Nissan Won't Be Making Any Terra, Navara Until June

Nissan announced the extension of its temporary adjustment to production in Thailand in response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak and decreased demand in the automotive market.

The suspension of production at Plant 2 in Samut Prakan will be extended from 4th May 2020 until 31st May 2020, while production at Plant 1 in Samut Prakan will continue to be adjusted to meet current demand levels. Adjustments will also be made at associated operations, including engine assembly and stamping.

Nissan continues to follow the advice and guidance of the Thai government and Ministry of Public Health to safeguard the well-being of employees, customers and the community.

“Our goal is to resume normal business operations as soon as possible, but ensuring the safety and well-being of all our employees, their families and Thai society is our priority right now given the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, the president of Nissan in Thailand.

Nissan Terra, Navara Production Suspended Until May 3

Nissan announced a temporary adjustment to its Thailand production in response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak and decreased demand in the automotive market.

Following the advice and guidance of the Thai government, Nissan is halting production at Plant 2 in Samut Prakan from today until May 3, 2020, while production in Plant 1 will be adjusted to meet current demand levels. Adjustments will also be made at associated operations, including engine assembly and stamping.

“Our goal is to resume normal business operations as soon as possible, but ensuring the safety and well-being of all our employees, their families and Thai society is our priority right now given the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, the president of Nissan in Thailand.

Nissan’s plant in Samut Prakan has a combined annual capacity of 370,000 units per year, and exports the Navara and Terra to countries such as the Philippines.

The 2020 Nissan Navara Black Edition Looks Wilder

Last year, Nissan introduced an updated Navara for 2020 which made its debut first in Europe. Subsequently, it’s made its way to Asia in markets such as Thailand and Australia as well. With that, Nissan’s always opted to dress up their Navara based on local tastes—Australia has the N-Trek, while for Asia, there’s the Black Edition. And here’s a sneak peek of the fresh for 2020 edition.

Now available in Thailand, the revamped Black Edition will likely make its way to the Philippines real soon.

Like the previous Black Edition model, the 2020 version swaps out all the exterior chrome trimmings for high-gloss black ones with orange accents. This is seen in the front grille, rear bumper, side mirrors, side step boards and 18-inch wheels. The biggest changes are the wilder body graphics, the addition of the “Black Edition” sticker on the rear fender, and a black sharks fin antenna. Fender extensions are a dealer option over there.

Inside, the 2020 Navara Black Edition is almost unchanged from before. It still has the two-tone black and orange seats, and orange stitching on the steering wheel and doors. The newest addition here is the Nissan Connect infotainment system with a larger screen size (8 inches) and built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In Thailand, the Navara Black Edition gets the services of the YD25DDTi engine. Similar to its setup in the Philippines, it nets out 163 horsepower and 403 Nm of torque for the purely 4x2 Black Edition. Transmission choices are between a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic. Both transmissions have been tweaked for improved refinement. The YS23 is not available to any country or region that has Euro 4 emissions or lower.

While the 2020 Navara doesn’t offer any horsepower improvement, Nissan did say that it’s quieter. With a new acoustic windshield, new sound absorbing material added to the center console, firewall, and transmission tunnel, and a new engine cover treatment, it minimizes audible engine noise.

Nissan PH Donates 3 Navaras for Philippine Red Cross Crisis Response

Nissan Philippines has donated three Navara pickup trucks units to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to assist the humanitarian organization’s disaster and crisis response operations.

With a total value of P 4.1 million, the Nissan Navara model was especially selected for this donation for crisis response because of the vehicle’s off-road capabilities, reliable load capacity, and powerful engine performance. The three pick-up trucks will be part of PRC’s ongoing operations to deliver services and relief goods to communities affected by calamities and disasters.

Employees of the automotive brand’s national sales office also contributed monetary donations for the PRC’s sustained Taal Volcano eruption relief operations, as part of this contribution.

