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Nissan Set To Discontinue The NP200 Next Year

Nissan South Africa will stop producing the NP200 half-ton bakkie in March next year, says Nissan SA country director Kabelo Rabotho.

This follows 16 years of production at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant, in Pretoria.

March will then also signal the end of the popular half-ton bakkie as a product in South Africa, despite Volkswagen, Renault and Toyota hinting at possible new model introductions in this segment.

South Africans for many years had various half-tonners to choose from, including the Ford Bantam, Fiat Strada and Chevrolet Ute.

There is little doubt that Nissan SA will feel the loss of the more affordable Nissan NP200 compared with the one-ton products, with the NP200 recording three-digit sales every month. Production of the Navara one-ton bakkie will continue.

“No immediate replacement model is planned, although Nissan is currently evaluating other alternatives in line with the ambitions of its Africa mid-term plan,” says Rabotho.

He adds that “Nissan remains fully committed to South Africa and the wider continent as the last frontier of the automotive industry”. 

Rabotho says the Rosslyn manufacturing where the NP200 is made plant remains Nissan’s light commercial vehicle hub for Africa, with the locally produced Navara pickup a core model that “will enable Nissan’s ambition across the continent”.

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Info shared from https://thenissanfan.home.blog/2023/09/25/nissan-set-to-discontinue-the-np200-next-year/

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Nissan SA Adopts A Culture Of Continuous Improvement

To enable the successful launch of the new Navara bakkie, various enhancements needed to happen at the company’s Rosslyn production facility. We speak to the brand’s head of IT for Africa, Lunga Mpofane.

Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Rosslyn, near Pretoria, was opened more than five decades ago. For years, this massive facility has played a key role in the brand’s strategy to secure a bigger share of the new vehicle market in South Africa and more broadly across Africa.

Serving as Nissan’s light-commercial vehicle manufacturing hub for the region, Rossyln is the linchpin in its African transformation strategy. That’s why the automotive giant pumped R3 billion into improving the facility in 2019, with much of this going towards preparing the plant for the production of the latest Nissan Navara pickup.

Book a test drive of the new Navara at a Nissan Cape Town dealership,

According to Lunga Mpofane, head of IT for Africa Regional Business Unit and head of Industrial Systems for Africa, the Middle East and India, ensuring the success of the upgrades and digital transformation at Rosslyn demanded that Nissan consider its manufacturing operations in totality. This involved identifying ways to standardise manufacturing processes in order to scale more easily.

Mpofane is responsible for making sure that the plant has the required technical resources and IT systems to ensure that manufacturing operations run at optimal levels. For example, a part-picking selection system, also known as Pick by Light, is being used to select parts for a particular model based on a specific code for each part. “Based on the rules within the system, lights are switched on at the various parts required for each model. Once the operator has picked the part, he switches off the light. If all lights are switched off, the unit is confirmed and then the lights will be switched on again for the parts required for the next unit. This approach increases efficiencies across the production line and reduces human error of picking incorrect parts.”

The value of improving these processes all came to a head in the middle of 2021 when, after several years of preparation and development, the first locally-produced Nissan Navara rolled off the production line onto Nissan dealers in Johannesburg, Eastern Cape, Cape Town and across SA.

To enable this launch, various facility enhancements needed to happen, including different technological, systems and machinery improvements, he says. While the Navara might be a ‘rugged bakkie’, the company wanted to make sure that it was manufactured using the latest technologies and equipment, leveraging innovative infrastructure and automation capabilities to streamline how the vehicle was produced.

As part of this, Mpofane spent time working on production line consolidation and increasing efficiencies, enabling the manufacture of multiple models on a single production line and giving the flexibility to adjust the production speed based on varying supply and demand requirements.

