Nissan has opened a new chapter in its history with the debut of its first European-built C-segment car - the new Almera. Spacious, refined and safe, the new Nissan Almera is also stylish with a distinctive new roof.

Key features include:

• New Almera structure is 30 per cent stiffer than its predecessor
• Improved ride comfort, NVH and handling
• New energy absorbing safety structure
• New 2.0-litre TDI engine with 'M-Fire' technology
• Unique 'Birdview' satellite navigation system
• First in class active head restraints (AHR)

Nissan guns for more European sales
The Almera, which goes on sale on 01 March 2000, has been developed exclusively for the European market and is the first European model to use an all-new Nissan platform. The new Almera will compete in Europe�s competitive C-segment.

The new three and five-door Almeras will be built exclusively in Europe�s most efficient and most productive plant, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK), in Sunderland. NMUK will assemble 1.5-litre and 1.8-litre petrol engines for the new Almera while the new 2.2-litre direct injection diesel engine will be manufactured at Nissan�s Cuatro Vientos engine plant in Spain.

The new Almera will be built alongside the new Primera and Micra at NMUK where total Nissan investment has now topped �1.5 billion. Around 800 new jobs are to be created at the plant itself, and the Almera project will create a further 4,000 in Nissan�s network of suppliers across Europe.

The new Nissan Almera has been created for Europe only. The Japanese and North American markets will develop dedicated versions based around the same platform.

Improvements to the cabin and luggage space mean the new Almera is wider (approx. 20mm), higher (approx. 55mm) and longer (approx. 60 mm) than the car it replaces. The new Nissan Almera is based around a structure that is around 30 per cent stiffer than its predecessor, providing the foundation for significant advances in ride comfort, road and mechanical noise isolation and in handling. To preserve the responsive handling characteristics of the existing Almera, the new car retains the same wheelbase as its predecessor and an advanced multi-link beam rear suspension system with the proven MacPherson strut front suspension. Although the previous Almera was looked on as dull, it did in fact have inspiring road handling.

The Nissan European Technology Centre (NETC) at Cranfield, Bedfordshire was responsible for key areas of the design, engineering and development of the new Almera, the co-ordinating NETC base in Brussels, Belgium, plus Nissan Design Europe (NDE) near Munich, Germany, plus Nissan�s numerous European-based suppliers. Nissan are keen to stress the high European content of this Nissan, aiming for the more patriotic buyers.

The Almera range will grow next year with the addition of the Almera Tino, a five-door multi-purpose vehicle based around the same platform as the hatchback versions. The Almera Tino will be built by Nissan Motor Ib�rica, SA (NMISA) in Barcelona, Spain and has also been developed specifically for the European market.

The new Almera was designed for Europe with Nissan�s European design centres heavily involved in all aspects of the styling process, from sketch preparation through to preparation of the final production model. A number of Italian and German-based automotive design consultancies were also supposedly involved in the project concepts.

Styling
In profile the shape is dominated by a novel curving roofline featuring the aerodynamically-efficient rear �surf tail�, as Nissan like to call it. The waistline is significantly higher than before, giving the new Almera a robust and muscular sporting stance.

From the front, the new Almera shares the new Primera's family face. The Nissan �wings� that form the radiator grille are, like the nose of the vehicle, raked back and flow into both the bonnet and the headlamps. A larger Nissan corporate badge is positioned between the grille�s two �flying wings�.

The rear view displays the twin, distinctive rear lamp assemblies, with complex surfaces revealing jewel-like reflectors below, if not quite as adventurous as the Fiat Bravo. The tail of the new Almera is also significantly more integrated than its predecessor; the bumper is formed from a simple strong curve.

Engine line-up
The 2.2-litre diesel engine is Nissan�s first application of direct injection diesel technology in a European passenger car and is one of the most advanced available. Its technology includes the first application of Nissan�s 'M-Fire' modulated kinetics combustion technology for reduced soot and nitrous oxide emissions, improved performance and reduced noise.

Higher combustion temperatures stimulate production of NOx (oxides of nitrogen) in diesel engines. However lowering the combustion temperature by igniting the fuel before it is fully vaporised leads to the formation of soot. The Nissan M-Fire system allows NOx-efficient pre-mixed combustion to occur at lower temperatures.