“Helping our communities through this donation is one way we deliver Nissan’s vision of enriching people’s lives. Particularly by ensuring that the PRC can deliver aid and disaster support confidently with our robust and trustworthy Nissan Navara. We hope that our contribution enhances PRC’s capacity in reaching out to more communities,” said Atsushi Najima, president and managing director of Nissan in the Philippines.

Nissan Shoves a 3.8-liter V6 and 9-speed Automatic into their Pickup Truck

Consider us lucky. While the Philippines has had the Nissan Navara (D23) since 2014, other markets like the United States has had to content with the D40, known as the Frontier over there which makes the pickup truck 16 years old.

Thankfully, Nissan’s rectifying that, and has chosen a rather unconventional way to tease the all-new Frontier which is due Stateside this year. Instead of showing off any design sketch, they’ve instead shoved the brand-new powertrain into the old truck.

Not much is known about the all-new Frontier. However, there are two prevailing theories. One is that it’ll be based off the global Navara pickup truck, while another says it might be based off the Titan platform. Here’s hoping it’s the former, because at least there’s a possibility that we’ll be getting this powertrain combination.

Anyway, the all-new 3.8-liter direct-injection V6 engine develops 310 horsepower and 381 Nm of torque—said to be best-in-class, while a new 9-speed automatic promises improved fuel efficiency. The engine features a variety of new tech such as the exhaust manifolds integrated with the cylinder heads, variable timing control, and a variable displacement fuel pump.

Now, the real kicker is this Frankenstein pickup truck will only be sold for one year before the all-new Frontier bows in.

Nissan's Ultimate Go-Anywhere Navara Gets Upgrades for Better Efficiency, Drivability

When Nissan launched a limited-edition, factory-beefed up Navara called the Navara Off-Roader AT32, it was quickly snapped up by European buyers. Well, no worries because building on the success of the previous model, here’s the newest go anywhere Navara: the 2020 Navara Off-Roader AT32.

Once again, Nissan collaborated with Icelandic company Artic Trucks to transform the refreshed Navara into the ultimate off-roader. With that, the Navara Off-Roader AT32 continues to offer full underbody shielding which has been upgraded to a lightweight aluminum material. The improved shape also ensures of a more comprehensive protection of underbody components.

Already a capable off-roader, Artic Trucks concentrated in improving the Navara Off-Roader AT32’s efficiency and on-road dynamics. With that, it gains new 31.6-inch Nokian tires which is said to improve fuel efficiency, emissions, and on-road handling. Meanwhile, the special satin black alloy wheels are fitted with dual valves to allow the fast and accurate adjustment of tire pressure when moving between different terrains.

Other key features carried over from the previous Navara Off-Roader AT32 include all-terrain wheel arch extensions and all-terrain optimized Bilstein performance suspension. The model is also finished off with special badging.

For those who need to venture further, the Navara Off-Roader AT32 can be optioned with an electronic lock for the front differential to boost traction in extreme conditions, while an air intake snorkel increases the Navara’s maximum wading depth to a 800 millimeters.

Despite its off-road prowess, the Navara Off-Roader AT32 keeps the advanced on-board technologies such as Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Intelligent Emergency Braking, and Intelligent Around View Monitor.

Like the previous Navara Off-Roader AT32, sadly, this model is slated for sale only in Europe. Having said that, perhaps this should serve as inspiration for those who are looking to upgrade their Nissan pickup into a true go-anywhere off-roader.

This Nissan Navara Was an Impulse Buy That Transformed Into a 500,000-Kilometer Love Affair

For many people, a car is simply a means of traveling between places. For others it’s statement of style or prosperity. For Richard Hoar, an Australian-based 78-year-old wildlife photographer, it’s his home. Over the decades, his Nissan Navara has become Richard’s companion, a versatile and reliable vehicle that has accompanied him on his life journey.

This 23-year partnership story of Richard and his Nissan Navara covers 520,000 kilometers, and counting. It’s a story of an ardent car lover, his caring ownership and of the Nissan legacy of making cars that stand the test of time.

