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Adventure spawns new Nissan models
publication date: Nov 29, 2007
Nissan will launch special versions of both the Navara Pickup and Patrol 4x4 to commemorate its successful tie-up with the high-profile ‘Long Way Down’ expedition, currently being shown on Sunday evenings on BBC2.
Travelling from John o’Groat’s to Cape Town earlier this year, actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman completed their epic 15,000 mile journey on motor bikes, supported for the entire trip by a crew travelling in two Nissan Patrols.
Following in the footsteps, or bike tracks, of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman means Nissan’s special versions need to look the part with both the Navara and Patrol coming fitted with unique badges, decals and mats.
Style is, however, no use without substance so both models have been created to represent real value. The equipment-packed Navara ‘Long Way Down’ is £17,995 and the Patrol ‘Long Way Down’ £25,995. |
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At £17,995 the Navara ‘Long Way Down’ (right) has been loaded with £2,500 worth of equipment as standard, including black leather upholstery with electric and heated front seats, roof rails, chrome door mirrors, electric sunroof, CD autochanger, plus side and curtain airbags.
Integrated DVD satellite navigation and premium audio gets added to the ‘Long Way Down Expedition’ priced at £19,995 (OTR + VAT). Automatic transmission can also be added for a further £1100 (+VAT).
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The ‘Long Way Down’ Patrol (right) at £25,995 comes with two additional foldaway seats, 17” alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated and electric front seats, climate control air-conditioning, rear privacy glass, front fog lamps, DVD satellite navigation and cruise control.
The Patrol’s go anywhere off-road ability, tested to the max by the ‘Long Way Down’ crew, comes as standard with selectable four-wheel drive, dual ratio gearbox, rear diff-lock and a switch operated detachable rear stabiliser bar. A further £1,400 provides automatic transmission. |
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Nissan supported the ‘Long Way Down’ adventure through the supply of two specially prepared Patrols for the show’s Producer/Directors Russ Malkin and David Alexanian. Carrying essential equipment, plus a fully-trained medic and two cameramen, the cars followed Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman across some of the roughest terrain in Africa in countries such as Namibia, Sudan, Libya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. The trip started from John o’Groat’s on 12 May and finished in Cape Town in South Africa 15,000 miles in 66 days later.
At a recent ‘Long Way Down’ charity party, Nissan donated the very first special version ‘Long Way Down’ Navara Pickup to be auctioned in front of a celebrity-packed audience.
After much frenetic bidding, the Navara sold for a whopping £42,000 and the evening’s activities went on to raise over £300,000 for ‘Long Way Down’s’ charities of choice – UNICEF, the Children’s Hospice Association in Scotland (CHAS) and Riders for Health.
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Nissan’s X-TRAIL SUV was awarded four stars out of a maximum five for adult, as well as child, occupant protection by the European New Car Assessment Programme.
Following the safety lead set by the Nissan QASHQAI – which received the highest score for adult occupant protection ever by the independent crash test organisation – the X-TRAIL scored especially well in child protection.
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This, says Nissan, underlines its role as an ideal family vehicle. X-TRAIL is one of only two vehicles on record to score 43 points for child protection, the maximum yet achieved in Euro NCAP tests.
The vehicle also scored maximum points in side impact and pole crash tests for adult protection but only a very low two stars for pedestrian protection.
X-TRAIL, which is manufactured at Nissan’s plant in Kyushu, Japan, has active and passive safety equipment including front, side and curtain airbags.
The second generation X-TRAIL was introduced in Europe in June 2007. Among its features are greater interior space than its predecessor, great comfort and a wider choice of engine options.
It also features Nissan’s latest electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system, making X-TRAIL far more capable off-road than many of its SUV rivals.
But in a comment on the tests, a spokesman for EURONCAP said, “This car is amongst one of Euro NCAP’s highest performers in child occupant protection, it is then disappointing that this car achieved an unremarkable four stars in adult occupant protection.”
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