Bangkok, Thailand – The tough, smart Nissan Navara Black Edition proved its high-performance capabilities during the first official caravan trip to traverse Myanmar, from south to north, under the 'Nissan Intelligent Driving Experience (NIDE) - Go Anywhere' series.
On a test drive that took participants over 3,000 kilometers from Thailand to Myanmar, Nissan in Thailand invited automotive experts and lifestyle journalists to get behind the wheel of a new Nissan Navara Black edition to test first-hand during a series of activities the vehicle's limits and appreciate its new bold look. This allowed them to experience the advanced technologies and maximum capabilities offered by Nissan Intelligent Mobility.
"Everyone at Nissan is very excited by this 'NIDE Go Anywhere,' drive program, allowing us to discover many wonderful places in both Thailand and Myanmar. This was the first time Nissan has undertaken an official cross border caravan trip from Thailand to Myanmar to show how Nissan Intelligent Mobility can transform the way we drive and live, using smart features that can handle any terrain," said Ramesh Narasimhan, president of Nissan in Thailand. "The best way to show this is on the road, letting both driver and passengers experience the combination of high performance and comfort that lets Navara drivers go anywhere with confidence."
The first group departed from Bangkok for Yangon, driving the Nissan Navara to four primary destinations: Dawei, Myeik, Mawlamyine, and Bago, before reaching Yangon - the capital of Myanmar. Their drive started with a highway ride from Kanchanaburi in Thailand to the Phu Nam Ron border crossing, before heading to Dawei – a city in south-eastern Myanmar and the capital of the Tanintharyi region. The drive topography included off-road driving at elevation on undulating roads with thick jungle, as well as a steep route along the Great Tenasserim River.
The new Nissan Navara Black Edition's advanced navigation system also helped drivers prepare for the driving route and contingencies in advance, with turn-by-turn voice guidance pointing drivers in the right direction, without them having to reference a map.
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.
The Navara's 163 horsepower and 403 Nm of torque delivered best-in-class engine performance and fuel economy, providing a comfortable ride when driving on twisty roads, smoothly navigating every corner and curve along the way. During the journey, the new Navara Black Edition carried extensive luggage, proving the toughness of Nissan's unique mono-frame chassis as well as its smooth driving performance.
During the drive, journalists got to interact with many Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety and technologies, including Around View Monitor (AVM). The new Navara Black edition Double Cab Calibre has a 7-speed automatic transmission and features AVM, a 360-degree aerial view of the Navara and its surrounds using four separate cameras located around the truck.
The new Black Edition King Cab offers a Rear-View Camera as well as distinct safety features that include ABS, airbags, Remote Key, push-start smart entry, and a Drive-Assist display that helps drivers track speed and fuel efficiency over longer drives. Its unique rear air conditioning brings additional cabin comfort during the summer.
Throughout the journey, the rugged new Nissan Navara Black edition turned heads thanks to its novel exterior design features that enhance its modern and sporty look. With a black color theme throughout the exterior - from the headlight frames, grille, front and rear bumpers, side mirrors, side steps, and wheel arches, to its shark fin antenna. The new Navara also features an orange-colored theme on its front bumper fascia, side mirrors, and side steps, as well as a striking new 3D sticker design.
"The tough, smart new Nissan Navara Black Edition brings a great combination of high performance, comfort, and Nissan Intelligent Mobility features. We wanted to put those to the test through a thrilling first-ever test drive from Thailand, across Myanmar, and then back to Thailand again," said Peter Galli, Nissan's vice president for communications in Thailand. "With 80 years of pickup legacy built into these vehicles, along with their bold new look, we were proud to show that the new Nissan Navara really can go anywhere."
The first group of NIDE Go Anywhere participants blazed the trail across the border from Kanchanaburi, Thailand, to Yangon, Myanmar. This second group travelled from Yangon to Mandalay, while the third group will drive 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