The Nissan Navara was far from new when Richard bought it in 1996; it had 54,000 kilometers under its hood already. Newness, however, wasn’t what mattered for Richard. “I was looking for a car that would be a reliable partner in my quest to capture the perfect wildlife shot. A car that is versatile and wouldn’t let me down in the middle of nowhere,” said Richard.

In 2005, Richard decided to shift base from Queensland to Western Australia, a cross-country distance trip of 3,400 kilometers that most people would have preferred to fly. Richard, though, saw it as an opportunity to travel along the coast and explore the beauty of Australia at his own pace and convenience. And, so, he and his Nissan embarked on the journey of their lifetime.

In a years’ time they traversed some of the most scenic places and the loneliest stretches of road in Australia. Richard turned the car’s tray into a miniature camp site, complete with a camper shell, a bed, an ice chest, and some clothes and tools. It has allowed him to go to remote places in the wilderness, bringing him up close with the local fauna in the break of dawn.

The Outback is rugged territory that’s characterized by vast expanses of open countryside with no service stations, rest stops, or fellow drivers for miles. Roads such as these are the worst place a car could break down. “There was a stretch of road that ran straight for almost 148 kilometers. There were no curves; none, at all,” Richard recalls. “I have never been let down by the Nissan. We have traveled for 23 years without a worry,” he adds.

Today, Richard looks back lovingly at the time on the road and is thankful to Nissan for creating the Nissan Navara. He had owned a Chrysler, a Ford, a Pontiac, a Holden, and many other cars before, but none of them caught his fancy like the Nissan did. It had been an impulse buy, but it became a car lover’s longest muse.  “The men and women working with Nissan should be proud of what they have achieved, in all my years of driving, I have found this little pickup to be the most trustworthy friend I have!  It was built with a soul. I am 78 now, and the Nissan will outlive me. I hope to give her a good home when I go,” he signs off.

The Nissan Navara is Now the Philippines's Best-Selling Pick-up Truck

Nissan has posted record monthly sales in the Philippines with an all-time high of 4,768 units sold in September. This achievement strengthened the brand’s top-three position among members of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI).

Nissan sales in September mark the highest monthly sales for the brand in the Philippines, outperforming the previous record of 4,616 units sold in March 2019. The September sales figure is a 21.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Driving this performance is the Nissan Navara, which accounted for 46 percent of sales for the month. The Navara’s strong sales also made it the best-selling pick-up for September in the Philippines. The Nissan Terra also pushed brand’s record sales, with the mid-size SUV contributing 23 percent for the month.

Atsushi Najima, president and managing director for Nissan in the Philippines, said: “The strong sales performance is the result of the company’s strong fundamentals. Excellent products and services, supported by passionate employees and dealer partners are the foundations of Nissan’s continued success in the Philippines.”

Experience How Nissan Levels Up Your Drive at These NIM Tour Stops

Nissan’s unique and innovative test drive event, the Nissan Intelligent Mobility Tour heats up the last two months of 2019 with four tour stops this November.

Using interactive displays and projection mapping, experience the technologies that make the Terra, Navara, and Patrol unique in their respective segments. See how Nissan Intelligent Mobility can change the way you drive. See it in action for yourself at the following dates and locations:

• November 8-10, 2019 - Lim Ket Kai Mall (Cagayan de Oro)
• November 14-17, 2019 - Manila Auto Salon (SMX Convention Center, Pasay)
• November 14-17, 2019 - STV Auto Focus Test Drive Festival (MOA Concert Grounds)
• November 22-24, 2019 - SM Lanang (Davao)

Visit the Nissan Philippines website to know more.

What Happens When Nissan Australia Seeks to Build the Most Stylish, Most Capable Navara Ever?

What happens when Prodrive UK gets their hands on the Nissan Navara? You get the most stylish, most capable Navara, ever—the Navara N-Trek.

Developed for the Australian market by Premcar (which traces its roots to Prodrive UK), the Navara N-Trek Warrior features an enhanced suspension with special off-road capable springs and dampers.

