Nissan Develops Brake Operated Pre-crash Seatbelt
New Safety Restraint System due in a Luxury Model in 2003

This new safety restraint system detects the possibility of a collision from the driver's operation of the brake pedal and retracts the seatbelt in advance to help restrain the occupant immediately. If the crash is unavoidable, early seat belt restraint can help maximize the effectiveness of the other occupant protection devises (such as air bags). This system will be installed in a new luxury model scheduled for release next year.

System Diagram

The newly developed Brake Operated Pre-crash Seatbelt predicts vehicle and occupant behavior based on how fast and how much the driver depresses the brake pedal in emergency braking. This revolutionary system then progressively retracts the driver's and front passenger's seatbelts according to the speed and extent of brake pedal depression so as to help minimize occupant motion.

As a result, the seatbelt system helps the driver’s ability to execute collision avoidance maneuvers because occupant motion due to braking action are kept to a minimum. Moreover, in the event that a collision is unavoidable, the Pre-crash Seatbelt provides faster occupant restraint. This earlier restraint of the occupant helps maximize the effectiveness of seatbelt pre-tensioners, air bags and other safety equipment. The Pre-crash seat belt is expected to have a substantial effect on helping to reduce the number of fatal and serious-injury accidents that currently occur.

This new safety system is one product of Nissan ASV (Advanced Safety Vehicle) research activities. Other advanced ASV technologies include the world's first Lane-Keeping Support system featured on the CIMA and the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system that is currently available on Nissan’s medium-class and larger models.

Since 1995, Nissan has conducted research on real-world traffic accidents with the aim of achieving its goal to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by half. The results of this research are used to develop highly effective safety technologies that are widely adopted on Nissan vehicles.

Nissan will continue to provide safe Nissan vehicles designed and engineered to meet the needs of society, thereby meeting its corporate social responsibilities and contributing to enriching people's lives.

Nissan Middle East sponsors the Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl Competition 2003

Dubai- (November 2002)—Nissan Middle East FZE has uncovered yet another opening from which to get through to its public as it sponsored this year’s glitzy “Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl Competition” held at the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort and Towers in Dubai on November 1st, 2002. The lucky “Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl 2003” had the chance to drive away with Nissan’s stylish SUV, the X-Trail, at the grand finale of the third annual “Miss Young & Trendy Competition”.

The car of choice for the “Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl Competition” was the X-Trail owing to the modern styling of the vehicle’s interior and exterior, which reflect the priorities of today’s SUV drivers and tastes of the attendees. Stylish and practical, the X-Trail offers strong lines and a multitude of innovative features that enhance functionality and driving enjoyment.

The star-studded event saw twenty-four beauties parade on a stage flanked with two X-Trails. The X-Trails were the right component of the kaleidoscopic background for the neon-lit catwalk lending a magical touch to the event. Just like the girls, the X-Trail exuded confidence on stage in its attractive proportions and styling.

The powerful X-Trail was launched in the Middle East last year. Since its launch it has seen tremendous success in Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE especially among the age group to which most of the event’s participants and attendees belonged.

The X-Trail’s performance turns the open road and outdoors into a life-long love affair as it delivers the edge, which makes driving so much fun, with power and smooth gearshifts. The vehicle’s exciting performance is generated by a powerful, smooth-running 2.5-liter, 180 horsepower engine with CVTC (Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control) for great on-road acceleration, overtaking and top speed, together with excellent fuel economy.

Mr. Nibal Slim, Marketing Manager at Nissan Middle East, commented by saying: “In keeping with the philosophy behind the design of the X-Trail, the vehicle captured the trendy momentum that took place on stage. It was exactly what we were looking for. We have often used the X-Trial in sportive events. With this latest beauty and style contest we wanted the X-Trail to cover the entire spectrum of youthful events”.

The enviable title of the “Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl 2003” along with a brand-new X-Trail went to Maryna Troshyna. Lara Ibrahim and Jane Demenko walked away with the “Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl 2003” 1st and 2nd runners up respectively.

The event had over 1,400 invitees comprised of prominent figures from the media, fashion, music and beauty industry. Among the leading names present were Lebanese singers Dania and Ragib Alameh.

As part of Nissan’s sponsorship of the “Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl Competition 2003”, Nissan- not only gave away the X-Trail prize- but also provided the guests with an array of branded giveaways.

Miss Young & Trendy Cover Girl had the following to say about her prize: “It’s one thing to win a title such as the Miss Young & Trendy but to be able to walk away with small 4x4 is another. Like all the participating girls, I was focused on doing part on stage and had little time to think about anything else. But after the night was over the excitement of winning was multiplied when they told I have an X-Trail of my own”.