With a New, Class-Leading 250-Horsepower V6 Engine, 2001 Nissan Pathfinder Delivers Luxury, Refinement - In A HurryThe 2001 Nissan Pathfinder premium sport utility vehicle recently entered the Nissan lineup featuring an all-new 250-horsepower engine based on the same technology as Nissan Maxima's award-winning V6, available All-Mode 4WD System (LE), a restyled interior with a new instrument panel and center console and available navigation system, and more standard power and convenience features, including a rear seat entertainment system with video cassette player and flip-down ceiling-mounted screen.
The 2001 model completes the transformation of this generation Pathfinder - originally introduced in 1996 with an entirely new body, interior and innovative MonoFrame chassis design and enhanced as a 1999.5 model with additional refinements to the exterior and its premium equipment packaging.
Engine/Suspension The 2001 Pathfinder receives a significant improvement in power with the addition of a new VQ35DE DOHC 3.5-liter 24-valve V6. Rated at 250 horsepower and 240 ft-lbs of torque with the 5-speed manual
transmission and 240 horsepower and 265 ft-lbs of torque for 4-speed
automatic transmission-equipped models, Pathfinder now has more horsepower
than some V8s available on competitors' compact sport utility vehicles. Aluminum alloy 16-inch wheels with separate designs for each model are standard on every Pathfinder, along with mud and snow-rated 16-inch steel-belted radial tires. All models have 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. "The 2001 Pathfinder is deceptively fast and has a true performance engine note - a benefit of the most powerful V6 engine in class," said Kirrane. "There's also a true sense of luxury and refinement in every other system and component." Exterior Design The 2001 Pathfinder continues the bold, aggressive appearance introduced
midway through the 1999 model year, achieved through use of a high hood with
a "milled off" top/front edge appearance, multi-parabola headlights, halogen
fog lights (standard on SE and LE) model-specific grille designs and a
muscular front fascia. Interior Design The 2001 Pathfinder continues to provide the highest level of premium equipment. Among the refinements for the new model year are a completely restyled instrument and center console, a new Dark Charcoal interior color treatment (in addition to a retuned Beige), a Bose audio system with an in-dash 6-disc CD changer and steering wheel-mounted controls (standard on SE and LE), an optional one-touch power sliding glass sunroof with tilt feature and safety reverse function (standard on LE) and available memory driver's seat. Also new for 2001 is an optional (SE, LE) dashboard-mounted navigation system with Nissan's unique three-dimensional Birdview map display. Birdview offers an easy-to-read rolling display of roads, buildings and other points of interest. An available Nissan Mobile Entertainment System features a flip-down
6.4-inch ceiling-mounted LCD monitor and video cassette player, which plays
through wireless headphones or the Bose audio system (available on SE with
A/T and LE). 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 new dual level center console with padded armrest and built-in 12-volt power source. 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 sunglass storage, a cargo area under floor mini-storage bin, a cargo area concealed storage bin and a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat. Safety Standard Pathfinder safety equipment includes dual front supplemental air bags, adjustable front shoulder belt anchors, front seat belts with pretensioners and 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. Front seat supplemental side-impact air bags, which deploy from the side of the front seats, are available as part of the optional Leather Package on LE and SE models. Model Availability The 2001 Pathfinder is again offered in both 4x2 and 4x4 drive
configurations and in three models - the well-equipped Pathfinder XE, sporty
and rugged SE and luxurious LE. The 4-speed electronically controlled
automatic transmission is standard on XE and LE Pathfinders, while the SE is
offered with a choice of automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. Several option packages are offered in 2001, allowing buyers to further tune their vehicles toward luxury or sportiness. Packages include the SE Sunroof Package and Leather Package (SE and LE models only). A limited-slip rear differential is optional on 4x4 A/T SE and LE models (it is standard on SE M/T models). Optional is the rear seat entertainment system (SE A/T and LE) and an in-dash navigation system (SE and LE). Pathfinder SE models now come standard with the Popular Package, which includes a Bose audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD changer, halogen fog lights, rear wind deflector and steering wheel audio controls. On Pathfinder LE models, the Sunroof Package now comes standard and includes a one-touch power glass sliding sunroof with tilt feature and safety reverse function. |
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