This article is reproduced from the WeChat public account “autocarweekly”
Author: Xue Yafu
The development of the automotive industry over the past century has been a diversified dream journey.
If it were not for the fierce competition between luxury brands, the grand scene of the booming automotive industry representing human technological evolution would not have been possible. It is the most basic framework for building modern human society. Every era’s cars embody different understandings of the new era, so much so that every detail in the history of the automotive industry is vivid, magnificent, and interesting.
Let’s talk about the ancestor of Mercedes-Benz. The true greatness of Karl Benz lies in the fact that the Karl Benz Prototype 1 ended the era of carriages and marched boldly into the era of the internal combustion engine. It not only changed the direction of industrial development, but also completely overturned human understanding of travel space. In the trendy words of today, “the inventor of the car invented the car again”. When something can overturn industry traditions, it naturally becomes a benchmark and a necessary factor for luxury brands.
Following the same logic, I fully agree with Cadillac’s slogan – “All greatness begins with a brave start.” The Cadillac Coupe de Ville, launched in 1948, completely broke the aesthetic understanding of cars at that time by designers and engineers. It turned out that cars could be like Cartier, Swarovski and other jewelry, with emotional expression and personality. As the first car with a vertical tail fin, it drew inspiration from the dual rudder of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. The Coupe de Ville can also be regarded as the first modern luxury car to pay so much attention to streamlined design.
In fact, the 1940s and 1950s were the era when car design began to be enlightened. In order to meet the increasing demand for interior space and the requirement for front-mounted engines, car styling underwent another major transformation in history: the A-pillar moved rearward, and the body focused on the design standards of lines and wind resistance, reducing the situation where the vehicle sways horizontally at high speeds, which is both conducive to good looks and enhances safety.
Slowly, people began to pursue comfort and riding experience again. Also, due to the continuous increase in vehicle speeds, the probability of traffic accidents also increased. According to the statistics of traffic accidents at that time, the probability of cervical spine injury was higher in accidents. Therefore, after continuous research by vehicle safety development engineers, the United States promulgated the “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act” in 1966, which enforced requirements for the construction and fixing of car seats. Three years later in 1969, it became mandatory for car manufacturers to equip new cars with headrests to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers.# In 1959, Volvo introduced the world’s first car equipped with a three-point safety belt, making it a new selling point for the brand. This led to other car manufacturers seeking breakthroughs in car safety. In 1967, Mercedes-Benz engineers began researching airbag technology and purchased a gas generator from a US company involved in missile research, thus starting the research path for airbags. It wasn’t until February 1980 that Mercedes-Benz installed airbags on the S-Class, becoming the first car model with an airbag.
Since the inception of cars, people have always strived to make the driving experience more enjoyable. Consumers have begun to demand higher standards for details that were previously overlooked, such as car audio systems. Cadillac played a significant role in the development of car audio systems as the first brand to offer custom-made audio systems. In 1983, Cadillac and Bose collaborated on speakers that were installed on the Seville. Today, the XTS luxury sedan comes standard with Bose ANC active noise reduction technology. Cadillac’s partnership with Bose has always kept them at the forefront of the auto industry’s audio system development, representing an era in luxury cars and audio equipment.
Grasp the Era’s Trends, Luxurious like Loran
As the 21st century approached, Nissan had already achieved some success in the North American market. However, in anticipation of the new millennium and in order to compete in a larger global market, Nissan realized that consumers had a strong demand for comfortable cars. This was the background for the birth of Nissan’s first generation of QASHQAI.
In 2002, the first generation of QASHQAI broke down the boundaries between sedans and SUVs, introducing a range of luxurious features and performance capabilities. At the time, dual airbags, ESP, ABS+EBD, traction control systems, multifunctional steering wheels, GPS, and multimedia displays were deemed advanced equipment. It also featured the VQ35DE engine with a maximum power of 245 horsepower and a maximum torque of 333 Nm, making it a high-performance car in its day. This car caused a sensation upon its launch in North America.Five years later, the second generation of Loran was officially released at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. Starting from the second generation model, Loran was developed based on Nissan’s latest D-platform technology. There are a series of well-known models on the same platform, such as Nissan Teana, Nissan Cima, and Xima, indicating that from the beginning, it had a luxurious temperament.
Evolving to the third generation, Loran continued to maintain its top luxury and technological sense, and entered the domestic market for the first time, leading the way in the luxury five-seat SUV market with its joint venture brand.
