Tokyo--Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the domestic release of the new Liberty following the execution of a minor model change.
The name Liberty signifies that the car enables family members and friends to travel together freely as they please, in keeping with the meaning of the word. The name "Prairie Liberty" is changed to "Liberty" from this model.
Liberty G Navi package (2WD)
Following its premiere under the Prairie nameplate in 1982, the Liberty has been instrumental in developing the utility vehicle market in Japan as a compact minivan that blends remarkable interior comfort and convenience with exceptional levels of intrinsic vehicle performance. The current third-generation model, rolled out after a full model change in 1998 and renamed Liberty, was created around the concept of "a vehicle fitting creative lifestyles and tailored to a variety of daily life situations." The Liberty has won high accolades as a number five size minivan, distinguished by its compact body for outstanding driving ease and user convenience and its highly comfortable cabin.
This minor model change has given the Liberty a sportier image with an enhanced look of fine quality. The exterior design at the front has been completely reworked, particularly the headlamps, radiator grille and bumper, and on the inside the interior trim color and seat cloth have been changed. Moreover, convenience and ingress/egress ease have been substantially improved by the addition of a dual-pattern arrangement for the second-row seats and a remote-control auto sliding door on the left rear side that opens and closes automatically. Fuel economy has also been significantly improved by newly adopting the QR20DE engine. A further benefit is that all models are certified as low-emission vehicles (LEVs) under the low-emission vehicle certification system of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Additionally, as a result of reviewing the grade selection, the Liberty is now available in a choice of five grades--the top-of-the-line X (2WD only), Highway Star, G and S.
| Sales target: | 2,600 units/month |
| Dealers selling the Liberty: | Nissan Blue Stage: Nissan and Motor channel dealers, including Nissan Red and Blue Stage dealers that handle all models |
| Weekend fair showroom debut dates: |
Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13, 2001 |
Overview of Liberty
1. Sporty exterior with a premium-quality look
The headlamp shape has a feeling of continuity with the horizontal motif of the radiator grille design, creating a distinctive and sporty mien. The bumper design has also been reworked to give the front-end design an innovative look.
At the rear, the tint of the backup lamp lenses has been changed and an emblem with an oblong design has been adopted to project a clean, refreshing look of premium quality.
The sporty image of the Highway Star models is further accentuated by the adoption of various aero parts, including a front spoiler, sill protectors and protective rear side moldings, as well as bold-looking headlamps painted a smoky hue and a body-colored radiator grille.
A selection of six modern, elegant monotone body colors is offered, including the newly adopted Soldam Green Metallic (standard models only) that balances brilliance with serenity. Highway Star models are available in a choice of four body colors.
2. Interior with improved convenience and enhanced look of fine quality
The interior is trimmed in a bright beige color. Handsome wood-grain panels are used around the audio system and power window switches on the X, G-Navi Package and G grades to impart a look of fine quality. The Highway Star grade, on the other hand, features a two-tone coordinated seat cloth with a rhythmical pattern and titanium-looking panels around the audio system and power window switches to convey an elegant, sporty impression.
TV/Navigation system (DVD type large 7" liquid crystal monitor*) has been newly adopted. Also a Fine Vision Digital Meter has been adopted for improved instrumentation legibility.
A remote-control auto sliding door is optionally available on the left rear side (excluding the S grade) for substantially improved convenience and ease of ingress/egress. This door opens and closes automatically by remote control.
The long-sliding second-row seats move fore and aft independently, which allows easy entry/exit to and from the third-row seat even if one of the middle seats is fitted with a child seat.
A handy pass-through feature has been added to the second-row seats, making it possible to carry long items.
*Standard on the G-Navi Package and optional on the Highway Star and X grades.
3. Drivetrain
The 4WD models are fitted with the compact, lightweight Auto Control 4WD system that delivers both sure-footed traction and low fuel consumption in all kinds of driving situations.
4. Environmental friendliness
All Liberty models are newly fitted with the QR20DE engine that improves the fuel economy of the 2WD versions by about 12% and that of the 4WD versions by about 16% over their previous counterparts. Moreover, all models are certified as LEVs*1 under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's low-emission vehicle certification system. They also comply with Japan's fuel economy standards set to be enforced in 2010, making them eligible for preferential treatment*2under the environmentally friendly (green) tax program.
