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NISSAN NAVARA 4X4S GO ON SALE THE Proudly South African Nissan Nivara 4x4. which is currently leading the Absa South African off-road championship, is now available in standard production form. Although the double-cab Navara has already been available for purchase since the fourth quarter of 2005, it previously only came in two wheel-drive form. However, this changed recently when Nissan unveiled three new four-wheel driven Navaras. The same 2.5-litre dCi turbo diesel (developing I 28kW and 403Nm)and 4.0-litre V6 petrol (198kW and 385Nm) as found in the 4x2, power the 4x4 pickups. Likewise. the V6mill is available in either six-speed manual or five-speed automatic guise, whereas the diesel is only available in manual transmission, the only six-speed manual diesel version in its category. Rather than equipping the 4x4s with an additional low-range gear lever, which often robs the interior of more useable space, the Navara has a dashboard-mounted rotary switch providing easy access to three driving modes: 2WD for normal driving conditions and 4WD with high and low ranges for the rougher stuff. 4WD high gives the ratio required for faster, lighter off road conditions, while 4WD low selects to low ratio for maximum traction in serious off road conditions, deep mud or during climbing with maximum engine braking while descending. The latter function was used to good effect on the launch day's treacherous terrain. When things got more challenging in their severity and complexity, the experts showed us another standard feature:the rear differential lock. The differential lock is manually operated with a press of a button on the facia and ensures that an equal split of power goes to both rear wheels under demanding off-road conditions. It also means that if one wheel loses all traction, i.e. gets airborne, then all power will go to the wheel with most traction. As with the Navara 4x2, the 4x4 features both anti-lock braking (ABS) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) as standard equipment. In addition. Brake Assist is fitted to assist during emergency stops. Driver and front passenger air bags offer impact protection and cruise control is a standard fit on all models, something that Nissan claim is a first for a double cab range in South Africa. Nissan also announced that a decision had been taken to implement microdot technology as a standard feature. As from 03 October, microdots will now be applied to all new Nissan vehicles, both locally manufactured and imported. Aimed at reducing vehicle theft, the highly sophisticated laser microdot technology provides each vehicle with its own identification in the form of myriad dots, which are etched onto various parts of the vehicles. Approximately 10 thousand high-tech dots are sprayed onto a minimum of 88 sites on the vehicle, making it difficult for would-be thieves to alter the car's identity. The sheer number of dots, both in overt and covert locations, provides the vehicle with it's own DNA. The dots are only visible under a low-powered microscope or UV light making it difficult to determine where they have been placed. Given the high incidence of vehicle theft in South Africa, microdot technology has been welcomed and endorsed by organisations in South Africa including Business Against Crime South Africa, the Vehicle Security Association of South Africa(VESA) and the National Vehicle Crime Steering Committee, whose members comprise, amongst others, the South African Police Service, the Department of Transport, the SA Insurance Association, Business Against Crime, the Retail Motor Industry, the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing AssociaLion and the Banking Association. A cost of R700 will be applied to the basic purchase price of all Microdot-equipped Nissan vehicles sold. Nissan offers 4x4 driver training through its own Off-Road Tactix facilities in Gauteng. the Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern and Western Cape. Service intervals are set at 15000km for both diesel and petrol derivatives. Pricing: Petrol 4.0 V6 4x2 manual R280 500 4.0 V6 4x2 automatic R292 500 4.0 V6 4x4 manual R318 700 4.0 V6 4x4 automatic R329 300 Diesel 2.5 dCi 4x2 manual R276 500 2.5 dCi 4x2 automatic R289 500 2.5 dCi 4x4 manual R308 600 |
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