Additional training and upskilling was provided to South African staff, as part of the Rosslyn upgrades, to guarantee that the work met Nissan’s exacting global quality standards. But due to the pandemic, some creativity was required in how some of this training was delivered. He says: “The start of lockdown provided Nissan globally with an opportunity to fast-track its digital transformation strategy. We had to rapidly adopt virtual technologies, like MS Teams and Zoom, to continue delivering critical business-enabling projects, despite people being in different geographical areas. For example, local engineers and technicians used these tools to complete virtual technical training on the production planning system so that they knew how to make the most of the upgrades at the facility.”

Kaizen chiefs

In line with Nissan’s kaizen way – which is the Japanese word for ‘improvement’ and describes an approach that aims to create continuous improvements by making small positive changes – Mpofane is constantly exploring the latest technological advancements in the manufacturing sector to advance the brand’s locally built products. He believes that it comes down to using digital innovation to better meet the diverse needs of the customer base, while also providing employees with the most cutting-edge technologies so that they can be more productive.

One such innovation that he’s exploring is the use of digital twinning to constantly monitor the manufacturing facility’s performance. “Using a digital twin, we can collect information and create simulations so that we have the opportunity to predict how a product or process will perform,” he says.

Digital twins help to minimise future disasters by enabling Nissan to shift production to another plant without much disruption. “This has already been piloted at Japan’s Oppama Plant. Japan has had multiple natural disasters (earthquakes and tsunamis), where production has been impacted negatively. With digital twinning, Nissan can redirect production to the nearest plant utilising the records of the distressed plant to continue production as usual.”

Nissan has undertaken comprehensive research over several years to gain a deeper understanding of customer needs. This is a key priority for all automotive brands because customer demands and expectations have changed so much in recent years. Mpofane stresses that this data has been critical to the local production of the Navara. And, when combined with intelligent tools like AI, the data only continues to provide insights that can be leveraged to help expand operations across the African continent.

Connectedness

“These insights enable us to develop the technological features that end up in Nissan vehicles, making sure that these are manufactured to enhance the overall driver experience,” he says.

Citing Nissan Intelligent Mobility, dubbed NIM, as an example of this, Mpofane boasts that the newest vehicles offer customers a range of smart features that showcase the significance and importance of having rich data.

Using a digital twin, we can collect information and create simulations so that we have the opportunity to predict how a product or process will perform once Nissan Cape Town dealers start making sales.

The idea behind NIM is to make Nissan drivers feel more confident and connected, while also enhancing road safety. For example, NIM aims to provide the driver with extra peace of mind via safety features designed to identify and manage risks. Features like intelligent forward collision warnings, pedestrian detection, intelligent emergency braking, blind spot warning and lane departure warning. All of these features represent the brand’s desire to redefine how its cars interact with each other and with the world around them.

“Essentially, what Nissan has been doing and continues to do, is to integrate the driver and the vehicle with the technologies and environments around them,” he says. It’s all about connectedness and connectivity, he continues, highlighting that the aim is to advance current NIM technology by ‘bringing vehicles to life’ and allowing them to connect to one another, learn from each other and eventually enable EVs to charge while driving.

Speaking to those who have dreams of one day doing similar work in the automotive industry, he believes passion, commitment and drive can open any door. “You need to be passionate about the industry and you need to be passionate about the technology,” he says, stressing that people shouldn’t think that this industry is all glamour; sometimes there will be more lows than highs.

“Those wanting to get involved in the automotive sector, with a technology focus, should be prepared to be challenged every single day. But if you have a deep, burning passion, these challenges will only propel you to think in new ways and to do things better.”

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Info shared from https://myheartbelongstonissan.mystrikingly.com/blog/nissan-sa-adopts-a-culture-of-continuous-improvement

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Nissan SA Shows Off Revolutionary e-POWER Technology

Attendees had the opportunity to test drive the all-new Nissan Qashqai e-POWER

Nissan brought its revolutionary new technology, local favourites, and industry expertise to the first-ever South African Auto Week – and attendees got to experience this all first-hand.

The inaugural SA Auto Week took place between 25-28 October, is the local automotive industry’s premium networking and thought leadership conference, where the sector’s key stakeholders drive engagements on the theme ‘Reimagining the Future Together. The Rise of the African Auto Industry.’

