EDARAN TAN CHONG MOTOR (ETCM) INTRODUCES 2023 NISSAN LEAF 100% ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH UPDATES

• Competitive MSRP RM168,888 for CBU Japan Electric Vehicle (EV)
• Subscription Plan available for Worry-Free Ownership
• Tax exemptions provided by Government
• Special rewards for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Pioneers

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 2023 – Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) today introduces the 2023 new Nissan LEAF Electric Vehicle (EV), the world’s first EV model to be mass-produced when it was launched in 2010. Today, it is among the best-selling EVs in the world with over 600,000 units already sold globally.

The new model is an upgraded version of the second generation, which was launched in 2019 and comes with new features that increase the driving excitement and pleasure in the age of electrification.

Customers may purchase the new Nissan LEAF for RM168,888 (with tax exemptions and FOC road tax, excluding insurance) and enjoy peace-of-mind with a 3 years or 100,000km vehicle warranty and 8 years or 160,000km warranty for the lithium-ion battery.  With 20,000km scheduled service intervals, the Nissan LEAF only cost ~RM300/year – this makes it extremely affordable to maintain as well. 

Alternatively, the new Nissan LEAF is offered with the LEAF Subscription Plan that provides customers with a Worry-Free ownership experience. With the subscription plan, no down payment is required and owners pay a monthly subsription of RM1,800 for a 3-year contract. (Terms and conditions apply).

With the LEAF Subscription Plan, customers are not tied to the car for many years as the terms are shorter. Furthermore, should they wish to upgrade to other Nissan models at the end of the subscription term, they can easily do so with no worries about disposing the car first; simply return the Nissan Leaf and choose another Nissan or just end the 3-year plan.

Special Reward For ZEV Pioneers

Customers who choose the Nissan LEAF are among the pioneers of Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) in Malaysia and for a limited period, ETCM is rewarding them with a special offer. Those who purchase the model will receive a complimentary 12 months of JomCharge membership (worth RM600) for recharging their car at public chargers (107 units AC Type 2 chargers and 30 units DC CHAdeMO quick chargers with 600 credits nationwide) as well as complimentary Ice Cool Tinting worth RM2,200.  For customers using the LEAF Subscription Plan, there is a 50% discount on Ice Cool Tinting and a RM300 subsidy for 12 months JomCharge membership.

As an exclusive privilege for new Nissan LEAF owners, ETCM also offers complimentary usage of selected Nissan models for 23 days each year (terms and conditions apply) during the first 3 years of ownership. This will be useful should they have special travelling needs for their balik kampung trips or other exciting adventures. The models available are the X-Trail SUV, Serena MPV and Navara pick-up.

Nissan Intelligent Mobility

Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) is an integral part of all Nissan models. Introduced 13 years ago with the first generation of the Nissan LEAF, NIM is a suite of integrated technologies that increase not just safety but also comfort and control while driving. Three key elements make up NIM – Intelligent Driving, Intelligent Power and Intelligent Integration. With NIM, a driver can maximize excitement and driving pleasure with the Nissan LEAF every day.

New safety features have been added to the 2023 Nissan LEAF, namely Intelligent Lane Intervention & Intelligent Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, and Intelligent Rear View Mirror.

The Nissan LEAF has a 5-star safety rating from JNCAP (Japan New Car Assessment). This is the highest rating for assessments that include collision testing of vehicles as well as the performance of various active safety systems. The Nissan LEAF also passed JNCAP’s electric shock protection tests which evaluate specific aspects of EVs.

Intelligent connectivity within

Inside, the changes for the 2023 model year include a new Brand Identity badge on the steering wheel, upgrade of the center display panel to a larger 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto for connecting with smartphones. Bluetooth connectivity is also available and hands free operation of certain features is possible with Voice Recognition.

The Nissan LEAF’s roomy cabin accommodates 5 people comfortably, with the quietness that is one of the benefits of having a 100% electric drive. The rear backrest has a 60/40 split which allows the class-leading cargo area (435 litres) to be versatile. For more space, folding the rear backrests down will expand the volume by 170% to 1,176 litres. In this configuration, even a full-sized bicycle can be carried with no wheel detached.

Proven 100% electric powertrain

The new Nissan LEAF uses the proven 100% electric powertrain with a 110kW (150 ps) motor. Maximum torque of 320Nm (0-100km/h in 7.9 secs) is available almost from the moment the car starts off which adds to the driving excitement.

Based on the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) test mode, the range for the Nissan LEAF with a fully charged battery is up to 311kms.  This range should be more than sufficient for majority of Malaysian drivers daily motoring in urban and suburban conditions.

To recharge the 40kWh lithium-ion battery, three options are provided which can be done at home or while travelling. The charging port can accept two types of connectors – CHAdeMO for DC fast-charging up to 50kW or Type 2 (previously Type 1) for AC charging up to 6.6kW.  For emergencies, there is also a portable Type 2 cable which can plug into the 3-point electrical outlets. DC charging is fast and a 0% to 100% charge can be done in about 1 hour. Using AC charging from a wallbox, the time can be up to 7 hours fully charged.

Just as important as safety are reliability and durability, a hallmark of Nissan products. Although EVs are now growing in significance in the auto industry, Nissan already has more than 70 years of R&D experience with them. In particular, Nissan has leading battery technology with zero battery recalls and no major battery-related incidents during the 13 years that the Nissan LEAF has been in the world market.

Revolutionary e-Pedal technology

The Nissan LEAF’s revolutionary e-Pedal technology transforms the driving experience with a simple and amazing concept developed by Nissan. It lets drivers start, accelerate, decelerate to a complete stop by increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to just the accelerator pedal.  Driving has never been this exciting.

Advanced design updated

For 2023, the advanced design of the Nissan LEAF has received updates with a new Full-black Aero Front Grille, which features the new Nissan Brand logo for a distinctive brand Identity.  It is flanked by headlights with integrated LED day time running lights and now has black inner finishing for a more stylish appearance.

The front bumper has also been redesigned while at the rear; the Aero Spoiler has a new design with enhanced aerodynamic performance while the diffuser panel below the bumper has grey accents. The 5-spoke 17-inch alloy rims have been given a more aggressive look to indicate the sportiness, which the Nissan LEAF also possesses.

