Thoroughly revamped and rebooted for 2015, the third-generation X-Trail turned out to be Nissan’s overachiever of the year, standing toe-to-toe against the formidable Honda CR-V (itself refreshed in 2015) in sales numbers. Based on our unofficial data, it’s too close to call which SUV sold more last year (we’ll wait for the official announcements), but both would have averaged more than 700 units per month. Unlike the CR-V and the Mazda CX-5 which are available in three variants in their respective line ups, the X-Trail only offered two, but that’s changed now with the introduction of the X-Trail Tuned by Impul, available in 2.0L 2WD and 2.5L 4WD grades.
Official Nissan distributor Tan Chong Motor has enjoyed a long-standing cooperation with Impul – a Tokyo-based aftermarket tuning company founded in 1980 by the former Nissan racing legend Kazuyoshi Hoshino (who also competed in Formula 1 and Le Mans races). Today, Impul operates not only as a tuner specialising in Nissan cars, but also as a leading racing outfit in the Super GT series.
As has been the case with popular Nissan models, Tan Chong has leveraged on Impul’s tuning expertise to give the X-Trail a sportier outlook and higher street cred. The treatment comes in the shape of aggressively-styled bumper extrusions (front and back), body skirting running the length of the sides, as well as a 30mm lowered stance courtesy of Impul-developed sports springs tinted in blue – the colours of the racing team.
Of course, the sports package would be incomplete without the presence of some bling wheels. The X-Trail Impul edition duly obliges with 18-inch alloys in a chrome bronze-cum-gloss black combo finish, these Japan-made Impul Aura SX-50 rims are fitted with 235/55R18 Continental ContiMaxContact MC5 rubber. Darkened door visors and LED illuminated door sill kick plates round up the aesthetic transformation.
Prices for the X-Trail Impul variants are pegged at RM149,715.05 for the 2.0L 2WD Premium, and RM172,516.42 for the 2.5L 4WD Premium (inclusive of GST and insurance). Existing owners who wish to retrofit their X-Trail crossovers can cherry pick from the list of parts or purchase the entire package at RM15,900, which is higher than if you’d bought a brand new X-Trail that’s already fitted with the goodies. Additionally, if you do decide to drive home a brand new Nissan (not just the X-Trail) from now till the end of Chinese New Year, Sharp electrical appliances worth more than RM128,888 await lucky winners in the “Drive to Prosperity” campaign that is currently underway.