18 - Friday, January 20, 1989 - North Shore News

SUNDAY +

THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

ay a poe
ONESDAY + FRIDAY

SMALLER THAN A MINI-VAN

IT’S A unique new concept in family transportation —
smalier than a mini-van, yet offering a great deal more in
terms of performance, handling, comfort and car-like ride.

Nissan Axxess makes its North
American debut at this winter’s
auto shows in Montreal, Van-
couver, Ottawa and Toronto.

Axxess is longer, lower, wider
and more spacious than the popu-
lar Multi mini-wagon which it
replaces. It goes on sale at Cana-
dian dealerships in Marsch as
Nissan's first 1990 model.

In standard trim, Axxess offers
seating for five adults. An addi-
tional rear bench seat for two
children is optional.

Where similar-sized mini-vans
tend to have a ‘‘tippy’’ high-riding
feel to them, Axxess rides low to
the road and is as stable, nimble

and lively as a sports sedan.

Ali this is packaged in an eye-
catching streamlined body with a
low aerodynamic rating of 0.36
CD (coefficient of drag).

Axxess is also the only vehicle
on the market to offer sliding rear
doors on both sides. A high roof,
low, flat floor and wide-cpening
rear lift-gate further eases loading
of up to 800 pounds (363kg) of
cargo.

The engine is the same 2.4-litre,
four-cylinder, 12-vaive unit which
powers Nissan’s 240SX spotts car.
For Axxess, where it is inscalled on
an east-west axis, the engine is
rated at 138 horsepower.

Front-wheel drive is standard

issan Axxess a2
breed of family vel

and full-time all-wheel drive is op-
tional. Nissan expects that about
20 per cent of its Canadian cus-
tomers will opt for all-wheel-drive
which offers distinct benefits for
winter driving.

Two transmissions are offered
— a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed
electronicaily-controlled
automatic.

Unlike most mini-vans which
conform to light-truck standards,
Axxess meets more stringent pas-
senger car safety requirements.

Standard safety equipment on
the Canadian version includes ac-
tive scatbelts up front, outboard
three-point seatbelts in back, 5-
mph (8km/h) bumpers, side-door
intrusion beams, roof reinforce-
ment, park/reverse shift-lock on
the automatic transmission, side
demisters, rear defroster and a
high-mount brake light.

The optional all-wheel drive
system automatically transfers
torque (acceleration forces) to
whichever wheels have traction.
This automatically compensates
for slippery roads, cross-winds,
hard cormering and hard accelera-
tion.

Each Axxess comes well equip-
ped, and indeed there are very few
options.

Standard equipment for the Ca-
nadian market includes:
¢ power assisted rack-and-pinion
steering,

* power mirrors and power door
locks,

e reclining front bucket seats with
headrests, armrests and cloth up-
holstery,

¢ fully carpeted floor and cargo
area,

© driver’s
storage bin,

under-seat slide-out

e

: i
® AM/FM _ stereo cassette with
four speakers and ‘‘diversity’’
antenna built into rear window
glass,
© intermittent windshield wipers, |
*® rear window washer and wiper,
@remote tailgate and fuel filler
releases.

Options for Canada include:
* Power Package, including power
windows, sliding glass sunroof and
cruise control,
© Third (children’s) rear seat,
© Euro Pack, to be offered only on
AWD 5-passenger model, starting
with March production. Includes:
front stabilizer bar, fast ratio
steering, 195/70R !4 SOS Michelin
tires, special dark grey paint with
red pin-stripe, color-keyed alloy
wheels, bronze window _ glass,
monotone gauges, leather-wrapped
steering wheel and shift-knob,
power sunroof.