Nissan announced the release of the all-new X-Trail sport utility vehicle (SUV), which goes on sale today at Nissan dealers nationwide. The new X-Trail, the first full redesign of the vehicle since its introduction in 2000, is engineered to be a tough, versatile SUV that stimulates a driver's spirit of adventure. It will be marketed under the tagline "SHIFT_challenging spirit."

The original Nissan X-Trail was developed with the goal of providing customers with a versatile four-passenger, four-wheel drive vehicle at a two million yen price point. Since its launch, the popular X-Trail has been noted for its superior performance, functionality and authentic SUV experience. The all-new X-Trail promises to take the SUV experience to an even higher level, maintaining the original's tough, rugged design while adding elements that maximize owners' enjoyment of outdoor sports.

Nissan X-Trail's "toughness" is highlighted by its enhanced all-weather capability, provided by Nissan's latest electronically controlled four-wheel drive (4WD) system, the ALL MODE 4x4-i with yaw moment control. Also new for this generation Nissan X-Trail is Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA). All three systems are designed to provide piece of mind for the driver through superior control and stability.

Additionally, Nissan X-Trail's hallmark high quality and outstanding utility have been enhanced with added convenience and storage features. Highlights of the restyled interior include the use of new water-repellant materials and a larger, washable two-deck luggage compartment.

A Strong Exterior Design
The all-new Nissan X-Trail retains the nameplate's signature styling cues, which are suggestive of the SUV's outstanding off-road capabilities. Extended wheel arches and an aggressive front bumper design give X-Trail a tough stance. The hood slopes to allow a clear view of the vehicle's corners and the three-dimensional headlights continue the strong look. The headlight markers enable drivers to identify the front corners of the vehicle, helping negotiate tight areas whether on an off-road trail or an urban street. Additionally, the A-pillars' obstruction angle has been reduced by 1.2 degrees in comparison to the previous generation X-Trail.

Nissan X-TRAIL's low waistline leads into the styled rear pillars with an "X" motial and also contributes to the good visibility and gives a feeling of roominess to the passenger and luggage areas. The finishing touches are provided by three-dimensional rear combination lamps and a high-mounted LED stop lamp. An integrated "Hyper Roof Rail" is optionally available, as are Bi-level xenon headlights and heated outside mirrors.

The new Nissan X-TRAIL's body has been stiffened for increased stability and reduced NVH. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were utilized to analyze and improved the X-TRAIL's body design, resulting in improved performance and fuel economy.

Seven exterior colors are available, including a new "Desert Amber" color. Nissan's new Scratch Guard, a transparent coating containing a flexible resin compound, is available with three X-TRAIL body colors - Burning Red, Sapphire Blue and Diamond Black. Scratch Guard enables the paint to "repair" minor scratches within a short period of time.

A Spacious Interior, With Enhanced Utility
X-TRAIL's cabin is designed to allow four adults to travel in comfort and style. The new interior offers improved functionality and quality craftsmanship. The accent lines flowing from the instrument panel to the door trim enhances the roomy feeling, while new soft padding on the instrument panel, door trim and armrests add a substantial yet comfortable sensation.

For maximum adventure without worry, the new X-TRAIL's interior is water-repellant, including the floor and ceiling. X-TRAIL's Seat sides are upholstered in an artificial leather material, while the Seat cushion and the seatback feature a water-repellant diving suit-style material.

X-TRAIL's new instruments and controls provide a performance feel, with a metallic-finished CVT shift lever, large gauges and easy-to-use 4-wheel drive switches. The steering column pops up in a single action for enhanced convenience of use and more effective use of the space around the driver's seat.

Front Seat headroom has been increased by 6 millimeters and knee room by 24 millimeters. Ingress and egress have also been improved by lowering the sill step-over height by 28 millimeters in front and 14 millimeters in the rear.

Utility is enhanced by a large compartment in the instrument panel, and a two-level rear-seat armrest incorporates a pass-through feature for carrying long items easily with the armrest folded down (available on X grade models).

For maximum comfort, the new X-TRAIL features rear-seat air-conditioner vents, the first mid-size SUV to offer that standard feature. Also, covered heating/cooling cup holders are provided in the front and rear Seat areas.

X-TRAIL's rear cargo area has been substantially increased over the previous model, thanks to relocated rear shock absorbers, for a class-leading capacity of 603 liters (VDA). The cargo area features a ribbed, washable luggage board to prevent items from sliding. A removable luggage drawer with movable partitions, located beneath the luggage board, provides hidden storage.

Available Advanced Technology
The new X-TRAIL features Nissan's latest HDD-based CARWINGS navigation system. This system incorporates an easy-to-use touch panel screen, and contains music box and DVD audio/video playback. A Bluetooth hands-free interface is available as a factory option.