Nissan joined other industry leaders and regulatory bodies at the Kyalami International Convention centre for the four-day event aimed at showcasing its newest vehicles and taking part in panel discussions around sustainability and the future of the African automotive manufacturing sector.

Attendees had the opportunity to test drive the all-new Nissan Qashqai e-POWER - the all-new third-generation model that offers smoother acceleration as well as a responsive, efficient, and quiet drive.

“The Qashqai e-POWER delivers the unmistakable pleasure of electric driving without the need to recharge - taking the stress out of urban driving. We believe it is a key lever in the practical transition for Africa from ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) to EVs,” said Kabelo Rabotho, Country Director for Nissan SA.

SA Auto Week guests also had the opportunity to experience Nissan’s newest versions of their classic models, including the locally produced and award-winning: Nissan Navara.

The Nissan Navara is currently being produced at Nissan Africa’s light commercial vehicle hub in South Africa, following an R3 Billion investment in the manufacturing plant by the Japanese Automaker. The Navara is also assembled in Ghana with long-time Nissan partner and distributor, Japan Motors.

“We are proud to showcase these vehicles, made in Africa for Africans, at SA Auto Week. As leaders in the nurturing of a sustainable auto sector, we look forward to continuing with discourses that shape our industry for the better,” said Rabotho.

As part of the event’s thought leadership indaba, two Nissan executive team members joined a series of industry-building panel discussions. Rabotho chaired a breakaway session on “Recycling of New Technologies to Reduce Waste and Protect the Environment”, with a focus on sustainable business practices in the industry.

Meanwhile, Nissan Africa Managing Director, Mike Whitfield, lent his expertise to a discussion session on driving the development of the auto industry across Africa.

“As a proudly African company, we will continue to play our part in driving this industry forward by investing in people, our industry, and by extension, our country. By investing in skills development and driving the critical conversations like those we’ll be having at SA Auto Week, we can build a competitive advantage as a strategic participant in the continental and global automotive sector. This is our commitment to Africa,” said Rabotho.

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Info shared by https://www.zawya.com/

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Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)

Images by Pierre Perrodin

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Nissan’s X-Trail Family Car

Nissan’s rugged X-Trail has been fairly popular in South Africa and it has even been a finalist in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards powered by WesBank on numerous occasions. 

The X-Trail is known as the Rogue in the North American market and the latest version has now been revealed. It's built on a modified version of Nissan's CMF platform and perhaps the most striking feature of the updated X-Trail is the bold interpretation of Nissan’s V-Motion grille in thick-rimmed chrome. The smart-looking grille is further complemented with the slimmer split LED headlights. It's definately more grown up and sophisticated in appearance. Where most new models grow in size over time, the latest X-Trail is actually more compact than before with its wheelbase reduced by 2.54 mm and length reduced by some 43.2 mm. What's more, this latest X-Trail will is longer be offered in 7-seat guise. 

As for the interior, the reduced exterior dimensions, however, translate into slight more leg and headroom than before. As for the driver's cabin, material quality and fit and finish appears to have been improved upon and a new 8-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality while a larger 9-inch unit is optional. The instrument cluster is larger at 7-inches and high-spec Nissan X-Trail derivatives are offered with a 12.3-inch digital cockpit and a 10.8-inch head-up display. The top-spec X-Trail can also be had with tan, diamond-quilted aniline leather upholstery as well as nice-to-haves such as Nissan's ProPilot Assist (with long-range radar and wide camera), wireless Apple CarPlay, a wireless charging pad and a 10-speaker Bose sound system. 

As for the engine, a new 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine with 135 kW and 245 Nm of torque is found under the Nissan X-Trail bonnet and is mated with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). 

Article from https://thenissanfan.home.blog/2021/11/28/nissans-x-trail-family-car/

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Nissan in South Africa - Some Facts

Nissan has a large presence in the South African car market. With their production plant in Pretoria and more than one Group 1 Nissan new car dealership across the country, Nissan South Africa is firmly rooted in our local vehicle market.

