Nissan is on a roll this year.
Barely a week has passed since they unveiled the all-new Versa/Almera, and now they peeled the covers off the next-generation Sylphy. Like its smaller sibling, the Sylphy gets a radical redesign with more aggressive looks. With that, the Sylphy is no longer a segment backrider.
Just take a look at the front end. The rounded off angles of the soon to be outgoing model has made way for a sharper design. Slim, upswept headlights converge to form the now signature V-Motion gill. Well-defined bumper corners then give the sedan a more chiseled appearance. Even the hood is worth a look, with creases and lines forming a rather elegant shape.
There are more interesting design elements on the side too. Both front and rear fenders are flared with the rear having a 'coke bottle' design, a popular look in 70's cars. It does retain the six-window configuration, but a line on the rear pillar adds a 'floating roof' effect.
Even the rear is dramatically different. Like the Versa/Almera and Altima, it has a set of wraparound tail lights, along with a wide trunk opening. The trunklid also appears to be designed with aerodynamics in mind with its sloping design.
Inside, it's a big leap forward compared to its predecessor. The dashboard, which features luxury saloon-like stitching, has a more organic design with a cascading center stack. Typical of most new cars these days, it has the in vogue 'floating' infotainment screen. Also, the instrument cluster is wide to make room for the sizable multi-information display. Meanwhile, the three round air-conditioning vents in the middle harks back to the past with its retro flavor, while the flat-bottom steering wheel is a modern touch.
As for the engine, it will use a 1.6-liter engine although Nissan has yet to mention power figures. They did say that they have upgraded it, so we're expecting a little bit more than 116 PS output from the outgoing Sylphy. Transmission on the other hand is the Xtronic continuously variable transmission. On that note, the engine specs on hand are for the Chinese market, and may vary from region to region.
At the moment, there is no word as to when it will arrive in the ASEAN market, let alone the Philippines. Should it make its way here, we only have one request for Nissan Philippines Inc.: Please bring back the Sentra name?
