Nissan Releases Minicar " Moco" 

Tokyo -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. launched today its first ever minicar, "Moco" in the domestic Japanese market.

Moco Q (2WD)

Moco marks Nissan's entry in to the minicar market in Japan and is a key vehicle as Nissan bolsters its presence in the compact car segment this year.  The exciting new minicar features a stylish exterior design combined with a highly practical roomy interior.

Moco was designed to be "an ideal car for active young mothers, meeting the mobility needs especially as they travel with their children". Moco is designed to be more comfortable and easier to use especially for mothers whose daily lives set their children on center.

With an advanced, elegant styling, which has never seen, before in minicar market, Moco has one of the most spacious interiors in its class, provides versatile seating arrangements and offers superior storage capacity. In addition, Moco has an engine designed for easy city driving and an outstanding suspension system.  Overall, Moco is extremely comfortable to drive,

In line with Nissan's commitment to environmental efforts, Moco features excellent environmental performance. The 2WD model equipped with the DOHC VVT (variable valve timing) engine has been certified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as U-LEV (ultra-low emission vehicles) under its low-emission vehicle certification system.  All models are also offered with complete safety features, including ABS (antilock braking system) as standard equipment. Notable features of Moco include:

 The name Moco is originated from a Japanese onomatopoeia "moko-moko," which expresses a warm and cute feeling. The name represents the round, charming styling of a car.

Nissan expects to sell an average of 4,000 units per month.  Suzuki Motor Corporation will supply the Moco on an OEM basis.

Sales target:
4,000 units/month

Dealers selling the Moco:
The Nissan Blue Stage and the Nissan Red Stage (including Nissan Red & Blue Stage dealers that handle all models)

Sales launching event:
April 13, 14, 2002

Overview of Moco
1. Stylish exterior design
The monoform silhouette gives a distinct impression of substantial interior spaciousness.

The front turn indicators are positioned at the top of the large multi-reflector headlamps, which convey an image of superb quality.

The front is adorned with a flying wing grille that hallmarks Nissan's front-end styling.

Models equipped with the turbocharged engine are tastefully accented with a roof spoiler, aluminum wheels and an exhaust pipe finisher.

Selections of seven distinctive body colors are offered, including "Moco Green" which is one of the unique body colors of Moco's.

2. Bright, casual, premium-quality interior
The instrument panel offers a simple but refined design.

The large Fine Vision Meter is extremely easy to read.

The seats and door trim are lavishly upholstered in fabrics that offer a choice of two colors, a gorgeous "tan" which is stellar-quality look and a refreshing "turquoise" which is a causal appearance.

Making good use of the limited space, the square-shaped seats have a feeling such as a personal sofa, enabling its occupants to sit in comfort. Armrests for the driver's seat and rear seats provide an additional great comfort.

3. Highly practical, roomy interior
Package
Moco's maneuverability is outstanding. The 4.2m minimum turning radius is the smallest in its class. Also wheels positioned at the four corners realize a body size with short overhangs, making it easy for the driver to perceive the car's extremities at all times.

The expansive glass area and the front-seat hip point set at a height of 635 mm from the ground assure excellent visibility.

The hip point in the rear seats has been set 45 mm higher than that of the front seats to give rear passengers a feeling of openness.

With one of the most spacious interior in its class at 1,785 mm, Moco provides great cabin comfort.

The 50:50 split rear seats slide fore and aft up to 105 mm, allowing seating and luggage space to be optimally adjusted to match the occupants and amount of luggage.

The Moco adopts a column-mounted automatic transmission shifter and a foot-operated parking brake to allow easy movement between the front seats as well as effortless ingress/egress on the front passenger's side.

4. Mechanism
The K6A DOHC VVT engine incorporates a variable valve timing (VVT) mechanism that optimally controls the opening/closing timing of the intake valves to emphasize low-end torque while also delivering high power output in the high-speed range. Moreover, the K6A engine also achieves superior fuel economy, thanks to its highly efficient combustion process.

