It’s happened again. Just as Nissan Philippines gears up to launch a brand-new model, Nissan Global has doused their efforts by unveiling an updated version of the same model its local office intends on selling. It has happened with the X-Trail e-Power and now, it’s happened with the upcoming Navara Pro PHEV.
Although no official details of Nissan’s electrified pickup truck has emerged as of yet (save for teasers), based on government filings made with the Department of Energy, the Navara Pro PHEV will come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged generator (125 horsepower and 100 Nm of torque) and electric motor combo (212 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque) good for about 435 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. A 20-kWh lithium ternary battery (33 kWh gross) offers about 131 kilometers of all electric range (NEDC) and a whopping 1,050 kilometers of combined range.
In another case of unfortunate timing for Nissan Philippines, Nissan Global has unveiled a brand-new 2.0-liter turbo generator for the Navara Pro PHEV for markets such as Australia and Oceania. Remarkably, Nissan has made sure to keep outputs the same as the smaller engined version—435 horsepower (300 kW) and 800 Nm.
Why the need for a new powertrain, you ask? It’s down to towing, payload, and sustained performance—parameters which are very important to Australian customers says Nissan. Per the brand, this one enables the Navara Pro PHEV to achieve a one-ton (1,000 kg) payload capacity as well as a 3,500 kg (3.5-ton) braked towing capacity.
Moreover, the Navara Pro PHEV eschews electronic gimmickry in favor of mechanical front, rear, and combined mechanical diff locks for true off-road capability—a big advantage not only versus the BYD Shark 6 DMO (its chief competitor) but even compared to the Philippines’ rear-only locking diff.
The more powerful motor also means using a different transmission as well. The Philippine market is listed to have an E-CVT (although in China, it’s a 4-speed dedicated hybrid transmission). For the 2.0-liter turbo version, Nissan has opted for a more traditional 8-speed automatic providing it with broader versatility including low-range crawling capability for demanding off-road conditions and low-rpm cruising at highway speeds for relaxed and efficient long-distance driving.
Do you think Nissan Philippines should have gone with the 2.0-liter motor, 8-speed AT combo for the Navara Pro PHEV, or do you think the 1.5-liter motor, DHT combo suffices for the local setting?
No one uses a pick-up for towing or payload here anyway, pamporma lang karamihan pick-up owners. For a daily driver use case, I see no problem with the smaller generator + 4-speed DHT/CVT combo.
ReplyDeleteI know someone sa office na relative nila na engineer bumili ng RADAR. Sa use case nila solb na daw ung capabilities.
DeleteI think it's just right, initially speaking. But NMPI should bring in the 2.0 engine for the MMC. We also have to factor in the pricing & the buying power of Filipinos. NMPI might be testing the waters first to see if they can sell this car in volumes.
ReplyDeleteIt was improved for Australia because they actually use their pickup to do pickup things. Here in the Philippines, the Navara Pro PHEV will just be a grocery getter, just like the BYD Shark. The 1.5L engine will be more than enough for its use case here in the Philippines. You'll probably not drive in an extreme enough scenario where you will need the 2.0L. Furthermore, the 2.0L engine is a completely new engine, while the 1.5L has been used by Dongfeng in other products already and is more proven.
ReplyDeleteThere is still the regular Navara for those who need a workhorse.
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DeleteWhere the 2.0L + 8 speed auto combination will have the advantage, despite similar outputs with the 1.5L, is sustained performance when towing especially uphill. Filipinos don't really tow that much, and if they do, hindi ganun kalayo yung biyahe nila. So the 1.5L was deemed enough for our market.
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