2021 is shaping up to be a year of both heartache and hope for fans of the Nissan Almera. The carmaker ceased local production of the third-generation model at its Sta. Rosa facility in March. Six months later, Nissan Philippines is dropping hints on the coming of the next iteration, now as a turbocharged model.
One of a series of vide clips that came out teasing the 2022 Nissan Almera for the Philippines
This isn’t the first time that word of the new Almera's Philippine debut spread in the local automotive scene, as test mules were already spotted on our roads as early as January. Now, several video teasers gradually peel back the layers of mystery surrounding the fourth-generation compact sedan.
One clip shows the 2022 Almera’s streamlined exterior in profile view. It falls short of confirming the revamped V-motion grille already being showcased in international markets, although the final shot shows the new LED headlamps and arrowhead DRL lighting up.
The distinctive LED headlamps are shown
A second video gives a peek at the cabin, showing the flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel, automatic climate controls, and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system depicting an Apple CarPlay interface. The screen serves as a display for what looks like a 360-degree camera array, which Nissan markets as the Intelligent Around View Monitor (I-AVM) on its current models.
The last clip touches on the new Almera’s performance, with an animated tachometer on the multi-information display accompanying a physical analog speedometer. The scene then cuts to a shot of the rear badge denoting the trim level and engine.
The Philippine-spec 2022 Almera's money shot
While this indicates that the 1.0-liter 3-cylinder turbo engine will now be part of the domestic-market Almera’s spec sheet, what isn’t clear so far is whether this will be a standard power plant across the range (as with the other ASEAN releases) or if it will be exclusive to the range-topping variant. On overseas versions, the engine is rated at 97 horsepower and 152 Nm of torque, linked to a Nissan Xtronic continuously variable transmission.
No date has been confirmed yet for the 2022 Nissan Almera’s Philippine launch, but it would be safe to say that it’s happening on the fourth quarter of this year. Watch this space as we’ll be bringing you more updates when they come.