On the international scene, it’s viewed as one of the largest automotive organisations across the globe.

Nissan also enjoys a history of successful motorsport ventures, especially in the customisation and road-racing scenes. Their in-house performance development partner, Nismo, is heavily entrenched in Japanese and international street-racing fandom. Of particular note is the popular GTR model, which has been featured in several movies and TV shows.

A Brief History of Nissan

Nissan was founded by Yoshisuke Aikawa in 1928, although it was only formally named Nissan in 1930 – the name ‘Nihon Industries’ was abbreviated on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. They started automotive production in 1933.

Nissan’s history is varied, as it produced vehicles in partnership with other companies, namely the Austin Motor Company. Their production of Datsun-labelled vehicles also caused some confusion in international markets, which led to Nissan dropping the Datsun name in 1984. Throughout their history, they’ve partnered with several automakers, including Renault, Alfa Romeo, Ford, Volkswagen, and General Motors.

Today, Nissan produces a range of vehicles aimed at various segments. They also include Datsun and Infiniti, which are two of the brands they own and produce. Nissan is also in partnership with Renault and Mitsubishi, referred to as the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance.

Buying a Nissan

When buying any of the Nissan 2021 models, you’ll be spoilt for choice. With 18 models, the car brand caters to a broad variety of consumers. Their 2021 new Nissan vehicles range from budget hatchbacks to durable workhorses; there is likely to be a Nissan suitable for most budgets and tastes.

Nissan’s most popular vehicles are the Micra hatchback, the light commercial NP200 bakkie, and the NP300 Hardbody. Their X-Trail SUV made waves when it entered the market, and their funky Juke and Qashqai models are popular with motorists.

With that in mind, there is one model that claims the top spot on their fame list. The highly popular Nissan GTR is renowned as one of the best performance cars you can get. Known simply as Godzilla or the Giant Killer, the GTR’s astonishing performance figures can match almost any performance car on the market. At R2 235 300, though, it won’t top any best-sellers list in South Africa.

Nissan also offers an electric model in South Africa. The Nissan Leaf has been around for years and can be seen zooming around on local roads from one plug to the next!

 Article from https://www.hippo.co.za/

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2019 Nissan Qashqai Review

Utility vehicles have been multiplying like rabbits on the market in recent years – this is news to no one by this point. From Nissan, we’ve seen two of them introduced in our market: the Qashqai and the Kicks. Not only that, the two models sit in the same category, that of subcompact SUVs. 

However, the Qashqai is slightly larger than the Kicks, plus it offers all-wheel drive. What it also is, is very, very popular among consumers. We take a look at why. 

Neutral

Neutral but effective - the Nissan Qashqai for sale is one of those vehicles that grow on you, in other words. It might not stoke the flames of passion, but what it offers is a respect-based partnership, let’s say. 

 Format

This crossover is pleasing enough to look at but it’s no head-turner. On the other hand, it is fairly easy to recognize, thanks mainly to the V-shaped grille that is a Nissan signature. 

Perhaps the most distinctive element of this models is its size – as mentioned, it’s an in-betweenie. Which means it fits like a glove on the needs of those for whom the X-Trailis too big.

Most significantly, the interior space available to occupants is roughly similar to that found inside larger models. It’s a little bit tighter in the second row, but it’s not a major loss. Where you do lose noticeably is in terms of cargo space: the Qashqai offers 1,730 litres of it. But 1,730 litres in the sub-compact-plus category is a lot. Really a lot. Neither the Honda HR-V, renowned for its interior roominess or the Subaru Crosstrek offer as much.

Which sums up the basic definition of the Nissan Qashqai for sale: a small-format SUV but spacious enough for five. 

 Versions

Three trims are offered for the 2019 Qashqai at Group  1 Nissan: S, SV and SL. The first two work with a front-wheel-drive configuration but with AWD available as an option, but the latter gets that as standard.

