제네바모터쇼에서 발표한 닛산의 NV200

유럽의 좁고 복잡한 도심에 맞춰 설계된 닛산의 NV200 유럽의 도로환경과 비슷한 일본에서 설게되었다.

제네바모터쇼의 나오는 차들 대부분은 친환경차 + 컴팩트카의 축제라고 할만큼 스위스를 포함한 유럽 소비자들이 선호하는 차들은 북미와 달리 작고 기동성이 좋은 특징을 가지고 있다.

여기에 맞춰 닛산은 스몰 미니밴인 NV200을 내놓았다.

단순한 디자인이면서도 공간효율성을 우선시한 닛산 NV200은 7인승이지만 시트를 접어 2인승으로 활용할수 있는 다목적 성격도 가지고 있다. 공간도 넓어 4-5명의 가족들이 타기에 적당한 차량이라고 볼수 있다.

구성원이 많은 대가족의 경우 넓은 실내공간과 편안함을 요구한다. 하지만 저렴하면서도 두가지 모두 만족하는 차량은 사실상 없다고 봐야 한다.

닛산의 NV200은 최대승차인원인 7명이 타고 여행갈때에도 많은 여행용짐을 거뜬히 적재할수 있을만큼 여유로운 실내공간을 제공한다고 닛산측은 밝혔다.

짐을 많이 적재하는 영업용 밴과 사람이 승차하는 승용차 두가지 용도를 모두 염두해두고 디자인된 NV200은 쾌적함과 편안함, 넓은 실내공간, 실용성 모두 잡은 신개념 미니밴이며 지금까지 나온 글로벌 시장의 미니밴과는 차별을 두고 있다.

NV200은 용도에 따라 크게 3가지 버전으로 나뉘는데 하나는 짐보다는 승객수송용도로 사용되는 Passenger버전과 승객과 짐 두가지 조건을 모두 만족시키는 Combi버전이 있으며 주로 화물 적재용으로 사용되는 Van버전 세가지로 나뉜다.

실용성을 우선시하는 일본의 자동차환경과 유럽의 자동차환경이 비슷한점에 착안한 닛산의 NV200은 일본에서 설계되었으며 소형 미니밴 클래스에서 NV200은 실내공간이 가장 넓어 많은 화물도 거뜬히 적재할수 있다.

NV200의 전장은 4.4m보다 짧지만 Van버전의 경우 Combi버전이나 Passenger버전보다 2m이상 전장이 더 길다.

앞좌석 시트까지 모두 접어 풀플랫 상태에서 시트길이만 최대 2.8m까지 쭉 뻗어 사용할수 있으며 침대로 활용이 가능하다.

NV200의 실내 인테리어 2열 시트가 비교적 넉넉하다. 또한 수납공간도 많다.

NV200의 최대적재량까지 화물을 적재했을 경우 서스펜션이 무게에 눌려 낮아지게 되는데 NV200은 무거워지는 짐만큼 서스펜션이 올라가는 특징을 가지고있다.

또한 화물적재용도로 쓰이는 유럽의 팔레트의 규격에 맞춰 설계가 되었기 때문에 한번에 두개씩 짝을 지어 팔레트를 적재할수 있으며 최대적재량은 771kg이다. NV200 높은 전고(1.84m)로 인해 같은 클래스의 경쟁 미니밴보다 약 25%정도 더 많은 짐을 적재할수 있다.

NV200은 대신 복잡한 도심에 유용하게 사용되게끔 전폭이 경쟁모델보다 좁은 특징을 가지고 있다. 하지만 실내폭은 경쟁모델과 비슷한 수준이며 따라서 작은 차체안에서 최대한 공간효율성을 높였다고 한다. 하지만 전폭이 좁은 만큼 커브를 돌때는 주의를 해야될것이다.

닛산의 B플랫폼에서 탄생된 NV200은 닛산 마이크라와 닛산 노트등의 닛산 소형차와 언더바디를 공유하며 전륜 서스펜션은 스트럿타입 후륜서스펜션은 리프 스프링 액슬 타입이며 전륜과 후륜에 각각 안티롤바를 장착하여 코너링시 롤링을 최대한 억제하고 차체안전성을 키웠다.

소형 미니밴 답게 엔진은 1.5리터 디젤과 1.6리터 가솔린엔진라인업이 존재한다.

