The fifth-generation Nissan Serena has finally broken
cover, with Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) giving the MPV its first public
showing at the MAI Auto Festival taking place in Bagan Datuk, Perak.
The Serena isn’t officially on sale yet, but word
from the grapevine is that it’s set to be launched sometime next month. The MPV will feature a S-Hybrid powertrain as seen on the C26 Serena,
with a MR20DD 2.0 litre direct-injected twin-CVTC four-cylinder petrol engine
offering 150 PS at 6,000 rpm and 200 Nm at 4,400 rpm.
The unit is paired with an Xtronic CVT, supplemented by an ECO motor that controls the car’s Idling Stop function and
serves as an alternator during deceleration. The 1.8 kW/200 A motor also allows
for a “torque assist” function, providing a 50 Nm boost for up to one second when
moving away from a standstill.
The preview vehicle is a Highway Star variant riding
on 15-inch wheels and 195/65 profile tyres. Standard equipment includes a
dual-powered sliding doors, a 360-degree Around View Monitor, seven USB ports
and Intelligent Moving Object Detection (I-MOD). Safety kit includes vehicle
dynamic control (VDC), hill-start assist, six airbags and Isofix mount points.
The Malaysian-spec Serena will not be available as
an eight-seater in our market – it’s confirmed that it will be offered only as
a seven-seater in a 2-2-3 configuration (with second-row captain seats).
Notably, there will be different front ends. One
will be essentially the same as that found on the base Serena in other markets,
and the other is what you see here on the Highway Star, with a more agressively
styled bumper and a more prominent V-motion two-slat grille. No indication of
pricing, so we’ll have to wait until the MPV is officially introduced to get
the lowdown on it.
Cr : Paultan