Let’s be clear, the Qashqai is a recommendable product on its merits, but at that kind of price, well no. The sweet spot for this model, in my view, is an SV trim with all-wheel drive priced.

 Comprehensive list of equipment

That said, is spending that kind of dough on a smallish vehicle is no barrier for you, the list of stuff you get with the Qashqai is pretty long. There’s the power sunroof, for one, as well as anti-fog lights, heated steering wheel, navigation, voice recognition, auto-dimming rearview mirrors and 9-speaker Bose audio system. The last two of those goodies come standard with the Platinum package.

Once again, it’s worth your time to list out your needs and priorities.

 Fuel economy over fun

To get the most pep out of that engine, you have to get aggressive with the accelerator. It’s a more pleasant experience when you’re working with the base model’s standard manual gearbox, and that’s because otherwise you’re dealing with a competent but soul-sapping CVT (continuously variable transmission).

A bit more power would be nice, obviously, but remember that the main purpose of this vehicle is not to catapult you off the line. Fuel economy is the keyword here, and in that respect, as usual with a Nissan, it’s mission accomplished. The official numbers for the Qashqai are 9.1L/100 km (city) and 7.6L/100 km (highway). In our week of real-world driving, we wound up with an average of 8.3L/100 km.

 At the wheel

I used the word neutral earlier, and that’s because it perfectly sums up the drive this crossover delivers. The steering is a tad too assisted, the braking a bit spongy, the suspension on the soft side, etc. But again, as long as driving pleasure is not high on your priority list, you’ll be satisfied with what you get from the Qashqai because what you get is reassuring and competent. 

As bonus, the interior is actually comfortable.

In terms of safety, the product offering varies from trim to trim, but the most important element that stuck out for me was the vehicle’s performance in an obstacle avoidance test carried out by a Swedish testing firm. 

In the video published by the firm, you get a great view of the vehicle as it weaves from left to right without any fuss or muss. According to the testers, the Qashqai was best in class in this test.

For any consumer that’s a rock-solid argument in its favour, in our view. 

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Article sourced from: https://wheelsgalore.postach.io/post/2019-nissan-qashqai-review

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Nissan Patrol For Sale - The Go-Anywhere, Do-Anything Pick-Up

What is it?

The Nissan Patrol for sale is unquestionably the company’s “go anywhere, do anything” vehicle – the king of Nissan’s LCVs. But its ruggedness won’t appeal to the majority of South Africans. Nissan fittingly chose to launch the Patrol at the Nampo agricultural trade show in the Free State town of Bothaville.

The Patrol had much retro-cool macho appeal. The headlamps and grille bring a modern appeal as well. The black-plastic fender flares also add significantly to the Patrol’s presence.

As you can imagine, the interior’s a bit spartan. Stepping up into the cabin I was greeted by a basic facia, with a monotonous grey tone. The niceties include air conditioning, electric windows, and rake-adjustable steering column, while on the safety front there’s two airbags and ABS as standard.

What lies beneath? 

Underneath the bonnet lies a 3,0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder motor that produces 110 kW and 371 N.m of torque. The powerplant is compatible with 500 ppm diesel fuel that can be stored in two tanks totalling a mammoth 175 litres.

With the launch route heading south out of Gauteng and toward Bothaville via Parys, local motoring scribes got to experience the Patrol on varied asphalt that ranged from the smooth N1 to the bumpier B-roads that can be expected or more rural areas. The ladder-frame chassis handled the imperfections with ease.

On the gravel roads that line the area, the Patrol came into its own and felt right at home. The surface didn’t result in any resonance and NVH off the beaten track was also mightily impressive. My only reservation is that the suspension is so compliant that it can encourage one to drive a little quicker than would otherwise be the case. 

What does help is that the rear track has been increased and wider tyres (265/70 R16 rubber) have been fitted to improve stability somewhat. Otherwise, the Patrol’s got an indestructible air about it. Aided by low range, a rear differential lock and serious ground clearance the Patrol is surely also capable of real overlanding.