M-Fire stimulates a more stable, longer and lower temperature burn by injecting fuel later in the compression stroke so that combustion is delayed until pressure in the cylinder has actually begun to drop and the fuel has the time to fully vaporise. A new design high-pressure fuel injection pump, up to 40 per cent more powerful than traditional injector pumps, aids this vaporisation process at little or no cost to engine output. Also the rate of exhaust gas recirculation has been doubled to further reduce the rate of combustion. Finally a newly designed helical swirl port and repositioning of the injector in the centre of each cylinder head improves the mixing of the fuel and air.

The iron block and aluminium 16-valve head assembly is held together with six through bolts per cylinder in place of the four in the previous generation diesel. The entire assembly is mounted into the vehicle by a four-point engine mounting system incorporating hydraulic insulators to ensure that NVH levels are kept to the absolute minimum. This engine also comfortably exceeds the latest CED III emission regulations.

Two petrol engines are available for the new Almera, both DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engines designed to exceed E IV regulations not due to come into force until 2005. The 1.8-litre made its debut earlier this year in the new Primera and features both Nissan Valve Timing Control System and Nissan Direct Ignition System.

The new engine features a traditional iron block, with an aluminium head and lightweight plastic rocker cover. Governing its operation, and that of the new electronically-controlled exhaust gas recirculation system and all other engine functions is a powerful new, 32-bit engine management system.

This engine's management features full on-board diagnostics in-line with CED III emissions regulations. If a malfunction or suspected malfunction of any size is detected anywhere in the emissions control systems, the driver is alerted and a note made of the incident within the memory of the vehicle�s diagnostic system.

The smallest of the new Almera�s engines, the brand new 1.5-litre unit shares all of the 1.8's emissions, construction and NVH-reducing technologies with the exception of NVCS variable inlet valve timing. Like the 1.8-litre unit, the 1.5-litre engine drives through a new-design Nissan five-speed transverse gearbox. Engine output and consumption data will be released closer to launch.

Satellite navigation
Birdview satellite navigation is exclusive to Nissan. Developed jointly with Hitachi, it uses the same hardware as all satellite navigation systems; the Global Positioning System (GPS) network of US military satellites and digital road maps stored on CD-ROMs. However Birdview uniquely displays a �three-dimensional� route map. All other systems use a traditional plan view. The driver�s point-of-view is taken some distance vertically above the position of the car and looking down, hence Birdview.

The Birdview monitor is integrated into the top of the central part of the fascia, close to the driver�s natural line of vision. Birdview�s voice guidance option allows the driver full concentration on the road ahead at all times.

Safety
The new Almera is the first car in its class to offer an �Active Head Restraint� (AHR) system to reduce neck injuries. �Whiplash� injuries, most usually caused when another vehicle impacts from the rear, are among the most common road accident injuries.

The Nissan AHR system on the new Almera is the first such technology in the European C-segment. The mechanical AHR system itself is extremely simple, although the seat has been completely redesigned to incorporate it.

The physics of a rear impact cause the body of the driver/passenger first to move backwards within the seat, followed a moment later by the head causing the infamous �whiplash� injury. Then the whole body is thrown forwards against the safety belt. In the new Almera, the pressure of the occupant pressing deep into the seat back activates a mechanism that moves the head restraint upwards and forwards in time to check the rearward motion of the occupant�s head, preventing the movement most likely to cause whiplash.

The extension forwards and upwards of the head restraints is governed by the amount of pressure exerted on the backrest. This in turn is dependent on the severity of the impact. However the system is arranged to operate even during moderate accidents; the kind that may not seriously damage the car, but could nevertheless cause severe neck injuries.

There are no pyrotechnics in the system, which is entirely mechanical and automatically re-arms. It is only available in conjunction with the Nissan head and thorax side airbag system.

The new Nissan Almera comes complete with full-size driver and passenger airbags and head and thorax system side airbags incorporated into the front seats.

The new Almera also features the 'Isofix' child seat anchorage system. Isofix, which requires compatible child seats, anchors the seat to the frame of the car directly, rather than via a seat belt. The anchorage points themselves are hidden behind the rear seat, and access to them is clearly marked. There are anchorage points for two seats in the rear of the new Almera. Fitting an Isofix child seat does not require removal of the rear seat cushion.

Designed & hosted by caint.com