing a truly unique appearance that is instantly recognizable as something new and fresh in the category.

The front-end is widely rounded with sharp and distinctive design. In the rear, the high roofline and low, flat cargo floor help to create class-leading cargo capacity. The NV200 Vanette can be configured as a two-seater with one row of seats to create an even larger cargo area. The cargo area of the two-seater models is large enough to accommodate ’’meter module materials’’ (2,000 x 100 x 44 mm) that are used for construction. Moreover, using the space under the front passenger’s seat makes it possible to carry items up to three meters in length.

In addition to the two-seater version, the NV200 Vanette is also offered in a five-seater version with two rows of seats, and the new seven-seater wagon, which is capable for being used for both commercial and private purposes. The second- and third-row seats in the wagon fold up to create a large cargo space suitable for multipurpose use.

An Airy, Comfortable Interior
The NV200 Vanette’s low waistline endows the interior with an open, airy ambience. A high eye-point gives the driver excellent forward visibility, while the steering wheel is tilted at an angle to allow a car-like driving position. The two-level instrument panel aesthetically blends a variety of surfaces, lines and materials to project a rich, high-quality feeling. The driver’s seat slides fore-aft 190 mm and has a large shape for exceptional comfort.

Available flush-fit sliding side windows provide comfortable ventilation in the second-row seats (a factory-installed option). Numerous storage compartments ensure ample capacity for easily and conveniently storing various small items.

Driving Performance That Is Both Enjoyable and Eco-friendly
The new NV200 Vanette’s standard HR16DE engine incorporates variable valve timing which, combined with an expanded lock-up operation range of the four-speed automatic transmission, enables the NV200 Vanette to deliver best-in-class fuel economy of 14.0 km/liter*1.

Thanks to the adoption of an air-fuel ratio sensor, catalyst improvements and other refinements, the NV200 Vanette achieves exhaust emissions under the JC08H + JC08C test mode that are 75% lower than the levels required by Japan’s 2005 exhaust emission regulations. The NV200 Vanette also complies with the specified standards of the designated low-pollution vehicle system adopted by The Eight Prefectures and Cities Low-Emission Vehicle Certification Scheme and the specified standards of the designated low-emission vehicle system adopted by Lev-7 Certification Scheme(7 prefectures and cities in Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area).

Pendulum engine mounts and an anti-vibration subframe are used to achieve quietness equal to that of passenger cars - from idling to city driving and high-speed cruising.

The NV200 Vanette’s front suspension incorporates ripple-control shock absorbers with increased stiffness for reducing high-frequency vibrations. A newly designed leaf-rigid suspension is used at the rear, providing high durability and contributing to the new van’s outstanding cargo area efficiency. As a result, the NV200 Vanette combines a feeling of solid stability on curves and at high speeds with supple ride comfort that minimizes harshness on uneven or rough road surfaces.

As part of its functionality supporting eco-driving by NV200 Vanette customers, standard on all models is a vehicle operating information display that shows real-time and average fuel consumption readouts. In addition, manual transmission-equipped models come with an indicator that shows the optimum upshift timing.

Safety Technologies and Environmental Features
Among the long list of available safety and security features are: Rear View Monitor (factory-installed option); Optimum lighting with multi-reflector halogen headlights (with manual levelizer); Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) + Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) + Brake Assisthigh-strength Zone Body construction; compliance with side impact safety standards; a body designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries; SRS air bag system for the driver; SRS air bag system for the front passenger (standard on 16S; factory-installed option on DX/GX); and front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters.

The NV200 Vanette is over 95% recoverable (as calculated according to the guideline adopted by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. in 1998 concerning the definition and calculation method of the recoverability rate: rate of new cars) and there has been a reduction in the use of interior volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Pricing and Sales Targets
Price range: 1,572,900 yen to 1,899,450 yen (including consumption tax)
Sales target: 1,300 units/month (Japan)