To strengthen the visual effect of the floating roof, the Nissan LEAF is offered with exclusive exterior finishes with the roof in Super Black and customers have a choice of up to 7 exciting colours: Stealth Grey, Opera Mauve, Akatsuki Sunrise Copper, Burgundy, Vivid Blue, Pure White Pearl or Midnight Black. The interior colour for the leather upholstery comes in either Graphite Black or Stone Grey.

The new Nissan LEAF is available for viewing and test-drives at selected Nissan showroom during the Nissan Electrifying Drive Event as scheduled below.

For customers who are not able to visit a Nissan showroom, they may view necessary product information and get doorstep test drive of the newNissan Leaf from the comfort of their home through Nissan Online Showroom at https://nissan.com.my/onlineshowroom/

For more information, customers can visit the Nissan Malaysia website at www.nissan.com.my  or contact the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838.

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About Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH), is the sales and marketing arm of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia. In 1957, Tan Chong Motors was appointed the franchise holder of Nissan/Datsun vehicles in Malaysia and Nissan/Datsun became the best-selling brand in the country in 1970. TCMH was listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 1974. The group is principally involved in the assembly and distribution of automobiles. To complement TCMH’s auto business, TCMH provides a wide range of services such as vehicle after sales, hire purchase financing, leasing, and insurance.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Tiffany Tan                                                                Chuah Joo Ee

T: 03-2788 3157                                                         T: 03-2788 3160

E: tiffany@tanchonggroup.com                           E: jooee.chuah@tanchonggroup.com

###

About Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH), is the sales and marketing arm of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia. In 1957, Tan Chong Motors was appointed the franchise holder of Nissan/Datsun vehicles in Malaysia and Nissan/Datsun became the best-selling brand in the country in 1970. TCMH was listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 1974. The group is principally involved in the assembly and distribution of automobiles. To complement TCMH’s auto business, TCMH provides a wide range of services such as vehicle after sales, hire purchase financing, leasing, and insurance.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Tiffany Tan
T: 03-2788 3157
E: tiffany@tanchonggroup.com

Chuah Joo Ee
T: 03-2788 3160
E: jooee.chuah@tanchonggroup.com

Continue Reading EDARAN TAN CHONG MOTOR (ETCM) INTRODUCES 2023 NISSAN LEAF 100% ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH UPDATES

NISSAN LEAF, PIONEER IN THE JOURNEY TO ZERO EMISSIONS

EVs (Electric Vehicles) are actually nothing new to the auto industry as there were actually thousands in use around 100 years ago. However, technology at that time was such that performance of EVs was restrained, while the cars with internal combustion engines became more powerful and had better performance. Of course, back then, there was no concern about the environment.

Nissan was among the first companies in Japan to develop and sell an EV, hence it is well positioned to take a leading role in driving the future of electric mobility globally and also in ASEAN. In its long history of challenging convention with iconic cars and breakthrough technologies, one very special milestone came in 1947 with the Tama, Nissan’s first zero-emission EV.

Picture: Nissan’s First Zero Emission EV – TAMA (1947)

Produced in response to petrol shortages in Japan at that time, the Tama could carry 4 persons up to 100 kms on just electric power. It was not a concept car and 1,100 of these innovative EVs were sold.

With the inspiration of having had an EV in its history, Nissan engineers again sought to develop an advanced EV and drew on decades of R&D in electric vehicles. In 1996, for example, Nissan had a running EV which used a lithium-ion battery pack, the first EV to use such a battery which offered a range of up to 200 kms because of better storage capacity. Today, lithium-ion battery packs are commonly used in EVs by all manufacturers.

Changing perceptions of EVs
The general perception of EVs before the LEAF was launched was that they were fine for use as golf course buggies or airport shuttles, but were not really suited for daily motoring. The LEAF totally changed that perception as it had powerful acceleration and excellent handling, delivering smooth driving performance. The size of the LEAF cabin was also spacious enough for 5 persons comfortable seating.

With old battery technology, the battery pack could not store much energy. But the LEAF’s high-capacity battery pack could store a lot more electricity which meant longer range. More importantly, recharging was also as easy as recharging a smartphone. And it could even be done at home. With more powerful charging stations, the time to recharge could be around an hour to reach 80% capacity, which would allow for greater distance of travel.

Fears of being electrocuted while connecting the charging cable when it was raining proved to be unfounded. Even if rain fell on the cable and around the charging port, it was still safe enough as Nissan made sure to provide all the necessary insulation and protective measures against water. For confirmation, the EV passed the Japan New Car Assessment Program’s electric shock protection test.

Taking the lead

Picture: First Generation Nissan LEAF

In 2010, more than 6 decades after the Tama, Nissan launched the world’s first-mass-market EV, putting the world on the journey to zero emissions from motor vehicles and carbon neutrality. To date, more than 600,000 customers in 59 market, including Malaysia, have chosen this zero-emission car which is a testament to its quality, reliability and safety.

Picture: Second Generation Nissan LEAF

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About Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH), is the sales and marketing arm of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia. In 1957, Tan Chong Motors was appointed the franchise holder of Nissan/Datsun vehicles in Malaysia and Nissan/Datsun became the best-selling brand in the country in 1970. TCMH was listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 1974. The group is principally involved in the assembly and distribution of automobiles. To complement TCMH’s auto business, TCMH provides a wide range of services such as vehicle after sales, hire purchase financing, leasing, and insurance.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Tiffany Tan
T: 03-2788 3157
E: tiffany@tanchonggroup.com

Chuah Joo Ee
T: 03-2788 3160
E: jooee.chuah@tanchonggroup.com

Continue Reading NISSAN LEAF, PIONEER IN THE JOURNEY TO ZERO EMISSIONS

NISSAN OFFERS THE MOST EXCITING ANG PAO YET WITH CHINESE NEW YEAR PROMOTIONS

  • Savings of up to RM9,950 with RM1,000 add-on Accessories Package
  • Service and Win Chinese New Year prizes worth up to RM388,000
  • 88 winners in the social media Spot-the-Rabbit contest

KUALA LUMPUR, January 12, 2023 – It’s the Chinese New Year festive season again, and to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has a promotion with The Most Exciting Ang Pao Yet! During the promotion period from January 1 to 31, 2023, purchasers of the new Nissan Serena, Nissan Navara, Nissan X-Trail and Nissan Almera can enjoy savings of up to RM9,950!

