INITIAL CONCEPT

Meet the X-Trail blazer

By PETER McKAY (No link available)
Monday 15 October 2001

Nissan X-Trail No-one could accuse Masahiro Toi of hanging back, biding his time. On July 1, 1999, Carlos Ghosn took over as the CEO of Nissan. At noon on July 2, an impatient Toi pitched an idea to his new boss for a compact off-road leisure vehicle aimed at the young and young at heart.

Ghosn, unconvinced, told Toi he had exactly one month to produce a convincing business case for the vehicle.

"I organised the designer and production engineers and I travelled all over the world talking to young consumers," said Toi, the chief product specialist for that vehicle, the X-Trail (and the Patrol).

Toi is hardly your conventional blue-suited Japanese executive. In fact, the goateed engineer shuns business suits and ties, fronting the press at this week's national launch of the X-Trail in runners and casual-hip gear.

Toi has accumulated frequent flyer points whizzing around the globe interviewing likely suspects in Britain, Finland, Chile, Panama, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Australia.

He has talked to potential buyers in Mt Buller among other ski resorts, at beaches, over barbecues, at sporting events and leaning on the bar in nightclubs. The X-Trail was designed by a cosmopolitan "committee" of more than 1,000 people.

"I like Australia. Very friendly country," he said. "People invite me to drink at campfires. They show me luggage and how difficult to load."

The engineer-cum-researcher formed a strong idea of consumer requirements for an "authentic sports utility vehicle without limitations" to be sold in 160 countries.

"They talked a lot about the inconvenience of their present vehicle. Things like high fuel consumption, the difficulty in loading, parking and cleaning, and poor cargo space."

Toi-san learned that young, active people want to stow their surfboards inside the vehicle rather than on the roof, that a leisure vehicle should be very manoeuvrable in the city, that the seating and luggage areas should be adaptable and that the cabin should be styled for its youthful owners, rather than their grandparents.

He found that despite the cultural and geographical differences, young people everywhere tended to have the same priorities, and these have been largely incorporated in the X-Trail, which is about to go on sale here. So, take a bow, you anonymous young Aussies who helped design this new Nissan, which is already Japan's top-selling soft-roader.

Here, it goes up against the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda Tribute, Ford Escape, Subaru Forester - and Honda CR-V, which really got the compact leisure vehicle segment jumping.

It's powered by a brand new 2.5-litre four-cylinder, producing 132kW and 245 Nm. It's a lively engine, if a little noisy when working hard.

With its clever All Mode 4WD system, a simple push-button selector on the dash allows the driver to choose between three driving modes to suit prevailing conditions.

In normal highway or city motoring, the front-drive mode gives the most economical driving. If the weather is foul or you're venturing off the asphalt, just tap the ATO button to engage all four wheels. When sensors detect the need for extra grip, the appropriate amount of torque is distributed to the rear wheels.

And when maximum traction is required, engaging LOCK ensures all four wheels are working, with a fixed front-rear torque bias of 57:43.

In a lengthy run this week over a rough bush track, with plenty of climbs and descents, the well-suspended X-Trail gave every indication it could handle tougher challenges. Granted, it's not a real off-roader, but it's pretty handy.

On-road, it really shows its mettle, cornering with little body roll and providing a pleasing ride. It is quite composed under hard braking.

Perhaps the steering is a little too light. Toi felt the level of power assistance better suited city conditions, in which most X-Trails will operate. "If the customers want change, we will change," said the agreeable Toi.

The customers will almost certainly approve of most features. The seats are very supportive and even the rear seats are adjustable for rake. They can also be removed to allow for big loads and a pair of six-footers can sleep on the compartment floor.

The scratchproof flat rear floorboard can be removed and hosed down. Two drink bins in the dash can be used to keep drinks either chilled or warmed as required.

Standard gear includes dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, remote central locking, CD sound system and power windows and mirrors. The interior trim is, well, different. Not in colour, but certainly texture.

Prices start at $31,990 for the base ST manual. That's about $2,000 more than the RAV4, but the Toyota doesn't have standard air or ABS. The about-to-be-superseded Honda CR-V is line-ball on price, but can't match the Nissan's performance or ABS. The V6 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute have more power but cost more...

Small wonder Nissan has been hanging out for the X-Trail - it figures it can sell 500 a month. Sorry, but no discounts for the unofficial design team.

Copyright 2001 John Fairfax Holdings Ltd.
All rights reserved