New Hardbody, Micra at large NAMPO 2018 display
Nissan South Africa welcomed the crowds at this year’s NAMPO Harvest Show with a wide range of its pick-ups, crossovers and sports cars on display.
Taking centre stage was the brand-new Nissan NP300 Hardbody 2.5 TDI 4x4 Double Cab, which will replace the 2.4 petrol Double Cab and 2.5 4x4 Single Cab as the range topping Hardbody.
As is standard with top-specification NP300 Hardbody models, the new 2.5 TDI 4x4 Double Cab is equipped with over fenders, 16” alloy wheels, hardened steel hooks for load tiedown and the generous 1 425 mm long load bay.
The model also has air conditioning, power windows, remote central locking and two airbags as standard, while it has a limited slip rear differential in addition to the 4x4 system for added traction.
The NP300 2.5 TDI 4x4 Double Cab on display at NAMPO was equipped with Nissan’s Rogue accessory-package, which adds a number of creature comforts and cosmetic additions to the standard vehicle styling. Outside, the package includes side- and rear-Rogue decals and blacked-out alloy rims.
In the interior, the Rogue package adds leather seats with stitched Rogue logos, a plush carpet set and a custom radio system with Bluetooth phone connectivity and satellite navigation as standard.
Known for its durability and reliability, Nissan’s 2.5 TDI engine delivers 98 kW at 3 600 rpm and 304 Nm at 2 000 rpm. The engine is rated for a combined fuel consumption figure of 8 litres per 100 km.
“The new Hardbody offers a perfect blend of workhorse functionality and comfort. It is our answer to the request from the agricultural community for a double cab diesel off-road capable Hardbody,”
says Xavier Gobille, Managing Director for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Nissan Group of Africa.
“We will launch the new version of the NP300 in June this year. It will be one of the most affordable diesel double cab models on the market, despite its generous specification level.”
Nissan also used the widely attended NAMPO show to showcase its brand-new Nissan Micra, which will be introduced in South Africa in June 2018.
The new Micra is wider, longer and lower than its predecessor and features a redesigned chassis for better road holding and comfort. Inside the cabin of the new Micra – which drew a lot of attention at the show – was a host of new technologies that are uncommon in the upper-B segment market, including Apple Carplay, Nissan’s Around View Monitor and a BOSE sound system.
“The European built new Nissan Micra has wowed customers abroad and won several awards, including the Firstcar Car of the Year and Irish Small Car of the Year. We believe it will have a similar impact when it reaches our shores with its big-car technology and ride at a compact car price,”
says Gobille.
The new Nissan Micra and flagship Hardbody 2.5 TDI Double Cab 4x4 set the tone for an impressive NAMPO display, which also showed visitors a range of other segment-leading products. These included the Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai, which are world leaders in the crossover market, the new V8 Nissan Patrol and the highly popular Nissan R35 GT-R, which created and dominates the market for affordable, everyday supercars.
“We remain committed to the farming community, through our network of rural and small-town dealers and our participation in various national and local agricultural forums.
“Our participation in NAMPO, where we hosted what was arguably the largest automotive stand with the widest range of products, attests to this fact. We look forward to returning next year,”
says Gobille.
