Nissan Launches Bluebird Sylphy Sedan in Japan
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[12/29/2005] Nissan has just announced that the latest model in it's legendary Bluebird
lineup will be going on sale shortly in its home market of Japan. The Bluebird Sylphy, successor to the previous Bluebird, is Nissan's upscale compact sedan. The Bluebird name comes from a rather long list of descendents that included our first generation Altima, and in more recent times, an upscale version of our Sentra sedan.
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Nissan has just announced that the latest model in it's legendary Bluebird lineup will be going on sale shortly in its home market of Japan. The Bluebird Sylphy, successor to the previous Bluebird, is Nissan's upscale compact sedan. The Bluebird name comes from a rather long list of descendents that included our first generation Altima, and in more recent times, an upscale version of our Sentra sedan.
This latest Bluebird (aside from its very silly name which wouldn't go over well in North America) has a lot of relevance to our North American market, as something very similar will most likely become our next Sentra.
While it's one hundred percent true that the current generation Sentra will, come 2006, be replaced by the Versa five-door hatchback and four-door sedan, it has been officially announced that the Versa is merely one part of a two-piece assault on our compact car marketplace, with a new Sentra arriving within two years. The Bluebird Sylphy is a strong candidate to the second part of the equation.
The Bluebird Sylphy is much more than a Versa with a different nose and tail: line up the Sylphy next to the Versa sedan, and you'll soon see that they're not carbon copies. The Bluebird measures in at 4,610 mm (181.5 inches) long, riding on a 2,700 mm (106.3 inch) wheelbase - that makes it a gigantic 215 mm (8.5 inches) longer overall and a whole 100 mm (3.9 inches) longer in wheelbase than the Versa!
Underneath, both cars are identical, riding on a MacPherson Strut front suspension and space-saving torsion-beam rear axle. The Sylphy is the largest car to be based on the Nissan-Renault B-Segment chassis, which is shared with the new Nissan Micra, Nissan Cube, and upcoming Versa, plus the Renault Clio and Renault Modus.
To go along with its bigger dimensions is a completely new exterior, which fits more in line with the current Nissan styling than
The Bluebird's styling reflects an upscale image, with inspiration coming from the larger Maxima and Infiniti G35. (Photo: Nissan Canada)
the design used on the Versa. The nose, for example, draws from the Maxima with its vertically shaped headlamps, while the chrome-laden grille is borrowed from the Skyline, the Japanese-market Infiniti G35. In comparison to the Versa's rather frumpy looking tail, the Bluebird's lengthier backside and more rakish roofline make it more pleasing to the eye.
Upon its launch, Nissan proclaimed that the Versa had the most interior volume in its class, with a big, spacious cabin influenced by the brand's 'Modern Living' design strategy - a new Nissan concept that stresses advanced design values in interiors. The new, bigger Bluebird builds on the Versa's
High quality materials and simple shapes give the Bluebird the feeling of a "traditional Japanese living room". (Photo: Nissan Canada)
reputation for class-leading interior roominess, offering an even longer cabin that provides up to 680 mm (26.7 inches) of rear legroom. By comparison, that's in the same league as luxury-liners such as the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class! Trunk space is a class-leading 504 litres (17.8 cu-ft).
As a luxury, 'upscale' car, the Bluebird features a new two-toned dashboard with faux woodgrain trim, and all the goodies that are locked out of the high-value and low-cost Versa. Up front the driver sits on high-quality plush fabric, electrically adjustable seats, while such goodies as an upgraded sound system and DVD navigation provide convenience and added luxury.
Where the previous Sentra could be had in sporty SE-R trimline, the Bluebird's powertrain combinations are pedestrian by
It may not be sporty, but the Bluebird boasts the largest interior and trunk in its class - something buyers are sure to appreciate. (Photo: Nissan Canada)
comparison. The main options include a base 109-horsepower 1.5-litre engine that can be upgraded to a 133-horsepower 2.0-litre engine. Both powerplants have been tuned to deliver 90 percent of their peak torque from just 2,000 rpm, making progress a quiet and efficient affair. The only gearbox choice is Nissan's Xtronic CVT.
