Operating Officer, Vice President, Executive VP, Chief Technology Officer & Director, Toyota Motor Corp
Nissan Terrano AMT, Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota India Interview And TVS Apache RTR 200 Speed Record
On this week's episode of Bazaar Buzz we first take a look at the Nissan Terrano AMT variant. It's the gearbox from the Duster but it all comes down to how well it's been calibrated. It ticks a few boxes and there are a few things missing and well tell you all about it. We then talk to Hiroki Nakajima, MD, Toyota Motors where he discusses the launch of the 2nd generation Toyota Fortuner and what lies ahead. And finally, we take you to the Raid de Himalayas event where R. Nataraj tests the new TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and covers one of the most toughest rally track in the world. All this, mind you...
About Hiroki Nakaji
Hiroki Nakaji, who serves as an operating officer, vice president, executive vice president, chief technology officer, and director at Toyota Motor, participated in the company's New Management Policy & Direction Announcement on December 7, 2023. During a Q&A session, he responded to a question about the diversity of vehicles on display, stating that the variety, from trucks to sports cars, demonstrated Toyota's position as a full-lineup manufacturer and reflected the company's diverse customer needs. He said that innovation emerges from such diversity and described the variety of "car love" among employees as an indicator of Toyota's flexibility and an environment conducive to innovation. In a 2023 interview with Nippon TV, new Toyota president Koji Sato admitted that the company needed to work on its electric vehicle strategy. Under Sato, the firm adopted a goal of selling 1.5 million EVs per year by 2026. Sato said the company would make efforts to lower the price of EVs to the range of hybrids. Earlier, in 2016, Nakaji, then serving as chief engineer and managing director of Toyota in India, discussed the design of the second-generation Toyota Fortuner. He explained that the company decided to change the front fascia completely after customer complaints that the previous model looked too similar to the Hilux despite a higher price. He described the design concept as "tough and cool," noting that the body line was slightly kicked up at the rear to enhance the vehicle's image. He attributed the ability to create a distinct appearance while sharing many parts to the Toyota New Global Architecture.
Transcript (23 segments)
H
Host0:01
This is NDTV and you are watching NDTV. Flying it's a brand new episode of CNB. Bizarre Buzz answered husband I parking car. Welcome to the program. Here is what we have lined up for you today. We review the new automatic Terrano from Nissan. We are the clear to complete a new platform as I mentioned that a very special conversation with the chief engineer of the Toyota Fortuner and the TVS Apache RTR 204 v takes on the Himalayas. Right, so all of that is coming up. Let's start off then with the automatic Terrano from Nissan. It borrows its powertrain and of course that AMT gearbox from the Renault Duster. How has Nissan done with it? King Truck that drove the car, here's a review.
R
Reporter1:21
The Nissan could be called the Renault Duster butch-looking cousin, and although it has never done as well in terms of sales in India, it remains a good package. And now Nissan sweeten the deal a little and offered it with a diesel automatic or AMT gearbox. In this world where traffic congestion is a norm rather than an exception, automotive manufacturers are trying their best to make city driving as comfortable as possible. The AMT or automated manual transmission is a step in that direction, and the Nissan Terrano is the latest car to join the AMT bandwagon. The Terrano AMT remains exactly the same visually and equipment wise. The compact SUV gets leather seats, a built-in car audio system with Bluetooth and USB aux in. Instead of a manual gear shift, the Terrano AMT gets the gear shifter with the markings of R for reverse and N for neutral and D for drive. And no, there is no key options for park, and it would be advisable to leave the car with the hand brake engaged when parked. The mechanicals of course remain the same as well. It is powered by a 1.5 liter DCI engine, which produces 108.5 bhp of maximum power and 245 Newton meter of torque. The Terrano AMT has a fuel efficiency of 19.61 kilometers per liter. The AMT unit is mated to the same six speed as the manual and does get an eco mode for when you want to be easier on the throttle. While clutchless driving definitely makes life a lot easier, one has to come to terms with the rubber band effect. In order for the AMT to shift up sequentially, one has to lift off the throttle. This results in slightly unpredictable power delivery and there's a lag as well, so you need to plan your overtakes. The other thing that I could figure on this car was the lack of steering column mounted controls for audio and Bluetooth telephony. The AMT is offered in the top-of-the-line Terrano which is the XV. A car in this price bracket should have definitely had a convenient feature like this.
H
Host3:39
So from one SUV let's go on to another one. The very successful Toyota Fortuner is back in its second generation. The car was just launched a few days ago and the full review is on CNB this week, so something for you to look forward to there. But we had a chance to catch up with the chief engineer of the new Fortuner project, Hiroki Nakaji. Good to see you sir and many thanks for speaking to us.
H
Hiroki Nakaji4:25
Thank you very much for having me. First things first, congratulations. The car I just drove it, so you know I'm fresh from that experience. And of course now it's been launched here in India.
H
Host4:35
It's like I said, it's a very important model for us in India, but also very important for you at Toyota.
H
Hiroki Nakaji4:39
Yes, of course. This is a mostly important market for us in your market, so as much as possible we like to meet that customization level.
H
Host4:50
My view the last Fortuner of course again it came to India a little bit later than it had already been in Southeast Asia, so there was a lot of anticipation when it arrived and it became an instant hit. It was a big success right till the time you phased it out. There was still a lot of demand for that car. Is that a lot of pressure to come back with a next generation when you already have such a successful model?
