This Nissan compact crossover however will unlikely ever venture further afield from its JDM homeland.
Despite the relatively recent arrival of the all-new Almera Turbo and updated Navara, Nissan sales locally however does unfortunately not seem to be picking up as much as the automaker would have liked. Its own compact sedan for instance is handily being beaten in the sales department by Honda’s new City, and its refreshed pickup hasn’t exactly been flying out of the showrooms with the same ferocity as Isuzu’s new D-Max.
What Nissan in Malaysia probably needs therefore is one rather good product in a hot segment currently, like say a compact crossover to rival the Proton X50 and Perodua Ativa. And rather coincidentally enough, the Japanese automaker has recently revealed in its home market something that might just fit the bill — the new Note Autech Crossover.
Now going purely by the name, it is perhaps easy to think that this latest addition to Nissan’s local lineup over there is nothing more than a tarted up version of its rather popular new Note. And while that is mostly to be the case, what Autech also did though is turn this hatchback into a compact crossover, through the simple means of jacking it up into the air by 25 mm from stock.
The story however doesn’t stop there, as Autech has added a bunch off crossover-y type accessories to its Note. These include custom side sill protectors, wheel arch garnish, roof mouldings, in addition to a set of Autech-exclusive alloy wheels, for which it is claimed to ‘add to the vehicle’s dynamic styling’.
Dynamism on the road though isn’t probably to be the Note Autech Crossover’s strongest suit, not least with its springs, shock absorbers and power steering proudly proclaimed by its makers to be ‘specially tuned for ride comfort, providing comfortable driving when off-road or in everyday situations’. Then again, its standard Nissan e-POWER series hybrid drivetrain should nevertheless enable this compact crossover to provide a perky yet economical drive.
In just rounding up the details about this Note Autech Crossover, standard within its black cabin are a set of body-fitting soft leatherette seats and an instrument panel adorned with faux-rosewood grain. A selection of 8 body colour choices are also available on this new Nissan, with the rather vibrant Premium Horizon Orange with a Stealth Gray roof being exclusive to this particular variant.
Rather unfortunately however, these finer points for this compact crossover will be mostly meaningless to anyone living outside of Japan. That is as the likelihood of the Note Autech Crossover venturing further afield from the Japanese domestic market in any official capacity is close to naught.
A pity then, as the Note Autech Crossover might well possibly have given the upcoming all-new Honda HR-V a good run for its money over here.
PRESS RELEASE: Nissan and its affiliate Autech announced today the start of sales of the Note Autech Crossover in Japan.
The new Note Autech Crossover is based on the compact Nissan Note and comes exclusively with Nissan’s e-POWER electrified powertrain, a key part of the company’s electrification strategy under the Nissan NEXT global business transformation plan.
The Note Autech Crossover aims to enhance the driving experience with the functionality and style of an SUV. The exterior features a dot-patterned front grille common to Autech vehicles, exclusive blue signature LEDs, and metal-finish door mirrors. Specially tuned suspension and larger diameter tires give the Note Autech Crossover 25 mm of increased ground clearance compared to the Note, making the vehicle easy to handle on uneven terrain and snowy roads. Specially designed side sill protectors, wheel arch garnish, roof moldings and exclusive alloy wheels add to the vehicle’s dynamic styling.
The new model aims to deliver a linear, fun and sporty ride in various driving situations – from long drives to winding roads – offering the comfort and stability characteristic of Autech vehicles. The springs, shock absorbers and power steering have been specially tuned for ride comfort, providing comfortable driving when off-road or in everyday situations.
The interior features body-fitting soft leatherette seats. The instrument panel is adorned with faux-rosewood grain, while the entire interior is based on a black theme that provides both functionality and a high-quality atomosphere.
The two-tone body color Aurora Flare Blue Pearl with a Super Black roof, and Midnight Black are exclusive colors for Autech series models. A total of eight body colors are available. A two-tone body color, Premium Horizon Orange with a Stealth Gray roof, is offered exclusively for the Autech Crossover.