Nissan claims a 10,9-litre/100 km average fuel consumption figure and the Patrols weren’t far off that mark on the way to Nampo, so the 1 600 km claim from a single fill-up seems possible. More impressive is the Patrol’s 2 500 kg towing capacity.

Summary 

The new Patrol pick-up isn’t cheap, but you get the sense that it’ll just go on forever - so even opting for a used Nissan Patrol for sale from Group 1 Nissan is a great move. Its service intervals of 15 000 km will also go a long way to reducing its long-term running costs. There’s also a myriad of options to choose from to tailor the Patrol to your needs – such as a winch, cattle rails, spotlights and snorkels. The Patrol also offers many class-leading features. There can’t be much out there that’s tougher than this if you’re looking for a hard-as-nails LCV.

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Article sourced from: https://www.carmag.co.za/

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Nissan Almera Quick Facts

The price range for the Nissan Almera for sale varies based on the trim level you choose. The available used Almera model range at Group 1 Nissan includes various years’ models and so body types as well.

Nissan Almera Fuel Consumption

The used Nissan Almera for sale is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 6.3L/100km for Sedan /ULP for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Nissan Almera Dimensions

The dimensions of the Nissan Almera Sedan vary according to the year of manufacture and spec level, but they are typically 1505x1695x4425 mm and have a 120 mm ground clearance.

The Nissan Almera has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 185x65 R15 for Sedan in 2014 with a wheel size that spans from 38x14 cm.

Article source: https://www.carsguide.com.au/nissan/almera

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2018 Nissan Qashqai SL AWD Reviewed

Hard to pronounce but easy on gas

Can car companies have too many sport-utility models in their lineups?

Not these days, with the continuous flight from cars to crossovers.

Nissan, for example, now has six versions of sport utility covering every variation of size and price packaging, from the Kicks to Qashqai, Rogue, Murano, Pathfinder, and Armada.

The Nissan Rogue has proved the most popular, leading Nissan Canada’s sales with its blend of compact affordability and car-like civility stroked with SUV styling cues. But it made sense for Nissan to milk the segment further with the new Qashqai (or “cash cow”, as some wags quickly nicknamed it).

The Qashqai was quickly relabeled as a Rogue Sport in the U.S., lest its seemingly unpronounceable two “q”s and the name’s Iranian roots cause tiny American heads to explode. But the Qashqai name proved no problem here in Canada, where it quickly climbed to a close second in sales behind the Rogue.

Although the Qashqai builds on the same CMF (Common Module Family) platform as the Rogue, it is slightly smaller with a 58 mm (2.3-in) shorter wheelbase, a 142 mm (5.6-in) lower height and a 307 mm (12.1-in) shorter length.

With those nimble dimensions, the Nissan Qashqai for sale is aimed squarely at singles, young couples and empty nesters yet, with almost the same width measurement as the Rogue, it still offers do-able five-passenger accommodation and up to up to 1,730 liters (61.1 cu ft) of cargo space.

Nissan Canada elected to start the Qashqai lineup with a simple steel-wheeled, front-wheel-drive. But the Qashqai menu offers a wealth of choices, starting with three trim levels that include the S, SV, and SL.

All models harness a 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine rated at 141 hp and 147 lb-ft of torque.

Power is translated via the six-speed manual that comes standard on lower trims or through an available Xtronic CVT transmission, optional or standard in higher trim applications.

The Xtronic provides programmed stepped-shifting that simulates the more pleasing sensation of upshifting gear changes under acceleration. It also answers driver desires for either thrust or thrift with a Sport Mode Shifter and Eco Mode switch.

The Qashqai lineup at Group 1 Nissan includes standard front-wheel-drive with Nissan’s Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive optional or standard in top SL trim.

The 2.0-liter power mill may not exactly set your pulse rate racing or earn any kind of official towing potential, but its adequate performance will get you where you’re going with a 9.0/7.5L/100km fuel economy rating in this SL AWD model with the Xtronic CVT.