The promotion includes an add-on of RM1,000 for a customized Accessories Package for the respective models.

ModelNavara 2.5L Turbo VLAlmera 1.0 Turbo VLNew Serena 2.0L Highway StarX-Trail 2.0L Standard
Add-on RM1,000Protection PackageTOMEI Aero PackageLeatherette Seats & Ice Cool TintingIMPUL Aerokit
Save Up ToRM9,950RM7,000RM4,600RM4,600

Chinese New Year Aftersales Service Campaign

Safety always comes first for a pleasant journey during this Chinese New Year.  Send your Nissan vehicle for service at any Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn. Bhd. (TCEAS) Service Centre or authorized Nissan Service Dealer from January 1 to February 28, 2023 and get the opportunity to win prizes worth up to RM388,000!

Just spend a minimum of RM388 in a single bill (terms & conditions apply) and you stand a chance to win RM8, RM18, RM88, RM188, RM288, RM888 cash vouchers or ‘Ang Pao’ gifts in a lucky draw. Each customer will have one chance for the lucky draw.

Nissan Social Media Spot-the-Rabbit Contest

For those active on social media, there’s also an opportunity to win Watsons vouchers in the ‘Count & Hop Into Prosperity’ Contest in conjunction with Chinese New Year in the month of January 2023. Open to all members of the public in Malaysia, the contest runs on the Nissan Malaysia Facebook and Instagram Pages (www.facebook.com/NissanMalaysia and www.instagram.com/nissanmalaysia) with no purchase required (terms & conditions apply).

To enter the contest, all the participant has to do is count the number of rabbits hidden in the visual shown and provide the answer, together with contact details, via the Nissan Malaysia Facebook Inbox. The participant should also tag 3 friends in the comments section to complete the submission.

Submissions with the correct answers will win Watsons vouchers worth RM20 which can be used at any Watsons outlet in Malaysia. There will be a total of 88 prizes to be given out and selection of winning submissions with the correct answer will be on a first come first served basis.

What’s more!? All authorized Nissan showrooms are offering test-drives of the various Nissan models and during the promotion period, for each test-drive taken, the customer will receive Watson’s Voucher worth RM20.

Models are available for viewing and test-drives at all Nissan showroom throughout Malaysia. For customers who are not able to visit a Nissan showroom, they may view necessary product information and arrange a doorstep test-drive from the comfort of their home through the Nissan Online Showroom at nissan.com.my/onlineshowroom/.

For more information, customers can visit the Nissan Malaysia website at www.nissan.com.my or contact the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838.

STAY SAFE | STAY SMART | STAY STRONG

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About Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH), is the sales and marketing arm of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia. In 1957, Tan Chong Motors was appointed the franchise holder of Nissan/Datsun vehicles in Malaysia and Nissan/Datsun became the best-selling brand in the country in 1970. TCMH was listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 1974. The group is principally involved in the assembly and distribution of automobiles. To complement TCMH’s auto business, TCMH provides a wide range of services such as vehicle after sales, hire purchase financing, leasing, and insurance.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Tiffany Tan                                                  Chuah Joo Ee

T: 03-2788 3157                                            T: 012-517 3603

E: tiffany@tanchonggroup.com                   E: jooee.chuah@tanchonggroup.com

Continue Reading NISSAN OFFERS THE MOST EXCITING ANG PAO YET WITH CHINESE NEW YEAR PROMOTIONS

CALSONIC IMPUL Z BECOMES GT SERIES CHAMPION WITH 2ND PLACE FINISH AT MOTEGI

The final round of the SUPER GT began under clear, crisp autumn skies today at Mobility Resort Motegi, a perfect setting for closing out the season. However, early on in the race, the Nissan cars got off to a rough start. 

Katsumasa Chiyo, in the #3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z started the race from 4th position and managed to maintain this position despite contact with another car at the 5th corner on the first lap. On lap 9, between turns 3 and 4, a several-car incident caused severe damage to the rear of the #24 Z, forcing it into retirement. 

The #23 Z brushed another car that swerved to avoid the accident and had to pit to repair the damage. Immediately after this, the #3 Z was handed a drive-through penalty due to contact made on the first lap, which resulted in a significant loss of position.

On lap 15 during the dispatch of the safety car (SC), two GT300 class cars collided, resulting in an extended period under caution. One lap after the race finally resumed on lap 21, the #3 Z came in for a pit stop to refuel, change tires and change drivers to Mitsunori Takaboshi. The quickness and timing of the pit stop saw the #3 Z make up a great number of positions. The #12 Z pitted after 23 laps and maintained its position after handing the wheel to Kazuki Hiramine. The #23 Z, which had finished repairs, returned three laps down in 13th place.

As the race entered the second half and all of the top cars had pitted after 37 laps, the #12 Z was in 2nd position, 1 second behind the leader, while the #3 Z was in 5th position, both cars taking advantage of strong pace to close in on their rivals. On lap 51, the #3 Z passed one car at the first corner and moved up to 4th position. He further increased his pace and closed the gap to the car in front. The gaps between the race leader down to 4th position were around 1 second respectively as the race entered the final stages. Ultimately, the #12 Z, which finished on the podium in 2nd place, overtook the #3 Z in the series ranking to become the season champion. The #3 Z, which had to catch up from behind due to a penalty, recovered its position to 4th place and finished at 2nd place in the series rankings.

After 8 rounds of the 2022 season, the new Nissan Z GT500 took three race victories and grabbed the first series championship for the Nissan/NISMO teams in 7 years.

Following the race Kazuki Hiramine commented, “I really want to thank the fans. I’ve finally been able to grab the championship. I would also like to thank everyone on the team, everyone at NISMO, Bridgestone, and all of our sponsors. There were times when it was really tough, but the fans’ support gave me strength and I was able to come this far.” 

Bertrand Baguette added, “Thank you all so much. I am really ecstatic to be the champion. Hiramine drove a great race and led us to victory. I am really happy and still can’t believe it. It is thanks to all the fans, Nissan/NISMO, Director Kazuyoshi Hoshino, the team and my teammate. Thank you all very much.” 

