Indeed the all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star, launched yesterday, was essentially Nissan version of the third-generation Mazda Premacy/5. When I observed what's the difference on the exterior view, it's kinda appreciated that the new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star ditched Mazda's Nagare design placed on the third-generation Mazda Premacy. Why did Nissan do with that kind of approach?
First off, the Highway Star range on most Nissan minivans such as the Roox, Elgrand, and Serena, are hughly successful when it comes to styling and for the latest Nissan Lafesta Highway Star, this model focuses on style. First off, take a third-generation Mazda Premacy as a donor car, modify the front, remove the waves from the side view, and style is a necessity. Without Mazda's Nagare design, the all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star looks good. No Nagare, no problem.
The all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star is now here and feel free to schedule test drives at your nearest Nissan Red Stage dealers or Nissan Blue Stage dealers throughout Japan. If you have to choose between the third-generation Mazda Premacy (CWEFW) and the all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star (CWEFWN/CWEAWN), what would you prefer?
The arc Nissan fans been waiting for has arrived! The all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star provides a perfect blend of style, performance, comfort, and ecology, fused into one unique package. The all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star is sourced from the Mazda's Hiroshima Plant and in fact, the new Lafesta Highway Star is essentially an OEM version of the third-generation Mazda Premacy/5 (CWEFW).
When Nissan asked Mazda for their own version of the third-generation Mazda Premacy, there is only one condition before this Nissan version of the third-generation Premacy became a reality; discard the Nagare design.
It's good to say that the all new 2012 Nissan Lafesta Highway Star looks good without Mazda's Nagare design flowed from the third-generation Mazda Premacy/5 because the Nagare design will ruined its Highway Star status. How did the Highway Star trim became a sub-name for the new Lafesta? It's simple, the Highway Star variants in most Nissan minivans such as the Elgrand E52, Serena C26, and the Nissan version of the Suzuki Palette/Palette SW known as the Roox are highly successful and the reason to create a spin-off model is to provide a blend of style, performance, comfort, and ecology for the customers. What we're worrying now is Nissan halted production of the old Lafesta and the remaining will be sold under a new name "LAFESTA JOY" to differentiate it to the Mazda Premacy-sourced spin-off.
2012 Nissan Lafesta Highway Star interior
Open those two sliding doors with the use of the remote and you are ready to explore its 6+1 seater capacity. The middle seat at the 2nd row can be adjusted to make it as an armrest of as an access to the 3rd row seats. The new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star is born to be a multipurpose passenger vehicle and we salivated over it if we want to find one as a converted grey market import. Hey, does this Nissan version of the Mazda Premacy would come to Hong Kong soon? Not sure but be patient.
2012 Nissan Lafesta Highway Star
The all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star is available in three engine types. First is the LF-VE (2.0L 4-cylinder DOHC S-VT) engine, second is the LF-VD (2.0L 4-cylinder DOHC S-VT DISI) engine, and third is the LF-VDS (2.0L 4-cylinder DOHC S-VT DISI) engine with the Idle Stop & Go feature. The LF-VE engine has 139PS/6,500rpm of power output, 17.9kg-m/4,000rpm of torque output, and fuel economy of 11.2km/L (10-15 mode). This LF-VE engine is exclusive to the 4WD variants. Meanwhile, the LF-VD Gasoline Direct Injection engine contributes a power output of 150PS/6,200rpm, 19.0kg-m/4,500rpm of torque output and 15.0km/L (10-15 mode) of fuel economy. Available at the Lafesta Highway Star J Package. The LF-VDS engine has the same specs as the LF-VD engine but it is equipped with the idling stop function, making it the sixth member of the Nissan Pure Drive range. This function can shut off this engine when stationery like for instance, stopping at the red light. With this feature, fuel economy is 16.0km/L (10-15 Mode) so this makes it a class-topping minivan because of its superb ecology.
The all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star comes with five exterior colors such as Crystal White Pearl, Aluminum Silver Metallic, Metropolitan Grey Pearl, Sparkling Black Pearl, and Copper Red Pearl.
My Comment:
Perhaps this is a spin-off, I can't call it a new generation but with the all new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star, you can experience a new blend of family carrier on the go. Without Mazda's Nagare design, this is something we can fall in love at. It's odd that the front view has the grille of the Nissan Serena C26 while the whole body was derived from the third-generation Mazda Premacy/5. This minivan felt like it was taking a face off against its rivals face-to-face. I'm sure we can pray to have one as a converted gray market import from Subic, Manila, Port Irene, or wherever the heck Japan surplus cars are sold. The all new Lafesta Highway Star looks good without the plain-looking Nagare lines. Sounds cheesy but flattering.
Those JDM fans wondering what would the Nissan version of Mazda Premacy (Mazda 5) CWEFW will look like finally met their answer. The Nissan version of the latest Mazda Premacy/5 is the 2012 Nissan Lafesta Highway Star.