Specially-built for the Australian market, the N-Trek Warrior gains a 15-mm lift thanks to the unique springs, dampers, and front jounce bumpers, while shifting to 32.2-inch all-terrain Cooper tires (275/70 R 17) adds a further 25 mm. All in all, the N-Trek Warrior gains 40 mm of lift over the standard Navara.

What’s even better is that thanks to Premcar’s engineering expertise, the Navara N-Trek Warrior’s upgraded suspension does not pass any excessive additional loads to the chassis, ball joint, tie rods, and driveshaft thereby not compromising durability, safety, and comfort in anyway.

For the N-Trek Warrior, a softer primary spring was chosen for ride comfort and off-road articulation, but a progressive, secondary rate was added to maintain composure and performance be it during cornering, heavy duty off-roading, when laden and/or when towing.

The dampers themselves have a larger diameter to improve strength, cooling, and rough road capability.

To accommodate the new suspension, the N-Trek Warrior features modified inner front fenders. Capping off the changes is a new body-colored steel bulbar, 3-mm stainless steel front under body protection, integrated 470-mm LED light bar, unique towbar cross member.

The rest of the N-Trek Warrior upgrades are similar to the Philippine market Black Edition except for the added black fender flares to accommodate the meatier tires.

While Premcar will be handling the N-Trek Warrior conversion for Nissan Australia, 40 new staff members have been added to serve exclusively on the N-Trek Warrior program. Furthermore, it carries Nissan’s standard manufacturer’s warranty.

Nissan Philippines's "Go Anywhere" Campaign Wants You to Explore

As a way of demonstrating the capabilities of its Nissan Intelligent Mobility features, Nissan Philippines has introduced the “Go Anywhere” campaign to prove to consumers that their vehicles have the power and confidence to travel across locations around the Philippines.

After a “soft launch” in Taal, Batangas with the Patrol Royale, Nissan Philippines assembled their strong Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) line-up—the Navara, Terra, and Patrol Royale for the first time ever to explore the island of Siquijor.

Known for its mystical traditions, Siquijor boasts of untouched beaches, diving cliffs, waterfalls, and caves. During the three-day drive, participants were challenged to reach the greatest number of kilometers in the Philippines’s third smallest province.

Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima shares that the Go Anywhere campaign aims to empower adventurers to reach their dream destinations using Nissan’s strong LCV line-up.

With authentic four-wheel drive capabilities and technologies such as the Intelligent Around View Monitor, the Navara, Terra, and Patrol Royale enables more Filipinos to explore the best and most diverse locations across the archipelago in safety and with confidence.

The Nissan Sylphy Tops Out at Just P 972K Now

Nissan Philippines is kicking off its last quarter storm with a bang, giving customers big deals on the Almera, Urvan, Navara, Sylphy, and Terra this entire month of October. With Nissan’s “Go Big” promo, select either all-in low downpayment of just P 23,000 or cash savings as much as P 120,000.

If you don’t mind driving the oldest compact sedan in the market, the Sylphy gets a P 80,000 discount across the board. This means you can score one between P 828,000 to P 972,000—cheaper than most top-trim sub-compact sedans. The same goes for the Almera which now tops out at just P 868,000 net of discounts.

If passenger cars aren’t your thing, the biggest discounts can actually be had on the Terra. The top-trim VL 4x4 in particular drops its price by P 120,000. It’s the same situation with the flagship Patrol Royale which gets the same P 120,000 discount. Even the Navara isn’t impervious to discounts this month. Get anywhere between P 30,000 to P 55,000 cash savings until October 31, 2019.

If cash is an issue, the Nissan Go Big Promo also has all-in low downpayment schemes with discounts applied to the 20 percent downpayment.

Check out this link for the full mechanics.

The Nissan Navara Black Edition is Made for Those Who Hate Chrome

Sick of chrome on your pick-up truck? Nissan’s got you covered with the limited-edition Navara Black Edition.

As its name suggests, the Navara Black Edition ditches all of the chrome exterior accents for high-gloss black ones. Proving that once you go black, you never go back—everything from the V-motion grille, door handles, fog lamp surrounds, rear bumper, and window moldings have been painted to match Batman’s suit (sans the nipples).