TEAM IMPUL Team Principal, Kazuyoshi Hoshino followed, “Thanks to Calsonic/Marelli, Nissan, Bridgestone, I really appreciate the support of all the people involved. After joining us this year Baguette has driven really well alongside Hiramine. The more we used him, the more we realized that he is a very good driver. I would like to thank all of our sponsors and fans for their support.”

Nissan SUPER GT teams executive director, Motohiro Matsumura followed, “After a season of racing with the new Z, Nissan/NISMO are very happy to have won the series championship for the first time in seven years. In developing the new car, our goal was to create a car that could demonstrate its speed on any track while improving its overall competitiveness, and we were able to achieve these goals. We are very proud of TEAM IMPUL for achieving a great result to win the championship. I am also very happy to be able to show this achievement to our fans and would like to thank all of them again for their support.”

Five NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3 cars competed in the GT300 class, and the #56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R (Kiyoto Fujinami / Joao Paulo de Oliveira), which started 6th on the grid, overcame an accident to finish 19th and win its second GT300 class championship since 2020. The #10 TANAX GAINER GT-R (Ryuichiro Tomita / Riki Okusa) and #360 RUNUP RIVAUX GT-R (Takayuki Aoki / Teppei Natori) finished in 8th and 10th place, respectively. The #10 GT-R’s Okusa, who competed in all rounds of the series, finished 3rd in the series.

Continue Reading CALSONIC IMPUL Z BECOMES GT SERIES CHAMPION WITH 2ND PLACE FINISH AT MOTEGI

FROM SUPERCARS TO SUPER-CHARGE
A SUPERCAR LOVER’S CHOICE TO GO ELECTRIC WITH THE NISSAN LEAF

What would make a high-performance vehicle fanatic and engineer, not only change his car preference – but swap his German supercar for an electric vehicle (EV) and become the first new Nissan LEAF owner in Singapore? The answer: a 30-minute test drive, a unique car and a vision.

“I was in love immediately. I could get everything I like in a car and I knew I wanted one. I bought the car in one week,” explains a smiling Christian Sauzedde, managing director of Astuce Technologies, and Singapore’s first owner of the Nissan LEAF.

While the change from driving a supercar to an EV may sound extreme, when you come to know Christian, an energetic French-born Singapore resident of 30 years, you realize cars have become a way of representing him, his passions and his aspirations over the years. This link began early.

He recalls, growing up in Paris in the 1950s, the thrilling first moment of seeing his father move “from a bike to a car” the first encounter with the way a car can help change your life. “My father and I went to see the car and I was so excited. From that point, a car represented freedom for me. You can go anywhere you want, anytime you want.”

Then at 18, when he couldn’t afford to buy a car, Christian did the next best thing: he built a dune buggy cobbling together parts from a Volkswagen, cutting the chassis by hand, and later swapping out its engine with one from Porsche. Over the next decades Christian’s love of mechanics and engines continued with supercars – he has owned seven.

His professional career meanwhile instigated in him the most meaningful aspect of his life – consciousness about the environment. “When I started working at a paper mill in Paris, which was using wastepaper, it showed me that we shouldn’t use the world’s resources so lavishly. We should be careful with what we have,” he says. “My wife and I now own and run a company in Singapore that specializes in pulp and paper recycling. I realized that my professional activities, that save millions of tons of CO2, were not in accordance with my personal driving choices.”

Switching to an electric car was therefore a natural progression. After just one test drive, he bought the Nissan LEAF. “There are so many great things about the Nissan LEAF. The e-Pedal is one of the fantastic things. I just push one pedal and I have full power. The agility. The 150 horsepower 110 KW motor. The easiness to drive. It feels like the car does whatever you want. I don’t even feel that even in a supercar. In a supercar, you fight with the car.”

The unexpected effortlessness he felt while driving and owning an EV adds to the charm. “There’s a new pleasure of driving that you get. With the Nissan LEAF – the impression is it’s the projection of my own movement. It’s very smooth. This car is a statement and is extra fun to drive. Torque is constant at the highest gear and I don’t even miss the engine noise of a supercar!”

Beyond the driving experience, it’s the broader sustainability aspect that truly anchors his decision to go electric and to advocate it to others too.

“Being the very first new Nissan LEAF owner in Singapore is definitely a title to have! But more importantly, this car represents a change we all need to think about and feel responsible for. As the population grows, the planet doesn’t change size. We are taking more of everything. What’s going to be left in the long-term? There’s no reason to waste. Respect everything in life.”

Now six months into his electric vehicle ownership, the ultimate question that remains is: what would he now tell another supercar lover about switching to electric?

“Electric vehicles are not a compromise between performance and comfort. Just try it. Electric motors can go to extremely high speeds. The range is also perfectly convenient, as we just charge the car during our time at the office. Next, the world will be all electric. It’s a matter of time. And one day I hope this car, the Nissan LEAF, and a supercar will race side by side. I know who will win.”

Continue Reading FROM SUPERCARS TO SUPER-CHARGE
A SUPERCAR LOVER’S CHOICE TO GO ELECTRIC WITH THE NISSAN LEAF

RAIN HIT THRILLER; TEAM NISMO NISSAN Z 1-2 FINISH

September 19, 2022 – An approaching typhoon made for an exciting round 6 of the SUPER GT this weekend as it brought thick clouds, strong winds and the possibility of rain, which left everyone guessing as to how the race would unfold.

Although it qualified 3rd, the #23 MOTUL AUTECH Z was demoted 4 grids at the start of the race due to accumulated penalty points and it proceeded in 7th at the start of the race. On the other hand, the #3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z, which started from 11th, moved up one position to 10th on the first lap.

Later, in lap 13, rain began to fall and was so heavy that some parts of the track instantly became drenched. This led the #3 Z and #24 Realize corporation ADVAN Z to pit to change to wet tires on lap 15, while the #12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z did so on lap 16. The #23 Z put off pitting for longer until lap 19 when a full course yellow (FCY) was called. When all GT500 class cars had finished changing tires, the #23 Z was running in 5th, the #3 Z in 7th, the #24 Z in 9th, and the #12 Z in 12th. While the rain continued to fall, the Michelin tire sporting #23 Z and #3 Z were running at a pace around four seconds faster than their rivals, and on lap 27 the #23 Z took the lead, while on lap 28 the #3 Z moved into second place. The two cars continued maintaining this pace and began to pull away from the rest of the pack as the race entered the latter half.