Also available on X-TRAIL is Nissan's Intelligent Key System, which, through the ID code stored in the key fob, provides improved anti-theft functionality that includes electric-assisted power steering lockup, engine immobilizer and other deterrents.

Two monitor systems are available as a set on X-TRAIL, a blind-spot monitor and a back-view monitor. The blind-spot monitor increases visibility on the X-TRAIL's left front side, assisting parallel parking or meeting oncoming traffic on a narrow road. The back-view monitor uses a small CCD camera to display on the navigation system monitor a color image of the area behind the X-TRAIL.

A Powerful, Dynamic Engine
X-TRAIL's engine provides superior performance and driving ease. Two engines are offered with X-TRAIL, a 2.0-liter MR20DE featuring an improved exhaust system, or a 2.5-liter QR25DE with continuously variable valve timing control (CVTC) providing an increase in low-speed torque.

A 6-speed manual transmission is available in the 2.0-liter 4-wheel drive model, a unique offering in class. The overdrive sixth gear produces high fuel economy with low noise and vibration.

All other X-TRAIL models feature an XTRONIC Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with revised shift control logic, called Adaptive Shift Control (ASC). ASC adapts to the driver's personal driving style and environment to optimize power and fuel economy. On 2.5-liter equipped X-TRAILs, an XTRONIC CVT-M6 transmission is used, which features a special 6-speed manual shift mode.

MR20DE engine models (4WD, CVT and gross vehicle weight of 1,520 kg or more) achieve fuel economy that is 20% higher than Japan's 2010 fuel economy standards. MR20DE engine models (4WD, 6-speed MT and gross vehicle weight of 1,520 kg or more) and QR25DE engine models achieve fuel economy that is 10% higher than the 2010 standards.

MR20DE engine models are certified as Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SULEVs) because they emit 75% fewer emissions than Japan's 2005 exhaust emission standards, and QR25DE engine models are certified as U-LEVs because they emit 50% fewer emissions than the standards.

A New Four-Wheel Drive System, Steering, Suspension and Brakes
The new X-TRAIL is available with Nissan's advanced four-wheel drive system, called ALL MODE 4x4-i, incorporating yaw moment control. This new system enhances stability by instantaneously analyzing information received from a steering angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor and a lateral accelerometer to estimate the driver's cornering path and control front/rear torque split for smooth cornering behavior on slippery road surfaces.

The X-TRAIL's ALL MODE 4x4-i incorporates two modes - Auto and Lock. Auto allows the system to vary the front/rear torque split from 100/0 to approximately 50/50 depending on driving conditions, while Lock sets the torque split, which controls engine torque and the brake pressure at all four wheels to deliver powerful traction. Also standard on four-wheel drive models is a Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.

Other X-TRAIL features include Hill Descent Control (HDC), which maintains a descent speed of 7 km/h (not available with 6-speed manual transmission), and Hill Start Assist (HSA) which prevents the car from rolling backwards when facing uphill by maintaining brake pressure for approximately two seconds after the driver moves his or her foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal.

X-TRAIL also features a vehicle-speed-sensitive electric-assisted power steering system, with light steering effort at low speed and provides a reassuring steering feel at high speed, while using an electric motor to reduce fuel consumption. Braking is provided with a four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), which adjusts braking force to the front and rear wheels depending on the number of passengers and cargo on board.

The new X-TRAIL's suspension, based on the design utilized in the Dualis, is an independent front strut and rear multi-link design, with advanced shock absorbers. This suspension features optimized geometry and flexibility for both on- and off-road driving.

Safety, Environmental and Sales Figures
X-TRAIL features high-strength Zone Body construction, with impact-energy absorbing body structure for mitigating pedestrian injuries. Passenger safety is enhanced by front-seat Active Head Restraints, dual SRS air bag systems for the driver and front passenger, SRS side air bag systems for the driver and front passenger, double pretensioner seatbelt with two-stage load limiter for the driver and pretensioner seatbelt with load limiter for the front passenger. Additionally, X-TRAIL features a collapsible steering column (excluding models with the pop-up steering column) and brake pedal construction that prevents rearward pedal movement.

X-TRAIL features a recyclability rate of more than 95%1; a clean interior environment with features developed from the three perspectives of clean air, human skin friendly and sanitary/clean; and a Reduction of interior volatile organic compounds (VOC).

The sales target for the all-new X-TRAIL is 2,000 units per month2.

1 As calculated according to the guideline adopted by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. in 1998 concerning the definition and calculation method of the recyclability rate of new cars
2 Sales launch events: Saturday and Sunday, August 25-26 and Saturday and Sunday, September 1-2, 2007