Of course, as a limited-edition model, Nissan figures that’s not enough. They’ve also given it smoked LED projector headlights with LED daytime running lights too. And because orange is the new black, it also gets unique body decals in what else, but orange!

Meanwhile, inside the Navara Black Edition it gets an 8-way power driver’s seat, leather and sport fabric combination seats (with orange stitching, naturally). And, just like the standard EL and VL variants, it gets Nissan’s Around View Monitor that gives a bird’s eye view around the vehicle when parking.

“The new Nissan Navara Black Edition creates a safer and smarter drive, with the timeless design of the best-selling pick up enhanced by new design elements for those who want to standout. With Nissan Intelligent Mobility features, owners of the Nissan Navara Black Edition are empowered to have exhilarating driving experiences, giving them the freedom to really ‘Go Anywhere’, because of the vehicle’s robust design and advanced technology.,” says Atsushi Najima, president and managing director of Nissan in the Philippines.

Thankfully, the Navara Black Edition isn’t just available in Black. It comes in four shades including two new ones exclusivity for this edition: Aspen Pearl White, Galaxy Black, Lunar Metallic Gray (new), and Fiery Red (new). Pricing is as follows:

• 2.5L 4x2 EL Calibre 6MT Black Edition: P1,125,000
• 2.5L 4x2 EL Calibre 7AT Black Edition: P1,185,000
• 2.5L 4x4 VL 6MT Black Edition: P1,445,000
• 2.5L 4x4 VL 7AT Black Edition: P1,505,000

New Infotainment System Increases the Nissan Navara's Price

While Asia-Pacific is waiting to get the revised 2019 Navara, Nissan Philippines has made it a point to update its perennial best-seller with a new feature that makes driving safer and smarter.

Starting today, all Navara 4x4 VL models will come equipped with a new, larger 8-inch capacitive touchscreen. Larger screen aside, it also has an enhanced user interface for easier operation as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay built-in. Most important of all, the larger screen allows better and heightened usability of the Navara’s Around View Monitor (AVM) which is projected on the infotainment system.

Now, for those wondering, the new infotainment system does bump the price of the Navara 4x4 VL up to P 1,479,000—a P 20,000 increase.

The Refreshed 2019 Nissan Navara Has One Feature That's Welcome in the Terra

Last month, we showed you how the refreshed 2019 Navara pickup truck looks like (at least for the European market). Now that it’s on sale there, Nissan has released more details on its new features, one of which could make its way to the Terra SUV.

• The 2019 Navara adopts a higher-pressure common rail direct injection (2,200bar from 2,000bar), new diamond-like carbon coating for its piston rings, and a lower compression ratio (15.1 versus 15.4). Outputs remain at 190 horsepower and 163 horsepower depending on the variant, but there’s a 22 Nm boost to 425 Nm thanks to the adoption of twin turbochargers.
• 0-100 km/h time ranges from 11.2 to 12.5 seconds while maximum speed is rated from 172-184 km/h depending on the variant.
• A new made-for-the-world 6-speed manual delivers increased refinement thanks to a shorter gear lever, enhanced synchronization, and reduced vibration. The new transmission also features a more conventional shift pattern, with reverse gear located next to first, and new gear ratios for improved fuel efficiency and lower noise levels for highway driving. 
• There has also been further tuning of the 7-speed automatic transmission, with improvements to comfort, refinement, and responsiveness.

•  The SUV-like 5-link coil spring rear suspension continues, but sees an increase in maximum payload capacity of anywhere between 55 to 114 kilograms. Maximum payload is anywhere between 1,115 kilograms to 1,180 kilograms.
• Front suspension modifications enable steering effort to be reduced, with lighter and more comfortable handling in low-speed maneuvering. 
• The rear suspension gets a 25 mm lift, and 2-stage coil spring enhance the vehicle posture, which now has a more formidable stance.
• Overall ground clearance is now between 238 to 242 mm, though maximum water wading depth is still rated at 600 mm.