가솔린 엔진은 닛산에서 사용중인 1.6리터 HR엔진을 장착하였으며 닛산 마이크라, 노트,콰시콰이등 소형차와 소형 SUV에도 장착이 된 검증된 엔진이다. 최고출력은 108마력 최대토크는 15.6kg.m이다. 닛산의 HR엔진과 짝을 이룰 변속기는 5단 수동 한가지

디젤엔진은 르노에서 가져온 1.5리터 dCi엔진이며 86마력에 20.3kg.m의 넉넉한 토크를 자랑하여 무거운 짐을 적재할때도 가뿐한 움직임을 보인다. 미션은 가솔린과 마찬가지로 5단수동만 존재한다.

NV200 실내를 운전석에서 본 모습 수동변속기 선호가 큰 유럽답게 5단 수동미션 한가지만 존재한다.

편의장비도 다양한데 소형 미니밴 클래스로는 최초로 후방 카메라가 옵션으로 마련되었으며 디지털 타코메타가 포함된 온보드 디스플레이 패널이 마련되었고 트립과 드라이브 컴퓨터가 장착되었으며 특히 경제적인 운전을 유지하기 위해 RPM이 일정이상 올라가면 변속을 지시하는 쉬프트업 디스플레이가 마련되었다.

미니밴 답게 많은 수납공간과 포켓등이 마련되어있으며 기어박스 주위로 디지털 카메라 음료수캔과 병등을 수납할 정도로 크고 여유로운 수납공간을 마련해 두었다.

또한 닛산의 인텔리전트 스마트키는 후방주차카메라 파워윈도우 심지어 ESP도 작동할수 있도록 연동되어 있으며
ESP외에 EBD-ABS, BA등 주행안전장치를 대거 포함시켰다.

프론트 에어백은 기본으로 제공되나 사이드에어백은 옵션으로 제공되며 보행자와 충돌시 보행자의 안전을 최대한 보장하게끔 충격 흡수 본넷을 사용했다.

NV200의 후면부 단순한 직선 스타일이지만 기능성을 최대한 살렸다.

NV200: THE EXPANDING FAMILY

Nissan's spacious yet compact new small, light van – NV200 – is more than a mere cargo carrier. Two passenger models are also available, offering practical and affordable transport for upto seven. The family-oriented passenger car version makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.

"Larger families demand space, practicality and comfort from their car. But in the current economic climate, the need for that car to be as affordable as possible has never been greater. NV200 offers the largest cabin in its class with plenty of luggage space even when all seven seats are in use."
Simon Thomas, Nissan's European Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing

At a glance
Seven seat people carrier
Practical and functional
Innovative engineering solutions provide...
...class leading interior space
Sliding side doors for ease of entry
Economical petrol and diesel engines
Low cost of ownership
One of three vehicles based on new NV200 van
Global model for multiple regions

Designed from the outset as both a commercial and a passenger vehicle, the Nissan NV200 brings new levels of space, comfort and practicality to the small van market, both in Europe and other global markets.

NV200 will be available in three different versions: a van with the largest load space in its class and two seven seat variants – the functional Combi version for loads and passengers, and the more plush passenger car version.

Designed and built in Japan but with a key contribution from Europe, NV200 uses innovative packaging ideas to create the largest and most practical cargo area in its class. Although a little under 4.4m in overall length, the van version of the NV200 has a load bay that's more than 2m long (2040mm). This can even be stretched to 2.8m when the front passenger seat is folded flat, allowing items such as ladders to be carried with ease.

Maximised cargo area
With front-wheel drive and the adoption of a highly compact rear suspension system, the width between the rear wheel arches has been maximised while at 520mm from ground level, the floor itself is the lowest in the class to ease loading. As a result NV200 can house two standard Euro pallets in the cargo area at a time

.At 1.84m high NV200 is no taller than its rivals, but the low floor helps boost the cargo volume to 4.1m3 or around 25 per cent more than the opposition. Maximum payload is 771kg.

And although it's narrower overall than the competition (1.7m as against 1.8m) careful design has ensured that while there's no penalty inside the cabin – shoulder width is on a par with the rivals – there is a benefit in the urban environment where NV200 can be threaded through narrow gaps with ease.

Spacious interior
A large cargo area is a vital attribute for a van, of course, but the generous interior dimensions of NV200 also translate into ample passenger space in the Combi and the family version.

Both models share the same basic layout though the family has more luxurious features including chromed coloured elements to the instrument panel and door handles, different seat coverings, fabric rather than painted metal on the wheel arches and fully trimmed interior panels in the rear.

Unusually for the class, both are available with seven seats in three rows as standard: seating for three in the middle row and for two in the rear. Every seat can be reclined for greater comfort and all seven have three point seat belts.

Such is the space available that leg- and knee-room in the passenger compartment is best in class, while even with all seven seats in use there is still ample room in the luggage area for two large suitcases... something seven seat MPVs cannot achieve. With the two rear seats folded away, the luggage area can carry five such suitcases.

