Nissan Motor Co. launched the fully revamped Avenir wagon to the domestic market Monday, featuring smoother handling and better use of space, top executives of the firm said.
The automaker has tried to meet varying customer demands by adopting two exterior styles and four types of engines, including the environmentally friendly NEO QG18DE, which was developed by the automaker earlier this year to decrease exhaust emissions.
The automaker also increased the vehicle's cargo space to 470 liters, 40 liters larger than the previous model, by adopting a new rear suspension system, they said. "The domestic economy is sluggish and the demand for automobiles has not grown," Yoshikazu Hanawa, president of Nissan Motor Co., told a news conference. "We are facing severe difficulties in sales. But we hope to help revitalize the economy by introducing quality vehicles."
In contrast to the country's overall automobile market, the market for family wagons -- sales of which number about 30,000 units a month -- is showing an upward trend, and the automaker is confident about the popularity of the new model, Hanawa said.
The automaker aims to sell 3,000 units of the new Avenir a month.