The K6A DOHC intercooled, turbocharged engine improves torque output at low to intermediate speeds and also provides an invigorating driving sensation in high-speed cruising. In addition, its highly efficient combustion process also ensures outstanding fuel economy.

All models are equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission operated by a column-mounted shifter. Gear changes are efficiently controlled to reduce shift shock with achieving smooth acceleration combined with low fuel consumption.

The front suspension consists of shock absorbers with a built-in rebound spring, while an isolated trailing link (ITL) suspension with a long stroke characteristic is used at the rear to absorb road surface inputs effectively. This suspension system provides high level of ride comfort and driving stability.

The 4WD models feature a full-time 4WD system that automatically distributes the required driving force to the front and rear wheels according to the road condition and driving situation.

5. Environmental and Safety Performance
Environmental friendliness
The 2WD models equipped with the K6A DOHC VVT engine are certified as U-LEVs*1 under the low-emission certification system of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, reducing exhaust emissions by an additional 75% from the levels required under Japan's 2000 exhaust emission regulations. Moreover, they also meet Japan's 2010 fuel economy standards to qualify for tax reductions under the Green Tax program*2.

The 4WD models powered by the K6A DOHC VVT engine and the models equipped with the K6A DOHC intercooler, turbocharged engine reduce exhaust emissions by an additional 50% and 25%, respectively, from the levels mandated by Japan's 2000 exhaust emission regulations. The former models are certified as E-LEVs*1 and the latter models as G-LEVs*1 under the low-emission vehicle certification system of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

All models also comply with the standards of the designated low-pollution vehicle system adopted by the seven prefectures in Kanto area.

*1The low-emission vehicle certification system of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was inaugurated in April 2000 to promote the penetration of low-emission vehicles through their selection by ordinary consumers. U-LEVs, E-LEVs and G-LEVs are low-pollution vehicles that reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions by an additional 75%, 50% and 25%, respectively, from the levels required by Japan's 2000 exhaust emission regulations.
*2For four-wheel minicars that comply with the requirements of the Green Tax program, the automobile acquisition tax is reduced by 9,000 yen for vehicles that are newly registered by March 31, 2003. However, this does not apply to the vehicles handled by Autech Japan, Inc.

Safety performance
Moco comes with an array of safety features as standard equipment, including a lightweight, impact-energy-absorbing body, SRS airbag systems for the driver and front passenger and 3-point seatbelts with a child seat locking mechanism.

A standard feature in the driver's seat is a seatbelt incorporating a pretensioner and a two-stage load limiter, which operates in concert with the SRS airbag system to cushion the impact to the occupant's head even more in a frontal collision. If a collision occurs, the pretensioner mechanism immediately takes up the slack in the seatbelt to restrain the driver securely. In addition, the two-stage load limiter mechanism progressively reduces the belt load so as to mitigate the impact to the driver together with the deployment of the SRS airbag.

Suggested Nationwide Retail Prices (excluding consumption tax)

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Autech Japan Releases Moco Enchante

Autech Japan, Inc., a Nissan affiliate, has just introduced Moco Enchante lifecare vehicle* that it has customized in conjunction with the launch of the new Moco. Moco Enchante comes with a choice of two types of front passenger's seat as standard equipment, either a swivel seat or a slide-out lift seat.

*Nissan Group companies use the term lifecare vehicle (LV) to refer to vehicles that are specifically designed to assist people with special mobility needs in their daily lives.

Moco Enchante
(slide-out lift front passenger's seat)

Moco Enchante
(2WD)(swivel front passenger's seat) (4WD).

and wheelchair users as well as for people wearing Japanese traditional clothes such as "Kimono".

Suggested Nationwide Retail Prices (excluding consumption tax)

*Model in the photo
Moco Enchante models equipped with the motor-operated wheelchair lift that is available as a dealer option are exempt from consumption tax.

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