On lap 44, the #23 Z came in for a pit stop to change drivers and refuel. As a result, the #3 Z took the lead, and the #23 Z returned to the race in 2nd position. The #12 Z, which had moved up to 6th position, pitted on lap 50 to change drivers and switch to dry tires, aiming to catch up in the final laps of the race. On lap 54, the #23 Z running in 2nd place also pitted and changed to dry tires. Then finally, after building up its lead on wet tires, the #3 Z came in for a driver and a tire change on lap 55. With this, the #3 Z, which ultimately required one less pit stop than the #23 Z, returned to the race a formidable 28 seconds ahead of the #23 Z in 2nd place. The #23 Z, not to be outdone though, built up an over 30-second margin over the third-placed car, leaving the Zs in a solid 1-2 position as the race entered the final stages.The #3 Z went on to win the 84-lap race, grabbing its second victory of the season. The #23 Z finished in 2nd, making this the first 1-2 finish of the season for the Zs and back-to-back wins in rounds 5 and 6. The #12 Z showed speed despite being laden with a severe success weight and achieved a commendable 5th-place finish at the end of the tumultuous race. The #24 Z was unable to improve its pace in the wet conditions and finished the race in the 14th. This result put the #3 Z at the top of the series ranking with 54 points.

Following the race, Katsumasa Chiyo stated, “We were saved by Michelin’s wet tires. This result was unexpected, but we have to win when we can as we have a strong desire to take the championship in the first year of competing in the Z.” Mitsunori Takaboshi followed, “I did not expect to have the car passed to me in the lead (laughs), but I was determined not to let my driving ruin the effort that had been made up to that point.”

In the GT300 class, five NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3s competed, and the #11 GAINER TANAX GT-R started from 17th on the grid to take 2nd place, its second podium finish this season despite carrying 60kg of success weight. The #10 TANAX GAINER GT-R finished 3rd, and the #56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R finished 4th. With this, the #56, #10, and #11 GT-Rs now hold the top three spots in the rankings.

Continue Reading RAIN HIT THRILLER; TEAM NISMO NISSAN Z 1-2 FINISH

LAST-2-FIRST WIN : SUPER GT ROUND 5

The last summer round of the 2022 SUPER GT held at Suzuka Circuit this weekend was a race that kept the fans guessing right up until the checkered flag. The beginning of the race saw Ronnie Quintarelli in the #23 MOTUL AUTECH Z, which on the previous day secured the first pole position for the Nissan Z GT500, maintain the lead while Daiki Sasaki in the #24 Realize corporation ADVAN Z held onto a 6th placed starting position. Katsumasa Chiyo in the #3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z, started from 9th and climbed up to 7th by the second lap and Bertrand Baguette in the #12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z began from 15th on the grid before moving up to 14th in the opening stages.

On lap 8, the #3 Z passed the #24 Z to grab 6th while the #12 Z moved up to 13th on lap 7 before overtaking one more rival on lap 16 to move up to 12th. Unfortunately, the #24 Z suffered tire trouble in lap 17, dropping it down to 15th. The #23 Z, which was still leading the race, came in for refuelling and a tire change on lap 18. It returned to the course in 11th position without changing drivers. On lap 20, the #3 Z also pitted and returned to the course in 12th position. The #12 Z, which delayed its first pit stop, went in on lap 34 while running in 2nd position and handed the wheel over to Kazuki Hiramine, who began a fight back up from 13th position. By the time all the GT500 class cars had made their first pit stops, the #23 Z was running in 2nd, the #3 Z in 7th, the #12 Z in 13th, and the #24 Z in 15th.

As the race entered its second half the #23 Z, now in 4th made its second pit stop on lap 42 and saw Tsugio Matsuda jump into the driver’s seat. The #3 Z running in 5th entered the pits on lap 46 where the reins were handed over to Mitsunori Takaboshi. On lap 49, a crash on 130R brought out the safety car and, just before the pit lane was closed, the #12 Z running in 6th position slipped into the pits and was able to return in 8th position and successfully cut its pit stop time loss. When the race resumed on lap 55, #23 was running in 7th, #12 Z in 8th, #3 Z in 10th, and #24 Z in 15th. As several cars were making their second pit stops, the Nissan Z GT500s increased their pace and improved their positions. By lap 60, when all GT500 machines had finished their second pit stop, the #23 Z was running in 2nd, the #12 Z in 3rd, and the #3 Z in 6th.

From here an intense battle between the #23 Z and the #12 Z unfolded and climaxed on lap 65 when the two got so close that the #12 Z was forced off course as they overtook a GT300 car. Unfortunately, the #23 Z was given a drive-through penalty, dropping it from podium contention. As for the #12 Z, now in second place, it was able to close in on the race leader, which began to lose pace in the final stages of the race, and on the 75th lap, the #12 made a pass on the inside going into the hairpin to grab the lead. From there it widened the gap and took the checkered flag to achieve a phenomenal comeback victory from a tail-end start that would also be the Nissan/NISMO camp’s 5th consecutive win at Suzuka.

Following the race, Hiramine stated, “I am surprised and ecstatic right now. I really did not expect to be able to move up from 15th on the grid to finish at the top of the podium. I poured everything I had into the race keeping [team principal] Hoshino’s words in my head, “Don’t you stop fighting until you reach the checkered flag.” Bertrand Baguette continued, “For me, this is my first win with this team, so I feel great. There are three races left so I hope we can maintain this lead”

As for the #3 Z, it closed the gap with the top runners and, when the #23 Z was penalized, it climbed up to 5th place before passing another car on lap 73 and moving into 4th place. The #23 Z, which had dropped to 6th due to a penalty, finished 5th. The #24 Z finished in the points in 10th place.

Five NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3 cars competed in the GT300 class, where the #10 TANAX GAINER GT-R (Ryuichiro Tomita / Riki Okusa / Yusuke Shiotsu), started from pole position and finished 2nd, its second podium this season despite carrying 45kg of success weight. In the series rankings, the #56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R (Kiyoto Fujinami / Joao Paulo de Oliveira) is maintaining the lead, followed by the #10 GT-R ranked 2nd.