• The front disc brakes have increased in size from 296 mm to 320 mm, while the rears adopt 308 mm disc in place of the previous drum brakes. As well as improved stopping distances, this has also enhanced pedal feel and fade resistance, reduced noise levels and makes it easier to obtain maximum performance, with a 40 percent reduction in pedal force required.
• For vehicles equipped with the stability control system, it adds Intelligent Trailer Sway Assist. This new system anticipates trailer sway by detecting yaw in the vehicle and makes minute corrections in individual wheel braking and torque reduction to bring the vehicle and trailer back under control.

There is still no word whether Nissan will adopt these changes for the Asia-Pacific market, but an educated guess says that all but the revised engine (it requires Euro 6 diesel fuel) will likely make it to the world’s second biggest pickup truck market, Thailand and then, eventually to the Philippines where pickup trucks account for 18 percent of total vehicle sales so far.

Additionally, if Nissan Philippines wants to continue the Terra’s sales momentum, they should at least give it the rear disc brakes. The 7-speed automatic refinement is welcome, too.

Spot the Difference: Nissan Updates Navara for 2019

Nissan is giving its Navara some “blink and you’ll miss it” upgrades for 2019. The changes, limited to increasing this pickup’s overall performance has already debuted in Europe and should make its way to the rest of the world shortly thereafter.

The biggest change has to do with the Navara’s multi-link coil spring suspension. Fitted with dual stage coil springs, it increases the rear posture by 25-mm along with 46 kilograms of higher payload. These changes, Nissan says shouldn’t affect the Navara’s comfortable and “car-like” driving feel.

Also beefed up for duty this year are the Navara’s brakes. Featuring larger rear drums and larger front discs (up 4 mm) as well as an increased booster size (up 1 inch), this should reduce braking distances along with 40 percent less effort.

Aside from the new stance, the only telltale signs that this is the improved Navara comes in the form of the new black inlays in the LED headlamps and new designs for both the 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, a new infotainment system called N-Connecta makes its debut. Not only does this offer a good number of connectivity options, but it also allows owners to locate the vehicle, lock/unlock the vehicle, check vehicle health, and send their destination to the vehicle’s sat nav ahead of departure.

Under the hood, the European market Navara continues to benefit from a 2.3-liter diesel engine now fitted with twin-turbochargers on both the higher-powered (190 horsepower) and lower-powered (163 horsepower) versions. Both also have higher torque than before, rising 22 Nm. Variants fitted with the 6-speed manual also benefit from longer gear ratios (less frequent shifting) and shorter shift patterns.

If You Want to Win at This Racing Event, Drive a Nissan

Accepted as South Africa’s equivalent of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom, the Knysna Speed Festival gave birth to the Simola Hillclimb. Vying for the fastest time up the 1.9-kilometer track, it draws racers from all corners of the world. Wherever they come from though, 8 out of 9 of them chose to race in a Nissan.

The wing-mad Nissan GT-R of Franco Scribante set a new record of 38.551 seconds during qualifying and won the title of “King of the Hill” with a final time of 39.342 seconds. He was the only contender to break the 40-second barrier in a production, albeit modified, vehicle.

“The GT-R kept surprising me for the ease with which it delivered its power. It is a very rewarding supercar to drive,” says Scribante.

Another standout is the GT-R that set a 40.862-second final time. Piloted by Kyle Mitchell, his feat is all the more impressive given that his car is road legal with all the creature comforts, including the Bose sound system and climate control intact.

In fact, out of the Top 10 times at the Simola Hillclimb, five were Skylines or GT-Rs. The rest were a Jaguar (#3), Toyota (#6), Lotus (#7), Subaru (#8), and Ferrari (#10).

Aside from GT-Rs, a Nissan 370Z, in cabriolet form no less, took the top honors in the naturally-aspirated six-cylinder sportscar class, while the Navara won as the fastest SUV/pickup with a time of 53.306 seconds—2.476 seconds faster than the Ford Ranger.