DATE=04/21/02

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=NISSAN'S POCKET ROCKET

NUMBER=5-51468

BYLINE=JOHN BIRCHARD

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

INTRO: Japan's Nissan Motor Corporation, returning to fiscal health after a near-death experience three years ago, is introducing lots of new vehicles to North America, in both its Nissan and luxury Infiniti lines. V-O-A's John Birchard reports the new products have a common theme -- spirited performance.

TEXT: Take for example, the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. (PRON: "Speck Vee") The Sentra, in its basic version, is just a nice, competent sub-compact economy sedan.

But the Sentra SE-R Spec V, which is a mouthful of a designation, is something else. Auto enthusiasts call vehicles of this nature "pocket rockets," meaning they are small, relatively inexpensive, but fast.

A spokesman for Nissan North America, Dean Case, says the car is aimed squarely at the younger generation.

/// CASE ACT #1 ///

This is something that a lot of young people, early 20's, are aspiring to. Our advertising and marketing is aimed at a very youthful market.

/// END ACT ///

That youthful market does not have a huge amount of money to spend, and the base price for the Sentra SE-R Spec V is 17-thousand dollars. For that amount, the buyer gets a 175-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual transmission, sport suspension and the usual safety, comfort and convenience items found in this class.

Natalie Neff, Road Test Editor at AutoWeek magazine, likes the package.

/// NEFF ACT #1 ///

Nissan has done a great job with their car line across the board, putting in bigger engines, lots of power. It handles well, and, most of all, our readers have said that they feel it's a great value for the money.

/// END ACT ///

But Ms. Neff says the car is not perfect.

/// NEFF ACT #2 ///

People have complained about the interior, the quality of the materials. We feel that there's too much torque-steer.

/// END ACT ///

Torque-steer occurs with front-wheel drive cars when, under heavy acceleration, the twisting power of the engine tends to pull the steering wheel away from the intended direction.

We asked Nissan's Dean Case: Who is the competition in this segment of the market?

/// CASE ACT #2 ///

Obviously, the Honda Civic has been the leader for a number of years. There's the Ford Focus S-V-T, the Subaru W-R-X, the Mazda M-P-3. So, it's a crowded field.

/// END ACT ///

But, AutoWeek's Natalie Neff says, despite the many competitors, Nissan scores well for value.

/// NEFF ACT #3 ///

There are some smaller cars that are pretty good values, including the Ford S-V-T Focus and the Honda Civic S-i. But for people who are looking for true four-door cars with usable back seats, the SE-R is kind of difficult to beat.

/// END ACT ///

The automobile business tends to run in cycles. A certain type of vehicle is popular for a few years, then fades away as a new favorite appears. It looks like affordable performance is on the upswing once again, and Nissan's version of the "pocket rocket" is ready to blast off with young buyers. (Signed)

NEB/JJB/TW