H
Hiroki Nakaji5:16
Yes, of course, that's right. So anyway, their customer expectation level is very high, so to meet the requirement we added a completely new platform and a completely new design. So my concept is this vehicle is a true SUV with style and confidence.
H
Host5:38
You've mentioned that of course even in the video like I said I have seen what you've spoken about. At what point in the development, take us back to the start. Where did you decide that when it comes to the styling you will go in a very different direction? Because the last car, you know, it had very typical SUV proportions, it was very sort of tough and butch-looking. This one is definitely more upmarket, it's definitely got some very pretty elements. When did you decide to take that new route?
H
Hiroki Nakaji6:08
Yes, to beauty today we have a mini investigation on the market and there are many customers willing to pay drive this vehicle. And in our world many women are willing to drive the SUV. So in studying this is a very important thing, that's very important to have an advanced image for the customer. This is a key concept. At the same time as I mentioned, it almost wise we don't want to compromise the last car.
H
Host6:29
Again, every time we saw an update we saw some new features coming in, but now the customer is very demanding. So you know, when it comes to comfort as well as connectivity, they have lots of demands. How do you balance all that out?
H
Hiroki Nakaji6:48
Yes, of course. There are our connectivity of the market why it was not supposed to meet the customer requirement. So we have many range of SUVs and not only Fortuner but also for example they are rugged one, for example that was a Prado, Land Cruiser 200. At the same time we have that monocoque SUV mentioned. So anyway, customer preference point, anyway generally to have their confidence, also we can provide those types of packages. At the same time, advanced key feature is a most important thing for the current generation customer. So as much as possible to implement those types of key technology to this vehicle.
H
Host7:22
You know, it's good that you mentioned the two types of cars, the monocoque and the ladder frame. The last car for all its popularity and all its attributes, the one thing that everybody always said was that you know it's too much like a typical SUV, it's got a lot of bulk, it has a little bit of body roll and it's very bouncy. The ride this car, I mean literally the first time I drove it I had to remind myself it's not monocoque. How did you achieve that stiffness?
H
Hiroki Nakaji7:52
So deep we adapted the completely new platform as I mentioned. Anyway we did have to change the cross-section size of the side rail of the frame rather. So automatically we can get the higher rigidity actually on the bending rigidity and that's very easy to absorb that vibration on the higher frequency vibration. In the sense that we can get automatically higher rigidity at the same time higher quality level of the NVH is the key concept of the new platform.
H
Host8:21
A lot of premium brands have made the transition by saying forget about ladder frame, we'll go just with monocoque even for the larger cars. But at Toyota or even some of the other Japanese manufacturers, we are still seeing a lot of these very traditional models still coming out. Is that because you have both kinds of customer demands? Do you think there's a big reason why you should continue to do ladder frame?
H
Hiroki Nakaji8:45
Yeah, of course. As we mainly we have the two types of vehicle, one is monocoque, one is body on frame structure. So anyway, if the customer the driver had a confidence actually on the off-road capability over the weekend, provided the body on frame structure vehicle because very easy to absorb the road input and they're very easy to get higher quality durability reliability. This is a huge as our heritage of the Toyota vehicle I believe. So in that sense, as much as possible we try to meet the customer expectation, let them carry on the off-road capability. If the customer doesn't care about off-road capability, we can provide a wonderful body anyway. Whether that provide the vehicle, the old old pit row bury this is our job.
H
Host9:32
Now one last thing, I'd like your perspective on. The Fortuner as a project has been very successful of course for Toyota with the last generation we already saw that. But when you were doing the new generation, what were the highlights? What was the big approach that was different from the last generation?
H
Hiroki Nakaji9:53
So as we been a focus on the Fortuner, so how to differentiate this type of design for pickup truck. So previous model, for example, the frontal mask is a very similar design, for example the instrumental panel is a bit similar. But customer willing to buy the SUV as a SUV, so in that is how to differentiate the style design not only exterior or interior. This is a key point. But our humanization parts, level of recognition that ratio is a complete the same as previous model. However, thanks to our designers' efforts, we have this difference to differentiate the design. For example, the hood panel and the front window, side view, side door panel is complete the same as previous model? No, customer will recognize it by brilliant side view. You can see. And of course in India we don't have the highlights, but I understand that for the other markets you have to take this into account.
H
Host10:46
So lastly then, are you happy with the success? I mean I know that you mentioned a couple of more markets to take this car to. No known also? Or we don't want to compromise? Because I believe the customer additional expectation level is high.
H
Hiroki Nakaji11:00
No known also or we don't want to compromise because of that. I believe the customer additional expectation level is high. I've been coming here after that launch of the new speaker, so as much as possible we direct here and investigate the customer voice and react. That's more bespoke, that's okay. But daily improvement is the most important thing for us to meet that future customer smile.
H
Host11:25
Well I think you've already done a great job with it. The package is good. The prices today have been announced, they are pretty competitive as well, and you know I congratulate you and your team. Yes, go through setbacks and thank you for your time today as well.
H
Hiroki Nakaji11:37
Thank you very much to meet you.
H
Host11:40
Let's take a very short break here on CNB Bizarre Buzz. I'll come back and answer some of your queries.