MOTORING NEWS - The new Nissan Navara is redefining the pickup segment in South Africa by combining next generation technologies with innovative engineering.
At the heart of the new range of technologies is a unique suspension set-up that, when combined with the sturdy ladder frame chassis and traction-enhancing systems, provides one of the most capable and comfortable pick-ups on the market.
The setup uses heavy-duty coil springs and shock absorbers mounted in front of the solid axle for the main damping. The use of this system allowed Nissan to locate the central damping point right on top of the rear axle, which benefits not only the ride and handling characteristics, but also allows for heavier loads.
In addition, five-link systems are longer than normal suspension links and heavy-duty mounting bushes. This means there is less pivoting between the wheel-mount and the chassis-mount and subsequently less friction on the main mounting points.
Apart from the obvious benefit in ride and hand-ling, the use of a five-link rear suspension allowed engineers to shave 20kg of the suspension weight, which is a major contribution to the overall weight saving of 176kg over the previous generation Navara which contributes to the exceptional fuel economy.
Owners of off-road SUVs have for many years lauded the benefit of a coil rear suspension set-up. On the all-new Navara, many of those benefits apply without any compromise on load-carrying capability.
The primary benefit of the new suspension is the significant improvement in ride and handling over a traditional pick-up. The five-link system gives the Navara a more sure-footed feeling on loose gravel, travelling at very high speeds and on slippery roads.
This improved road holding is not only the result of the coil and shock damping on each rear wheel. Nissan engineers also drove more than 1,6-million kilometres testing the combined effect of the suspension, steering set-up, wheel and tyre choice and the use of electronic aids.
In the all-new Navara, the wheelbase has been shortened by 50mm for an improved turning circle of 12,4m curb to curb, while the steering has been calibrated to optimise the suspension and ensure that the Navara is less prone than traditional pick-ups to understeer at speed or in challenging road conditions.
The suspension set-up further allowed engineers to tweak the damping rates more accurately. This is thanks to the up-and-down motion of the rear of the vehicle which is controlled more directly by shock absorbers with this suspension, than on a leaf-sprung suspension where the shocks are mounted on different sides of the rear axle.
As well as testing the overall performance of the Navara suspension, engineers from various continents also conducted their own driving, durability and destruction tests. This ensured that the suspension setup is suited to the local environment. In South Africa, Nissan has fine-tuned the setup to allow for a higher load and ride height for more regular off-road and gravel driving.
Using its new suspension and chassis as base, Nissan engineers matched the electronic driver aids perfectly to the mechanical benefits of the chassis.
Chief among the electronic driver aids for off-road use, is Nissan's active brake limited slip differential (ABLSD) which monitors and controls each wheel individually, allowing for greater traction in off-road conditions.
Combined with the differential lock on the rear axle, the Navara will not only transfer maximum power to the wheels with traction, but it will brake slipping wheels and allow these wheels to regain traction as quickly as possible.
Unlike other pick-ups that offer similar electronic aids, the new Navara will not disengage ABLSD completely when the rear diff lock is engaged in low range mode. Rather, the system will continue to operate on the front axle to offer the best possible traction. All Navara models currently available on the market also offer vehicle dynamic control (VDC) and traction control (TCS) as standard.
While the benefits may appear convincing on paper, the real test is in the new Navara's performance figures.
Fitted with the new five-link coil rear suspension, a slightly shorter wheelbase but longer load bay and its unique new design, the Navara boasts an improved approach angle of 33 degrees, a breakover angle of 25,2 degrees and a departure angle of 27,9 degrees. This is an improvement of three degrees in each case.
Similarly, the ground clearance on the LE model with 18" alloy wheels improve to 229mm, while the SE model with its 16" alloy wheels offers an impressive 226mm ground clearance as standard.
Finally, the weight saved in the suspension and chassis and the powerful engine means that Navara models can now tow an unbraked trailer weighing up to 750kg and a braked trailer of up to 3 500kg. Navara LE versions can also load no less than 1 002kg on the load bay, breaking the one tonne barrier for luxury double cabs.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Klein Karoo news'