Continue Reading LAST-2-FIRST WIN : SUPER GT ROUND 5

EDARAN TAN CHONG MOTOR (ETCM) LAUNCHES NEW 2022 NISSAN SERENA S-HYBRID WITH 360° SAFETY SHIELD

•    Facelifted Serena S-HYBRID priced from RM149,888  inclusive Sales Tax

•    Two variants available – Highway Star and Premium Highway Star with 360° Safety Shield for enhanced motoring safety

•    Proven S-HYBRID tech for improved fuel economy in city driving

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6, 2022 – Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), distributor and importer of Nissan vehicles for over 60 years, is pleased to announce the launch of the new Nissan Serena S-HYBRID with enhanced styling and safety features.

“Edaran Tan Chong Motor introduced the first Family MPV in 1997 and since then, 4 generations of the Serena have served and met the needs of multiple generations of Malaysian families, providing wonderful moments together.  More than 45,000 units have been sold nationwide to date, and in 2021, it was the best-selling Non-National Mid-size MPV in the country,” said Daniel Ho, Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Chong Motor Holdings.

Asako Hoshino, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. said, “Malaysia has been an important part of Nissan’s journey in ASEAN since 1957.  Nissan will continue to strive to meet our customers’ expectations by focusing on technological innovation and electrification, which will benefit both customers and society.  The introduction of the new 2022 Nissan Serena S-HYBRID today demonstrates our commitment to Malaysia.”

“When we launched the Nissan Serena S-HYBRID, it was among the first hybrid models to be assembled in Malaysia and it is still the only locally-assembled hybrid MPV. This new generation of Serena has a very extensive list of features that give it a premium image – without the premium price.  Now, to make it even better value for money, it comes with added safety features and fresh styling in line with the latest Nissan design language,” Mr. Daniel said.

Mr. Daniel said that although there is the ongoing global shortage of microprocessors and also logistics issues affecting production, Tan Chong Motor Assemblies (a subsidiary of the Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad) has done its best to minimize waiting periods for all the Nissan models it assembles at the factory in Serendah, Selangor.

 “Thanks to the cooperation of our customers who have booked the new Serena S-HYBRID early, we are able to plan better and schedule production more accurately to minimize waiting time. Since we open for bookings, we have received more than 2,000 orders,” he said, adding that those who have booked a vehicle before June 30, 2022, will be able to enjoy the sales tax exemption.

For the ‘early bird’ customers who made bookings, ETCM will show its appreciation with 5 times alternate free Maintenance Services (inclusive of Parts & Labour) and the warranty period will also be up to 5 years with unlimited mileage (terms and conditions apply).

Depending on the variants, there are up to 4 colour choices and for the Serena Premium Highway Star, there is a 2-tone exterior colour scheme with the roof finished in black.  The body colour choices for this variant are Dark Metal Grey, Brilliant White, Radiant Red and Diamond Black.

For the Serena Highway Star, three exterior body colours are available for customers to choose from: Brilliant White, Tungsten Silver and Diamond Black.

Confidence and Premium-ness

While retaining the elegant presence of its design, the new Serena S-HYBRID has been given cosmetic changes which embody confidence and enhance the aura of premiumness.  These include Redesigned Dual Projector LED Headlamps, and a New V-motion Front Grille with a majestic and sophisticated chrome pattern.  There is also a Redesigned Front Bumper with integrated Fog Lamps and Daytime Running Lights at each corner, while the Rear Bumper has added Gloss Black Finishing for a classy touch. Newly designed rear LED tail lights also identify the latest Serena.

To add to the premium ambience within, soundproofing liners have been added to the rear wheel housing.  This supresses NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) levels to deliver a quieter, more serene experience for all passengers.

All-round Safety and Protection

Safety has always been at the forefront of any Nissan vehicle sold to the public.  Nissan has developed a range of Nissan Intelligent Mobilitytechnologies that can help make motoring safer by assisting the driver.  These technologies make up the 360° Safety Shield to give complete all-round protection.

For the new Serena S-HYBRID, the 360° Safety Shield has enhanced Active Safety with an extensive range of systems that improve the driver’s awareness of the surroundings as well as take action to prevent a collision.  The 5 newsystems added are Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning&Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

While most of the systems will provide alerts to the driver when there is another vehicle nearby and there is a risk of collision, the Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning & Intelligent ForwardEmergency Braking systems go further.  The radar sensor located in the front of the vehicle detects the distances between the two cars ahead, as well as their relative speed.  This allows the system to assess the situation ahead of the Serena and determine whether there is a collision risk.

If the driver does not respond correctly when alerted (by braking or slowing down), the system will automatically apply the brakes (Automatic Emergency Braking).  In this way, a potential collision with a vehicle ahead could be avoided or if not, then the damage could be reduced due to the lowered impact speed.

Also helping the driver’s awareness of the surroundings is the Intelligent Around View Monitor with Intelligent Moving Object Detection.  The monitor shows a simulated image of an overhead view of the vehicle, allowing the driver to see what is on all sides.  The sensors can also detect moving objects and will alert the driver so that he or she will exercise caution.

On long journeys, fatigue can set in and make the driver drowsy.  While the Lane Departure Warning system will alert the driver if the vehicle starts to drift out of its lane dangerously, there is also an Intelligent Driver Alertness system that will watch the driving behaviour.  If it determines that the driver is behaving in a manner that suggests drowsiness, an alert will come on and the driver should take a break.

As with all Nissan models today, airbags are provided for reduction of potential injuries.  Because of the length of the cabin, the Serena has not only front and side airbags for the front occupants but also full-length curtain airbags along the sides.  These will deploy downwards upon a severe side impact, giving added protection to the occupants in the second and third rows.  By covering the window openings, the risk of an occupant being ejected during a violent accident can be reduced.

Hybrid tech for efficiency

Nissan S-HYBRID tech continues to power the MPV and the hybrid drivetrain incorporates an Energy Control (ECO) electric motor which controls the idle-stop system.  It alsoprovides torque assistance on moving off, the period when the engine is under high load.  The assistance reduces this load, thereby improving fuel efficiency.  The S-HYBRID system gives some of the benefits of a hybrid powertrain without the associated high costs.