Adaptable interior
Unlike some other manufacturers that fit removable seats – which are invariably heavy to lift and need to be stored elsewhere when not in use – the seats in NV200 stay with the vehicle at all times. The middle row backrest has a 60/40 split to increase versatility and the entire assembly tumbles forward to fold flat against the front seats, while the rear pair fold individually to either side of the load area.

With all the passenger seats folded, the load area is large enough to carry three mountain bikes. And while traditional MPVs can also carry three bikes, there's no need to remove the front wheels when stowing them in NV200.

In most other respects NV200, the Combi and family versions are identical vehicles. Externally, NV200 marries styling cues from existing Nissan passenger and commercial vehicles and then adds a twist of its own.

But NV200 adds its own styling elements such as the dramatic upswept swage line framing the window and is complemented by a matching styling crease on the twin sliding side doors. NV200 also has its own stylish light assemblies with a one-piece upswept assembly at the front and distinctive rounded taillights at the rear.

Throughout the creation of NV200, attention has been paid to ensuring the highest levels of quality with shut lines and panel gaps in line with the expectations of passenger car buyers.

The van version has steel wheels and black painted front and rear bumpers while both passenger versions are available with body coloured bumpers and wheel trims. Alloy wheels are optionally available on the full range, while the family version also has body coloured door handles and wing mirrors and a chromed grille.

While the van optionally is available with a side window it, differs from the passenger versions at the rear where it has twin side hinged "French" doors. Both seven-seaters have a fully glazed top hinged tailgate – though the Combi will be available with French doors - while the windows on both side doors have a sliding section for extra ventilation.

Road car platform
Built on a modified version of Nissan's B Platform, which also underpins Note and Micra, NV200 has fully independent strut type front suspension mounted on a separate subframe and a compact and lightweight yet robust wide leaf spring rear axle. With anti-roll bars front and rear and ripple control shock absorber at the front, the driving experience is more car than van-like. NV200 enjoys excellent straight-line stability and a comfortable ride.

Performance comes from a choice of two engines, one petrol and one diesel.

The petrol version will be powered by Nissan's renowned all aluminium 1.6-litre HR16 engine, as found in Micra, Note and Qashqai. Displacing 1,598cc, the 16-valve unit develops 79kW (108PS) and 153Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

The diesel, also found on Note and Micra, is Alliance partner Renault's acclaimed 8-valve 1.5 dCi (K9K) engine 1,461cc engine. Developing 200 Nm of torque and 63kW (86PS), it offers an ideal blend of performance, refinement and fuel economy. Power is transmitted through a five-speed gearbox.

Strong body structure
The on-the-road experience is heightened by the commanding driving position and by the rigid body structure which is designed to prevent twist and deformation yet still be as light as possible. Wind noise, performance and economy are also enhanced by NV200's CD figure, which is one of the lowest in its class.

To create more space in the cockpit, the gearlever extends not from the floor but from the two-tone wrap around centre console. Above the gearlever, the centre section houses the heating and ventilation controls and the double DIN radio slot. Heating and ventilation extends to all three rows of seats. While rearmost passengers are optionally provided with their own independent heater fan control.

Well equipped
Ahead of the driver is just a single instrument – the speedometer – though a digital tachometer is included as one element of a comprehensive on-board display within the panel. This provides an array of vital information including clock, drive computer, trip and odometers and a shift up display designed to promote economical driving. The computer can be programmed to show service intervals, speed limit warnings and even tyre rotation advice

The display also doubles as a screen for the optional rear view parking camera, a first for a van in this segment.

NV200's cabin is full of storage spaces, pockets and cup/bottle holders. There is also a secret storage space large enough to hide camera, mobile phones or vital documents within the upper portion of the glovebox.

Joining the parking camera, other car-like items of standard or optional equipment include features such as Nissan's Intelligent Key, power windows and ESP. Safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist (BA) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) as standard. Driver's airbags are also standard with side bags available as an option.

Pedestrian safety has also been considered with extra crash absorbing material in the bonnet and the adoption of an energy-absorbing bonnet.

Low cost of ownership
Cost of ownership is projected to be among the lowest in the class thanks in part to the low running costs and high efficiency of the engines and drivetrains and also thanks to the safety structure which helps to minimise crash damage to vulnerable under bonnet parts such as the radiator.

"With its intelligent layout and packaging helping to give it the largest cargo area in its class, NV200 delivers the right combination of functionality and efficiency. That same practicality can be found in both the Combi and passenger version, but with the added benefit of car-like comfort and features", said Dominique Correze, Vice President, Nissan's European LCV Business Unit.