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By Ruben D. Manahan IV, Reporter
“IS it an MPV or a sedan?” That was the
question thrown by Nissan Motor Phils. Inc. (NMPI) to a select group
of journalists as the carmaker introduced its newest model, the
Grand Livina, through a driving event that took the participants
from Laguna to the Subic International Raceway. Held on May 22 and
23, the Amazing Race-type activity, where the journalists acted as
family members, was meant to highlight the fact that Nissan’s
latest product is targeted at what the carmaker calls
“next-generation Filipino families.”
Coined from “life” and “living,” the
Grand Livina melds the experience of the active and lively drive of
a sedan with the stylish versatility of a multipurpose vehicle.
Nissan formally launched to the local market the Grand Livina on
June 6.
Proof in the driving
In the event, the participants tackled the
“sungka” surface of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) as we took
off from the Total gas station in Cabuyao, Laguna en route to Total
Makati. On the unfinished roads of SLEX, the Grand Livina’s
suspension system was put to the test.
Adopted from Nissan’s 350Z sports car, the
Grand Livina’s Ripple-Control shock absorbers, which combine the
torsion bar rear axle with the McPherson struts in front, dampened
the choppy and buzzing vibrations resulting from the road’s poor
surface. The vehicle’s subframe’s anti-vibration rubber confined
the transmission of tire shuddering to the cabin, making for a
sedan-like riding comfort.
From Total Makati, I and teammates Bess Zamora
(also of The Manila Times) and Tet Andolong (Business Mirror) then
sped off to the Total station at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)
as we finished the event’s city-driving fuel economy test.
As the participants drove their way to the
finish line at the Total NLEX, I noticed some of the Grand Livina
latest technologies like the vehicle’s all-new 1.8-liter MR18DE
engine that minimizes friction as well as thermal and volumetric
efficiency. This gasoline power plant makes 124 horsepower and 174
Newton-meter of torque, truly ample for a vehicle that’s designed
to ferry seven passengers in comfort.
For improved performance and fuel efficiency,
the Grand Livina’s new-generation engine is equipped with
Nissan’s Continuous Valve lift and Timing Control (CVTC)
technology, the same one found in the X-Trail’s QR engine and the
Murano’s, Teana’s and 350Z’s award-winning VQ power plant. The
CVTC ensures that, like its siblings, the Grand Livina has capable
acceleration in any traffic or road condition. A catalytic converter
mounted near the engine results in cleaner emissions, too.
A new four-speed electronic automatic
transmission is available in the Grand Livina. This transmission’s
shifting pattern and timing provide excellent response while
maintaining impressive fuel economy. A six-speed manual transmission
that perfectly harnesses the MR18DE engine’s power is also
offered.
Meanwhile, the vehicle’s low levels of noise,
vibration and harshness, due mostly to the rigid structure of the
monocoque body, allowed some of the participants to catch up on
sleep while on the road.
From the NLEX, the participants proceeded to the
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway where we experienced nature’s beauty
as we headed for an overnight stay in Subic.
The next day, the group went to the Subic
International Raceway and had loads of driving fun by tackling an
obstacle course. Called a gymkhana, the activity simulated the daily
chores people will use an MPV for like carry luggage. Participants
were tasked to stack 10-liter containers of engine oil in the Grand
Livina’s luggage compartment and drive through an obstacle course
marked by pylons. The team that logs the shortest time going through
the course without tumbling the containers wins.
At the racetrack, speed was not a problem not
only because of the vehicle’s power but also because of how the
Grand Livina is designed. Its low center of gravity improved the
vehicle’s steering response and made for agile handling. Its
stability also dispelled worries that the vehicle might roll over
when it corners hard.
The Grand Livina’s electric power steering was
also a big factor there as its variable steering boost
assistance—light steering force at low speed or heavier steering
feel at high speed—allowed for precise maneuvering around the
racecourse. The exclusion of a hydraulic steering pump means less
power loss for the engine, leading to better fuel economy, too.
After the event, NMPI Assistant Vice President
Steven Hu was visibly impressed with the company’s newest product
as he asked, “The Grand Livina did that?”
For my part, the question of whether the Grand
Livina is a sedan or an MPV remained.
The Grand Livina is priced at P848,000 for the
1.8L Elite; P898,000 for the 1.8L Luxury; and P900,000 for the 1.8L
Elegance.
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