The petrol engine is a 2.0-litre Twin CVTC (Continuously-variable Valve Timing Control) 4-cylinder unit which has proven its reliability and durability over the years.  It is equipped with a Dual Arm Tensioner which optimises tensile force on the belt to reduce friction, power losses and increases fuel efficiency.  An ECO MODE can also be activated to assist the driver to improve fuel efficiency without losing driving pleasure or comfort.

The hybrid drivetrain is paired with the Nissan XTRONIC CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with Adaptive Shift Control to coordinate control between engine and transmission.  The intelligent control system interprets the driver intentions from the acceleration and steering and determines the optimum transmission ratios to deliver class-leading fuel efficiency.

Motorists understandably have concerns about the higher cost of petrol nowadays.  So it will be appreciated that the Serena S-HYBRID, classified as an Energy Efficient Vehicle, has a fuel consumption of 14.2 kms per litre.  This allows it to travel up to 852 kms on a fuel tank of fuel, reducing the need to visit the station frequently.

Thoughtful and Convenient

The new Serena S-HYBRID makes travelling in the MPV so much more convenient and enjoyable for the driver and passengers.  Popular and highly appreciated standard features such as the Dual Back Door and Hands-Free Dual Power Sliding Doors are retained.

The Dual Back Door concept is unique to the Serena and provides convenient and faster access to the ample cargo area.  For large and tall items, the whole of the rear door can be raised but if there are small items like groceries, it is unnecessary to lift the whole door.  The upper half can be opened separately and the items can be easily dropped inside. This is also extremely useful in tight spaces.

While powered dual sliding doors are found on many MPVs these days, the Hands-Free Dual Power Sliding Doors on both sides of the Serena are less common and usually available only on more expensive models.  With the hands-free capability, the doors can be opened by just placing a foot under the side of the vehicle (provided the remote key fob is in the pocket or handbag).  A sensor will detect the foot and automatically power the door open.

This hands-free feature will certainly be appreciated when carrying many bags, and the hands are full.  Rather than having to put them on the ground to press a button or pull the handle, using the foot can open either door.  The remote control can also be used to open the doors from a short distance away.  For safety, movement of the doors will be immediately stopped if there is any resistance as they close.

As almost everyone has at least one portable electronic device nowadays, recharging the battery is a daily requirement.  When in the Serena, there won’t be fighting over the recharging port as up to 7 USB ports are provided around the cabin.

Spacious 7-seater

The spacious interior of the new Serena S-HYBRID is one of its stronger selling points and its versatile seat configurations allows up to 7 persons on board.  Extra comfortable Captain Seats are installed in the second row and these come with individual armrests and extra-long slide adjustment.  The front passengers and those in the second row also enjoy superior comfort in the Zero Gravity Seats that are proven to reduce fatigue due to their neutral posture position inspired by NASA studies.

Quality materials are used for the Serena and with the Premium Highway Star variant, combination Nappa leather that is quilted deliversthe premium look and feel.  Customers can choose either brown or black for this upholstery.

Entertainment on the move is provided by a 6-speaker infotainment system that is managed from a new advanced 9-inch full-colour touchscreen infotainment.  Besides the standard functions, there is also Apple CarPlayTM and Android AutoTM connectivity, enabling favourite apps from compatible smartphones to be transferred onto the display panel.  This means that navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze can be viewed and accessed from the touchscreen and/or voice-activated too.

The Premium Highway Star variant also come with an 11.6-inch LCD panel that folds down from the ceiling.  This allows the rear passengers to enjoy movies or other AV entertainment while on the move.  For parents with restless kids, this will certainly be a useful distraction when the journey is long!

Available in two variants, the pricing of the new Serena S-HYBRID is as follows:

*Price in Peninsular Malaysia.
*All prices are inclusive of sales tax but without Insurance and for Private Individual registration only.
*5-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Available at all showrooms

The new Serena S-HYBRID is available for viewing and test-drives at all Nissan showroom throughout Malaysia.  For customers who are not able to visit Nissan showroom, they may view necessary product information and get doorstep test drive of the newSerena from the comfort of their home through Nissan Online Showroom at https://nissan.com.my/onlineshowroom/

What’s more?  If a purchase decision is made, via Lazada Nissan Flagship store, a low-booking fee payment online is available and our Sales Representative will be in touch to assist in completing the purchase process. For more information, customers can visit the Nissan Malaysia website at www.nissan.com.my or contact the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838.

Stay Strong, Stay Smart, Stay Safe.

###

About Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH), is the sales and marketing arm of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia. In 1957, Tan Chong Motors was appointed the franchise holder of Nissan/Datsun vehicles in Malaysia and Nissan/Datsun became the best-selling brand in the country in 1970.  TCMH was listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 1974. The group is principally involved in the assembly and distribution of automobiles. To complement TCMH’s auto business, TCMH provides a wide range of services such as vehicle after sales, hire purchase financing, leasing, and insurance.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Tiffany Tan                          
T: 03-2788 3157                 
E: tiffany@tanchonggroup.com

Continue Reading EDARAN TAN CHONG MOTOR (ETCM) LAUNCHES NEW 2022 NISSAN SERENA S-HYBRID WITH 360° SAFETY SHIELD

EDARAN TAN CHONG MOTOR (ETCM) TO LAUNCH NEW 2022 NISSAN SERENA S-HYBRID WITH PREMIUM STYLING AND MORE SAFETY FEATURES

  • Facelifted Serena S-HYBRID to have estimated price from less than RM150,000
  • Bookings open and accepted with minimum of RM1,000
  • Free 5 times Alternating Maintenance Service (Parts & Labour) and 5 years unlimited mileage warranty

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 June 2022 – Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), distributor and importer of Nissan vehicles for over 60 years, will soon introduce a new Nissan Serena S-HYBRID with premium styling and safety features. The Serena S-HYBRID was among the first hybrid models to be assembled in Malaysia and is still the only locally-assembled hybrid MPV.

Orders are now accepted at all authorized Nissan showrooms nationwide with first deliveries to take place in July 2022.  Two variants will be available with the following estimated pricing (without insurance):

*Sales Tax Included

ETCM encourages customers to make their booking early (minimum amount of RM1,000) to secure a booking in the system.  It will also help the assembly plant to schedule production more accurately and minimize waiting time as disruptions continue due to semiconductor microprocessor shortages and global shipment delays. Depending on the variants, there are up to four colour choices.