For 2007 and beyond, Nissan appears to be shifting to home-grown techniques in its attempt to conquer a rapidly growing North American compact car market. Like the Versa, the Bluebird offers space galore, but its distinctive styling and impressive list of luxury features would be appealing to North Americans if packaged here similarly to how it is in Japan. Although there has yet to be any official information on the Bluebird, let alone the upcoming Sentra replacment, expect it to arrive sometime during 2008.
This latest Bluebird (aside from its very silly name which wouldn't go over well in North America) has a lot of relevance to our North American market, as something very similar will most likely become our next Sentra.
While it's one hundred percent true that the current generation Sentra will, come 2006, be replaced by the Versa five-door hatchback and four-door sedan, it has been officially announced that the Versa is merely one part of a two-piece assault on our compact car marketplace, with a new Sentra arriving within two years. The Bluebird Sylphy is a strong candidate to the second part of the equation.
The Bluebird Sylphy is much more than a Versa with a different nose and tail: line up the Sylphy next to the Versa sedan, and you'll soon see that they're not carbon copies. The Bluebird measures in at 4,610 mm (181.5 inches) long, riding on a 2,700 mm (106.3 inch) wheelbase - that makes it a gigantic 215 mm (8.5 inches) longer overall and a whole 100 mm (3.9 inches) longer in wheelbase than the Versa!
Underneath, both cars are identical, riding on a MacPherson Strut front suspension and space-saving torsion-beam rear axle. The Sylphy is the largest car to be based on the Nissan-Renault B-Segment chassis, which is shared with the new Nissan Micra, Nissan Cube, and upcoming Versa, plus the Renault Clio and Renault Modus.
To go along with its bigger dimensions is a completely new exterior, which fits more in line with the current Nissan styling than
The Bluebird's styling reflects an upscale image, with inspiration coming from the larger Maxima and Infiniti G35. (Photo: Nissan Canada)
the design used on the Versa. The nose, for example, draws from the Maxima with its vertically shaped headlamps, while the chrome-laden grille is borrowed from the Skyline, the Japanese-market Infiniti G35. In comparison to the Versa's rather frumpy looking tail, the Bluebird's lengthier backside and more rakish roofline make it more pleasing to the eye.
Upon its launch, Nissan proclaimed that the Versa had the most interior volume in its class, with a big, spacious cabin influenced by the brand's 'Modern Living' design strategy - a new Nissan concept that stresses advanced design values in interiors. The new, bigger Bluebird builds on the Versa's
High quality materials and simple shapes give the Bluebird the feeling of a "traditional Japanese living room". (Photo: Nissan Canada)
reputation for class-leading interior roominess, offering an even longer cabin that provides up to 680 mm (26.7 inches) of rear legroom. By comparison, that's in the same league as luxury-liners such as the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class! Trunk space is a class-leading 504 litres (17.8 cu-ft).
As a luxury, 'upscale' car, the Bluebird features a new two-toned dashboard with faux woodgrain trim, and all the goodies that are locked out of the high-value and low-cost Versa. Up front the driver sits on high-quality plush fabric, electrically adjustable seats, while such goodies as an upgraded sound system and DVD navigation provide convenience and added luxury.
Where the previous Sentra could be had in sporty SE-R trimline, the Bluebird's powertrain combinations are pedestrian by
It may not be sporty, but the Bluebird boasts the largest interior and trunk in its class - something buyers are sure to appreciate. (Photo: Nissan Canada)
comparison. The main options include a base 109-horsepower 1.5-litre engine that can be upgraded to a 133-horsepower 2.0-litre engine. Both powerplants have been tuned to deliver 90 percent of their peak torque from just 2,000 rpm, making progress a quiet and efficient affair. The only gearbox choice is Nissan's Xtronic CVT.
For 2007 and beyond, Nissan appears to be shifting to home-grown techniques in its attempt to conquer a rapidly growing North American compact car market. Like the Versa, the Bluebird offers space galore, but its distinctive styling and impressive list of luxury features would be appealing to North Americans if packaged here similarly to how it is in Japan. Although there has yet to be any official information on the Bluebird, let alone the upcoming Sentra replacment, expect it to arrive sometime during 2008.
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