2012 Nissan NV Press Kit

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As Nissan finalizes plans to bring its first production commercial vehicle (CV) to the United States market in spring 2011, it is starting with a truly ground up design – from its rugged ladder frame to the roof rack mounting brackets on the top of the innovatively conceived and styled body. Yet the all-new Nissan NV (Nissan Van) also has the advantage of Nissan’s exceptional commercial vehicle heritage, covering 75 years and more than 75 percent of the global CV market.

“The new kid on the block, as it turns out, is also a long-time player in the global commercial vehicle market. As the first non-domestic nameplate to design, manufacture and sell CVs in the United States, we bring a more than seven-decade tradition of durability, quality and reliability to our products,” said Joe Castelli, vice president, Commercial Vehicles and Fleet, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). “At the same time, we’ve taken a fresh look at every aspect of the CV business – including styling, powertrain, interiors, cost of operation and ownership, dealership sales and service operations and, most importantly, real world customer needs.”

The first production models in Nissan’s new U.S. commercial vehicle lineup are the 2012 Nissan NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD. They will be available with a choice of 4.0-liter V6 and 5.6-liter V8 engines and in two body styles, Standard Roof (all models) and High Roof (NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD only) – with High Roof models offering stand-up walkthrough/work cargo area capability.

“It’s been too many years since any manufacturer in this segment has taken a ’clean sheet’ look at the needs of owners and operators in the CV segment,” said Castelli. “We’ve invested more than five years researching the comfort, style and smart functionality demands that will enable business owners to accomplish more throughout their day. We plan on coming out of the box with segment-busting vehicles, so customer input was essential.”

The NV planning team employed a wide range of innovative customer research methodologies, including focus groups, on-site visits and concept reviews. The quantitative and qualitative research took place all across America – Los Angeles, Chicago, New Jersey, Dallas, Detroit, New York, Minnesota, Arizona and other markets. The team met with large fleet owners and managers, small business owners, aftermarket suppliers and converters and rode along with owners of competitive vehicles.

“The NV is one of the most researched projects ever in the history of Nissan. We touched the market at every point possible, with the findings reflected in every aspect of the final NV design,” added Castelli.

Comfortable Seating and Standing
Research showed that commercial van owners are the least satisfied of any vehicle segment, with many van owners disposing of their vehicles in favor of light duty trucks despite the compromise of convenience and utility. In developing the new Nissan NV, one of the overarching goals was to combine pickup truck-like comfort, interior amenities and drivability with a cargo van’s capacity and security.

“Looking at the CV market in recent years, there’s been a migration of van users to light-duty pickups due to the lack of comfort, image and dependability of the current outdated van platforms,” explained Castelli. “Yet many of these truck owners admit they need a van for weather protection, security and the convenience of a tall roof van to carry large items or equipment. With the Nissan NV, we’re giving them the best of both worlds.”

Answering one of the major unmet owner needs – driver comfort and roominess – the Nissan NV interior starts with wide front doors for easy ingress and egress, supportive bucket seating with extensive adjustability, large armrests and a truck-like driving position with ample legroom and foot room. The available center console (removable) provides a range of integrated storage features, while the fold-down passenger seat – which is unique to the segment – adds worktable functionality and enhances the cab’s feeling of openness.

Another major contributor to the pickup-like cab is the absence of the traditional van engine “doghouse” that intrudes into the cab due to the setback engine placement. The Nissan NV utilizes a conventional truck engine layout with out-front engine design. This not only frees up space under the instrument panel and between the seats, it also provides easy under-hood access to the entire engine for routine service and maintenance.

“From the seats forward the NV looks, acts and feels like a pickup. You don’t have to take apart the interior to access the engine and you don’t have to worry about tucking your work boots into a cramped footwell,” said Castelli. “But, make no mistake, behind the seats the NV is a pure, practical van.”

The NV’s ample cargo area offers a 120.0-inch cargo floor length and 70.2-inch maximum cargo floor width. NV Standard Roof models offer a maximum 55.8 cargo area height, among the tallest in class. The NV High Roof provides a maximum 76.9-inches of cargo room height – enough for most users to move about the cargo area while standing up straight.