| *1 | To qualify for this LEV certification, exhaust emissions have been reduced by an additional 25% from the levels allowed under Japan's 2000 exhaust emission regulations. This low-emission vehicle certification system of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was initiated in April 2000 to promote the penetration of LEVs through their selection by ordinary consumers. |
| *2 | For vehicles complying with the requirements of the environmentally friendly (green) tax program, the automobile acquisition tax is reduced by 15,000 yen until March 31, 2002. Moreover, among the qualifying vehicles, LEVs that are registered up to March 31, 2003 are eligible for a reduction of the automobile tax by approximately 13% for twoyears beginning from the fiscal year after a vehicle is newly registered. |
Suggested Retail Prices in Each Region (excluding consumption tax)
| (Thousands of yen) |
| Drive Donfiguration | Grade | Engine | Transmission | Tokyo/Nagoya/Osaka | Fukuoka | |
| 2WD | X | QR20DE NEO | HYPER CVT | 2,208 | 2,236 | |
| Highwaystar | 2,198 | 2,226 | ||||
| G Navi Package | 2,098 | 2,126 | # | |||
| G | 1,898 | 1,926 | ||||
| S | 1,718 | 1,746 | ||||
| 4WD | Highwaystar | E-ATx | 2,438 | 2,466 | ||
| G Navi Package | 2,338 | 2,366 | ||||
| G | 2,138 | 2,166 | ||||
| S | 1,958 | 1,986 |
| #model in photo |
HYPER CVT: continuously variable transmission
E-ATx: full-range electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission
|
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Autech Japan Customizes Liberty Rider and Liberty Enchante
Autech Japan, Inc., a Nissan affiliate, has newly customized the Liberty Rider featuring special vehicle specifications, in conjunction with the minor model change of the Liberty. Autech Japan also released throughout Japan today the Liberty Enchante, which it is continuing to customize as one of Nissan's lifecare vehicles* that enjoy widespread popularity for their ease of front passenger's seat ingress/egress. Two types of front passenger's seat are offered, a motor-operated "slide-out lift seat" that swivels outside the vehicle and lowers toward the ground and a motor-operated "tilting seat" that swivels outside the vehicle and tilts forward.
* Nissan Group companies use the term lifecare vehicle (LV) to refer to vehicles that are specifically designed to
assist persons with special mobility needs in their everyday lives.
Overview of Liberty Rider
Liberty Rider (2WD)
| Model | Liberty Rider |
| Base vehicle | G |
| Drive system | 2WD/4WD |
| Engine | QR20DE |
| Transmission | HYPER CVT (2WD)/E-ATx (4WD) |
| Seating capacity | 7 |
| Major specification or equipment additions/modifications in relation to the base vehicle |
|
| Body colors | White Pearl (3P) <#QT1, optional color>Diamond Silver (M) <#KY0>Black <#KH3>All interior trim is beige (C)(3P): 3 coats of Pearl; (M): Metallic |
| Dealers selling the Liberty Rider | Nissan Blue Stage: Nissan and Motor channel dealers, including Nissan Red and Blue Stage dealers that handle all models |
HYPER CVT: continuously variable transmission
E-ATx: full-range electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission
Overview of Liberty Enchante
Liberty Enchante(2WD)
| Model | Liberty Enchante | |
| Slide-out lift seat | Tilting seat | |
| Base vehicle grades | G, G-Navi Package, X, Highway Star | G, G-Navi Package |
| Drive system | 2WD/4WD | |
| Engine | QR20DE | |
| Transmission | HYPER CVT (2WD)/E-ATx (4WD) | |
| Seating capacity | 7* | |
Major equipment or specification additions/modifications relative to the base vehicle |
[Standard]
|
[Standard]
|
| Body colors | Same as the base vehicle grades | |
| Dealers selling the Liberty Enchante | Nissan Blue Stage: Nissan and Motor channel dealers, including Nissan Red and Blue Stage dealers that handle all models | |
HYPER CVT: continuously variable transmission
E-ATx: full-range electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission
Suggested Retail Prices in Each Region (excluding consumption tax)
Liberty Rider
| (Thousand of yen) |
| Base model | Engine | Base model | Engine | Transmission | Tokyo/Nagoya/Osaka | Fukuoka | |
| G | QR20DE NEO | G | QR20DE NEO |
HYPER CVT | 2,208 | 2,408 | # |
| 4WD | E-ATx | 2,198 | 2,648 |
| # Model in photo |
Liberty Enchante
| (Thousand of yen) |
| Model |
Type
|
Drive Configuration
|
Engine
|
Transmission |
Tokyo/Nagoya/Osaka
|
Fukuoka | ||
| Enchante | Sliding Up Seat | 2WD | X |
QR20DE
NEO |
HYPE RCVT |
2,606
|
2,634 | |
| 2WD |
Highway
|
HYPER CVT |
2,596
|
2,624 | ||||
| 4WD | E-ATx |
2,836
|
2,864 | # | ||||
| 2WD |
G Navi package
|
HYPER CVT |
2,496
|
2,524 | ||||
| 4WD | E-ATx |
2,736
|
2,764 | |||||
| 2WD |
G
|
HYPER CVT |
2,296
|
2,324 | ||||
| 4WD | E-ATx |
2,536
|
2,564 | |||||
| Tilting Up | 2WD | G Navi package | HYPER CVT |
2,396
|
2,424 | |||
| 4WD | E-ATx |
2,636
|
2,664 | |||||
| 2WD | G | HYPER CVT |
2,196
|
2,224 | ||||
| 4WD | E-ATx |
2,436
|
2,464 | |||||
| #Model in photo |
E-ATx: full-range electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission
Vehicles are exempt from consumption tax when fitted with the rubber wheelchair tie-downs or wheelchair lift, which are available as dealer options.
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