For the region’s drivers who love to mix street smarts with tough off-road capabilities, the Middle East launch of Nissan’s latest Pathfinder will be welcomed.
Today’s unveiling of the new 2018 Nissan Pathfinder came at an event that was suitably set against against the dramatic backdrop of the majestic Al Hajar Mountains in Fujairah.
The Pathfinder has been revamped for the 2018 model year with more off-road abilities, a freshened exterior and enhanced safety and technology. It is, said the company, “pure Pathfinder taken to a higher level of performance and style”.
Fadi Ghosn, the chief marketing officer of Nissan Middle Eastsaid the new Pathfinder has had much more than a basic facelift. “It now offers more power, improved driving dynamics and new available driver assistance features – more of what customers need for safe, comfortable every day and weekend family adventures.
“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,” he said.
The revised 3.5-litre V6 engine has almost 7 per cent more horse power and almost 4 per cent more torque. 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. The engine’s new Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) system, which is also utilised on the new Nissan Patrol full-size 4x4, provides better wide-open throttle performance and improved fuel economy and emissions performance (versus a non-direct-injection system), the car maker said.
Externally, the Pathfinder sports a new “V-Motion” grille and boomerang-shaped headlights with LED daytime running lights, and new 18-inch and 20-inch aluminium-alloy wheel designs. The rear taillight cluster and rear bumper have also been refreshed.
Inside, a standard 8-inch touch-screen monitor, situated in the middle of the instrument panel, controls a wide variety of vehicle systems and settings including navigation and infotainment functions.
The new Pathfinder will be arriving to showrooms across the region in May. The 2-wheel drive is priced between US$32,450 and US$44,240, while the 4-wheel drive between US$34,360 and US$46,090.
chnelson@thenational.ae
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