New Nissan Almera

Flaunting a luxury look with stylistically cues taken from the Nissan Teana, the new Nissan Almera recently unveiled in Lagos by Alliance Autos comes with a low fuel consumption feature, funky and unconventional lines as well as a wider rear legroom and  larger booth than any full-sized executive saloon, writes OLAOLU OLUSINA

Apparently positioned to revolutionise perceptions of family sedans, the new Nissan Almera recently unveiled in Lagos by Alliance Autos Nigeria Limited is surely living up to its Japanese heritage.

Coming with a tradition of mechanical efficiency of which Nissan, the Japanese automaker is renowned; the new Almera flaunts a low fuel consumption feature as well as other luxury features. And despite being larger and more spacious than other sedans in its class, the Almera weighs between 15 to 55kg lighter than its rivals.

In a keynote address delivered at the occasion which held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos , General Manager, SUN Motors Limited, Mr. Pankaj Arora , said
Nissan has over the years lived up to its reputation of excellence in engineering, playing a pioneering role in many fields of advanced technology.

According to Arora, who maintained that Nissan was also a forerunner in developing and using CAD/CAM systems and industrial robots to enhance precision to make Nissan vehicles one of the best ever,   “Nissan developed a variety of weight-reducing materials, such as high-tensile steel sheet for body panels, and subsequently created sophisticated engine management systems for controlling combustion and improving fuel economy.”

He stated that in addition to manufacturing, Nissan has also localised R&D operations, including vehicle design and engineering, as well as business management functions at the highest level. “This globalisation program has now advanced to the stage where decision-making is being localised through the establishment of regional headquarters,” he said.

According to him, “The aim is simple. Nissan believes that cars should change the world and the way we move through it. It was in view of this that Nissan changed its manifesto to essentially build vehicles that are more efficient, more beautiful, more inspiring and more human than ever before.”

Listing the glowing attributes of the new Nissan Almera, he stated:  “Its styling is definitely a case of ‘form follows function’. This means that you will only appreciate the Almera’s funky, unconventional lines only after you take a look at the amount of legroom the rear passengers get, and the huge, almost 500 litre booth. To put things into perspective, the Almera probably has more rear legroom and a larger boot than a full-sized executive saloon such as a Mercedes-Benz E-class.”

He stated further: “Park the Almera next to another sedan, for example, you will notice that the entire passenger cabin assumes a tall, hatchback-like profile, which draws attention to its steeply raked bonnet and windscreen. What’s more, the Almera stretches its boot further back than other cars in its class - allowing it to have such a luxury look with stylistically cues taken from the Nissan Teana, though this does little to disguise the Almera’s unusual proportions.”