Muscat: Nissan Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA), has launched the new 2018 model of Nissan Pathfinder in the Sultanate.
Pathfinder with a powerful new look is now available in Nissan showrooms with a range of advancements, which further augments its excellence and sophistication. The latest version of this popular, family-oriented four-wheel drive vehicle draws on Nissan’s vast experience of building vehicles designed to operate in testing off-road conditions while remaining perfectly at home on the highway.
The Nissan Pathfinder is reborn for the 2018 model year with more adventure capability, a freshened exterior look and enhanced safety and technology – pure Pathfinder taken to a higher level of performance and style. It now offers more power, improved driving dynamics and newly available driver assistance features – more of what Nissan patrons need for safe, comfortable everyday and weekend family adventures.
A senior official of Nissan Oman said, “As an SUV vehicle, the Pathfinder retains plenty of capability in off-road environments. The revised 3.5-litre V6 engine has almost 7% more horsepower and almost 4% more torque thanks to its new engine. These include new combustion chamber design, pistons, intake manifold, electromagnetic Valve Timing Control and a new Direct Injection Gasoline system.”
The refreshed Pathfinder benefits from changes both externally and internally.
The seven-seat vehicle offers enhanced driving dynamics such as more controlled ride and handling, fewer vibrations on turns and easier manoeuvring. This is due to many enhancements such as smaller strokes, less under-steer, improved roll balance and improved steering ratio.
The 2018 Pathfinder is offered in 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive configurations and a choice of three well-equipped grade levels: S, SV and SL.
“Most people with a family need to commute to work, drop the kids off at school and generally use their vehicles on paved surfaces. But at weekends it’s great to have the Pathfinder’s capacity to explore further afield, getting to special places that an ordinary family car cannot reach, be that in a desert, beach, wadi or mountain environment,” added the senior official from Nissan
Fresh new exterior
Externally, Pathfinder now aligns more closely with Nissan’s latest design language thanks to signature elements, including the new “V-Motion” grille and striking boomerang-shaped headlights with LED daytime running lights. Other new styling elements include a redesigned front bumper, fog lights, wing mirrors with integrated indicators and new 18-inch and 20-inch aluminium-alloy wheel designs. The rear taillight cluster and rear bumper have also been refreshed.
In terms of practicality, a Motion-Activated liftgate comes as standard on SV and SL grade. On sweeping a foot under the tailgate, it opens automatically and stops at the desired point.
All-new 3.5-litre V6 engine
In a major step up of its already highly capable adventure credentials, Pathfinder’s new 3.5- litre V6 engine features more power and torque. It utilizes more than 50 percent new or new-to-Pathfinder engine parts and components – including combustion chamber design, pistons, intake manifold and e-VTC (fully electronic on intake).
The engine’s new Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) system, which is also utilised on the all-new flagship Nissan Patrol full-size SUV, provides better wide-open throttle performance and improved fuel economy and emissions performance (versus a non-direct-injection system). The switch to mirror bore cylinder coating reduces engine weight by around three pounds and reduces friction between the piston ring and the cylinder wall. The technology eliminates the need for a heavy cast iron cylinder liner.
All 2018 Pathfinder models are equipped with Nissan’s third-generation Xtronic transmission (similar to that utilised in the sporty Nissan Maxima). The Xtronic transmission includes DStep Logic Control, which simulates shifts, giving a more natural acceleration feeling.
The new Pathfinder powertrain helps provide real-world driving benefits of more responsive acceleration and re-acceleration, such as when entering highways or passing.