Nissan Announces 1999.5 Pathfinder
30 December 1998
1999.5 Nissan Pathfinder Offers Refined Styling, Premium Interior and A New SE Limited Model
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DETROIT, Dec. 30 -- The 1999.5 Nissan Pathfinder is the latest refinement in a long line of Nissan sport utility vehicles. The 1999.5 model, which goes on sale this winter at Nissan dealers nationwide, features aggressive new front and rear styling, improved engine horsepower, new interior appointments, new interior and exterior colors and a new model, the Pathfinder SE Limited with two exclusive exterior treatments and a special titanium colored instrument panel.
Nissan's SUV experience began more than 38 years ago with the 1961 arrival of the Nissan Patrol. The Patrol was sold in the United States until 1969. In 1987, the original Pathfinder debuted -- a trendsetter for the wave of sport-utility vehicles coming to market in the years that followed. The 1996 model year marked the first major redesign of Pathfinder, which introduced a number of innovations, including MonoFrame(R) construction. The evolution of Nissan's sport utility vehicle lineup continues with the introduction of the 1999.5 model and the all-new Nissan Xterra, which goes on sale this summer as a year 2000 model.
Exterior Design
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The most obvious difference between the 1999 and 1999.5 Pathfinders is the all-new front end -- designed to take on a muscular, yet elegant, appearance through use of a higher hood with a "milled off" top/front edge appearance, new multi-parabola headlights, a new grille design and a new front fascia.
The rear view features a redesigned tailgate, bumper and rear combination lamps. A new tailgate finisher puts the final touch on the rear end and completes the refined, premium new look of Pathfinder.
Under the new skin, Pathfinder continues to feature MonoFrame construction -- the body, floor pan and frame are a single structure. This offers greater torsional and bending rigidity than traditional body-on-frame construction, with a weight savings over ladder frame designs. In addition, with no ladder frame or body mounts, squeaks and rattles are kept to a minimum, especially off-road. Special side member "outriggers" distribute stress evenly throughout the body at the A-, B- and C- pillars, assisting noise reduction and contributing towards the solidity of Pathfinder. MonoFrame also allows easier access to the engine compartment, an advantage for maintenance purposes.
The 1999.5 Pathfinder offers three new exterior colors: Sequoia Green Metallic, Bayshore Blue and Aspen White Pearl Glow. In addition, five colors are carried over from 1999: Cayenne Red, Mahogany Pearl, Super Black, Sierra Silver and Cloud White. The SE Limited model offers two exclusive colors in addition to the standard lineup -- Crimson Blaze Red and Sherwood Green.
Interior Design
Inside, the 1999.5 Pathfinder offers a full array of new interior fabrics with standard cloth trim. All driver controls are arranged according to the frequency of use -- the most commonly used controls are in the driver's field of vision and switches are varied in size and shape to insure that they will be recognized by touch. Various refinements enhance the driver's and passenger's comfort and convenience. A white instrument meter cluster (titanium on SE Limited) offers outstanding gauge readability day or night.
Four-way adjustable front bucket seats cradle front seat occupants with a fatigue-reducing design, consisting of higher density foam on the sides to prevent sliding in the seats and a low density foam center for comfort on long and short drives. Between the seats is a center armrest with dual level storage capacity and on either side of the occupants are large door pockets. The front passenger seat features a back pocket, perfect for map and magazine storage.
Luxury and convenience features include low-cut pile carpeting, an under-dash flip-down coin tray, overhead sunglasses storage, a cargo area under floor mini-storage bin, a cargo area concealed storage bin and a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat.
Revised interior colors include Beige and Slate in cloth or leather.
Engine/Suspension
Under the hood, Nissan adds a revised 3.3 SOHC V6 engine producing 170 horsepower and 200 ft-lbs of torque. This engine features Sophisticated Optimized Fuel Injection System (SOFIS), which optimizes the air/fuel mixture by sensing and correcting fuel delays inside the intake ports, resulting in lower emissions, increased fuel economy, and higher engine output. More than 90 percent of the engine's torque is available in the 1,500 to 1,800 rpm range, ideally suited for around-town, freeway passing and off-road excursions. Liquid-filled front engine mounts help isolate engine vibrations from the cabin and ensure smoothness and quietness.
