Nissan has revealed official details surrounding its 2013 Pathfinder, but the company’s local arm will not send it our way just yet.
Stylistically, little has changed from the Pathfinder concept shown earlier this year and many of the design cues first exhibited on the Hi-Cross concept, such as the frontal styling and silhouette, have found their way onto the new car.
Nissan has given the new Pathfinder’s cabin a more car-like air and has paid particular attention to the quality of the interior fittings and finishes. The cabin can play host to seven occupants and features a second-row bench with easy tilt/slide operation and rear pews with backrest recline. Among the optional goodies are a tri-zone entertainment system, sat-nav and front seats with heating and ventilation functions.
The new Pathfinder is powered by a 3,6-litre V6 petrol engine developing 194 kW that’s coupled with a CVT transmission. A choice of 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains is offered, with the all-wheel drive option being managed by Nissan’s 4×4-i system that allows the driver to shift between two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive on the fly.
Unlike the current model, the new Pathfinder features a unibody construction, which should help to give it a more car-like demeanor on the road. It also weighs around 227 kg less than the current car and is capable of towing roughly 2 268 kg.
The new Pathfinder will be built at Nissan's Smyrna assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. According to a spokesperson from Nissan South Africa, the new Pathfinder won’t be coming to our market any time soon. The rationale surrounding such a decision centres on the fact that the new car, being less of a rugged/off-road oriented offering, doesn’t presently fit the market profile in this country. The new model may, however, be evaluated for local consumption at a later date.
Click on the VIDEO tab above the featured images on this article to view a video of the new Nissan Pathfinder