NISSAN'S latest Primera, the car that, according to its advertising is a new form of intelligence, arrives in July with a new and more luxurious interior, added technology including a unique traffic avoidance feature for its DVD satellite navigation system, and finer tuned ride and handling.
This latest version has been designed, engineered and will be built in the UK. It takes to the stage for the first time at The Sunday Times Motor Show Live in a couple of weeks' time.
There is little change outside, but the interior upgrades are all about improving the perceived quality of the Primera. The new car is likely to be priced from around £14,500.
Few cars offer a rear-parking camera at any price. It is a feature that is certain to wow friends and potentially save the cost of a rear bumper repair. Previously, Primeras of SE status and above had a black-and-white dashboard mounted screen that showed what was going on to the rear of the car when reverse gear was selected. The view is now in full colour and it will be standard on all but the S grade.
More models in the range are likely to get Nissan's Birdview DVD satellite navigation system when specifications are confirmed. This move is particularly generous of Nissan because the system now adds traffic information on the screen and can plot a diversion around any problem.
The system employed by Nissan is arguably one of the most advanced available. It starts with a DVD-based system that works faster anyway. To this has now been added a dedicated FM tuner that does nothing else all day but listen to traffic message channel broadcasts relevant to where you happen to be driving at the time.
There is a fee for this service, but Nissan pays it, and an added bonus is that it works in eight other European countries.
The Primera is one of the few new cars around that has mobile telephone pre-wiring across most of its range. But the new model's system gets even cleverer. Using the Primera's dashboard-controlled display screen, owners will be able to use their mobile's phone book, look at missed and received calls, see who is calling, juggle two calls at once, and put a call on hold. However, this assumes you have an up-to-date Nokia, Siemens or Sony-Ericsson phone.
But even if you do not, the majority of modern mobiles are compatible with Nissan's so-called Plug And Go system, it is just that the owner will not be able to take advantage of all the compatibility of the newest mobiles. The safety benefits remain, even more so now that there is a phone answering button on the new steering wheel, and it will of course be legal.
The phone's cradle is mounted in the upper storage area of a new centre armrest. Designed in response to feedback from existing customers, its padded lid is higher up and also makes a useful armrest for those who like to drive that way. The lid hides the phone from prying eyes, while a large box below can swallow up to eight CDs. The space where the phone used to sit is now freed up for a pair of cup-holders that can be also hidden away under a louvered lid. An illuminated ashtray or coin holder sits in the same area.
Customer influence has also brought in bigger door pulls and higher mounted armrests.
The in-dash display screen gets a graphical makeover in the interests of colour and clarity.
The climate control operation has been improved with more accurate airflow and fan speed selection and the possibility to manually select a lower temperature range.
But the Primera's real party trick is is the new Fine Vision instruments. Turn on the ignition and the gauges fade in over two seconds in a carefully orchestrated way: pointers first, then numbers then LEDs. Turn the ignition off and they fade out in the reverse order. Nissan's technicians say they are easier to read, for which thank amber, this season's new red when it comes to instruments.
Updated: 09:59 Friday, May 21, 2004
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