“Standard Roof NV models are designed to fit in most garages or go through most car washes and fast food drive-through lanes – along with offering easier reach to access roof racks,” said Castelli. “But for so many businesses, the added cargo capacity and the ability to stand up and work inside the High Roof NV will be a priceless enhancement to their everyday operations and productivity.”

Smart Functionality and Flexible Layout
Inspired by customer needs and usage, the Nissan NV offers an amazing array of smart functionality features, including storage pockets, spaces and compartments designed to provide secure access to the typical commercial customers’ everyday use objects. An under seat drawer, for example, fits small tools, stationary or first aid kits, while the deep door pockets fit flashlights, legal-size binders and clipboards. High Roof models offer an available overhead console designed to hold work gloves, legal size binders, safety glasses and system books. The available lockable center console (removable) fits hanging files and laptop computers – and includes a computer or mobile phone charging point, as well as a lid that slides forward to provide a more usable work surface.

“A commercial van must serve many more functions today, including acting as a mobile office for time spent on the road or at a job site,” said Castelli. “We’ve made storage and productivity items integral to the design, rather than tacked-on afterthoughts. The result is a clean, practical and comfortable workspace for a wide variety of professions and businesses.”

Along with being conceived as a “mobile office,” the Nissan NV is designed to function as a “mobile workshop” – thanks to its simple, flexible cargo area layout. Along with offering wide door openings, the NV offers room between the wheelhouses to accommodate standard plywood or drywall sheets or pallets. There are also a range of cargo area tie-down rings and ample cargo area lighting.

The new Nissan NV was also designed to accommodate aftermarket customization and modifications. For example, the roof attachment points are designed to accommodate installation of various ladder or utility rack systems without piercing holes in the roof, which can lead to corrosion and water leaks. The available “upfitter pre-wiring” allows easy access into the electrical system.

The NV also offers multiple reinforced integrated attachment points for installation of cargo customization equipment – again requiring no sheet metal drilling. In addition, the NV’s nearly vertical sidewalls maximize the usable cargo space, accommodating common aftermarket storage systems, as well as a bulkhead behind the driver.

Three Well-Equipped Models
Cost of ownership and operation is a critical factor in the CV segment, whether for major fleet operations or individual business owners. “From the rugged fully boxed all-steel frame to the body-on-chassis construction, the NV is designed to the highest Nissan standards of durability, quality and reliability,” said Castelli. “The NV is designed to be affordable and to stand up to the abuse that real work trucks face everyday.”

The new Nissan NV will launch with a choice of two engines – a powerful yet fuel efficient 4.0-liter V6 rated at 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, or a powerful, torquey 5.6-liter V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of toque. Both engines will be matched to a standard 5-speed automatic.

Safety systems include dual-stage supplemental front air bags, 3-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, available supplemental front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and roof-mounted supplemental curtain air bags.

The 2012 Nissan NV will be offered in three well-equipped models, the V6-equipped NV1500; the NV2500 HD, which is offered with V6 and V8 engines; and the NV3500 HD with a standard V8 engine. All three models will be available with the Standard Roof, while the High Roof body will be offered in the NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD models only.

A number of option packages are offered, including various window configurations, side and curtain supplement air bags, and a Technology Package featuring XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), SD navigation system, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and RearView Monitor.

The new Nissan NV will be manufactured in Canton, Mississippi and available through a select network of authorized Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealers nationwide. For updates and more information, please go to www.nissancommercialvehicles.com.

The 2012 Nissan NV (Nissan Van) marks Nissan’s first entry into the commercial vehicle market in the United States. Scheduled to launch in spring 2011, the Nissan NV is available in three models, NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD, and in two roof configurations – Standard Roof and High Roof. The NV is the first commercial van to offer rugged body-on-frame construction combined with a High Roof, offering most users the ability to walk, stand and work in the cargo area.

