We got invited to Nissan Philippines, Inc.’s (NPI) first media drive experience at the Clark International Speedway (CIS) to check out the latest addition to their stable. Dubbed as “Nissan Spin: The New Altima and The New Sylphy Drive Experience,” the event was NPI’s first big event since the brand launched its new company.
“Today commemorates a very historic event for us at Nissan Philippines, Inc. as it marks the first of many exciting events and activities of the company. We are pleased to spend this event with our media friends and grateful for their support since our launch last March.” Said Kenji Naito, NPI’s president and general manager.
Also on site were Lee Junia, general manager for Sales; SJ Huh, general manager for marketing; Dax Avenido, marketing manager; as well as other NPI officers. Nissan Motor Ltd.’s John Zhang and Kiyoshi Itoh, who were flown in from Japan as expert resource persons for the new Altima and the new Sylphy, respectively, also graced the event. They presented the nuances of each model, and shared their enthusiasm about their products.
On display at the paddock area was the brand’s vehicle lineup, but the stars of the day were of course the Sylphy and Altima. All the variants of the Sylphy and the Altima were available for us to test on CIS’ long track that featured additional gates and obstacles to ensure safety and mimic real-world situations. The main straight of CIS allowed us to test acceleration and braking, while the various turns and additional gates made of pylons tested the vehicles’ cornering and handling, as well as the its turning radius, via a 360-degree turn just before turning into the main stretch again. To better appreciate the engine’s power, my strategy for the day was to start with the Sylphy with the smallest displacement in the morning, and drove the 3.5 Altima as the finale.
It goes without saying that the zero-to-one hundred times varied among the vehicles we tested, and the additional horsepower and torque of the 1.8 Sylphy as well as the Altima variants were very apparent and appreciated. The difference in G-Force is unmistakable when you floor the accelerator. We were told to “have fun” with the cars, and that’s exactly what we did, tackling the twists and turns of the racetrack.
While the exterior aesthetic of both models aren’t that strong or striking, the noticeable trait across variants is its plush and spacious interiors. As expected, the Altima comes fully loaded, being Nissan’s flagship vehicle.
After a full day of media scribes putting them thru its paces, all the cars held its own, and survived the event. In general, the vehicles handled well, and depending on the variant, came with an assortment of technology and creature comforts that consumers look for when they buy a car. It is safe to assume that these cars will perform even better in real-world situations; outside the extreme conditions it had to go through on the track.
Congratulations, Nissan Philippines, Inc. Here’s to a bigger and brighter future ahead for Nissan.
More about the cars
All new Nissan Sylphy
The new Sylphy is one of the brand’s global sedans that is sold in more that 120 markets worldwide, including the US, Japan, China and Thailand. It replaces the popular Nissan Sentra that has been in our market since the early 90s, and is the brand’s C-segment offering.
The Sylphy features an elegant and sophisticated design with class leading comfort. It is powered by either a 1.8L MRA8DE or 1.6L HR16DE engine, and is matched with a new-generation Nissan Xtronic CVT with sub-planetary gear delivers seamless transition, higher torque at lower engine speeds and wide gear ratio resulting to smoother acceleration, better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs.
Nissan believes that the Sylphy’s combination of its stylish and dynamic design, its premium space and quality, as well as its efficient engine and transmission, is the right mix for the local market.
1.6L Base MT (PHP 812,000)
- 5-speed MT
- Strut Front Suspension
- Multi-link Rear Suspension
- Disc brakes
- ABS+EBD+BA
- Pretension & load limiter seat belt
- ISO-FIX + tether
- 2 Airbags
- 16” Alloy wheels
- Electronic Outside door mirror (manual fold)
- Halogen headlamp with LED accent
- Drive computer (integrated in meter)
- Tilt and telescopic steering
- Speed-sensitive central door lock
- 4-speakers
1.6L Upper CVT (PHP 915,000)
- CVT transmission
- Side-turning lamp of door mirror
- Electronic Outside door mirror (power fold)
- Front fog lamps
- Immobilizer + alarm
- Folding down rear seat
- Dual Climate control A/C (auto)
- Rear seat A/C duct
- Leather-wrapped steering
1.8 Upper CVT (PHP 998,000)
- Xenon headlamps with LED accent
- Headlamp levelizer (auto)
- Intelligent key
- Leather seats
- Push engine start
- Auto on/off headlamps
- 17” Alloy wheels
- 6-speakers
- 2-DIN audio with touch screen
For our market, all Sylphy units shall be sourced from Thailand, and will be available in aspen white, ebony, deep iris gray, brilliant silver, and grayish bronze colors.
>> Click here for the Sylphy spec sheet<<
All new Nissan Altima
The all-new Altima is Nissan’s flagship model, and replaces the Teana which until recently held that place of honor. Built in Nissan’s facilities in Smyrna, Tennessee, the fourth-generation Altima aims to raise the bar and elevate costumer’s expectations from executive sedan category when it comes to styling, unequalled comfort, dynamic performance, fuel efficiency, and innovative features and vehicle safety.
The exterior of the Altima features a wide aggressive presence, with a sloping rear silhouette accentuated by a high trunk lid, giving it a premium look. Inside, it features a plush and roomy interior. Nissan went as far as tapping NASA for the design of its front seats, resulting in comfortable seating with neutral posture, that offers continuous support from the pelvis to the chest and the least fatigue over long drives.
The new Nissan Altima SV is powered by a QR25DE engine, which is Nissan’s aluminum 2.5 liter, twin-cam 16-valve 4-cylinder engine. This power plant promises 180ps at 6000 rpm and 243 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. The top-tier Altima 3.5 SL has a VQ35DE under its hood. The engine is a powerful all aluminum 3.5 liter V6 with dual overhead camshafts and 24 valves. This powerful engine has 270ps at 6400 rpm and 340 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. Both variants come with variable valve timing and Nissan’s Electronic Concentrated Control System (ECCS) and mated with the next generation Nissan Xtronic CVT.
Unique to the 2014 Nissan Altima is Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Active Under steer Control that helps give the driver more confident control by minimizing under steer in dynamic driving and emergency maneuvers.
2.5L SV CVT (PHP 1,650,000)
- QR25DE engine
- CVT transmission
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (with Active Under steer Control – AUC)
- Strut front suspension
- Multi-link rear suspension
- Disk brakes
- Seat heater
- Pretension and load limiter seatbelt
- ISO-FX + tether
- ABS-EBD+BA
- 6 Airbags
- TCS
- Immobilizer + Alarm
- 17” Alloy wheels
- Auto on/off headlamps
- Electronic Outside door mirror (manual fold)
- Halogen headlamp (projector type)
- Headlamp levelizer (manual)
- Side-turning lamp on door mirror
- I-key
- Push engine start
- Drive computer (integrated with meter)
- Front display monitor (5-inch color LCD)
- Power seat (6-way)
- Cruise control
- EHPS
- Tilt and telescopic steering
- Speed-sensitive central door lock
- Steering switch
- Cargo net
3.5L SL CVT with Manual Mode (PHP 2,030,000)
- VQV6 engine
- CVT with manual mode (with paddle shift)
- Xenon headlamps
- Headlamp levelizer (auto)
- Bose premium audio system
- Sunroof
The new Altima is available in brilliant silver, black obsidian, pearl white and storm blue.
>> Click here for the Altima spec sheet<<