C O V E R     S T O R Y

The Cefiro Brougham VIP, since its 2000 launch, has carved out its own market niche, that of a limousine-like conveyance with features that could only be found in European sedans costing two or three times its price. Thanks to the electronic gadgetry, bag loads of space and of course, that legendary, silky-smooth 2.0-liter twin-cam 24-valve V6 VQ engine, the black-and-gray sedan found a steady market.   With the 2002 Brougham, Nissan Motors Philippines is hoping that lightning could strike again. 

Well, the sky is certainly charging up with electricity.  For starters, the 2002 Cefiro Elite and the high-end Brougham VIP both carry a redesigned version of the VQ engine.  Horsepower has been bumped up to 165 bhp at 6400 rpm and torque to 189 Nm at 4000 rpm (up from 155 bhp and 186 Nm).  The boost is partly due to the new induction system that uses nylon and glass-wool material to supply a bigger volume of cooler air to the engine. 

The standard 4-speed automatic transmission is also improved, featuring two-way communication with the engine.  During shifts, the gearbox instructs the engine to reduce its torque output.  At anything less than full throttle, shifts are imperceptible, with only the dip of the tach needle indicating a change of gear.

On Manila roads, the engine / transmission combination of the Nissan Cefiro Brougham VIP is simply remarkable.  From idling, the V6 engine purrs evenly—silent and smooth.  Rev it up to its 6,400 rpm redline and it will behave just as well, with no discernible vibration.   Push the throttle hard, and be rewarded by an induction whine that’s reminiscent of an big-bore American V8’s.  Expect considerable thrust, too, as the V6 engine is responsive, moving the 1,511 kilogram car quite well.   

On uphill or twisty roads, the Brougham VIP doesn’t hunt for gears thanks to the smart programming.  It will sharply drop revs during a steep uphill climb, but the engine will pull the car up even if there are five people inside.  There’s a button on the center console for ‘sport’ and ‘winter’ modes as well.  The sport mode means higher revs, more push and more oomph—a handy feature when trying to defend yourself from swerving cars along EDSA.  The winter mode on the other hand results in gentler take-off, useful if there’s something slippery underneath or if the boss has a hernia.

The Nissan Cefiro Brougham VIP continues to ride on the familiar McPherson Struts and Multi-Link Beam suspension set-up.  However, the tried and true set-up has been given a new set of improvements to eliminate the understeer that plagued the previous version.  By moving one of the transverse links from behind the beam to the front, Nissan has created a car with increased accuracy and sharper steering response.  The Cefiro is by no means a small car, extending 4920 mm nose-to-tail and 1780 mm left-to-right.  Yet it’s a big car that’s lithe and agile, easy to drive quickly right out of the gates.  It does that big-German-sedan trick of feeling smaller the faster you go.

Despite the additional 200 mm in overall vehicle length, the Brougham VIP exhibits excellent control and maneuverability when compared to the Toyota Camry and even the Honda Accord.  Body roll is kept well in check, making the Brougham VIP as talented on twisty mountain roads as it is on the open highway.  There’s not much steering feedback, but it’s much more obedient to twists of the steering wheel.  Speaking of which, that wheel is a tactile delight, having wood inserts in the front for your palms and the leather continuing at the back for your fingers.

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