What sets Loran apart from the other legitimate luxury cars is its design style that follows the trend of a coupe-style SUV. Compared to its competitors such as the Highlander, Encore GX, GuanDao, and UR-V, Loran’s distinctive personality easily gives the impression that it is “very un-Nissan”.
As a “big car” with a body length of 4897mm and a wheelbase of 2830mm, it is hard to imagine that Loran can have a drag coefficient of 0.31, which is equivalent to sports cars like the Nissan 370Z and Audi TT. The optimized surface design, coupled with extreme aerodynamic performance, controls airflow and effectively reduces drag. Paired with the largest 20-inch wheels in its class, its styling is three-dimensional and dynamic. Who said that the fusion of sports cars and SUVs needs to follow the design consensus of BMW X6? Behind every well-designed car is the brilliant insight of its designers, and Loran is definitely among them.
Building luxury is not just about piling up features, it is also a matter of temperament. As the auto industry undergoes upgrading and transformation, breaking through boundaries has almost become the goal of every car manufacturer. However, “luxury” is not easily achieved, as high-end features do not necessarily equate to luxury. Especially for power experience, it requires the manufacturer’s accumulated R&D and comprehensive matching capabilities.
As a hybrid model, Loran’s acceleration ability is absolutely beyond imagination, and its acceleration is even more fierce than existing six-cylinder engines. Even though the maximum power of 245 horsepower and peak torque of 340 Nm may seem like what many turbocharged engines can achieve, it is easy to be fast, yet difficult to create smooth and confident smooth acceleration while maintaining solid footing. It is not as simple as dressing a child in a suit to become an adult.The secret lies in the perfect match between the 2.5L turbocharged engine and the electric motor. First of all, unlike the turbocharger, the mechanical supercharger relies on the output from the end of the crankshaft rather than on the exhaust gas for secondary pressurization, which provides a smooth power feeling for the inherent power of Loran, rather than a hybrid system designed purely for fuel economy.
Secondly, with the electric motor complementing the internal combustion engine in the least favorable conditions, although it only has 20 horsepower, its torque reaches 160 Nm, which is equivalent to the torque level of a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine. Therefore, in the initial stage of acceleration, it can provide the vehicle with fairly smooth acceleration feeling, especially in congested road sections, where this smooth driving feature is more noticeable.
Superb interior quality, comparable to luxury cars
As the flagship model of Dongfeng Nissan in luxury and comfort, Loran uses high-level materials in the interior craftsmanship, with a large amount of leather coverage and high standards of technological configuration. In terms of riding comfort, Nissan has always been known as a “buying a sofa on wheels”. Nissan Loran is no exception.
Usually, for a larger SUV, the general approach is to try every means to create a luxury space, such as allowing the rear passengers to lift their legs or even lie down. In addition to maintaining a spacious ride space, Nissan Loran also retains a complete set of seat design – the filling material of both the front and rear seats is very thick, and the angle of the rear backrest can be adjusted. The inspiration comes from the Multi-Layer ergonomically designed NASA seats based on the comfortable state of the human body under weightlessness, compared to the increasingly thin and hard seats of most models on the market. The longer you sit on Nissan’s seats, the more comfortable and fit they become, with excellent wrapping and covering experiences.
Quality experience is just the beginning, in terms of sound, Loran uses a customized high-fidelity 11-speaker BOSE sound system. The professional audio company BOSE has tailor-made this system according to the unique spatial layout of the Nissan Loran, with the three frequency outputs: highs, mediums and lows, which enables a realistic and detailed reproduction of sound, for a full, clear and surround sound effect, bringing an immersive and ultimate sound experience for the driver and passengers.
### Conclusion
Large space mid-size SUV has become an important consideration for many families when buying a car. Although the competition in the mid-size SUV market is fierce and the opponents of the Loran have considerable strength, it cannot be denied that the unique personality of the Loran injects irresistible vitality into the market at this level, and brings luxury experience with strong texture and rich configuration.
Furthermore, with the recent sincere replacement policy launched by Dongfeng Nissan for potential waiting-to-buy customers, from now on until May 31st, any brand of car replaced by Loran can enjoy a maximum subsidy of 17,000 yuan. With such tempting policy support, Loran is definitely worth your attention when you visit the store.
Also, there is an intelligent active noise reduction system that can monitor the vehicle in real time and take corresponding control measures to minimize the noise and vibration during the vehicle’s operation. It creates a comfortable and quiet cabin space, providing a mobile theater-level quiet experience. (e-ACM engine electronic active shock absorption: emits a force that is out of phase with the engine vibration, and cancels each other out).
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.