Pathfinder is available with a 5-speed manual (on SE Limited) or electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Four-wheel drive Pathfinders feature a shift-on-the-fly transfer case, which can be engaged at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
The 1999.5 Pathfinder utilizes a 5-link rear suspension design with coil springs and stabilizer bar. A revised rear shock absorber layout gives better ride and handling control. The front suspension features independent struts with coil springs. This combination, along with the MonoFrame construction, provides a smooth, comfortable on-road ride while also offering outstanding off-road capabilities.
Wheels have been increased from 15 to 16 inches for 1999.5, along with larger tires and larger brake rotors. All models continue to receive standard 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), with Nissan's unique G-sensor system which "reads" the driving surface and adjusts braking control accordingly. Standard power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering ensures maneuverability and a tight turning radius.
In addition, more than 20 countermeasures were implemented to enhance overall NVH performance, contributing to a more luxurious driving experience.
Safety
For the first time in Pathfinder history, SE Limited and LE models offer front seat supplemental side-impact air bags as part of the optional Leather Package. The air bags emerge from the side of the front seats and add to the safety equipment standard in the 1999.5 Pathfinder -- including dual front air bags, adjustable front shoulder belt anchors, seat belt pretensioners with load limiters, pipe-style steel side-door guard beams, front and rear crumple zones, an energy-absorbing steering column, a clutch/ignition interlock feature (manual transmission) and child safety rear door locks.
Model Availability
Pathfinder XE is available in 4x2 and 4x4 models, and offers an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission, CFC-free air conditioning, newly styled polished five spoke alloy wheels, P245/70R 16 tires, roof rack rails, dark titanium bumpers and grille with body color surround, and an Immobilizer theft deterrent system.
Other standard features include a 30-second retained accessory power delay, fuel tank skid plates, black privacy glass and cloth trim. Also standard is a 6-speaker AM/FM/cassette/CD audio system with Dolby(R) noise reduction and a digital clock.
The sporty and rugged SE Limited, a new model replacing the SE, is now offered in 4x2 and 4x4 models with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The SE Limited package adds beefy P255/65R16 tires, polished five spoke alloy wheels with dark titanium pockets, black privacy glass, dark titanium fender flares, titanium badging, a unique "egg crate" radiator grille (bodycolor with dark titanium insert), tow hooks, roof rack cross bars, tubular step rails, a titanium instrument cluster and a leather- wrapped steering wheel.
For comfort and convenience, the SE Limited features suede-look cloth trim, power windows, power door locks, power heated mirrors, a remote keyless entry system, driver's seat lumbar and height adjustment controls, a rear seat center armrest and SE Limited logoed floor mats.
The ultimate luxury Pathfinder, the LE model, is available in 4x2 and 4x4 models and only with the 4-speed automatic transmission. The LE features unique painted 6-spoke alloy wheels, redesigned running boards, body color fender flares, halogen fog lamps and chrome grille with dark titanium grille insert.
Inside, the LE comes with automatic temperature control, a Bose(R) audio system, dual sunvisors with illuminated mirrors, a cargo net, an LED outside temperature gauge and digital compass, HomeLink(R) Universal Transceiver and wood-tone interior trim.
Several option packages are available again in 1999.5. The XE Popular Package offers power windows, power heated mirrors, power door locks with large door armrests, a vehicle security system with remote keyless entry, cruise control, a rear cargo cover, an envelope-type cargo net and a leather wrapped steering wheel, shift knob, and transfer case knob (on 4x4 models).
The SE Limited model opens up the option package menu. First is the SE Limited Popular Package, which offers halogen fog lights, a Bose audio system with power antenna, rear wind deflector, and an envelope-type cargo net. The SE Limited Sunroof Package adds a power sliding glass sunroof with tilt feature, and LED outside temperature gauge and digital compass, HomeLink and dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors. The SE Limited also offers an off-road package with an outside tire carrier and a limited-slip differential (4x4 models only).
The SE Limited and LE models share one option package: the Leather Package, which offers leather seating surfaces (perforated leather seats with the "SE Limited" logo embossed on SE Limited), leather-covered transmission shift lever, and in 4x4 models, a leather-covered transfer case knob. In addition, there is simulated leather door trim, 8-way power driver's and 4-way front passenger's seats, heated front seats (in 4x4 models) and side air bags.
Finally, the LE is available with the LE Sunroof Package, featuring a power sliding glass sunroof with tilt feature, and a limited-slip differential (4x4 models only).
Warranty
All Nissan models are covered by a comprehensive 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper Limited Warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile Limited Corrosion Coverage, and a Lifetime Limited Seat Belt Warranty.