New Nissan Serena S-HYBRID

For the ‘early birds’ making bookings, ETCM has a special offer to save money when they are owners.  Five free Maintenance Services (inclusive of Parts & Labour) will be provided at alternate intervals (10,000 kms, 30,000 kms, 50,000 kms, 70,000 kms and 90,000 kms), and the warranty period will also be up to 5 years with unlimited mileage.  Terms and conditions apply.

Besides the premium styling and new safety technologies that reflect beneficial advanced tech, the new Serena S-HYBRID continues with thoughtful convenience features such as a Dual Back Door, Hands-Free Dual Power hat have been very appreciated by many Serena owners. The spacious interior has a versatile 13 Seating Configuration with Captain Seats on the second row equipped with individual armrests and extra-long slide adjustment.  Front passengers and those in the second row enjoy fatigue-free comfort in the Zero Gravity Seats.  Quality materials such as combination Nappa leather are applied on the seats to offer a superior comfort and premium-ness.

With its 7-passenger capacity, safety tech is even more important to ensure that the best protection is provided.  Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) consists of a suite of advanced technologies with both Active Safety and Passive Safety systems.

5 smart intelligent technologies have been added to the new Serena S-HYBRID to enhance Active Safety.  The suite now includes Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Forward Collision Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.  Nissan’s renowned Around View Monitor (360 camera) is a standard equipment too.

The new Serena S-HYBRID tech continues to power the MPV using a 2.0-litre Twin CVTC hybrid drivetrain. Its ECO (Energy Control Motor) electric motor provides torque assistance on take-off, reducing demands on the petrol engine, thereby improving fuel efficiency. This gives some of the benefits of a hybrid powertrain without the associated high costs.

More details on the new Serena S-HYBRID will be announced closer to the launch date in early July ’22.  In the meantime, customers who require more information can visit the Nissan Malaysia website at www.nissan.com.my.  They can also contact the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838, or contact their regular friendly Nissan Sales Advisor too.

Stay Strong, Stay Smart, Stay Safe.

###

About Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH), is the sales and marketing arm of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia. In 1957, Tan Chong Motors was appointed the franchise holder of Nissan/Datsun vehicles in Malaysia and Nissan/Datsun became the best-selling brand in the country in 1970.  TCMH was listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 1974. The group is principally involved in the assembly and distribution of automobiles. To complement TCMH’s auto business, TCMH provides a wide range of services such as vehicle after sales, hire purchase financing, leasing, and insurance.

For media enquiries, please contact: Tiffany Tan                          
T: 03-2788 3157                 
E: tiffany@tanchonggroup.com

Continue Reading EDARAN TAN CHONG MOTOR (ETCM) TO LAUNCH NEW 2022 NISSAN SERENA S-HYBRID WITH PREMIUM STYLING AND MORE SAFETY FEATURES

#3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z POWERS TO VICTORY AT SUZUKA

SUZUKA, Japan – Round 3 of the SUPER GT was held at Suzuka Circuit under scorching summer-like conditions which set the stage for a fiery performance from the Nissan Z GT500. A fierce battle for the lead immediately unfolded at the start of the race and the #3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z driven by Katsumasa Chiyo leapt into 2nd position by the 2nd corner and passed the leader at 130R to take the top spot before the first lap was completed. The #24 Realize corporation ADVAN Z also moved up a position to 9th while the #23 MOTUL AUTECH Z pushed through to 11th by the end of the first lap. Unfortunately, the #12 CALSONIC IMPUL Z had trouble and was forced to retire. The #3 Z pulled away from the rest of the pack at a brisk pace, and by the end of lap 10, was running at the top with a 4.6 second gap. The #24 Z and #23 Z moved up to 8th and 10th positions when other cars pitted then on lap 11, an accident involving a GT300 car brought out the safety car (SC). The race resumed on lap 15, with the three Zs maintaining their positions.

The GT500 class machines began pitting to refuel and change drivers on lap 19 and after all had completed their stops, Mitsunori Takaboshi driving the #3 Z again pulled away from the rest of the field at a solid pace, eventually building up a mammoth lead of more than 16 seconds over the rest of the field. The #24 Z driven by Kohei Hirate was running in 9th, and the #23 Z driven by Tsugio Matsuda was in 10th. On lap 34, when some other cars had to head back to the pits, the #24 Z moved up to 8th and the #23 Z to 9th.

On lap 39, an accident involving a GT500 car and a GT300 car brought out the SC for the second time. The race resumed on lap 44 with 9 laps to go, and the #3 Z’s margin of over 20 seconds had been eliminated, making for a final super sprint to the finish line. Takaboshi accomplished a perfect restart and was able to rebuild a nearly 3 second lead in the following lap, before comfortably passing the checkered flag with room to spare. This achieved the fourth GT500 victory in a row at Suzuka for the Nissan / NISMO teams.

After the restart, the #24 Z increased its pace and passed one car on lap 45 to take 7th, and then began reeling in the next car towards the end of the race, ultimately overtaking it in the last lap to finish in 6th position. The #23 Z was given a drive-through penalty due to contact with a GT300 car in the middle of the race, which unfortunately dropped it back to 12th place.

Following the race #3 driver, Katsumasa Chiyo stated, “I am really happy to be able to repay the team with this result. I really want to thank the team, the people who developed the car, and the tire manufacturer.” Mitsunori Takaboshi added, “After competing in the GT500 class for four years with KONDO Racing I’m glad to finally capitalize on the experience I gained there and grab a win”.

Six NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3 cars competed in the GT300 class and the #56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R (Kiyoto Fujinami / Joao Paulo de Oliveira) finished on the podium in 3rd place to gain enough points to maintain the series lead. The #34 BUSOU raffinee GT-R (Masataka Yanagida/ Yuji Ide) fought back hard from a 21st qualifying position to finish in 6th.

For more information, please visit the Nissan Global Newsroom.

Contact

Maria C. De Juana
Head of communications, Nissan global motorsports
Phone: +33 617 36 37 61
mdejuana@nissan-europe.com

Sophie Rowlatt
Press officer, Nissan global motorsports
Phone: +44 7392 190 706
srowlatt@prismteam.com

Continue Reading #3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL Z POWERS TO VICTORY AT SUZUKA