The Nissan Note Aura is a premium version of the standard Nissan Note, launched late last year.
Few outside of Japan are aware of the Nissan Note, but it’s favourite amongst car buyers in the Land of the Rising Sun. The current Note was launched late last year and made waves by completely omitting conventional petrol-powered models in favour of e-Power. e-Power uses a petrol engine as a range extender, but propulsion is a purely electric affair. Today, Nissan has shown a new version of the Note called the Note Aura.
It’s still powered by an electric motor with 134 hp and 300 Nm of torque that sends power to the front wheels. There’s also an all-wheel drive variant with a 2nd motor on the rear axle. Whichever model you get, it still has that 1.2L petrol engine serving as a generator.
By and large, most of the body panels have not been modified in appearance. However the Note Aura is a whole 4cm wider than the original. It also has a new face that incorporates design cues from the Nissan Ariya electric SUV.
On the inside, it’s also a much more premium vehicle with wood grain inserts and tweed fabric decorating the cabin. This fabric is paired up to artificial leather on the seat upholstery for the standard model, but there’s a genuine leather option too.
The audio experience on the Note Aura is a little improved too. Nissan has added noise dampening material in the roof and doors. They’ve also used more absorbent glass on the windscreen. On top of that, Bose Personal Plus sound with a speaker in the front headrests is optional on the Note Aura.
Here’s the thing. The Note Aura costs quite a bit of money for something in this size. It’s around RM100,000 in Japan. If it ever gets here, you can expect it to be much more expensive than that. Could there be a business case for such a well-appointed vehicle in Malaysia though? We wonder.
Here’s the press release with more.
PRESS RELEASE
Nissan today launched the all-new Note Aura premium compact car in Japan, with sales planned to start in autumn.
The all-new Note Aura comes exclusively with Nissan’s e-POWER electrified powertrain, a key part of the company’s electrification strategy under the Nissan NEXT global business transformation plan. The all-new vehicle inherits the comfort and advanced safety technologies of the Note e-POWER launched last year, with added premium furnishings and system enhancements.
Intrinsic qualities appeal to all on board
With a simple, beautiful design that goes beyond the compact-car norm, the Note Aura aims to exceed the expectations of all occupants.
The exterior features an elaborately sculpted front grille, and an elongated, curved roofline. The rear fenders and new rear bumper convey a wide stance and low center of gravity, giving the vehicle a robust presence. The LED combination lamps that illuminate as a beam of light across the rear of the vehicle create an advanced and individualistic impression.
The model comes with 14 available body color variations, with five two-tone combinations, including Garnet Red with Super Black, and Midnight Black with Sunrise Copper.
The interior Zero Gravity seats come in two variations; Herringbone patterned tweed-like fabric combined with synthetic leather or high-quality genuine leather with specially designed pleating to provide seating grip. The lower instrument panel and center console features a wood-grain finish while door trims, front armrests and the instrument panel are all finished in tweed-like fabric.
A premium audio system has been developed together with Bose1 for a high-quality onboard experience. The optional Bose Personal Plus sound system speakers are placed in the front passenger headrests, providing a premium acoustic experience with the depth and breadth of sound unique to Bose1 and its advanced signal processing technology.
Noise dampening in the roof, doors, and front door glass help ensure a high level of cabin quietness and comfort on the road.
Beauty with highly sophisticated functionality
The front facia V-motion lighting combines signature LED position lamps, accent lamps, and sequential turn lamps, giving a premium look. The slim and sleek headlamps also have adaptive LED functions, combining both quality and functionality.
The 17-inch lightweight aluminum wheels feature gunmetal resin inserts that create a stylish, aerodynamic design.
Advanced technologies bring an enhanced car life to both drivers and passengers
For the Note Aura, the second-generation e-POWER electrified powertrain has been enhanced to provide maximum system output of 100 kW and maximum torque of 300 Nm. This delivers more powerful acceleration and an even smoother driving experience from the 100% electric motor driven system.
