BANGKOK, Thailand – Nissan in Thailand hosted 78 journalists from across Southeast Asia on an eight-day-seven-night driving adventure, travelling more than 2,000 kilometers across Malaysia.
"This 'Go Anywhere' media test drive through diverse Malaysian terrain was hand-designed to test and display the outstanding performance, comfort and best-in-class advanced technologies of the locally manufactured Nissan Terra, Nissan Navara and new Nissan X-Trail, regardless of the driving conditions – whether on unpaved roads, navigating mountainous turns or overcoming rough terrain," said Ramesh Narasimhan, president of Nissan in Thailand. "This drive experience is definitely a testament to the world-class quality of Nissan vehicles."
Three groups of automotive and lifestyle journalists alternated between the Nissan vehicles during each distinct route, designed to test each vehicle's unique capabilities in Malaysia – an attractive destination for a challenging test drive due to its unique driving conditions. While most vehicles are right-hand drive, they drive on the left side of the road. In addition to the heavy traffic during the morning and afternoon rush hours, driving in the city can be extremely challenging due to the massive traffic congestion on major highways, while many of the streets in more rural areas are narrow and winding.
The 'Go Anywhere' Malaysia event started with a highway drive from Hat Yai, Thailand to the Sadao border crossing, where the vehicles entered Malaysia at Kedah state before heading to Mount Jerai, Kellie's Castle, and Kuala Lumpur. The second group drove from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan through Putrajaya and Malacca cities, while the last group travelled from Kuantan through Kuala Terengganu to Penang, before using the Sadao border crossing to head back to Hat Yai, Thailand.
All three Nissan vehicles offered a safe drive throughout the trip, regardless of terrain, including acceleration on paved roads, superior traction on tight turns, and 4WD capacity off-road. The cars all feature powerful engines, offering outstanding acceleration while ensuring a smooth yet powerful drive. It proved perfect on challenging terrain, especially rough and uneven road surfaces.
While the 'shift-on-the-fly' function allowed drivers to switch from two-wheel drive (2H) to four-wheel (4H) for a safer journey on slippery road conditions, low range four-wheel drive (4LO) mode helped with navigating through deep sand and mud, crossing water, climbing rocks or ascending and descending hills.
Participants also had the opportunity to experience the vehicle's Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), which 'senses' what the car in front is doing, while the Intelligent Engine Brake system downshifts smoothly to decelerate going into turns, then accelerates again coming out of them. ICC helped reduce driver workload during each of the three journeys, especially on highway and expressway driving or in congested traffic situations.
Advanced safety and Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies used along the way included Around View Monitor (AVM), a 360-degree aerial view of the vehicle that gives drivers a complete view of all angles around the car to easily navigate through tight areas. Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) prevented the vehicles from slipping when driving up or downhill, while other key technologies used during the drives included Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Warning (BSW).
When the groups went off-road on jungle tracks, the muddy conditions road-tested the vehicles' traction, highlighting how the Traction Control System (TCS) helps prevent wheelspin. When wheelspin is detected, the TCS automatically reduces throttle or applies the brakes to restore grip and keep the vehicle under control and moving forward. The Off-Road Meter also played its part, displaying important driving information, including the tilt angle while driving off-road.
An advanced satellite navigation system helped drivers prepare daily routes in advance, giving turn-by-turn guidance through the lush tropical rainforests and mesmerizing Malaysian cities and towns. The Navigation System with Voice Recognition allowed the user hands-free search for location by recognizing their voice.
Nissan Connect combines the most important systems in the vehicle into a convenient digital dash mount, specifically designed to reduce distractions. Navigation, entertainment, and security are now easier to reach than ever, and the Alliance In-Vehicle Infotainment (A-IVI) system synchronizes quickly and seamlessly with smartphones via Apple Car Play. Other apps can also be accessed via the screen, along with the stereo.
"Our media participants thoroughly enjoyed the exhilarating drive through Malaysia, whether it was in cities and towns, around mountains or through the rainforest," Narasimhan said. "We heard that the vehicle's rugged and robust design, supported by its sophisticated suspension, was perfectly suited for this demanding drive, especially to and from Mount Jerai, along with the acceleration on paved roads, superior traction on tight turns and 4WD capacity for a safe off-road drive regardless of the terrain," he added.
These challenging drives gave journalists a prime opportunity to experience the performance of the Nissan Terra, Navara and new X-Trail, along with the many embedded Nissan Intelligent Mobility features and functionality, which heightened the enjoyment, level of comfort, and safety throughout the journey. "This resulted in a stress-free and confident scenic Malaysian driving experience, the definition of Nissan's 'Go Anywhere' driving lifestyle concept," Narasimhan concluded.
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About Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Nissan was established in Japan since 1933 with the commitment to create Innovation that Excites for customer satisfaction. Nissan wants to improve quality of life for people in society by pursuing a goal of zero emission vehicles and zero fatalities on the road with "Nissan Intelligent Mobility". The company plans to introduce autonomous drive vehicles across regions for safety and more enjoyable driving experience. Nissan started business in Thailand since 1952. Currently, the Nissan Group of Companies in Thailand has subsidiaries five companies, including two of the production bases, over than 170 showrooms and service centers nationwide network. Vehicle range cover all segments includes 10 models spanning the entry level Eco-Car, SUV, Premium Sedans and Pickup Trucks.
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2018, the company sold 5.52 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.6 trillion yen. Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance sold 10.76 million vehicles combined in calendar year 2018.
For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissan-global.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.
For more information, please contact:
Kamolchanok Charoenjindarat
Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. – Communications Department
Tel +66 (0) 2339 3400 Ext. 4113-4114 / www.nissan.co.th
Kanit Vannapin
Total Quality PR (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Email: ink@tqpr.com
Tel: +66 (0) 2260 5820 Ext. 119