The overall performance benefits from ABS, EPS, a fully independent suspension and a long list of standard or available driver assists including vehicle dynamic control, active ride control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and more.

Our top-of-the-lineup SL tester maxes out those technologies with an optional Platinum Package adding Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, LED headlamps with High Beam Assist, along with NissanConnect navigation and infotainment.

This is all wrapped up in an “emotional geometry” exterior design with sharp lines and creases, an aggressive stance on the SL’s biggish 19-inch wheels, along with a little front end bling and Nissan’s Z-heritage trademark boomerang taillights.

The Qashqai’s youthful styling statement is further emphasized with a punchy palette of catchy colours, capped by quirky shades of Monarch Orange and our as-tested Nitro Lime.

Inside, this Qashqai SL is leather-appointed, well put together and, frankly, a little boring. A few splashes of body-coloured trim, surrounds, bright embroidery or whatever, a la Hyundai Kona, would do better to reflect the exterior exuberance.

But there’s not a lot else to complain about. The SL trim offers plenty of bells and whistles controlled through a battery of buttons on the leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel and dash.

The NissanConnect system with navigation, mobile apps, and services is accessed via a 7.0-inch colour touch-screen display and an Intelligent Around View Monitor camera system is also available.

The seats are firm and comfortable. And the rear cargo area, accessed through a wide liftgate, offers Nissan’s innovative Divide-N-Hide cargo system. The 648 liters (22.9 cu ft) of luggage room expands to 1,730 liter (61.1 cu ft) with the second row folded flat and all models include a cargo area cover and six luggage hooks.

Nissan Canada told me they will also be adding the ProPILOT lane-centering and intelligent cruise control system to the upcoming 2019 Qashqai models and we can expect more innovations in future as the company strives to make even more inroads in the steadily increasing and competitive crossover market.

Article source: http://myheartbelongstonissan.over-blog.com/2019/08/2018-nissan-qashqai-sl-awd-reviewed.html

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NP200 is one of the cheapest vehicles to service and repair

The Datsun Go is the cheapest passenger car to service and repair in South Africa, according to the 2019 Automobile Association (AA)-Kinsey Report on vehicle parts, servicing and repair costs, compiled by Malcolm Kinsey.

The report does not cover 100% of the market but does include the more popular models, with 72 vehicles included in this year’s survey.

Kinsey notes that there has been a sharp surge in parts pricing since 2017 when the last report appeared.

Here are some of the category winners:

For city cars and entry-level vehicles, the Datsun Go is the overall winner of this category, followed by the Renault Kwid and the Ford Figo in second and third places.

The order is the same for repair costs.

Best servicing cost price goes to the Datsun, followed by the Honda Brio and the Suzuki Swift.

Toyota gets its first mention in the crash parts section in a close contest, with the Etios pipping the Figo and the Go to the post.

In the supermini category, Renault Sandero owners will be pleased to know that their car heads the list of having the most affordable parts basket. The Toyota Yaris is second, with the Ford Fiesta third.

The Nissan Micra heads the servicing section, followed by the Renaults – the Clio and the Sandero.

Repairing the Micra is the cheapest in this category, with the Volkswagen Polo second and the Sandero third.

The Sandero is the least expensive for crash parts, with the Fiesta squeezing out the Yaris for second place.

In the crossover category, the group is headed by the Toyota Fortuner for its parts basket, followed by the Haval and the Subaru Forester.

First in the servicing section is the Nissan X-Trail, followed by the Fortuner and the Forester.

The Forester leads the way in the repair category. Second is newcomer, the Opel Grandland, and third the Haval.

On the accident front, the locally produced Fortuner has a substantial cost advantage over the Haval in second place, with the Ford Kuga in the third spot.

In the double-cab segment, the winner for its combined parts basket price is the Toyota Hilux, ahead of the Isuzu D-Max and the GWM Steed 6.

Servicing honours go to the Hilux, followed by the GWM Steed 6 and the Isuzu D-Max.

For repair work, Isuzu is ahead of the Hilux and Ford Ranger.

