Bangkok, Thailand – Nissan recently tested the all-new Nissan Terra's capabilities, putting on full display its powerful engine performance and superior ride using its unique 5-link rear suspension in the final leg of a series of three test drives that took participants from Thailand to Myanmar and back.
This drive experience, the latest in the "Nissan Intelligent Driving Experience (NIDE) Go Anywhere" series, also broke new ground as the first and official caravan trip in Myanmar to traverse the country from south to north.
As part of this experience, Nissan in Thailand offered automotive experts and journalists a chance to drive the all-new Nissan Terra and push its limits during a series of inspiring activities and challenges. This allowed them to experience the many embedded Nissan Intelligent Mobility features that transform the way people drive and live.
The drive's routing covered a wide range of topography and road conditions to showcase to participants how they could travel around Myanmar and discover its hidden charms with confidence.
"This itinerary took participants from Thailand to Myanmar and back so as to showcase the essence of our 'NIDE Go Anywhere' program by letting participants discover unseen parts of Myanmar. The final leg from Mandalay back to Thailand's Chiang Rai province traversed some of the most picturesque and demanding terrains," said Ramesh Narasimhan, president of Nissan in Thailand. "The all-new Nissan Terra is perfect for this kind of journey, which showcases its performance, advanced technologies, and comfort features and reinforces its 'Life Lives Outside' philosophy."
The three groups of drive participants alternated between three Nissan vehicles – the all-new Nissan Terra, the new Nissan Navara Black Edition and the new Nissan X-Trail – during each distinct and unique route designed to test the challenges of all three vehicles. In total, the Nissan vehicles covered a total distance of more than 3,000 kilometers.
Participants noted how the all-new Nissan Terra's best-in-class features came in very handy during the journey. For example, when leaving Mandalay the group started climbing steep mountain roads on the way to Inle Lake. While many roads are incomplete and often unpaved, the all-new Nissan Terra's 2.3-liter twin-turbo diesel engine, YS23DDTT, was more than up to the task.
It delivered outstanding engine performance and fuel economy, while the unique 5-link rear suspension also reduced body roll, providing a comfortable ride while smoothly navigating every mountainous turn along the way. The engine's maximum power is 190HP with maximum torque of 450Nm, offering better acceleration for a smooth yet powerful drive.
Before arriving at Inle Lake stops included Mandalay Hill and the famous Kuthodaw Pagoda. From there the group travelled to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, one of the most revered shrines in Myanmar. After paying their respects, participants carried on to Inn Paw Khon Village, a national center of silk and lotus plant fabric weaving, which takes place by hand on wooden looms.
The crowded and busy roads in Mandalay provided an exciting challenge given the vehicle's size. However, thanks to Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies like Intelligent Around View Monitor (IAVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD), drivers had a complete view at all angles around the all-new Terra that allowed them to easily navigate through tight areas. Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) also helped keep all occupants safe and comfortable.
From there the group left for Kengtung, passing through the rural towns of Taunggyi, Namsang, and Palaung village, where participants used many Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies like Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Brake Limited Slip Differential (B-LSD), Off-road Meter and shift-on-the-fly, all of which allow the driver and vehicle to handle any terrain. These proved useful on the meandering drive through the eastern Shan State, providing a truly memorable road trip: of beautiful scenery and little traffic on a route that has been called one of the most untouched in Southeast Asia.
As the group descended from the mountains toward Kengtung, participants got to see life along the Salween River and experience first-hand many Nissan Intelligent Mobility features.
These were also very useful on the last day when the group went for a quick shopping expedition at Tachileik Market, located between the borders of Thai and Myanmar. Here the all-new Terra's first-in-class Intelligent Rear View Mirror (IRVM) once again helped occupants feel safe, especially when the vehicle was packed with shopping and luggage. Additional features like the one-touch tumble seats for the second row added convenience and enhanced comfort, while acoustic glass reduced the sound coming from the noisy outdoor market.
"The all-new Terra is built on more than 60 years of SUV heritage. And the 'go anywhere' attitude of the all-new Terra really carries the DNA of the legendary Nissan Patrol in terms of toughness. But, at the same time, participants also experienced first-hand the incredible ride comfort of the all-new Terra," said Peter Galli, Nissan's vice president for communications in Thailand. "I was so proud to see how Nissan Intelligent Mobility gave drivers the confidence to go anywhere in Myanmar, with the Nissan Terra's delivering an exhilarating, powerful and comfortable ride for the entire 3,000km route.".
The first group of NIDE Go Anywhere participants blazed the trail across the border from Kanchanaburi, Thailand, to Yangon, Myanmar. The second group travelled from Yangon to Mandalay, while this third group drove from Mandalay to Mai Sae in northern Chiang Rai province.
In total, the three groups combined will drive more than 3,000 kilometers, enjoying the splendors of Kanbawzathadi Palace, Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Uppatasanti Pagoda, Bagan Railway Station, Mandalay Hill, Inle Lake, Inn Paw Khon weaving village, Namsang, Palaung village, the Salween River, Wat Tham Mu and Wat Zom Kam in Kengtung. In addition, the route includes a visit to Tachileik Market as well as more than 2,200 temples and pagodas dotting the roadside along the way.
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About Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Nissan was established in Japan since 1933 with the commitment to create Innovation that Excites for customer satisfaction. Nissan wants to improve quality of life for people in society by pursuing a goal of zero emission vehicles and zero fatalities on the road with "Nissan Intelligent Mobility". The company plans to introduce autonomous drive vehicles across regions for safety and more enjoyable driving experience. Nissan started business in Thailand since 1952. Currently, the Nissan Group of Companies in Thailand has subsidiaries five companies, including two of the production bases, over than 180 showrooms and service centers nationwide network. Vehicle range cover all segments includes 10 models spanning the entry level Eco-Car, SUV, Premium Sedans and Pickup Trucks.
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2017, the company sold 5.77 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.9 trillion yen. On April 1, 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30% increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance sold 10.76 million vehicles combined in calendar year 2018.
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For more information, please contact:
Kamolchanok Charoenjindarat
Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. – Communications Department
Tel +66 (0) 2339 3400 Ext. 4113-4114 / Fax +66 (0) 2253 1022 www.nissan.co.th
Kanit Vannapin
TQPR (Thailand) Co., Ltd. – Consultant
Email: ink@tqpr.com
Tel +66 (0) 2260 5820 Ext. 119