Nissan Makes an SUV For the Rest of Us
2004 Pathfinder Armada Joins Nissan SUV line-up
by Keith Burton - GCN

From Mississippi's first automobile manufacturing plant comes the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada, a full-size SUV for folks wanting some power and style. Armada's began rolling out the Canton Nissan plant just north of Jackson last week for sales across the nation.

The powerful, eight-passenger Pathfinder Armada joins a line-up of Nissan SUVs that include the popular compact Nissan Xterra SUV, the mid-size Nissan Pathfinder premium SUV and the Nissan Murano crossover SUV. The Pathfinder Armada will go on sale at 1,100 Nissan dealers nationwide later this fall.

With this new full-size SUV, Nissan now can play with the big boys. For too long Nissan didn't have a vehicle to compete with the likes of Ford Expeditions and Chevy Tahoes, a very lucrative market for auto manufacturers. The Pathfinder Armada comes in like the Spanish fleet from which its name is derived with a lot of features and power.

The Pathfinder Armada’s launch comes on the heels of the successful launch of the all-new Nissan Quest minivan on May 27th. The Quest, now in dealerships, was the first vehicle built in Mississippi, helping the state usher in an entirely new industry.

Built for outdoor family adventures, the Pathfinder Armada features a rugged, full-length boxed high-strength steel frame; an independent rear suspension; and an all-new 5.6-liter DOHC V8 engine offering one of the highest standard horsepower/torque ratings in the full-size light duty SUV class and the highest maximum towing capacity in class at 9,100 lbs.

The Pathfinder Armada sports a spacious interior, plenty of cargo room and an all-new 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve Nissan Endurance V8 engine, which is assembled at Nissan’s powertrain assembly plant in Decherd, Tenn. The Pathfinder Armada is designed for customers with active lifestyles looking for a higher level of style and more flexibility than some other full-size SUVs.

Nissan’s first full-size SUV features fold-flat 2nd and 3rd row seats, seating for either 7 or 8 passengers and a number of safety features, including Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System, LATCH child seat anchor system and Zone Body construction with front and rear crushable zones.

Later this fall, the Canton plant will launch the much-anticipated Nissan Titan King Cab and Crew Cab full-size pick-up trucks. They will be followed in early 2004 by a yet-to-be-named full-size Infiniti luxury SUV. Later in 2004, the Canton plant will become the second production source for the Altima mid-size sedan, which now is built at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tenn. assembly plant. When at full capacity, the Canton plant will produce 400,000 vehicles a year.

Nissan has invested nearly $4 billion in its three U.S. manufacturing facilities. In addition to the Altima, Nissan’s Smyrna plant builds Nissan Maxima sports sedans, Nissan Xterra SUVs, the full line of Nissan Frontier compact pickup trucks and in the fall of 2004 the next generation Nissan Pathfinder mid-size SUV. In Decherd, Tenn., employees machine components and assemble transaxles and all engines used in Nissan’s U.S.-built vehicles.

The new Pathfinder Armada is a stylish, powerful SUV with a look unique among all others. We thing Nissan has done its homework and should find its new SUV popular with consumers.

More information on Nissan and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in the United States can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.Infiniti.com.