The dreaded fender benders are less expensive in a Hilux as opposed to an Isuzu and the Steed 6.

For single cab parts baskets, the Nissan NP300 comes out tops, followed by the Isuzu D-Max and the Toyota Hilux.

Servicing costs are least expensive for the NP300, followed by the Isuzu.

The Isuzu D-Max is the most competitive for repair parts, with the NP300 and the Hilux tied for the second spot.

Crash parts are least painful if you own an NP300, with Hilux and Isuzu second and third, respectively.

The least expensive vehicle of all vehicles to service and repair in this year’s survey is the Nissan NP200 for sale – South Africa’s only remaining half-ton bakkie, built-in Rosslyn, Pretoria - sold at Group 1 Nissan.

Article source: https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/datsun-go-np200-cheapest-vehicles-to-service-and-repair-2019-06-27

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How to care for your turbocharger

Turbochargers are everywhere nowadays. In fact I have a sneaking suspicion that my neighbour has tried to save money by strapping one on his lawnmower, and for good reason! Not only do turbos give you greater power from a smaller engine, but they increase your car’s fuel economy (Take a look at the new Juke: it has a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine, but is more torque than the old 1.6!).

Put simply, a turbocharger’s compressor pulls in additional air and feeds it into your engine to increase the pressure and thus will increase your vehicle’s power and performance. If your turbocharger is damaged, you will have less pressure inside the engine and thus any performance benefit would be negated. What is more common is for the intercooler to be damaged. As the pressure inside your engine increases so does the temperature, especially considering that most vehicle use exhaust gas to trigger the turbo. If your intercooler is damaged, it will allow the temperature of the engine to increase and decrease your performance and fuel economy.

As such it is important to pay attention to your turbocharger, but caring for it is far easier than you would think - all you have to do is pay attention to how you drive.

The first step is to be patient when you start your engine. Because of the amount of friction happening in a turbo, constant lubrication is needed. If you start your engine and step on the accelerator instantly, you can damage your engine. Starting your engine with a high rev might sound cool to teenagers, but its not such a good idea for your car. Rather, let the car warm up a little first. Thankfully, in South Africa for most of the year our climate is warm enough that you don’t need to let your car idle for long, but if the temperature has dropped a lot or it is particularly freezing, let your engine warm up for at least three minutes and even then try to avoid hectic acceleration for the first couple of minutes. The reason why we need to let the car idle longer when it is cold or on a cold day is because as it gets colder, oil’s viscosity increases so it takes longer to lube your engine.

While it may be tempting to try and save a couple of bucks by using cheaper filter or oils, you are only going to end up paying more for your turbo to be replaced. Once again, because of the complexity and friction inside your engine, you need to ensure that you use only the best quality lubrication. While your engine might be revving to around 5-7000rpm, a good turbo can go up to 150 000rpm! That is serious friction! Remember the ZEOD engine that was in the news a couple of months ago? The reason why Nissan could get so much power out of such a tiny engine was because of the newly developed lubricants that they were using. Make sure that you pay attention to the oil change intervals and insist on only the best quality lubricants.

The last thing that you need to keep in mind when caring for your turbo is to let it cool down after driving. Most vehicles with a turbocharger will have a little sticker somewhere in the car or in the manual warning drivers to let their vehicles cool down for a couple of minutes, especially after long distances. Unfortunately, most people ignore this information and think that just because they can hear the turbo still spinning as it cools down after the engine is shut off, that their engines are find. The reality is that while the turbo might be cooling down, it is no longer getting constant lubrication from the engine, increasing wear and tear on the engine. If you have a water-cooled engine, you might not need to let it cool down for as long. Just like it is not a good idea to start you car with a high rev, don’t high rev your car and then immediately shut off the engine. While it might look and sound great on Fast and the Furious, you are driving a real car that needs real care and maintenance.

To round up:

1. Let your car warm up and cool down

2. Drive carefully.

3. Pay attention to those oil changes and services.

When was the last time that you booked your Nissan in for a service?