The NV’s rugged, masculine design combines a full-length hood with access to the engine for service and maintenance, along with signature Nissan styling cues such as large headlights and vertical grille. The broad bodysides project a serious commercial vehicle appearance and provide ample room for company logos and advertising messages. The tall, wide doors offer easy access to the cargo area.

Inside the cab is a roomy comfortable interior with wide, supportive seating and an expansive instrument panel. The passenger seat includes a segment-exclusive fold-down feature, providing a convenient worktable. An available lockable center console offers innovative storage compartments and space to hold binders, hanging file folders and a laptop computer. Other convenient storage spaces include a wide overhead console (available with High Roof models), underseat storage drawers (NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD models) and large door pockets.

The NV also provides exceptional utility, thanks to a long, wide cargo floor, square-top wheelwell housings and nearly vertical sidewalls. Along with maximizing cargo space, the sidewalls accommodate aftermarket storage systems without excessive modification. The cargo area also features a full-length inner panel to prevent cargo from denting the vehicle’s outer skin (SV models). There are also multiple integrated reinforced attachment points for mounting cargo customization equipment.

Powering the rear-wheel drive Nissan NV is a choice of two powerful yet fuel-efficient engines – a 4.0-liter V6 and 5.6-liter V8. Both are mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission.

Highlights of the 2012 Nissan NV commercial van include:

Exterior Features

• Body-on-frame construction
• Choice of Standard Roof or High Roof body
• Strong masculine styling with iconic Nissan signature front end design
• Long hood for easy engine compartment access and serviceability
• Large side panels for advertising or business signage
• Large, wide-opening front and rear doors, sliding passenger-side door
• Standard Roof models fit in most garages and fast food/bank drive-through lanes and car washes
• Integrated roof attachment points for durable installation of roof mounted ladder and utility racks
• High Roof models provide easy cargo area ingress and egress, comfortable walk-through and stand up capability

Engines and Driveline

• Front engine/rear-wheel drive
• 4.0-liter 24-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy V6 rated at 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque
• 5.6-liter 32-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque
• Standard 5-speed automatic transmission
• Independent front suspension with stabilizer bar, solid rear axle with leaf springs and stabilizer bar
• Engine-speed-sensitive hydraulic re-circulating ball steering system
• Heavy-duty 4-wheel disc brakes with 14.30inch front/14.1-inch rear rotors and 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• 17-inch steel wheels and LT245/70R17 all-season tires

Interior/Cargo Area Features

• Simple, flexible layout designed to meet multiple customer requirements
• Ample legroom and foot room
• Comfortable, durable front seats with range of adjusts, available lumbar support
• Heavy-duty fabrics and materials, water repellent fabric on main seating surfaces and built in seat bolster durability patch to resist wear
• Fold-down passenger seatback with one-hand operation, serves as mobile worktable
• Available lockable center console with business card holder and room for mobile phone chargers, letter size files, laptop computer; laptop computer/mobile phone charger outlet inside center console; console lid slides forward to provide work surface for laptop or paperwork
• Available four cupholders, instrument panel storage compartments
• Available overhead console (High Roof models) with room for gloves, legal-size binder, system books, safety glasses
• Large door pockets with room for flashlights, legal-size binder, 1-liter bottle
• Large cargo floor, square-top wheelwells
• Standard upfitter pre-wiring
• Wide-coverage cargo area lighting
• Available power outlets, including available 3-prong 120V outlet in center console and D-pillar locations
• Multiple integrated reinforced attachment points for securing cargo customization equipment
• Recessed “D” tie-down rings
• Available Technology Package offering Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, Navigation, USB interface and Rear View Monitor

Safety and Security

• Dual-stage supplemental front air bags
• 3-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters
• Available supplemental front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and roof-mounted supplemental curtain air bags

Models and Manufacturing

• Offered in three well-equipped models: NV1500, NV2500 HD, NV3500 HD
• Available in Standard Roof and High Roof body configurations (NV2500 HD, NV3500 HD series)
• Assembled by Nissan North America Manufacturing Canton, Mississippi Plant

Specifications are based on latest product information available at the time of printing 

Mechanical

Exterior

Interior

Safety and Security

Dimensions

S – Standard
O – Optional