Nissan has brought its X-TRAIL 20GT clean diesel SUV to market after a summer of previews in Japan. The fuel-efficient SUV was displayed at the G8 Summit hosted by Japan in July. Japanese drivers will be able to pick up their X-TRAIL 20GTs at Nissan dealerships beginning September 18, 2008.
While the company’s competitors are running long tests on clean diesel and hybrid vehicles, Nissan has emerged as a genuine competitor to Toyota with the X-TRAIL 20GT. This clean diesel vehicle has been tested to run at 35.8 miles per gallon (MPG) which is a 30% increase in fuel economy over similar sized vehicles. The X-TRAIL 20GT has also been designed to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions to meet Japan’s Post New Long-Term Regulations.
The Post New Long-Term Regulations may not be perfect but they force automakers to reduce NOX emissions by 47% starting with the 2010 model year. This standard is more stringent than regulations in the European Union and the United States as Japanese legislators are trying to take the lead on environmental protection. Nissan is showcasing its commitment to corporate responsibility by releasing a clean-diesel vehicle that meets Japanese government standards a year early.
The reason why Nissan has been able to send the X-TRAIL 20GT out to market was its agreement with Renault. Nissan is using a 2.0 liter M9R diesel engine produced in conjunction with Renault. This engine has been tested at the same power level as a 3.5 liter V6 gas engine which should keep car fans concerned with power happy. The Nissan-Renault collaboration has been imitated by other automakers but few have achieved the same level of success.
Nissan’s release of the X-TRAIL 20GT bodes well for consumers and efficient vehicle advocates throughout the world. American and European consumers can expect to see clean-diesel SUVs at Nissan dealerships as long as Japanese consumers show moderate interest in the X-TRAIL. Nissan’s commitment to cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles will push industry leader Toyota and other automakers to get their prototypes to market. While clean diesel may not be the answer for all of our transportation woes, Nissan’s X-TRAIL 20GT will show that it can be a component of sustainable transportation in the 21st century.