Details remain slim for now but what I'm guessing is that the second-generation Nissan Premacy, I mean, Lafesta Highway Star would be equipped with the idling stop function and the 2.0L LF-VDS engine found on the Premacy. We'll have to wait more for details on the Nissan version of the Mazda Premacy such is the new Lafesta Highway Star.
Also, the previous Lafesta will have to keep it under the new name, Lafesta Joy, which means that there will be two kinds of Lafestas to choose. Sales of the new Lafesta Highway Star commencing this summer 2011.
In translation; Nissan plans for an OEM version of the 3rd-generation Mazda Premacy (known worldwide as the Mazda 5) and it will be on effect this late spring 2011.
I have a probability that the Nissan version of this latest-generation Mazda Premacy will replace the Lafesta but will this work?
Seen here is a not-so-special, special edition Mazda Premacy 20CS, called the Mazda Premacy 20CS Aero Style.
There are mild upgrades on this special edition, entry-level, Mazda Premacy variant; this comes with a discharge headlamp, side skirts, rear spoiler, and 15-inch rims. On the interior, silver panels on the steering wheel and the shift lever.
Nothing's too special about this special edition model, but it's a good start since this special edition's fleshed out since December 15, 2010, and it will cost about 1,899,000 to 1,999,000 Japanese yen or about 1,350,000 to 1,400,000 Philippine Pesos as predicted.
The new third-generation Mazda Premacy (known as the Mazda 5):
and the all-new, fourth-generation, Nissan Serena C26
Both of these Japanese minivans are fuel-efficient, family-friendly, idling-stop powered, eco-minivans, but which eco-friendly minivan takes the center stage among Japanese families?
CASE ONE:
Launched in Japan since July 1, 2010, the new Mazda Premacy (Mazda 5) is powered with the fuel-efficient 2.0-litre LF-VDS engine packed with Mazda's innovative i-stop idling stop system. This engine packs a power output of 150PS and the outstanding fuel economy of 16.0km/L. Although I admit it that the Premacy is more fuel efficient than any other JDM minivans. I just really hope that Mazda Philippines gets one of these eco-friendly minivan. The design was borrowed from the Mazda Axela (Mazda 3), making it a nice minivan we wish to have.
CASE TWO:
Available this late November 2010, the new Nissan Serena C26 is the fourth of the Nissan Pure Drive range, a range consisting of eco-cars such as the new Nissan March K13, X-Trail Clean Diesel, and Fuga (Infiniti M) Hybrid. Under the hood, the new Serena C26 is powered with the new direct-injection MR20DD engine complete with Idling Stop system and Nissan's XTRONIC CVT. The fuel economy of the new Nissan Serena C26 is about 15.4km/L. Sadly, its fuel economy was not good enough to outperform the fuel economy of the new Premacy.
Rest assured. The Mazda Premacy stacks up against the Nissan Serena, but if style was an issue, the new Nissan Serena wins. Think of it minivan fanatics, no matter which of these are fuel efficient, you still want to decide by yourself. Both of these are a winner to me.
After its preview in Geneva, in March, and now on sale in Japan, the new generation Mazda Premacy (known as the Mazda 5) indulges the flavor of becoming the most fuel-efficient minivan today, and it is also one of the main reasons we want to have, aside from the new Mazda Axela (Mazda 3) to arrive in the Philippines soon.
Using the same "Nagare" design flow from the Mazda Axela, the true beauty of the new Premacy is distinctively Japanese, and the side view adds a nice touch, indulging every family to gander at every astonishing detail and using its new look as an excuse from its rivals.
Despite the beautiful exterior design, the interior quality is not nearly as perfect as the outside view since it copied most from the Mazda Atenza (Mazda 6), meaning there is nothing too perfect about the interior quality of the new Premacy. However, the new Premacy is a 6+1 seater thanks to the middle seat found on the second row that can be used as an armrest. If you have one more passenger to seat, flip the armrest from the second-row seat to turn from a 2nd row 2-seater to a 2nd-row 3-seater. See? It does not seem to be redundant using its feature. Aside from that, you can use the middle seat as access to the third row, if you have any passengers to seat with, especially the kids.
Good to know that the fuel-efficient i-stop technology from the second-generation Mazda Axela and the Mazda Biante is also included in the new Premacy, providing the 2.0L DOHC 16-Valve engine with the outstanding fuel economy of 16.0km/L of fuel economy. This fuel economy is sure enough to outperform the fuel efficiency of the Honda RK StepWGN/StepWGN Spada.
My thoughts about the Premacy:
We are sure that this latest model is more like a minivan version of the Mazda Axela (Mazda 3) thanks to its familiar design. With i-stop equipped, the Mazda Premacy can be the most fuel-efficient minivan today, giving the new meaning of the FTW acronym "for the world,” if I do say so myself. For its interior, the middle seat from the second row is a valuable tool not just as an armrest but also as easy access for the third row. It is perfect for mothers who are busy with themselves, especially fetching the kids from school. Since it is summertime in Japan, the new Mazda Premacy is the perfect getaway vehicle for the entire Japanese family, guaranteed to make the entire Japanese summer getaway memorable.
