Moco – Nissan’s First Minicar
The first product of a business tie-up between Nissan and Suzuki which was signed a year ago goes on sale in Japan this weekend in the form of the Nissan Moco. The model has been specially built for Nissan by Suzuki, the minicar leader for the past 28 years in Japan.
It is Nissan’s first entry into the important minicar market that currently represents 30% of the overall four-wheel vehicle market in Japan.
“To grow, we must profitably compete in every segment, including this important segment in our home market, and we have made this decision after careful market and profitability analysis” said Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Working with the segment leader as a partner, I am confident in the success of this joint project.”
Nissan’s entry into the segment will help fuel the profitable growth initiated by the Nissan Revival Plan. With a mini-vehicle in the line-up, Nissan owners will have another choice as they shop for a new car, while the customer base can be expanded by attracting new customers who require a minicar.
For Suzuki, the deal will increase its overall production volume and enhance efficiency in R&D, together with an additional cost-reduction opportunity and improvement of overall productivity. The company also expects that Nissan’s entry into this segment will contribute to further growth of the segment.
The Moco has been designed to be “an ideal car for active young mothers, meeting the mobility needs especially as they travel with their children”. Besides frontal styling that seems reminiscent of the Renault Scenic (a coincidence?) and is also a refreshing change in the minicar class, the 3395 mm long Moco also has one of the most spacious interiors in its class.
The 1785 mm long cabin has versatile seating arrangements and offers superior storage capacity. Making good use of the limited space, the square-shaped seats have a feeling such as a personal sofa, enabling its occupants to sit in comfort. Armrests for the driver’s seat and rear seats provide an additional comfort.
The front-seat hip point set at a height of 635 mm from the ground giving a commanding all-round view. For those in the rear seats, the hip point is set 45 mm higher than that of the front seats to give a greater feeling of openness.
Two 658 cc engines are available for the Moco, both Suzuki K6A units. FWD versions get the 40 kW/54 ps K6A DOHC VVT engine with variable valve timing that optimally controls the opening/closing timing of the intake valves to improve low-end torque while also delivering high power output in the high-speed range. Moco versions with 4WD use the K6A DOHC intercooled, turbocharged engine which delivers 44 kW/60 ps of power at 6000 rpm.
In line with Nissan’s commitment to environmental efforts, the Moco 2WD model equipped with the DOHC VVT engine has been certified by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as U-LEV (ultra-low emission vehicles) under its low-emission vehicle certification system. Moreover, they also meet Japan’s 2010 fuel economy standards to qualify for tax reductions under the ‘Green Tax’ program.
All models are equipped with a 4-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission operated by a column-mounted shifter. Gear changes are efficiently controlled to reduce shift shock with achieving smooth acceleration combined with low fuel consumption.
The front suspension consists of shock absorbers with a built-in rebound spring, while an isolated trailing link suspension with a long-stroke characteristic is used at the rear to absorb road surface inputs effectively.
The 4WD models have a 4WD system that automatically distributes the required driving force to the front and rear wheels according to the road condition and driving situation.
All models are also offered with complete safety features, including ABS as standard equipment and pre-tensioners with the seatbelts to enhance the life-saving effects of the front airbags.
Nissan expects to sell an average of 4,000 units per month with sales restricted to only the domestic market. Prices start at 1.003 million yen (about RM29,000) and go up to 1.362 million yen (about RM39,800) for the most powerful version with 4WD.
NB: This new model is intended for sale only in Japan and so far, Nissan has no plans to officially export it to Malaysia or any other country.
