THOUGH it’s been Canada’s best-selling import compact sport utility vehicle for a number of years, the Nissan Pathfinder has had to make do with a relatively undcr-pow- ered 170-horsepower 3.3-litre V6 engine. Competitors like the Toyota 4Runner, Isuzu Rodeo and Mercedes-Benz ML320 have more horsepow- er and torque than the 2000 Pathfinder (though some have smaller engines), and North American competitors like the Ford Expiorer, Chevy Blazer, and Jeep Cherokee have considerably larger six- cylinder engines with a lot more standard horsepower and torque. At least, they did. The 2001 Nissan Pathtinder, introduced fast spring, has leaped to the head of the pack with a new stan- dard 3.5-litre V6 engine with the most standard horsepow- er and torque in its class. Equipped with a manual transmission, the 200! Pathfinder’s engine develops 250 horsepower at 6,000 r.p.m. and 240 ft.-lb. of torque at 3,200 r.p.m. Pathtinders with an automatic transmission have 240 horsepower at 6,000 np.m. and 265 ft.-lb. of torque at 3,200 rp.m. In addition, the 200] Pathfinder offers new All-Mode (full- time) 4WD on some models, a new instrument panel and con- sole, increased sound insulation, and a few new features, New engine based on Maxima engine The new 3.5-litre DOHC 24-vaive engine is not based on the 2000 Pathfinder’s 3.3-litre SOHC 12-valve V6 engine. Rather, it's based on a bored-out version of the Nissan Maxima’s VQ three-litre V6. The “VQ” V6 engine has been rated by Ward's Auto World as one of the 10 best engines in the world for the past six years. The new 3.5-litre V6 is relatively sophisticated as truck engines go. It features an aluminum engine block, pwin over- head camshafts, four valves per evlinder, continuously variable valve timing, a variable intake system, a new piston design, ORE NEWS AUTOMOT direct ignition, electronic throttle control and new double- tipped platinum spark plugs for 160,000-kifometre service intervals. A unique feature is separate cooling flow paths for the head and block which improves thermal efficiency. The new engine is actually 16 kg lighter than the 3.3-litre engine. With up to 40% more horsepower and 33% more torque than the previous engine, the 2001 Pathfinder offers improved towing capability, cargo-carrying ability, and off-road pertor- mance than the previous model — three things that are partic- ularly important to SUV owners, Curiously though, towing ratings have not changed from the 2000 model: with a manual transmission, the towing capacity is 1,588 ky (3,500 Ib.), and with the automatic it’s 2,268 ke (5,000 Ib.). Nissan Canada’s marketing manager, lan Forsyth, claims that the new engine has better cooling capacity and efficiency when towing, a heavy trailer in extreme conditions, such as up steep grades in the See Acceleration page 25 25.0 - North Shore News - 23 NEWS photo Paul McGrath CANADA'S best-selling compact import sport utility vehicle gets more power for 2001. The Nissan Pathfinder offers a bigger, more pow- erful 3.5-litre V6 engine with the mest horsepower in its class, a restyled instrument panel, a new six-disc in-dash CD changer, and a newly available full-time 4WD system on uplevel SE and LE models. Test drive one today at Regency Nissan in North Vancouver. AtA Glance: “The Pathfinder’s ride is not as choppy or as stiff as some mid- sized SUVs — it’s an SUV that you can live with every day, on road and off road, in part because of its compact size, ease of manouevra- bility and good outward visibility.” Making our streets safe again. V with so many salety systems, it can share them with other vehicles. If you'd like to test drive , just give us a call Or come sce us anytime. Lease for only $460 per month* 7.5% lease rate. Mercedes-Benz NorRTH VANCOUVER SALES ¢ LEASING ¢ PARTS © SERVICE 1375 Marine Drive, N. Vancouver ¢ 984-9351 SALES HOURS. 8.304M - 8 QUPM MONTY TO THURSDAY © 840-60 M FRUDAY ¢ 10'TO SPM SATURDAY BPARTS/SERVIC S0-0PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY © NOW OPEN SATURDAY 9: TPM oS 00s eh based ond 2000 ME S20 Classic 34 atentls walkiiey tease icity SBSHN dott private tre Been kmzyr allearaine (20¢/kia overs lanes, licenses, freight, COD estnt M-CLASS. The the Mercedes of 4 yattertrast baty be a Cavalvewe wt srensee pthaguch The Cother tion tvpererner Wrecedes By meveleandisy acartable gt enw meseedes heey oa Other ied Conte a, red Onan