Nissan Sunny breaks cover

Team OD Updated: May 09, 2013, 04:16 PM IST

Nissan has launched its much awaited sedan - the Sunny at Rs 5.78 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. It is the second Nissan car to be manufactured completely in India after the Micra. It uses Nissan's all-new HR15DE 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder DOHC petrol unit that produces 99PS at 6000rpm and 134Nm of torque at 4000rpm, even as its ARAI fuel efficiency figure stands at 16.95kmpl.

The Sunny is available in three trims namely XE, XL and XV. The base XE variant offers a black interior scheme with tilt-adjustable power steering, ABS and a single airbag for the driver. The XL variant in addition to these gets a passenger airbag as well, along with rear air blower (not air con vents but a fan), power windows, body coloured mirrors, chrome door handles, rear demister, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, central locking, full wheel covers, a 4-speaker stereo system with an Aux-in port but no USB, steering mounted audio controls and keyless entry. The fully loaded XV variant also features electric folding outside mirrors, alloy wheels, outside temperature display, push button ignition and front fog lamps. All models will be available in six different shades. The base and middle variants are shod with 185/70-R14 tyres, while the XV gets 185/65-R15 tyres on 15-inch alloy wheels.

The Sunny is manufactured at the company's Oragadam plant near Chennai, and Nissan is already accepting bookings for the Sunny.

Ex-showroom, Delhi prices

XE: Rs 5.78 lakh

XL: Rs 6.88 lakh

XV: Rs 7.68 lakh

Here is the press release

Mumbai, September 20, 2011: Bringing cheers to the car buyers of India ahead of the upcoming festival season, Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL) today commercially launched its eagerly awaited mid-size Sedan Nissan SUNNY at a very attractive price. Nissan SUNNY is the most complete Sedan in the mid-size Sedan segment with luxury and comfort close to that of premium Sedans, and a price that will bring smile in consumer's face.

Nissan SUNNY manufactured on the consummate V-platform will be available in the domestic market from the beginning of October, 2011. Available at 45 Nissan dealerships across the country, the Sedan can be booked from September 21, 2011 and the delivery would start from October 03, 2011. The SUNNY with a 16.95 kmpl of fuel economy (ARAI certified) will be available to customers across the country without any waiting period for delivery.

Designed in Japan with significant inputs from Indian market where it will be sold, the Chennai-built SUNNY is aimed at India's young and stylish professionals. SUNNY appeals on a number of levels; its sophisticated style sets it apart from its rivals while its roomy interior and large trunk is ideally suited to families.

Announcing the commercial launch of the Sedan in India, Mr. Gilles Normand, Corporate Vice President, Africa, Middle East & India, Nissan Motor Company said, "With unprecedented levels of sophistication and comfort, we are certain that the Nissan SUNNY will redefine the dynamics of the Sedan segment in India. We have been able to aggressively position it thanks to localization in excess of 85 per cent, which also reiterates our commitment to India and the Indian customer."

Announcing the price of three variants Mr. G M Singh, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Hover Automotive India (HAI) said, "the Nissan SUNNY is the first Sedan in the country to be a near perfect amalgam of performance and style available at a truly attractive price. We believe the long wait of the Indian families for the right Sedan at a right price has finally been met with the arrival of SUNNY. We are sure the Indian customer is going to own this global Sedan with pride".

Introducing the car to the media, Mr. Kiminobu Tokuyama, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd, said, "We are proud to present to you a true leader in the mid-size Sedan segment, a 'made-in-India for India' product, with attributes close to a top-end Sedan. We are sure that Indian families and young professionals alike will wholeheartedly welcome this Nissan product to their homes during the upcoming Diwali festival."

Launched at the 2010 Guangzhou Motor Show in China, where it received the 'Best World Premier' award, SUNNY will be sold in 170 countries around the world. It is the second model to use Nissan's new global 'V' platform (V stands for versatile), which uses advanced engineering techniques to deliver a modern, lightweight structure providing integral strength, strong ride refinement and dynamic on road behaviour.

SUNNY has high levels of active and passive safety and advanced features that are designed to enhance both the driving and ownership experiences. Available in Bronze Grey, Blade Silver, Storm White, Sapphire Blue, Onyx Black and Brick Red colours, all three variants of SUNNY - base XE, mid XL and high XV â" will have advanced safety features such as Anti-Lock Breaking System (ABS), Electronic Break-force Distribution (EBD), Break Assist (BA), Engine Immobilizer and Airbags.

Departing from the industry practice, Nissan has adopted a uniform pricing policy across the country to offer a fair and equitable benefit to customers all over India. Thus, the ex-showroom prices will be uniform across India except for variance in VAT, Entry Tax, Octroi and other local taxes levied by the states/cities.

A true amalgam of performance and style

The all new Nissan SUNNY is powered by a modern 4-cylinder 1.5-liter double overhead camshaft petrol engine from Nissan's respected HR engine family, which can churn out 99 PS of power @ 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 134 Nm @ 4000 rpm. With a smooth-shifting five speed manual transmission, the SUNNY delivers a fuel efficiency of 16.95 kmpl of petrol.

Nissan SUNNY is a sophisticated, modern sedan with sleek, dynamic proportions and an exceptional drag coefficient of just 0.318. The front is dominated by Nissan's signature grille, flanked by jewel-like headlights and discreet but elegant use of chrome touches. Wide opening doors allow easy ingress and egress, while the muscular haunches, stylish curves and neat rear spoiler add a touch of sportiness to the silhouette.

The cab-forward design and the long sloping roof line lends an elegant profile to the Sedan, with the separate trunk seamlessly integrated into the body. At 4425mm in length, SUNNY is on a par with others in the class, but the key dimension is the class-leading 2600mm wheelbase. That dimension translates directly into exceptional interior space. Rear knee room is best in class and at par with some luxury sedans, giving rear seat passengers premium comfort and the opportunity to cross their legs. The large centre armrest with cup holders in the rear seat provides additional comfort. The interior space is matched by a large and roomy trunk â" a 490 Litres of space in its boot.

The SUNNY also boasts independent front end by MacPherson struts with coil springs that make for a truly comfortable ride, while a compact torsion beam rear axle has been designed to minimise intrusion into the luggage area. Both suspension systems are mounted on sub frames to help isolate road noise, vibration and harshness and there's an anti-roll bar at either end.

Thanks to the adoption of long stroke suspension travel, the SUNNY rides exceptionally well over even the most challenging of road surfaces, while agility and responsiveness provide a genuine dynamic driving experience.

Ten Generations of Nissan SUNNY Success

The Nissan SUNNY name goes back more than 45 years. It was first used in 1966 on a compact sedan sold in Japan and was given its cheerful name by the Japanese people from more than 8 million entries in a special naming competition. Over the next four and a half decades, there have been nine generations of SUNNY models with total sales of more than 16 million units to 140 countries.

However, the new 10th generation SUNNY Sedan is the first SUNNY to hit the Indian roads.