NT500 Truck
NT500 Truck

Nissan Reveals Next Generation NT500 Truck – May 29, 2013– Rolle, Switzerland  (Techreleased) – Nissan is reasserting its intention to become a key player in Europe’s light commercial vehicle sector with the launch of NT500, an all-new and thoroughly modern medium duty truck. NT500 will top the brand’s broad LCV line up when sales start at the end of 2013.

NT500 Truck
NT500 Truck

NT500 promises high levels of driver comfort and effective cost of ownership from a versatile and durable chassis cab. It will be offered in a wide variety of wheelbases with gross vehicle weights (GVW) starting at 3.5 and rising to 7.5 tonnes.

Choice is further extended by two engines, two transmissions – manual across all models and robotised at 7.5t – and three model grades.

A new cabin is matched by high levels of quality while the new engines are Euro6 compliant and enjoy extended service intervals. The chassis is designed to support straightforward and flawless conversions.

“The wide range of available GVWs and wheelbases and the ease of converting the chassis into a bespoke working vehicle will appeal to the body-builders, while the highly efficient modern engines and extended service intervals will be valued by operators.

“Drivers, meanwhile, will appreciate the outstanding comfort and practicality of the thoroughly modern and functional cabin,” said Etienne Henry, Nissan Europe Product Planning VP.

“With NT500 joining Cabstar, NV400, NV200, Evalia and Navara – not to mention the imminent arrival of the pure electric e-NV200 – there can be little doubt that the Nissan range of commercial vehicles is one of the widest and most versatile in Europe.

“We are also instigating significant improvements to our LCV dealer standards and developing a number of dedicated Business Centres across Europe to ensure the quality of our trucks and vans is matched by the back up service we provide,” he added.

NT500 in detail

NT500 is an all-new medium duty truck aimed at the professional chassis cab market. It will cover the 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes GVW segment and will be assembled at Nissan’s Avila plant in Spain.

The cabin

Wide, roomy and extremely comfortable, the cabin is a thoroughly modern design created to make life for the driver and crew as pleasant and as practical as possible.

The cab-over-engine design, unusual in the 3.5t sector of the market, has a number of benefits. The tilting cab eases access to the engine for routine maintenance while also allowing a greater area for cargo within the vehicle’s overall length.

A commanding driving position, meanwhile, not only enhances visibility out of the cab but, coupled to a compact turning circle, also aids manoeuvrability. The layout also greatly extends the versatility of the chassis for body-builders.

The cabin benefits from a large number of practical storage and smart features. There are roomy door pockets, roof storage slots, up to three glove boxes, cup holders, bottle holders, shelves and A4 storage slots.

Standard equipment lists across the three grades are generous with every model benefiting from keyless operation and a suspended driver’s seat.

Mid grade versions add a double DIN radio/CD player with USB and Aux-in sockets and steering wheel controls as well as driver’s airbag, fully automatic climate control and cruise control with speed limiter. Top versions add a navigation system and a passenger airbag.

A series of option packs are available to enhance the available equipment while the chassis frame is available also in a reinforced version for the heaviest missions.

The exterior cabin design ensures NT500 slots easily into Nissan’s current LCV line up with the company’s familiar brand ‘face’. The double V-strut grille flanks the Nissan logo, while distinctive front end lighting includes large turn indicators, daytime running lamps, height markers and turn repeaters mounted in the door mirrors.

Model range

NT500’s versatility is reflected in the wide range of GVWs and wheelbases. There are no fewer than five different GVWs – 3.5t, 3.5t HD, 5.6t, 6.5t and 7.5t – and five different wheelbases, ranging from 2800mm to 4300mm. Maximum overall vehicle length is 8231mm.

At the top of the range, the 7.5t version is available with four wheelbase lengths – 3100mm, 3500mm, 3900mm and 4300mm.

All versions have twin rear wheels and the chassis comes complete with body-builder connectors to ease effective conversion.

Engines and transmission

Power is supplied by a choice between two versions of Nissan’s ZD30 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which meets forthcoming Euro6 emissions regulations.

All models from 3.5t to 6.5t are powered by the 150hp (110 kW) engine which has a single turbocharger and develops 350Nm of torque. It is coupled to a six-speed manual transmission and drives the rear wheels.

The 7.5t model is driven by a high performance twin-turbo version of the engine, developing 176hp (130kW) and 540 Nm of torque. This engine is available with the six-speed transmission in either manual or robotised forms. Both engines have Diesel Particular Filters (DPF) and use Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to lower emissions.

The new engine ZD30 allows extended service intervals for lower cost of ownership. Oil changes and new oil filters are now needed every two years or 40,000 km. The accessory timing belt has also had its life extended to 40,000 km while the need to grease the wheel hub bearings has been eradicated altogether.

Customers

NT500 will be the ideal choice of small and medium companies operating in the construction, distribution and agricultural industries.

With reduced running costs, improved handling and driving characteristics, equipment levels, quality and overall looks, NT500 will start a new era for Nissan in the segment.

“NT500’s arrival to top our wide Commercial Vehicles range proves that Nissan is deadly serious about the LCV market and that we are intent on being a key player,” added Etienne Henry.

NT500 uses Nissan’s new naming policy for its LCVs. Standing for Nissan Truck, the NT badge will be used on all purpose-built trucks while NV and NP are used for vans and pick-ups respectively.