Striking hard with the Cefiro

It’s been some time since the public saw some activity in the crisis-hit and virtually moribund mid-sized sedan segment. But determined to buck bearish sales in that class, Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI) unveiled last Thursday its flagship new Cefiro — one of perhaps only two stalwarts in the M-class segment — at a press launch at the Dusit Hotel in Makati.

The new Cefiro is 60 mm longer than the previous model. It is also 10 mm wider, 20 mm taller and has a 50-mm longer wheelbase. Understandably, the range-topping Cefiro Brougham model weighs 26 kilos more than its older equivalent.

Outwardly, the new Cefiro retains much of the elegant look and overall stance of the older model. The key differences are in the new 4-lamp Complex Surface Reflector headlamps, the new European car-inspired taillamps and the upright hood ornament for the Brougham variant.

Like its predecessor, the new Cefiro comes loaded to the gunwales with all manner of Sybaritic creature comforts and amenities. Forget all-power features, CD players and wood-and-leather trim. You can get that in compact cars nowadays.

Instead, say hello to the Cefiro Brougham’s ceiling-mounted 6-inch LCD screen and a 6-disc CD/VCD player neatly stashed on the side of the trunk, both matched to a high-end Clarion 1-DIN full-logic audio system. So what if your daughter’s Sentra Exalta Grandeur has an LCD screen and 6-disc VCD player, too. Bet her car doesn’t have an audio/video/aircon control panel nestled in the rear armrest (with dual cupholders) like yours. And you can be sure, too, that only your car has two-way power-adjustable rear seats.

But that’s not all. The new Cefiro has a fully automatic climate control system, rear aircon vents, rear window sunshades, an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, steering wheel-mounted audio/video controls, a digital rear distance warning system and rear backup sensor, fog and cornering lamps, remote doorlock and trunklid control with Nissan’s anti-theft system, as well as speed-sensing door locks. A nice touch is the classically designed analog clock that resides in the center if the dash.

The two-tone Brougham adds body protective mouldings, a 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat, a head-up digispeed display and a rear armrest-located power socket for laptop computers. The Cefiro Elite, on the other hand, comes with a power two-way moonroof.

All Cefiros are powered by Nissan’s acclaimed VQ-series 24-valve 2.0-liter DOHC V6 engines (developing 165 ps@6400 rpm and 19.3 kg-m@4000 rpm of torque) mated to electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmissions. Suspension is virtually carried over from the previous model with MacPherson struts in front and an improved version of Nissan’s patented smooth-riding multi-link beam at the rear.

State-of-the-art braking performance is provided by front ventilated discs/rear solid discs with ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Braking Assist System (BAS). Wheels are made of aluminum alloy with a 15x6.5 size wrapped by 205/65R-15 Goodyear Eagle tires.

The Cefiro Elite has a retail price of P1,360,000 while the Brougham stickers at P1,680,000. Both come in six colors: Raven Black, Polar White, Sparkling Silver, Phantom Silver, Majestic Gray, and Mica Stone.