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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:41:18 |
| Rating |
 251 ( 5 +1.99% ) | | Author | Dan Lyons |
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Description:
With Armada, Nissan barges right in to the mega ute party, and pulls up a chair. And why not? Until recently, large trucks were really the last market segment in which the Japanese fielded no serious contenders.
When the first wave of Japanese cars hit this country's shores in force back in the early 70's, it was a Tsunami of econoboxes. They soon established a firm toehold because their quality (aside from a weakness for the tin worm) was high. For decades thereafter, their market share grew, and their brands expanded, but only recently has it grown into the all American world of the XXL pickup and supersized sport ute.
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Page 4 of 4: Writer's Notes
Armada's arrival (technically, the Pathfinder Armada) marks the fourth SUV in the Nissan lineup, joining Xterra, Pathfinder and Murano. It is by far the largest, slotting into the full-size SUV segment, where it will compete with the likes of the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition and the Toyota Sequoia. Armada will be offered in SE, SE Off-Road and LE models, in both two and four wheel drive.
The newest Nissan sits on an also new platform; a boxed, steel frame fitted with double wishbone suspension fore and aft (independent in back). The wheelbase is 123.2" long, and overall length is about 17 Вј feet. Four wheel drive Armadas employ a two speed electronic transfer case, with driver selections for auto, full-time 4x4 and 4 lo. Armada operates as a rear wheel driver in normal conditions, but can shift as much as 50% of the engine's torque to the front wheels, when needed. Speaking of torque, there's a lot of it, along with plenty of horsepower.
Nissan Armada, continued |
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